I'm multiracial (hence my username Creole hehe), and I didn't like Mixed Chicks' Leave In Conditioner only because of the smell. As for its shampoo, there are drying ingredients in the formula, such as sulfates. Watch out for any shampoo that has that sort of ingredient early in the list. However, you can save money by adding any existing hair oils to a "bad" shampoo. Shake up the mixture, and the oil will counteract the moisture imbalances caused by sulfates, which strip curly hair of its natural oils. Also, make sure to get more moisture into your hair regimen than protein. A lot of conditioners make the hair so hard that it breaks off because those products don't maintain the moisture balance. Again, check ingredient lists. Nothing wrong with sulfates and proteins, but you must use them in moderation. Sulfates are good for clarifying and removing buildup from the scalp. Protein is good for strengthening the hair. Too much, though, and the hair becomes unhealthy.
Products that I love: Brendita's Body Works (her entire brand is great because it's mostly natural and organic), which has been featured by Allure Magazine and NaturallyCurly.com; Redken Fresh Curls; hair serums and silk drops by brands like Ion, GVP, and Sabino (once you have the moisturizer in, put the serum in to lock in the moisture and prevent frizz all day/week without the greasy feel of oils); Global Goddess; Moroccan oil (beautychoice.com); BLACK N SASSY Caribbean Creme Leave in Conditioner; PARNEVU (any of their leave-in's would work!). I hope those help!
Originally Posted by
dcole710 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I used a couple of the Mixed Chicks products about two years ago. It made my hair feel really soft but I've used other products that were much better for my curls. Right now I use products from a Dominican line called Silicon Mix and they've completely transformed my hair.
The Biracial Hair Site seemed to have some really good techniques. I never thought to leave in the actual conditioner instead of using a seperate 'leave-in conditioner'
I like Silicon Mix polisher spray, but their pearl extract shampoo is drying. Again, sulfates are good for clarifying. I shampoo at least once a week to remove and/or prevent build-up. Most of the time, I use conditioner to wash my hair between shampoo days. That way, I'm getting much-needed moisture into my hair regularly!
Curly hair is shaped differently, so it's attacked from all sides. That's why it's even more important to stay on top of things.