Kokova Magazine

Having curly hair is great, especially if you can find the right products to use to maintain those curls. Yet sometimes trying to find the perfect product is an impossible, and very expensive, task. I often discover a new shampoo and gingerly expand on the range if the shampoo works according to my hair needs. And every now and then I get excited by a complete range and dive straight in; usually after reading glowing reviews or being caught on the spot by a sales person doing a demonstration in a shopping centre. The last time we were in Westfield, I came away with a complete That Good Hair set; including shampoo, conditioner, and hair wax.

Now, I am getting closer to 60, with fine grey hair but I have a lot of it, and it is very curly. However wax is a definite no-no for me and is much too heavy for my hair. Yet we were told it would be great for any hair and we took the plunge. Over fifty pounds later we left with what would be yet another set of product to pass on to someone with more suitable hair. The shampoo and conditioner were good enough but nothing amazing and certainly no better than the cheaper products I was already using.

My most recent list of fails have included Only Curls, which proved to be too heavy in formula for my hair. Boucleme were one winner, with satisfying results if I only used the Curl Cleanser and Curl Conditioner. Sprays and leave-in cast products leave me in a sticky mess, with unmanagabble hair. The Boucleme shampoo and conditioner work well and, when left to air dry, my curly hair is soft and manegable.

Oway were to be my next investment, after recently trying their products during a trip to the hairdressers. The products left my hair soft and curly, so I bought some glossy nectar oil and smoothing cream to try at home. Another dent in my hair fund at over seventy pounds for two items, but I was left feeling the investment was worth it. My hairdresser gave me a small shampoo sample to try at home. My hair certainly felt good, and continued to feel softer for the following few days. Waking up after wash day, I am usually met with the discovery that my gorgeous curls from the previous day have transformed into a dry haystack, that needs a lot of refreshing. My hair fund was preparing to go the distance and invest in more Oway products, even though each one is in the region of thirty plus pounds - and they are not sold in huge bottles. But today I got sidetracked by something new.

A quick pop into Superdrug this morning and I found the Method for Curls by Garnier, which were available at half-price with Superdrug membership. Having tried the Garnier Ultimate Blends Curl Restoring Shampoo and Conditioning Mask, it seemed to be a sign to try their Method for Curls (in fact I have just finished the mask and was waiting to finish the shampoo before indulging in an Oway trial). As many curly shoppers will sympathise - I was led by impulse and the desire to wake up on a non-hairwash day with the semblance of soft curls, so I bought the whole set of products - the pre-wash, the shampoo, the mask, and the curl spray. Never in my life have I found a curl spray that works, yet I bought it anyway! The power of marketing - or the desire for good curls? Excitement took over and having already washed my hair this morning with whatever random shampoo and conditioner was left, I felt a good condition and hair day was still in order. I even got into the shower again, to make sure I could easily complete every step to increase the promised, and expected, results.

Yet within a few hours it was obvious that my hair and this collection were again, not a complete match. The pre-wash felt divine but also very similar to just conditioning my hair before a shampoo. The shampoo then took away any of the delight from the pre-wash. However, the mask was as expected. I love it, and it is similar to the Garnier Curl Conditioning Mask I had finished last week. Step 3 - I sprayed my damp hair with the curl spray - and a familiar feeling crept in. This is where it all went completely wrong. It was sticky on my hair, and made it feel tacky - even when it was still wet. Within an hour of waiting for my hair to air dry I already knew I would be heading back to the shower to wash it out.

After a rinse removed the spray, I added another condition with the mask, then left my hair to air dry again with a small amount of Oway Smoothing Cream to finish. My soft curls are back in place, and tomorrow will see how well they survive the night. There is a little more definition to the curls than I had earlier but nothing to the level I usually have, and not to the level I expected from these products. What I have learned from this latest adventure in hair products is take your time, read more real customer reviews, and make up your own mind. It will always be trial and error until you find products that work. The whole range is not always suitable for your hair, and even some products in a range designed for your hair may still not be suitable. For me, the pre-wash is irrelevant. The shampoo was OK. The mask was the winner and can stay the course. The curl spray is already out the door, along with the other curl sprays I thought might work one day.

Before bed, I use 100% pure argan oil. Just a few drops on the ends of my hair. For a refresh in the morning Oway have got me covered with the glossy nectar oil. And for now Garnier masks are proving to be a good choice for my hair. Once I get to the bottom of the bottle or tub then I will see how my hair fund feels and take the Oway plunge.