Silicones have gotten a bit of a bad wrap, which is a shame cause they can be really good for the hair (especially for preventing damage). Oils. butters, waxes etc. have the potential to cause build up too, there's no need to specifically single out silicones if you're clarifying regularly. So, I for one would love to see more products / content about silicones! Great video btw!

And silicones, I don't mind them. I actually really like how smooth and "healthy" they make my hair feel and look. They've personally not caused me trouble. If anything, clarifying did the trick and was no biggie.

There’s this amazing affordable deep conditioner at Sally Beauty called L’Oréal Mega Moisture that I never would’ve discovered if I was avoiding silicones. It has sunflower oil and ammodimethicone and is great for coarse thirsty hair.

I’ve never felt compelled to comment on anything on KZfaq- ever…but since I’ve discovered your videos..well here it is. I’ve learned so much about how to manage my unruly curls. I didn’t develop curls til post- childbirth when I guess my ‘curl-gene’ was activated. Now entering menopause…my hair is curlier than ever. Has been a journey of frustration- frizz and curly hair chaos! Your videos seem as if they were directed at whatever issue I’m facing that week! Thanks and keep them coming!

🤦‍♀️ the detangling and refreshing is me every day. Now I know why i have been having problems that and straitening several times as well. Thank you for this!

Yes I would love to see a comparison video b/w Shark and Curlsmith dryers. Thanks for your usual detailed and clear information. I learn so much from your videos and greatly appreciate you in our world!

Hey Gena, I started watching your videos at the beginning of this year and didn't know much about my curly hair to begin with. I've learned so much from watching your videos and have managed to get my curls growing healthier and they're much more easy to maintain. Thanks a bunch ❤️👏🏼

Thanks so much for sharing these tips and photos Gena. I’ve been going back and forth between straight and curly for 2 years and having a lot of these problems, not curling properly, soft fluffy frizz and refreshing constantly. 2023 is the year of committing to curly and seeing if it improves 🎉❤

Hi Gena I don't mind a little silicone tbh in my styling products. I live in Scotland which is wet most of the year and frizz is a big issue, as I have course textured hair. I shampoo every week and clarify every month, so I don't really deal with build up. I try to use very nourishing conditioners with oils/butters as my hair needs those, but for fighting frizz silicones can be really useful for me. The other issue I have is that at 50 I have to tame those white hairs (skipped grey straight to white) and managing the different textures of hair can be tricky. I still get a few high lift tint highlights to blend in the white hairs and for a night out/occasion will use a curling wand on individual pieces, to make them a bit more uniform with the rest of my hair - I'm not perfect and do what suits my lifestyle. I wear my hair up rather than doing a lot of refreshing - it's less damaging I feel as I use silk scrunchies etc. My hair responds really really well to oils, but if I really want a smooth look I will cheat with a little serum at times. We each have to do what works for us and I've been wearing my hair curly for a few years at this point (I haven't straightened it for about three years). Best wishes.

I use silicone on my low porosity hair. I also clarify about every 3 or 4th wash day. I really liked this format of video, watching you style real time. I'm only 2 years into my journey but it really does get easier as your hair gets healthier. Wash day, in the beginning, was an Event! Now, it is simple, that is if you embrace a different "look" every day. My adult daughter, with straight beautiful hair, has curl envy and is jealous of my low maintenance.

I love the CurlSmith products, but the oil is just too heavy for my hair. I use Verb Ghost oil after the CurlSmith cream and gel. Perfect! I'm using the oil for a pre poo oil.

I'd enjoy a comparison video with the two dryers. Also, I'd love a video where you experimented with using and not using a leave-in or curl creme with your styling products to compare curl results and their longevity. I only started wearing my curls during the pandemic. Haven't looked back. I love my curls now! A bit confused as to if I really need curl creams or leave-ins though? I like my results (mousse with gel on top) and have noticed when I try curl creams or leave-ins, my curls don't last as long (ex. my hair becomes too soft) or my hair looks weighted down and greasy. Maybe a video going more into the difference between curl creams and leave-ins, their benefits, which ones work best for which curl type etc. and how best to incorporate them into your routine + your favs (though we've gathered some already lol). Thank you, Gena! 😁💖

Using an oil on dry hair to de tangle before shampooing saved my hair after a 7 day in the hospital. I couldn’t shower and had my hair in a pineapple where it ended up matted. I made the mistake of trying to detangle while in the shower and lost a ton of hair and ended up with slit ends. Thanks for the advice.

I like the advice you give in this video and your others, but FIVE products? Actually six if you count the leave-in that you mentioned you put in before the heat protectant at the beginning of the video. Why must curly hair care take so many steps and use so many products and be so expensive? This is rife in the curly community. I'd love to see a video using minimal or multi-purpose products that get good results.

I cannot use silicones on my low porosity hair! They build up in one application only, that's why I avoid it at all cost. Thank you for the video Gina 🙂🙂🙂

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Yes, please do the blow dryer comparison. Thank you!

