I have VERY curly hair. Dry, it is about chin length. Wet, it is about at my shoulders. I have a good gel but I need something to weigh my hair down so that when it is dry, it is still as long as it is when it is wet. I use a gentle relaxer as well, and blow dry my hair with both this and the gel. I get a longer length and looser curls this way, but it never lasts more than a few hours. I need something to weigh my curls down so that they do not spring back up so much! Sometimes I feel like I have a bunch of springs on my head! One minute my curls are nice and long and luxurious (when they are slightly damp) and the next minute, BOIIIIIOOOOOIIIINNNNNGGGG!!!!! :blob_fire They start bouncing and tightening up. I was thinking that maybe a good conditioner (which I currently do not use) would help to moisturize my hair and make it a little heavier. I want long, flowing curls. Either a wrinse out or leave in conditioner would be great, but I want one that works well with curly hair and I don't know where to start. Some product recommendations and even some hair care tips for my very nice, but very bouncry curly hair would be great. Thanks.

Elyse

Paul Mitchell, The Conditioner. It's a beautiful leave in. It might weigh it down a little, but not so much it makes your hair look dirty. Most salons sell it.

I have naturally curly hair too and trust me, I know what a big pain in the rear it is!! I don't really have a product to recommend but I did want to tell you that I use regular conditioners as a leave in. I don't use conditioner in the shower I just put it in my hair when it's wet and leave it in. I have heard so many people claim that some leave in's are too heavy for their hair and would never try regular conditioners as leave in's but my hair loves it! I have tried to figure out what kind of curls I have from the naturallycurly.com board but I still don't have a clue. It much more than wavy and no where near poodle type curls--just right smack in the middle somewhere. It's fairly thick and long--several inches past my shoulders. My conditioners have to have a certain texture to them though. In general, I'm not a big fan of drug store conditioners because they all have a "yucky" texture--almost makes my hands feel dry (as in too much alcohol) and like they have a gross coating on them at the same time--not really sure how to explain but if it feels soft, smooth and silky on my hands and my hair then that is what I go for. Jessi curl and a really good one called "Too Shea Moisturizing Conditioner" Redken has one called "All Soft" Jericho-spa has a good balsam conditioner. I have tried the Paul Mitchell "Super Strong" and it's not really one of my favorites though it is better than most drug store ones. Anyway, that's just my 2 (or 10 :) ) cents. Good Luck!!

Really, it sounds as though your choice of gel might be contributing to your curl problems? Is it one made specifically for curly hair? Some curl products are made to 'boost and define' curls; i.e., make them really curly.

I don't care for the Paul Mitchell leave-in, as I think it gives my hair kind of a yucky texture. I do like the Redken All Soft and Smooth Down conditioners, use in the shower and also smooth some on the ends of my hair before drying. They have a 'Fresh Curls' product line, too, but I've never tried it.

I am a big fan of the Control Freak products from the TIGI Bedhead line. I sometimes use the shampoo and conditioner and am NEVER without the Frizz Control & Straightener serum. It relaxes my hair nicely on the days I go curly, and really keeps my hair smooth and soft on days when I straighten it.

Hope you find a product that works for you.

Thanks, I will have to check out some of those products. Actually, the gel I use is very thick and it is made especially for curly hair. It is called Curl Booster Fixative Gel, and the bottle says "instantly tightens limp, lifeless looks for all day curls". It works very well. The thing is, I want my hair to remain curly and not be frizzy, and this gel makes it so it is not frizzy. It also sayas that it is supposed to give curls greater definition, bounce and shine. Without any gel at all my hair is like an afro! I am in the process of trying to grow it longer, which will help weigh it down a little bit. I have used Paul Mitchell products in the past but I just found it a pain to have to go to the salon to get them. I also use a spray called "The Cure", and the shampoo is called "Drench", both by a company that makes products for dry, curly hair. My curls are beautiful. I just want a little more definition and I want them to be a little more relaxed.

My hair is NOT layered anymore. When it was layered it was so frizzy I could not stand it. When it gets knotty or matted, in order to avoid tearing my hair out of my head, I use a kids detangler spray.