My hair is fine, 2b/c, High porosity hair. It doesn’t curl for the first couple inches, but idk if that’s because of genetics or something I’m doing wrong. Either way, I have symptoms of not having enough of either protein or moisture. It’s dry and frizzy, and sometimes feels like hay, but also breaks easily and is stringy when it’s wet. All I do is shampoo and condition with shea moistures light blue hydrate and repair. I scrunch it damp and then diffuse on cool for a little but not fully dry. I need ideas for products, and I’m open for deep conditioners or hair masks or something, but I like to get out the door and try not to spend long styling it.
I think the Shea Moisture is maybe not right for your hair. It may be building up and causing issues.Are you in the US? Sally Beauty GVP conditioning balm is like an allergy diet for hair. Conditioner without oil or silicone or much protein just smoothing.
My kid with bleached hair loves AG Sleeek as a leave in, it does have some silicone. She also does sometimes Olaplex.
The one with fine but nonporous hair loves the Innersense Hydrating Hairbath. You might be good with that shampoo, a little conditioner left in, and something for hold, I would say a light gel rather than mousse as even I find mousse drying. Kinky Curly Custard or (again Sally Beauty) Biotera “alcohol free gel with bamboo” quite a mouthful of a name but it’s cheap as heck and very good. Or Garnier Fructis gel cream, that one is light hold and moisturizing.
Editing to add, since you rinse it every morning, have you considered doing a water only routine? What happens if you just don’t wash it at the end of the week? I’ve known 2 people in real life who do that, both had very fine hair around 3a in curl type.
I’m mostly worried about silicones and oils because I only shampoo once a week and I don’t want things to build up. That’s the reason I’m cautious around products in general. I haven’t tried gels, but if I find one that comes as a sample size and is for hair like mine, I should probably try it. It depends on how much time it takes, too, because I hate having to get ready for a long time for anything. Water only sounds sweet, but my hair is too porous for that, and the water alone wouldn’t keep it hydrated. I think that’s my main problem now, keeping the moisture in.
What is your budget like? Not specifically but do you need around Shea Moisture price or can get salon stuff?
My hair is very different but does tend to dryness from being coarse & low porosity - the Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner is the only conditioner I’ve used that lasts for days in my hair even if I refresh with water. Their stuff is pricey but concentrated and ‘clean’ & most products are available in liters, that helps. They have travel sizes too.
Styling time, I don’t think gel would increase your styling time much - if you don’t have super thick hair you can literally just scrunch it in in the shower before you dry off.