Updated Curly Hair Favorites

I'm always on the hunt for great beauty products and when my old curly hair routine stopped giving me the best results, I knew it was time for a switch-up.

I've found some new products that I'm really enjoying for making my hair look and feel great and giving my curls some extra life. Plus, some of these products are even more affordable than my old standbys!

Shampoos and Conditioners

I've absolutely fallen in love with Bumble and Bumble hair care! The Gentle Shampoo and Super Rich Conditioner do such a fantastic job of cleansing my hair without stripping it of moisture and conditioning without weighing it down. Best of all, it takes a super small amount of product to get the best results, so the product becomes even more affordable. I've used these salon-sized bottles since January and I've barely used a quarter of the bottle.

It's really important to use a clarifying shampoo to get product build up thoroughly out of your hair. Clarifying products can strip hair of natural oils so once a week use is all that it takes to be effective. Bumble and Bumble's Sunday Shampoo does a fantastic job of removing any buildup on my hair effectively but gently. Once again, a very small amount of product does the trick. I've been using this bottle since early February and once again I still have quite a bit of product left over.

Once a week, I rely on one of two Fekkai hair masks to moisturize and deeply condition my hair. They both smell fantastic and are nearly half the price of the Moroccanoil Repair hair mask that I loved - and not nearly as heavy or oily, so my hair is soft, silky and light after use. I really love the Essential Shea Riche Moisture Masque for moisturizing my hair. As the spring and summer winds and sun kick in, my hair definitely gets drier and could benefit from the extra TLC. If my hair needs even more attention, I'll turn to the PRX Reparatives Intensive Fortifying Masque which is great for damaged, dry or processed hair. I've found it's especially helpful for treating my hair after I've straightened it and helping to restore my curl pattern quickly after a good straightening session. 

Styling

I still continue to rely on my Mixed Chicks Leave-in Conditioner and DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel to condition and style my hair. These two really work hand in hand on my hair to shape and lock in my curls - they are heavier products but my hair tends to drink up hair products, so on my hair they wind up being a bit lighter than on other hair types and textures.

I've added two Fekkai products to my styling routine that have been such amazing additions and have hit holy grail status for me alongside the other Fekkai and Bumble and Bumble products I've discovered. The PRX Reparatives Instant Repair Leave-in Conditioner Spray is a fantastic product for the days where my hair is particularly dry or bouncing back from a hair straightening session. It's light, smells amazing and is really effective at hydrating and repairing hair without being oily or greasy. 

But my everyday addition is the Essential Shea Pot de Creme - it's such an amazing hair creme that adds a base layer of moisture before applying my Mixed Chicks and DevaCurl over it. I noticed the best change in my hair and curl pattern the minute I introduced this product into my routine and I'm so happy to have it in my hair product arsenal. I did have some trouble finding a good link to purchase it, which makes me so afraid that I'm going to have my beauty nightmare come true: falling in love with a product that gets discontinued or reformulated in a way that no longer works the way I want it to. Fekkai, please don't take away my new true love! 

***

Curly girls, let's share it - what are your favorite products to care for your curls? I'd love to try them out! Leave your faves in the comments below.