I enjoy your tutorials! I’ve learned what is a co wash, clarifying, and try to understand your curls. Have thin hair and my silvers are rocking! I am not adventurous when I like a product, I stick to it 😊. Love Curlsmith it feeds my curls very good

I just made my first curlsmith order, you are an excellent brand ambassador 🥂😘👍🏼

you look so comfy doing your sections I bet that takes time I just ordered one of those the one I got only had 2 settings

I use products w/silicone & have zero issues. I find butters stuck to my hair way worse than silicone. And waxes or paraffin are both SO bad on my hair that those are the ingredients I avoid. They make my hair feel disgusting after one use & even a double cleanse didn't get them off. I don't use harsh sulfates only because I find i don't need to. That Olefin 12-14 sulfonate does an excellent job at clarifying my hair, & I use other lather shampoos, which is probably why silicone doesn't build up on my hair. I think they got demonized over all the people that were using really cheap products, like old school Pantene conditioner & similar, which used silicone instead of hydrating ingredients. When the CGM became popular, all these companies capitalized on the fear, reinforcing that silicones are "bad", buy their product which has an all new formula!🙄 But the fact is they're an emollient just like other "natural" ingredients like shea butter are. Our hair fibers can't tell the difference between synthetic & natural emollients. Silicones tend to be lighter weight, too. I think it's all about experimenting, & keeping in mind that one wash day with silicone isn't going to wreck your hair. That said, I don't go crazy with them or anything. My hair LOVES amodimethicone, & that's a great one for damaged & high po hair because it targets damaged areas & fills in the gaps, making detangling much easier & less damaging, gives hair a silky feel, plus it offers heat protection. YMMV

I can attest to giving your hair to get "better"; that it doesn't happen over night. But, it does happen. Took me a few times of experimenting before my hair showed extreme signs of being healthier. I still plan on experimenting with other products just for back up purposes. What really turned the tables for me was giving it a good wash with clarifying shampoo (one recommended to me). Then I did a hair mask which I left in for 20 minutes. Rinsed it out and scrunched a couple times with a micro-fiber towel. I put on Biotera gel in sections. Used a detangling brush to rake it through and then scrunched it with a t-shirt. I used a diffuser for a few minutes. Then I left my hair to air dry. Since it was warm out, it didn't take long to dry. There was very little hardness. But, I scrunched that hardness out with a t-shirt. Then I slept on it and all I had to do in the a.m. was to give my head a good shake.

I've been on this journey for just over 2 years and watched a ton videos and I still don't know what silicones are if reading the ingredient list, unless it is written "silicone" in the list. So, because of that, I do clarify about once a month. Thank you for the tips. I don't know why or what I did, but I had a bad wash day yesterday. I think it feels producty. I usually have to do a light refresh, especially if I'm going out, but I don't think nothing but a rewash will help, which will be Tuesday. So, until then, I am keeping it in a low pony.

I’d like to see a comparison of the Shark & Curlsmith dryer 😊

Can you please do a video about curly haircuts for different face shapes!!

I have been misunderstanding silicones for years, instead of doing my own research on the subject. Turns out whilst silicones based products will not perhaps suit everyone, (nothing ever does), other claims about them are just pure marketing. Silicones are not bad. There are many different kind. They all behave differently. They do not all build up on the hair. They are not all occlusive. They wash off with the right ingredients very easily and are very beneficial to many hair types. They control frizz, provide slip, reduce friction, and mechanical damage. They offer far better heat protection than natural oils, butters, etc... The tricky part is finding the right ones for one’s hair needs and using descaling shampoo twice a month which I would argue all hair can benefit from. ☺️💙🙏🏻🕊🌞

I know silicones aren’t bad but i have found that products with silicones tend to not be my favorite ones…i think at the end of the day my hair just doesn’t get along great with them, while other hair types do.

I started to use the Verb Ghost Oil which does have silicone in it. I also have liked the lather and cleansing properties of Aveda's Sap Moss Shampoo. The smell is earthy and many reviewers seem to be bothered by it. I am ok with it but it did take some getting used to. The Sap Moss conditioner is good to but I went thru it pretty quickly and it isnt inexpensive. So I am using a store bought confitioner for deep conditioning snd Trw Luxe Untie thd Knot for leave in conditioning and refreshing. For most shampoo days I use Tre Luxe Curl Renew and Restore Gentle Cleansing Rinse. I find it does the right amount if cleansing without stripping my hair dry, nor does it leave it too heavy like a cowash can on my thin fine hair.

Yes please do a comparison between the Dyson and curlsmith hair dryer!

My understanding is there are water soluble silicones as well, so don't need to clarify them out.

Thank you for all the information you provide in your videos. My hair fall out so bad and im only 25.... sigh I'm gonna try some of these products and tips... subscribed 😊

So glad I came across your videos! I appreciate your clarity and all tips. My question is do you ever do Beach Waves on your curly hair? Thanks again!❤️

Love your videos! I always learn something new from you 😊 Thanks for sharing Gena!

