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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Riverside chapter.

 

 

Taking care of curly hair is challenging at best, defining your curls, dealing with frizz, and keeping your curls hydrated are time consuming and frustrating. About four years ago I stopped straightening my hair every day and went on a curly hair journey. I was trying to find a way to revitalize my curls, but finding the right products for my hair was difficult; not to mention my hair was also dyed and brittle. I spent a year trying new products, trying to get my defined curls back and after trying countless hair products I found my top 5 favorites.

 

(Courtesy of Lushusa.com)

Blousey shampoo, $33.95/8.4oz

 

Two years ago I walked into a LUSH store looking for a face mask and was recommended some products for my hair. LUSH has specific shampoos and conditioners designed for curly hair. I ended up buying the Blousey shampoo, which is made for damaged and fragile hair. I had recently bleached and dyed my hair, so it was very dry and brittle. Most of the other shampoos I had previously used were not hydrating, but the Blousey shampoo cleaned and moisturized my hair like a conditioner. I did notice that there were some bits of banana in the shampoo, but they wash out smoothy. A little bit of this shampoo goes a long way, to my surprise it lasted me about 6-8 months.

How to use: Apply a dime size amount, lather, and rinse out.

(Courtesy of au.lush.com)

R&B Hair Moisturizer, $25.95/3.5oz

 

The second hair product I bought from LUSH was the R&B hair moisturizer and leave in. I applied it to my hair after I had washed it and notice that my curls were more defined, and that the frizzy sections of my hair were smoother than before. Just like the Blousey shampoo, R&B lasted me about 6 months when I applied ia dime size amount to my hair 3-4 times a week, and if I was feeling lazy I would just re-wet my hair a little and apply the moisturizer to redefine my curls.

 

How to use: Apply a dime sized amount  to washed hair, you can scrunch or run your fingers  through your hair

(Courtesy of nz.Lush.com)

Queen Bee, 16.95/3.5oz

 

The last thing I got during my LUSH haul was a moisturizing balm, Queen Bee. I had never heard of a moisturizing balm before, but I learned it was like the last step to defining your curls. After my hair was dry: I took the bar of the moisturizing balm, rubbed my palms on it, and applied it to my hair. It gave my hair a nice shine and it helped control my fly-away hairs and frizz. One thing I loved about LUSH is that most of their products are made with fresh ingredients. There’s a sticker on the bottom of each product that shows who it was made by and the date it was made. They also created a program to reduce waste and promote recycling, when you bring back five LUSH product containers you get a free face mask of your choice.

 

How to use. Take off a small amount from the bar, rub it in between your palms until it melts, rub or scrunch it into your hair

 

(Courtesy of Target.com)

Jamaican Black Castor Oil Hair Masque, $9.99/11oz

 

For some cheaper options I tried Shea Moisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Hair Masque. After I shampooed and detangle my hair I applied the Masque and put my hair in a bun and waited 15 minutes to wash it out. My hair felt so soft and hydrated afterwards, and my curls were defined. However after it dried I did notice that the top of my head was still fairly frizzy, but still manageable. Along with using the masque in the shower, I occasionally will apply a small amount and leave it in overnight for an extra deep conditioner.

 

How to use: After applying shampoo, work it into your hair from root to your ends, put your hair in a shower cap, wait up to 30 minutes, then rinse out

 

(Courtesy of Target.com)

L’OrĂ©al Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm, $5.99/ 8.5oz

 

The other hair mask I use, usually as an ‘extra’ conditioner is the L’orĂ©al Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm, which can be found at stores like Target and Walmart. I normally use this balm to help detangle and condition it. The Total Repair Balm has been a staple in my hair care routine for years, and it still manages to make my hair feel smoother and softer each time I use it.

 

How to uses: Apply to washed hair, starting from roots to ends, leave in for 3-5 minutes, then rinse out

Yasmine Hetherington

UC Riverside '21

Yasmine Hetherington is an undergraduate student student at the University of California Riverside. She is majoring in Psychology with a minor in business. When she's not studying she enjoys painting, drawing, and hiking in her hometown in the Bay Area.
Hi, I'm Savannah. I'm currently a Senior at UCRiveride studying Sociology. After graduation, I'm looking into doing Public Relations with a media and entertainment company. My favorite things to do are find the best shopping deals and go on road trips.