Question of the Day: Product Recommendations for Summer

Q:  I want to wear my hair natural, due to the heat this summer.  I can really use your expertise with product recommendations. Price is absolutely not a problem for me. This is my profile:
1.  Gray hair with a lot of shrinkage
2.  Curly, but coarse in texture (gray hair can be very stubborn)
3.  Dry
4.  Needs a lot of moisture and shine (it’s pretty dull)
A: This is a tough question to answer, because it really depends on where you live. In a very dry or very humid climate humectants are usually a bad idea, which is why I tell people to always pay attention to the dew point. Now, if you live in an optimal dew for humectants, which is usually around 40-55 (for me at least, some stop at 50, some go down to 35), I recommend this video. It shows my favorite products for good dews, because the products contain glycerin, which pulls ongoing moisture to your hair.
However, if the dew point is very low or very high, you want to a) moisturize your hair properly before facing the elements, b) avoid humectants (for me, glycerin is the main culprit – I don’t really have issues with other humectants like aloe vera, panthenol, or honey in non-optimal dews) because you will either get moisture pulled from your hair (dry climate) or there will be too much moisture in your hair (humid climate), and c) seal your hair (or use products with sealants) in order to keep the moisture in your hair. Some of my best products for non-optimal dews are as follows –
Conditioners
Tresemme Naturals Moisturizing Condish
Leave-In Conditioners
Oyin Hair Dew – contains oils
Curl Junkie Argan and Olive Oil Beauticurls Daily Conditioner (you can condition with this too) – contains oils
Curl Junkie Beauticurls Leave-In Conditioner – contains oils and butters
Curl Junkie Curl Rehab – super moisturizing, has shea butter (for sealing) very high on the list
Stylers
Curl Junkie Curl Queen
Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel (if you are not sensitive to aloe)
Kinky Curly Curling Custard
Curl Junkie Curls in a Bottle – finisher
Knotty Girl Leave-In – finisher
If I feel like I need more sealing, and don’t want to worry about a pomade turning white on me on top, I use jojoba oil or hemp seed oil in between the leave-in and styler. If I’ve already done my hair, I use HerbnLife Head Sprung, which is a refresher spray/hair perfume that does not contain glycerin, but does have oils.
xoxo

8 thoughts on “Question of the Day: Product Recommendations for Summer”

  1. Yolanda says:

    Today in the Chicago area the dews are over 70 and I thought that I would be safe using KCKT w/ Hair Rules Curly Whip (old formula no glycerin). I stayed in the house all day and my hair still turned into a brick. I freaked out. So now I am sitting here wondering what to do now! I rewet my hair and applied more KCKT and sealed w/Aloe Vera Juice. I’m almost afraid to use any other gel styler today.

    • Elle says:

      If your hair turned into a brick it probably wasn’t the dew – high dews usually mean over moisturized and frizzy hair, not dry and hard hair.

      • Yolanda says:

        Thanks Elle. Maybe I should stay away from the Curly Whip for a while and rethink my product choices. My hair did feel really nice before I added it. I just spent that last 3 wks in Seattle so coming back home to this heat was a shocker to a newly natural chica.

  2. PG says:

    Thank you for this info, I searched your site to find this answer since I live in S FL which typically has high dew points. Your youtube channel and this site is so informative. Thank you for sharing with us.

  3. Nicole says:

    Thanks for this info. I’m in NC where it is very humid, and now I understand what you mean when you refer to the dew points as it relates to hair. I needed a new conditioner so I will check out Tresemme Naturals. I have also been using Feather Whipped Curl Creme by Soft Sheen Roots of Nature on top of coconut oil. The smell can be a little strong at first, but it really keeps my hair under control, but soft. Zero frizz. That’s been my remedy for soft, manageable hair in this hot weather. 🙂

  4. Onebydesign says:

    Vonnie you will love the curl junkie curl rehab; I found out about it through Elle and the strawberry scent does smell just like strawberry ice cream, you will find yourself constantly smelling this stuff LOL!

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