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I've been no-shampoo for over a year and really enjoy the simplicity of it, and cutting out unnecessary products from my life. I've found a nice routine with scrubbing my scalp under warm water, and sometimes using an ACV rinse and/or conditioner with cool water. I have dry (years of bleaching/dyeing), wavy (type 2b), somewhat fine hair, and always just let it air dry.

I used to use a silicone-based serum on damp hair to give me wonderfully defined, soft, shiny waves. This obviously went out the window when I ditched the shampoo. I'm having trouble finding a replacement that doesn't make my hair crunchy/stringy, or super greasy.

I've tried L'Oreal EverSleek, Dr Bronner's Style Cream, DevaCurl Mirror Curls, Aveda Be Curly, plus some straight up oils/conditioners. Aveda was actually pretty good but I'm not sure about their ingredients...

Anyone have recommendations for something as non-chemically as possible for de-frizz and definition?

EDIT: I just had to update that I am still loving a touch of argan oil on dry hair, plus I have recently discovered this technique that gives me wonderful results without any products: http://www.wikihow.com/Plop-Your-Hair

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10 Answers

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I've tried coconut oil but its just too heavy and can leave greasy bits. the best item I've found (and I have long dark curly, colored, ironed blow dried hair, which tends to frizz).....

Argon oil, AKA Morrocan oil

after a week your hair will be shiny, soft and much less friz!!

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Oh interesting, that is new to me... how do you use it? I will give it a try. – stephthegeek Aug 25 2011 at 18:47
I just use one pump into my hand (size dime) rub in my hands and then apply around the ends and at the roots after if needed...while wet. Its fantastic and organic! I get mine from folica.com, good price – Kelly Aug 25 2011 at 19:43
Just got some at the store, will try it with tomorrow's shower :) – stephthegeek Aug 25 2011 at 22:04
oh yeah argan oil is fantastic. – being Aug 25 2011 at 22:58
Used just a touch on dry hair last night and loved it! Put a little more in while wet today and it's a bit stringy... although very soft.. think I used too much though. Will keep trying, very promising, thank you! – stephthegeek Aug 27 2011 at 0:48
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I scrub my scalp with suave naturals conditioner and cool water. hot water gives me frizzies. make sure to really work it and really rinse it well. since you seem to have dry porous hair like mine, i recomend aloe vera gel mixed with olive oil im the summer as a leave-in. for the winter, i use coconut oil, sometmes mixed with conditoner, sometimes with warm honey. i plop the hair on a silk fabric, or a tshirt. i get super glossy curls sinse doing this, but i must always do it after a shower, otherwise my hair immediately looks like straw. by the way, the olive oil doesn't smell bad, as i thought iit would. good luck!

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I second the aloe vera gel. I add a drop or two of Argan oil to that usually. I also like HA gel but that's harder to find and more $. – Shari Bambino Aug 26 2011 at 4:33
YES i second the tshit instead of terrycloth towel for drying, too. makes SUCH a huge difference. – being Aug 26 2011 at 19:24
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i have similar hair to yours, but probably tighter curls (3a and 3b). no poo didnt work for me because i got so frizzy and my ends were like straw. i also mourn the loss of the silicone products- i dont use them anymore, but damn did they make my hair look good!

right now im using aubrey organics (blue chamomile hydrating shampoo a couple times a week and either honeysuckle rose or island naturals conditioner every day) and im using the dr. bronners peppermint coconut creme as a styling/defrizz agent. i see you have tried that particular brand though and didnt like it. it works well for me when i use it JUST on the ends and the frizzier sections in back- defines and softens without looking slimy or oily.

plain coconut oil works well for a lot of people but just go really, really easy. i had a hard time incorporating it throughout my hair very evenly, so it would leave a greasy patch next to a dry frizzy patch. if you use it, definitely err on the side of LESS. it does pack a punch.

