My routine is very simple and I only use affordable products. I am a cheap person, so I cannot see myself buying expensive products online. I also like the convenience of being able to buy my products at the store. But also know that products that are used depend on your hair's properties. I have hair that is 3c/4a with low-porosity, and medium/coarse texture. If someone who is a 3b fine hair were to use my routine their hair would probably be a flat, over-moisturized mess. Here is a list of my current rotation.
My Current Products include:
Co-wash: Suave Naturals Strawberry or Cherry Blossom Conditioner
Leave in Conditioner: V05 (any), Hollywood Beauty Olive Oil Creme, Yes to Carrots (or cucumber) Conditioner, Shea Moisture Raw Shea Conditioning Milk, or Kinky Curly Knot Today. I have the YTCu pictured because that is what I am using most often these days.
Sealants: Olive Oil or Olive Oil/Castor Oil Mix
Gels: Herbal Essences Set me up Gel. Sometimes I also use Tresemme Flawless Curls Spray Gel, or Kinky Curly Curling Custard.
I'm a wash and go kind of girl, but I am currently experimenting with different kinds of protective styles. Here is my method. From beginning of styling to end it only takes 5-15 minutes depending on how my hair is behaving.
1. I co-wash twice with warm water (to open my cuticle since I have low porosity hair), making sure to apply enough pressure to loosen the dirt, and that I have cleaned my entire scalp.
2. I apply Tresemee Naturals Conditioner, and detangle with my wide tooth shower comb. I leave it in my hair until I'm done with my shower routine.
3. I rinse with cool water to close the cuticle, and I do not rinse it completely out. If I had to put a number on it I probably leave like 25% conditioner in my hair.
4. I ring out my hair to avoid the drippies, and I do not use a towel (towels cause frizziness).
5. I put Yes to Cucumbers Conditioner through my hair. (I do not do sections yet on this step, since my hair is still short, but longer hair might require sections to make sure product reaches all of your hair)
6. I put a dime sized amount of my EVOO/Castor oil mix through-out my hair.
7. Sometimes I put on a head band or do a pony-poof next (there are many tutorials out there on youtube for the ponypoof, I might do one later).
8. I put my hair into 4 sections, and apply Herbal Essences Set Me Up gel or Kinky Curly Curling Custard. Then I smooth and finger comb my hair, and I'm done! Both of these gels control frizz, but have a flexible hold, so no need to scrunch out the crunch!
2nd Day Hair:
I prefer this method to my denman now, it's easier on my hair, and for some reason it allows me to have 2nd day hair. My hair seems to be much more healthier as well.
When I prepare for bed I do not put any moisturizers in it because by the time it dries in my hair it is molded and flattened from me sleeping, so I just put on my satin bonnet. As long as I moisturize well when I style I'm fine! And in the morning all I do is smooth out any frizzies with my Tresemme spray gel, and re-style. Then that night I moisturize (I can't go more than 24 hrs without moisturizing as I have VERY dry hair) since I'll be re-doing my hair the next day anyways! I do not recommend going more than 3 days on a wash and go, our hair needs constant moisture (as in water)!
Deep Conditioning (2x/wk):
1. I either co-wash or wash with the Shea Moisture Shampoo (listed above).
2. I apply my GVP Conditioning Balm, Shea Moisture Mask (listed above), Honey, and EVOO. I comb it through with a wide toothed comb.
3. I put on my conditioning cap, and my satin bonnet over it.
