What They Say: For medium to very coarse hair texture.

Reinforces a more natural curl that is clean smooth and glossy. It is a moisture infusing cream that creates contour, smoothes the cuticle and nurtures curl definition and shape. Curl cream maintains natural volume in the hair for shiny, defined, controlled curls. Uses select conditioning ingredients to reinforce the curl's natural contour leaving them soft and supple.

How to Use: Distribute evenly through towel-dried hair. Finger style curls into desired shape. Squeeze for a tighter curl. Blow dry with diffuser, or air dry.

What Lisa Says: I was really conflicted about this product. It's great for "curlies" who like to skip blow drying and opt for beautiful air-dried curls. Once styled with my fingers or scrunched for tighter curls, my hair had more volume and the results were lovely. That said, my hair felt coarser and bit dried out after use and I never got good results using my diffuser. The cream smelled faintly like my hair color and my hair just wasn't as "touchable" as I like. I did travel quite a bit with this bottle in tow. The pump dispenser was very sturdy and traveled very well without any leaking.

Profound Beauty has an excellent website with a "Find Your Routine" feature that did not list this as among the best products for my hair. I have a hunch that's why I'm struggling to really embrace it. I will add that my hair looked good enough that I will probably purchase 1 or 2 of the recommended products for my hair and give them a try.

Retail Price: 5 oz/$24.00 (check Profound Beauty for salon near you)

Rating:

What They Say: Conditioner"Moisturizes, shapes and revitalizes curls. Contains Lemon Grass and Orange Peel Oil to add luster and sheen to hair. 100% vegan, 100% free of synthetic dyes, DEA and cruelty free."

Prep "A moisturizing, curl enhancing tonic that utilizes a cocktail of herbal extracts to restore shine andd curl pattern to dry, lackluster locks. No chemical preservatives, cruelty-free, 100% free of synthetic dyes."

Finish "A versatile organic acidifier that locks in curls and colors, enhances styling support, and shields against environmental damage. Low pH formula seals instantly, ensuring dazzling shine and manageability. Light balancing aromatherapy fragrance ripe with Japanese flower essence."

Jamie's Thoughts: I have gotten the wonderful opportunity to review some earth and animal friendly products here at Delush, for which I am so grateful. Abba is one of the brands of which I would have never otherwise been aware, let alone purchase for my own use. Without touching too heavily on personal politics, I will simply say that I very much appreciate Abba's commitment to purity - both in their approach and ingredient lists.

That being said, I wholeheartedly endorse this grouping of products for curly haired folks. These three fantastic offerings smell AMAZING - crisp, fresh, and perfectly suited for both women and men. The scent perks up your morning routine without being cloying or oppressive. The conditioner combed easily through my ratty bedhead, rinsed cleanly, and moisturized well. My hair was bouncy, shiny, and looked lovely. Potential buyers should note that this is designed as a daily conditioner - it has the ideal texture, weight, and effect for daily use. I would not recommend it for deep conditioning.

As for the prep tonic, my feelings are mixed. I initially used it only in combination with the other Abba products, and didn't think it had enough hold for my natural curls. To ensure that I wasn't blaming a fault of the hairspray on the tonic, I started using it on a solo basis and I have to admit it works better by itself. It's okay within the manufacturer-suggested lineup, but I like it better as a "refresh" spray on dry hair - something to perk up this morning's curls before a night out (or a late morning when there's no time to shower and reset my curls).

The finish spray is great. It smells fantastic (but doesn't linger or distract) and does an above average job at holding my finely textured frizzies in place. I usually use a pomade to style, so it took a week or so of continuous Abba usage before I got comfortable with my bigger, softer curls. After I gave up the heavier approach, I really learned to appreciate the lighter hold. I'm not sure it would be enough in the humid summer months, but while it's cold and dry outside, this works just fine.

Overall, I would recommend all three products - especially the conditioner.

Retail Prices: All three products are $17.00 (available online at www.pureabba.com)

Delush Ratings:
Conditioner
Prep
Finish

What They Say: "Frizz Not. Fear Not. Honey nectar and ginseng hydrate, define and enhance curl shape in even the most humid of conditions.

Kit includes:
4 oz Luscious Curls® Shampoo - Renews elasticity & restores bounce
4 oz Luscious Curls® Conditioner - Defrizzes & detangles curls
2 oz Luscious Curls® Cream - smoothes, controls & defines curl shape"

Jamie's Thoughts: I nearly jumped for joy when I found out I'd be reviewing this product. The products that comprise the trio kit need no introduction; really, the name and buzz alone would indicate that I was in for a fantastic experience.

The scent is great - a creamy citrus, kind of like one of those push pops that we all loved getting from the ice cream truck. The shampoo lathers up nicely, and the conditioner is a smooth, moisturizing dream. The combination of the two left my naturally curly hair lightly hydrated, very soft, and feeling fresh.