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 I had no idea curls had numbers?! – sherpamelissa Aug 25 2011 at 18:29
I am apparently a 3a/b! Who knew. Thanks girls for teaching me something new today. <3 – sherpamelissa Aug 25 2011 at 18:31
Haha, I learned about the numbers from a no-poo forum just recently :) – stephthegeek Aug 25 2011 at 18:41
akd, thanks for the suggestions. I tried a conditioner that was a blend of oils, primarily coconut oil, going very easy on it, but I found it made my hair stringy. Ditto with the Dr. Bronners -- very crunchy/stringy, not soft at all. I think I should try just straight coconut oil though... I have no idea how/when to apply it though? – stephthegeek Aug 25 2011 at 18:43
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 How do you style it steph? I do well with damp hair, then putting in my product and using a scrunchie to twist it into a bun on the top of my head before bed. When I wake up it is magically pretty curls. I shake it out and spritz a little water with tea tree oil on it and I'm good to go. – sherpamelissa Aug 25 2011 at 18:50
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Have you seen flaxseed gel? It's just flaxseeds boiled in water and strained. I add a capsule of vitamin e and a drop of lavender essential oil, and it makes my hair tame and soft :) http://youtu.be/k6yPFKaxo70

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Coconut oil! I've found it to be a great defrizzer.

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How much? Does it rinse out easily in the shower without soap or shampoo? – Rick Aug 25 2011 at 18:07
How do you use it? – stephthegeek Aug 25 2011 at 18:44
All I use on my curly hair after a shower is coconut oil. It's the best! I just use a dime size and melt it in my hands and put on my hair. Experiment with how much. I don't use shampoo very often, mostly co condition. Check out facebook.com/HealthyCurls She has some great advice. Good luck! – Liesl Aug 25 2011 at 19:26
I probably scoop out a little under a teaspoon, rub my hands together, and just run them over my hair (I have very thick hair, almost to the middle of my back). Seems to work just as well as a good frizz serum from the store! I only shampoo my roots once a week or so; haven't noticed any residue from the oil- maybe it gets absorbed into the hair shaft? – Jules K Aug 26 2011 at 13:13
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I use Jessicurl products - http://www.jessicurl.com/Products-p-1.html#products=tab2&cleansing=tab0&conditioning=tab0&styling=tab0&accessories=tab0

The Rockin' Ringlets potion is thin and washes out easily. I use just a small puddle (dime-sized in my palm), followed by an even smaller dab of Confident Coils. Both don't stick to your hair the way silicone-based products do. (My hair is curly, super frizzy if I don't use products, and past my shoulders, BTW).

You can order trial sizes of Jessicurl products if you'd like to give them a go.

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Ooh samples.. helpful! Thanks! – stephthegeek Aug 25 2011 at 18:45
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I would go the extra virgin coconut oil route. I have been no 'poo for almost nine months, and still use commercial conditioner to tame my curly, frizzy hair. Sometimes I run my fingers through my hair when I find my hands covered in coconut oil (ends only!!), and it seems to tamp down the crazy. waiting for the end of humid season to totally give up the commercial crap and go all in with the CO.

This site has some good options for natural hair products (this article is about oils for the hair, they also have conditioner & shampoo recipes) http://www.organicauthority.com/delicious-beauty/3-natural-superstar-oils-for-a-better-hair-day-care.html

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I have the same hair type, best no-product fix: Braid it out of the shower, when it dries, widetooth comb it out. Mine settles into nice waves this way.

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Oooh brilliant! I need to learn to do a french braid or something... I've had short hair all my life and am pretty styling-stupid :D – stephthegeek Aug 25 2011 at 22:04
Not sure i'd have the patience to do this every day but I will definitely try it. – stephthegeek Aug 25 2011 at 22:05
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 Once you've been doing it a while it's really quick, my hair is a few inches shorter than waist length and it takes 90 seconds max. – Katie Aug 25 2011 at 23:58
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HAIRONE from Sally Beauty Supply...nice ingredients...not really a 'poo and amazing results for soft, sleek curls. link textwww.sallybeauty.com I promise and no, i do not work for them....oh and avoid silicone products...it builds up on the hair shaft, dries it out and makes it difficult for hair to absorb moisture.

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I use WEN by Chaz Dean. The products are kind of expensive, but last a long time and you don't need to use it every day. I tried the HairOne products, which are supposed to be a cheap knockoff of the WEN, but it didn't work for me at all, much to my disappointment. I'm back to WEN. Here's a link, if you're interested:

http://www.chazdean.com

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