genuinegirly

What's your magical hair product?
Do you have a fun story of how you found it?
What is especially difficult about your hair that this product helps fix?

I don't even remember how this wound up in my collection of hair supplies. Perhaps it was part of a gift basket, maybe it was a free sample, or something my mom thought I'd like. Maybe a friend passed it along.

In any case, I have a little 1oz bottle of this: Redken Straight Styling No. 5.
It tames my frizzy mane and makes it smooth, manageable and shiny. Tt's words, "What'd you do differently? Your hair looks stunning?" Planning on sticking with this one for a long while.

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"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

snowy

I wish I had a magical hair product. Instead, I have a cupboard full of failures. My hair is dry, coarse, impossibly thick, frizzy, curly in spots and straight in others, so I have a horrible time finding hair products that actually DO anything. I have had some success; I get compliments on my hair when I bother to do anything with it, and it IS healthy, despite being frizz-prone.

One product I've found that makes an enormous difference in my hair is Generic BioSilk, available at SALLY Beauty. It's about half the price of Farouk System's BioSilk, but does the same thing. I also recently got this ION Silicone Shine spray from SALLY as well, and I've found it really helps with my frizzies.

I think at this point I just need another haircut.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Grasshopper Green

I found my magic hair potion a few years ago...Boots curling cream. I loved it because it tamed my frizzies and didn't give my hair that crispy, crunchy look and feel that you get from gel or mousse. Unfortunately, they discontinued it (BTW snowy, I feel your pain. I have a lot of kinda wavy, kinda curly hair too. It's a complete pain in the butt!)

I straighten my hair a lot now...maybe I'll give that Redken a try. My current straightening balm is nothing to write home about.

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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

jewels

Perfect? No.

Thick, curly, frizzy ... I ask the girls with the gorgeous curls what they use, buy it and it never works for me.

I have two products that work pretty well for me:

F/X Curl Booster gel. Available everywhere, inexpensive. I use a lot when my hair's wet and I have to comb it when it's nearly dry, or else my hair is crispy.

This weekend, I bought Sunsilk Captivating Curls gel and cream twist. My hair's been really gorgeous and silky but I still get the little frizzies with it.

I'm listening.

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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

snowy

The ION shine spray I just started using seems to help with that problem. It's good for freshening up the frizz suppression. http://www.sallybeauty.com/ion-anti-...cgid=Hair04-08

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Grasshopper Green

Oh...Frizz-Ease Curl Perfecting Spray is good for refreshing curls and getting rid of that mid-day frizz...but I don't use it as my main styling product.

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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

mixedmedia

I bought a tiny little jar of Bumble and Bumble Sumo Wax at an estate sale about 3 years ago and I've been addicted ever since. Even though ostensibly it is for short, straight hair it seems to give my hair, which is longer and naturally curly, just the right amount of frizz control and definition. Of course, I don't use it as much since my hair has gotten longer...but when I get it cut (this Sunday), I'll probably go back to using it every day.



It's kind of expensive, but I've been able to find it regularly on eBay for much less.

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PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

jewels

I know I've used an ION product before, but I'll have to see if it was the spray or not.

And I'll take a look at this.

Thanks, ladies!

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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

little_tippler

My hair too is curly, though not so thick really. Therefore, I get the frizzies too.

I know what you guys mean when you talk about crunchy hair

Most products that work on my hair have a slightly crunchy after-effect, but as long as you brush it-out when it's almost dry, as has been said, it's fine and the hair keeps it's "shape".

I have taken a long time to perfect making my hair look its "natural" best, without a trip to the hairdresser. Which on me looks like:



I vary my hair routine but here is what I go for:

a great conditioner. My daily favourite is from the brand Aussie and it's called 3 minute miracle. It also smells amazing.



Then you need a curl-shaping cream. I currently go for Curls-Rock Curl Amplifier. This product can end with a little crunch in the hair but if you use it sparingly and blow-dry the hair after application with a diffuser it's perfect.



Any left-over crunch can be taken out by simply runnig fingers lightly through the hair once it's dry. I get no flake from this product.

I also really recommend the Kerastase Elasto-Curl line of products for curly hair, because they left my hair feeling silkier than ever. Rather expensive though.



Hope I have been of help!

