[maxkinzie]

Hi!
Have come up with two questions...
1- have tried all kinds of products, some are great, some a joke (for us). Somebody was talking the other day about too much conditioner, is there such a thing really? DD's hair stays softest when I put a littel olive oil, and a spray on conditioner in daily when we style it. I don't want to strip the hair as was mentioned

2- I want names of commercially(wal-mart, target type) available products, reasonably priced that have worked for both conditioning and styling dry, thick, curly hair. Was so excited to finally find the "Twist & Loc" stuff, but it really hasn't impressed me much (we don't have locs, but it was recommended) Have read sooo much the past couple years that I look at all the choices now and it's overwhelming! What are people's current faves? :-)

thanks,
Maxi

[joskids]

My daughter is AA/Italian and has VERY THICK and long hair. I use a conditioner that can be bought at Sally's called "Liv" by a company called "Summit". It's a white creme in a white jar with red writing. The best advice I got is that you "can't use too much" and it's been good advice. Makes my 7 year old's hair much more moist and easier to come out. Mine too as I am Italian with very thick, coarse hair. Try it and see if it helps. I personally think there's a lot of hype about products made to appeal to us in terms of being made to lengthen, strengthen, yada, yada, coarse, curly hair. I think very few of them really work that well and we're best to find one or two products that work for our individual children and use those. I also find Creme of Nature shampoo to be very good. I do iron out my daughter's hair once a week or so to make combing easier. I think it's less damaging than using a relaxer but still damages to some extent. I have two other biracial children and each has very different hair texture. The others really need no special care. Hopefully the products I mentioned will be helpful to you.

Josie

[BrandyHagz]

Please remember that all website URL's (addresses) must be passed via Pm

[Linny]

I have an entire cabinet full of products that were recommended to us. One daughter has extremely thick, kinky hair....the other has sparse, thin and much more relaxed hair. Both are AA.

I always come back to the Biosilk by Farouk. Available at hair salons (even in the one located at Wal-Mart)...and though a little pricey, it takes such a little bit to make the hair moist and easier to comb.

I know it CAN leave a bit of a residue---but I've not found any type of oil that doesn't to some degree---and this residue is minor. One daughter is almost 5yrs old; the other is 3yrs old...and we've had both of them since infancy. Been using the Biosilk since they were babes and it continues to do well.

Sincerely,

Linny

[bellazmama]

I've tried all kinds of stuff. Sometimes, you just have to. Plus, her hair texture will change as she gets older. Right now, we're using Creme of Nature shampoo with Neutrogena's Triple Moisture intense conditioner and frizz serum PLUS Pantene's Women of Color styling spritz PLUS biweekly conditioning treatments with an oil mixture from the health food store containing olive oil, sunflower oil, and almond oil. We shampoo weekly in the summer and every other week in the winter. In between, we just use conditioner to "no-poo" her hair.

[jheald]

We've been lucky so far with our ds and his hair. We use Just 4 Me products and so far only need the shampoo and the light conditioner. We've got a tub with the oilier type and needed that when he went through a bout of head to toe ezcema. I buy them at Sallys.

Janet

[SHD]

My 3 year old DD is multiracial AA/Asian/Na.Am/CC(Italian). All of these races have dark, thick hair. Everyone comments about how gorgeous her hair is but when she hits puberty she'll cry about how she hates it when there are women out there paying big bucks to have hair like her. Seriously, it's thick, curly and very full. I wash it once a week but don't use shampoo. I use a very thick conditioner, Rusk Conditioners calm condition. When she takes a shower I wet her hair first thing, load it up with conditioner, like joskids said, "can't use too much." Then I place a shower cap on her head while she continues her shower, so it stays on for about five or 10 minutes. When she's finished I rinse and brush, put conditioner, Rusk smooth conditioner, and braid or put it in a bun.

Have you tried a local beauty school? The future stylists could help you out with products and styles that are right for you. They might even be able to give you the names of the products they use on themselves or on customers.

Hope this is helpful.
SHD