I receive a slew of samples, and when I find something I like, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!
Finding the product formula that fulfills all of your hair needs takes time and patience, especially if you’re a curly girl. From the heavy pomades that shellacked my strands to the mousses that left my coif crunchy, I’ve pretty much been there and done that. But over the years, I have learned what works for my 3a/3B hair texture, and the industry at large has made serious strides towards deciphering what works for every type of curl out there. Case in point: Sephora recently launched a hub, complete with video styling tutorials, to educate customers on what types of products they should reach for depending on their curl type. I’m hoping it becomes a permanent part of the site, as so many may still be in the dark about get the most out of their mane.
Not to mention with summer unofficially here, I have to bid goodbye to blowouts, lest I sweat it out in the subway and start to frizz. With so many brands rolling out curl lines, I decided to roll up my sleeves and start sampling which beauty buys will withstand everything the season has to throw at my tresses.
My summer curl cocktail lineup
Let’s take it from the top…
Shampoo: Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Cleansing Milk, $58
An Essence Absolue for my strands?! My skin and tresses already soaked up the line’s other iterations, so I had to get my hands on a bottle! Though it was originally meant to a cleansing co-wash of sorts, I was surprised by the soapy consistency of the sample I received. It felt like I was scrubbing with a shampoo, but my hair felt silky once it was rinsed clean, smelling like the iconic camellia oil that instantly absorbs into your strands to strengthen and soften.
Cleansing Conditioner: Aveda Be Curly Co-Wash, $24
I only shampoo my strands once a week, switching between conditioners and co-wash to keep my curls clean and soft. I’ve always adored Aveda’s natural approach to beauty, so I was excited to discover the brand had recently expanded its curly offerings with its new co-wash. After test-driving the line, I fell head over heels for the refreshing scent and invigorating clean my scalp felt with the sulfate-free formula. The babassu oil that’s infused in the curl cleanser offers similar benefits to coconut oil but without the weight, ensuring my ringlets maintain their bounce and my scalp is nourished.
Deep Conditioner: Kérastase Discipline Curl Masque Ideal, $62.50
Deep conditioning’s part of my weekly hair routine, as it should be for everyone in my opinion. After frying, dying, stretching, and dehydrating my strands all week, Kérastase’s hair masque melts onto my mane, making it super easy to detangle when I need it to do the most. Seriously, my fingers just glide through any knots or tangles! The Morpho-Keratin and lipids in the formula to feed my strands what it needs to stay soft, springy, and smooth and keep the humidity from turning my mane into a mess, even without styling products.
Gel: Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel, $10-$70
Ouidad’s one of the biggest names in the curl game, so I surprised myself when I realized I hadn’t really test-driven much of their products. I don’t know why I waited so long! Almond, Henna Leaf, Chamomile, Kiwi extracts hydrate and care for your strands while water-soluble polymers seal in all the good stuff and keep out summer swelter. Following the brand’s signature rake and shake technique, the results were the bounciest my curls had been in ages. With temperatures already in the high 80s, I’m going to need a bigger bottle (or another one soon) before I burn through this one.
Mousse: Bumble & Bumble Bb. Curl Conditioning Mousse, $31
I’ve been a big fan of the brand for ages but I never felt that the products were right for me until it launched its BB. Curl earlier this year. I instantly fell in love with the range, but the mousse was a serious game changer for me. Most curl mousses I’d tried in the past left my hair feeling super crunchy and me looking more like an ’80s mallrat, so I stopped using them altogether. The blend of Brazil Nut Oil, Babassu Oil, Pracaxi Oil, as well as the Capuacu Butter kept my locks feeling lush while the HydraSculpt Blend polymers made sure my spirals stayed defined minus the crunchiness and styling snow (you know, when your hair spray or styling product is so drying and hard that it breaks and creates that white snow on your shoulders), as you can see in the snap at the top of the post. It’s become an everyday essential.
Curl Reviver: Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture Coconut & Moringa Oil Curl Refresher Mist, $26
Ever since I became a beauty editor, I never understood the appeal of second-day hair, save for a blowout where I tend to make it last at least a week. Given the relative length and weight of my hair, the spirals would stretch out throughout the day or as soon as I put it up so there was no point. When I received a sample of the spray, I was still pretty skeptical, but I spritzed it before putting up my typical topknot for bed and woke up to my curls bouncing back! It’s thanks to the dual-encapsulation technology which uses coconut and moringa oils to hydrate and protect hair while you re-shape your curls, and the provitamin B5 shuts out any added moisture while boosting shine.