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Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

settie

So far I seem to share none of the same problems with you women when it comes to hair. I wish I did so I'd have some solutions... -_-
My hair is thin, limp, fair, slightly wavy (as in it seems to have a natural wave to it), and gets oily very easily because of all of this. This is the main reason I don't like to wear my hair down, it gets dirty too fast and makes my head feel itchy and....well, gross all over.
I struggle constantly with making my hair looke more full and rich...volumized I guess you could say. And I'm still trying to figure out why every brush I touch, even combs, make my hair static-happy. Even those ones that claim to prevent static-happy hair.
But, the biggest problem with my hair is the huge product limitations. It needs the perfect amount of shampoo to keep it happy, and I can only condition my hair at max once a week or else I look like I never showered at all. -_-
The strangest part of my scalp is, though my hair seems to get oily fast, my scalp is so dry and flaky. Head and shoulders does not help me there, I've tried.
After the shower products are a nightmare too. If I use too much, I have to wash it all out again... ugh. And people wonder why I just throw my hair up in a ponytail and give up This is why! What a mess.
So no, I have never found that perfect hair product of any sort. Even the products used at professional salons are a real mess to my hair! *sighs*
So far, the only shampoo that seems to keep a somewhat good/stable balance on my head is Neutrogena's T-Gel Shampoo or Shampoo/Conditioner.
If anyone has an ideas to help me out, please share them! *begs*

genuinegirly

Little_tippler, your hair is beautiful!
Great advice, ladies. Settie, I have no experience there. Hopefully someone will have some good tips!

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

StellaLuna

SAMY products for curls. Oooooooooooooh! They have a spray defrizzer and refresher and it's magic. I spray it on right at the end of the blow-dry (which takes a damn month on this mop) and it works beautifully.

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Screw tradition!

mandy

i like to think that i have very versatile hair...i can have it straight or i can have it curly...all natural.

Healer prefers the natural curl and i kinda prefer which ever one i feel up to doing on any given day

mostly its the curl, cos the blow drying just takes too much outta me.

now...after that long history i have found the perfect hair product ladies...its only three letters and its name is GHD!!!

good grief! forget dogs and cats...this is womans best friend!

Curly or straight...you get top results EVERY TIME!!! no gel, mousse, conditioner...just cheap shampoo and a GHD

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jewels

Mandy: GHD? A lookup shows a Chi-like straightener? Or is it a specific product you use?

__________________
We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

settie

does GHD = Good Hair Dresser?

mandy

That's exactly what it is...no products, just cheap shampoo and a GHD

lol, good one but actually it should be BHD for BESTEST hair dresser (IN THE UNIVERSE)

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The Imagination equips us to see a reality we have yet to create

KRM28152

This may be a little late, but I have short wavy hair that does whatever it wants to, whenever it wants to unless I straighten it into submission.

I've found that Fredrick Chi's "Silk Infusion" hair/body oil is amazing stuff. I put a dime-sized glob in my hand and smooth it through my hair before I straighten it. It makes my hair shiny and manageable, and I can straighten it easier.

It's expensive, but I found a guiy on eBay that sells 8 little bottles for 7 or 8 dollars. Hope this helps!

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“I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.”

Sweetpea

I really love Biosilk

http://www.biosilk.com/silk/

use it every day, put it on wet hair, can blow dry or just let your hair dry.
no crunchies! it's excellent.

sweetpea

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genuinegirly

Funny, Biosilk did terrible things to my hair. Frizzies all over the place, and so much insane body, every hair was going in a different direction, making it appear very thick and unkept. I had no idea what to do with it. I wanted to rip my hair out.

Wait- No! That was Biolage. I guess the names are too similar for me.

A friend gave me a Christmas gift basket of Biosilk once. Some sort of silky clear-ish hair moisturizer, hair spray, and a leave-in conditioner. I liked it. Seemed to smooth out my hair, and smelled nice.

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

surferlove007

Super skinny serum. Love it, keeps my hair shiny and the fly aways at bay.

diddagirl

Hey Settie- sounds like we have very similar hair types.... I have thin, oily hair but also with the itchy, flaky scalp you described. I personally am obsessed with my hair and finding the "right products"...so with a hell of alot of money down the drain, my reccomendations for you are:

1. Nizoral- this is a medicated shampoo that you can get at the drug store. It helps with the itchy flakes...you only need to use it like 2-3 times a week and I have found it to be the ONLY thing that works for my poor scalp

2. Bed Head, "SuperStar" volumizer- really good to help give you hair some body... also for body try AG "root volumizer"....I have liked both of these. You apply them to wet hair, before you blow dry...

3. Joico Shampoo/ Conditioner for fine hair. Really, any salon brand shampoo or conditioner for this hair type is the same...

* My words of advice- to combat the oil, always use MINIMAL conditioner....even skipping your roots and just applying to your ends. Also, I am not sure if you blow dry your hair when you leave it down, but that definetely helps with both the oil and volume issue. I blow flip my head upside down to blow dry and this gives it alot more volume...

Good luck!

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