I have 3bs and it's rough and tiredsome having to check ingredients, pay $$$ on curly trims, etc.😢 Hoping 2023 will be the year I properly treat my curls

I've used silicones in the past and I've literally never had a good experience with them. Maybe in the right product they would work, but I recently had a haircut from someone new who used silicone containing products in my hair and I had to wash it out, as I really didn't like the way it made my hair look and refreshes just weren't working for me as long as I had the silcone based products in my hair.

Can you please talk about hair care for us 60 yr olds who have to get our roots dyed every 5 wks to hide the grays. Should we still be clarifying our hair. Should we be using more conditioner. Thanks.

Please do a comparison between the Shark and the Curlsmith hairdryers please! Trying to decide between the two. I have very little time to get ready so if you can let me know which one is a faster dry, that would be very much appreciated!

Any suggestions for those of us who choose to continue to color hair?

Yes please comparison!

I have an issue where my bang area doesn’t have much curl to them. I am trying to grow them out hoping the will curl the longer it gets…do you know anyone with this issue?

I would like to see the comparison of the Shark hair dryer and the Curlsmith hair dryer.

I just found out that our water here is hard water. What would be your best recommendation for the hard water and possibly hard water/clarifying shampoo together? I have the Curl Smith line that is just clarifying - and really good for your scalp. I hope you won't just recommend Curl Smith because that's who sponsoring this video. I want to know who you think is the best for hard water. Thank you so much for helping me with this!!! Great video by the way!💖

Looks gorgeous

I wash my hair every 2 to 3 days with a sulfate and silicone free, lathering poo. How often should I clarify?

Help! I have chemo curls. So it's not very long and I look like Bozo. Do you think I should get the ends trimmed? It's been a year since my last trim which I regretted.

Strands has a hair analysis. For $50 I got the test results and then they made my shampoo and conditioner. I just got the products today so have not tried them yet. The hair analysis was so worth it for me because I was so tired of trying to guess what my porosity was. I would recommend. Just search Strands. I cannot put the website here because KZfaq takes it off.😊😊😊

How do I find out what type of curly hair I have? I've heard several different things on styling my curly hair.

Could you name some styling products that have good slip? Thank you.

So everyone says to plop to absorb water and extra product, but it seems to remove Most of my product & I don't get a cast. Even with hard hold.

I just found your channel and this is the first video I have watched. I have questions. I don’t even know where to begin. I guess my first question is what deep conditioner to use I live in the Midwest area.

Hello! Have you ever tried the bowl method?

Ahhh I just bought the Dyson now I’m worried

You are using curl cream and styling souffle? I am confused now I was told at Ulta (yesterday) that when I use the styling souffle I don't need curl cream can you please clarify for me?

You spent so much time smoothing product on your hair , is it even necessary?

I really want to get the Curlsmith hair dryer but it’s too long for my arms. 😢😢😢😢

I curl space and time by linier action What is straight

I have low density hair but I really want to have thicker hair any advice?

I would love to hear the pros and cons of the Conair hairdryer. I bought it on your recommendation of a lower price point option, and am loving it but am still seeing some frizz issues. I'm on the start of my journey, so I'm figuring out the issues. Also, my curls fall flat every night because of my CPAP machine. Is it OK to add some water to reshape the curls? I've definitely figured out that I have been oversaturating my hair, bit have begun to dial it back to good results.

I have a similar brush and I feel so uncoordinated using it. Any tips?

Can you recommend an alternative hair dryer/diffuser as you can’t buy it in the UK??

which oil do you use before shampoo? i have the curlsmith bonding oil do you think i can use that of its better to use a cheaper oil since you wash it… thanks

Can we use any oil like the Mielle one. or just specific ones for pre poo oil?

I know this is really taboo, but if you absolutely cannot give up highlights is there any way of having even remotely healthy hair? I don't ever plan to have it longer than shoulder length as all the women in my family look like Gollum by the time they leave this earth and I'm well on my way. Lol! So longer hair will look stringy. My hair is also this unfortunate dark mushroom color with weird darker bits coming in at the same time the grays are. This all clashes with my warm toned skin. So with all this going on I can't imagine not using some blond (I was blond as a child) to blend all that out somewhat. I'm not interested in perfect curls and don't mind some frizz. I just don't want to look like a scarecrow. Any thoughts?

Where do you find your hair products?

Do you have layers cut into your hair or completely one length?

Do you color your hair? Permanent color?

What is a good pre-poo oil

Great video! When you use oil to pre- poo how long before you shampoo do you apply it? And would the Curlsmith bonding oil be okay for pre-pooing?

What is PC?

Do you go to a person who specializes in cutting on the curl? Do you have your hairdresser blow out and straighten hair for an even cut?

I have been following your videos for a few months now. Your hair looks very similar to mine. I have been trying to decide whether to add layers to my hair for more volume since my hair seems to have gotten thinner after having children. Is your hair is layered or all one length?

What do you use for a clarifying Shampoo?

Do you have a specific recommendation for any oil to use as a pre-poo?

I swim every day, how do I get around hydro fatigue?

This regime takes entirely too long. I don’t have time to dink around with my hair everyday

Thank you for this video but you're speaking a lot.... Ver very much and i couldn't focus to video..it was really hard to watch

JESUS IS KING