When I was younger (like 12, I'm 18 now) I use to have really frizzy hair, As I grew up it turned into tight curls, But not so frizzy. I HATE curly hair with a passion, I always have so of course I use that miraculous invention called the "hair straightener". Being ignorant of how to manage my hair at the age of 12 I use to put mousse, gel, leave-in-conditioners, and hair spray in my hair after I washed my hair and I would sleep on it and then in the morning, I had no frizz, But I still had the curl so I could straighten it out. That fried the CRAP out of my hair. It was SO dry and brittle and I had so many split ends, It was awful. I looked like a lion. I had to go about a year being natural, doing nothing to my hair but washing and conditioning it. After 5 or 6 years of trimming my hair, Using heat protectant and quality straighteners, Deep conditioning treatments and various things of that nature I was able to then style my hair without damaging it and nurse it back to health. The thing is, I till have that tight curly hair that I dislike ever so much. So, While my hair is in pretty decent condition, I want to be able to style it certain ways, But I find it difficult due to my natural hair. For example, After I straighten my hair I CANNOT use mousse or it will curl back up, It acts as water or something. I can however use hair spray and a few other products. Anyways, The question that I'm trying to get to is what products can I use in my hair BEFORE straightening that won't fry my hair like it did before. I see all these great products by TIGI or Redken or whoever else, But they all say "apply to wet hair then style accordingly". Well, MOST products say that, But that's what damaged my hair. And those directions probably apply to the persons NOT spending 45 minutes to an hour straightening their hair. So anyways, I'm just looking for products that I can use and still straighten my hair without damaging it. Products for volumizing, or straightening balms or serums ....anything of that nature. Please do not suggest the common "affordable" brands like Pantene, Aussie, Tresseme, Garnier Fructis...I am aware SOME of their products work good. Aussie and Pantene clean my hair really well and smell AMAZING, But That's the most their products offer my hair, Any of their other styling products I've found no hope in. Tresseme and Fructis, Well, I honestly....really dislike any of their products. I use the Tresmee heat protectant sometimes, But other than that....They fail. I'm not being superficial and saying"My hair is too good for drug store products" it's just....They don't work for me. On the same note, I've used products from Wen and I've hated those even more. I also don't mind the item being a pricey item because I can always find it on eBay for cheaper(:
Wow, I talk a lot.....
So yeah, Help me out? Non damaging products I can use with my straightener....I guess I could have just said that, But...anyways. HELP ME.