The smoothing cream leaves a bit to be desired, however. When used as directed, it's not strong enough to adequately contain my curls. (As a point of reference, my hair is very similar to Keri Russell's - naturally very curly, but the waves aren't necessarily uniform in shape, or size) There simply wasn't enough structure in it to keep my hair smooth when applied to damp hair and allowed to air dry. Surprisingly, I had better results with the smoothing cream when I used it as a defrizzing balm on dry, curly hair.

All in all, this is definitely a combo worthy of the Frederic Fekkai name and cult following, and the smaller sized bottles in this set are great for a 1-month test run (or a treat on a long vacation). I definitely recommend this to any curly girl looking for a solid product regime.

Retail Price: $29.00 (at bathandbodyworks.com and in stores)

DeLush Ratings:
Shampoo -
Conditioner -
Smoothing Cream -

What They Say: "This frizz fighting, curl enhancing, shine promoting botanical gel is fragrance free therefore is great for layering over or under your favorite styler. It works great as a stand alone gel also.

Infused with Plumeria Alba Flower Extract and Aloe leaf juice, this botanical gelle imparts sheen, fights frizz, and creates popping curls!

The perfect product to use before traveling...to set and keep your curls in place!"

Toya's Take: The Curls Goddess Glaze is supposed to work in the same way as Kinky-Curly Curling Custard. I decided to compare the products. Curls Goddess Glaze is thinner in consistency and pretty much odorless, as opposed to the Curling Custard, which is thick and has a coconut scent. I have to give the Curls Goddess Glaze the slight advantage. The Goddess Glaze works on defrizzing your curls - defining them and offering hold without adding stickiness or any white flaky residue, which I've found with the Curling Custard from time to time. I think it probably works best for women with looser curls, but it added hold and definition to my kinky curls, too.

Retail Price: $14 for 8 oz. (at curls.biz or go here to find a salon that carries Curls products near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This creamy, sulfate free cleanser is gentle enough to use daily and moisturizing enough to use alone! Ideal cleanser for chemically altered and color treated hair. Perfect for active women! This rich and creamy sulfate free cleanser gently cleanses your curls, hydrates, and conditions the hair all in one step! Infused with carrot seed oil, horse chestnut, sage leaf and arnica Montana flower extract. Perfect cleanser for relaxed, chemically altered, and/or color treated hair."

Toya's Take: As usual, I found that all the Curls products work well together or separately. I like the Curlicious cleanser a lot. It has a luscious scent, sort of like buttercream frosting, if you ask me. It's quite rich and creamy to the touch and I feel it does the job of cleaning gently, yet thoroughly. When used in combination with the rest of the Curls regimen, my hair feels soft, moisturized and is easily detangled, not to mention that it smells great. Another great product from the Curls line!

Retail Price: $13/8 oz. (Curls.biz)

Rating:

What They Say: "CURLING CUSTARD gives moisture and curl definition, hold and brilliant shiny hair!

You get Moisture + Hold + Shine in one product!

An all in one product which will simplify the styling process and provide you with the best value for your dollar!

This high performance product is very concentrated so a little goes a long way. 16 oz jar yields many applications and depending on length and thickness of hair should last a few months.
It reduces bulk, defines & elongates your curls helping them to 'hang' better. CURLING CUSTARD will bring out the natural curl or wave pattern you never knew you had!
It is an advanced botanical formula made with ALL NATURAL ingredients that nourish and strengthen the hair.

Utilizing the humectant properties of the Agave Nectar, CURLING CUSTARD will give weight to your hair, define your curls, remove frizz, provide long lasting hold and shine without ever being greasy, crunchy or drying to your hair. "

Toya's Take: I really enjoy Kinky Curly's products. The Knot Today has become one of my new favorite detanglers and I like the Curling Custard almost as much. Curling Custard has a wonderfully pleasant coconut scent. It works really well to define curls and cut down on frizz. There are a couple of downsides, though - it has a bit of a weird consistency. It feels kind of like snot, actually, which sounds funny, but it's true. And, if you use too much of it, it can make your hair a bit sticky, so use sparingly. Still, neither of those things are enough to keep me from using it. I still encourage girls with tight curls to give this a try.

Retail Price: $25/16 oz. (Kinky-Curly.com)

Rating:

What They Say: "Can't get that comb to glide through your hair? Well, KNOT TODAY!

A creamy herbal conditioner and detangler designed to smooth the cuticle and remove knots, snarls and tangles from kinky textured hair. Apply generously and work the wide tooth comb slowly through troubled areas. Our new thicker, richer formula can be used as a regular rinse out conditioner and also as a leave-in.

Contains extracts of wild cherry bark, marshmallow root and horsetail."

Toya's Take: I have fallen in love with Kinky-Curly products! Of course, I am always on the hunt for the perfect products to use on my "kinky curly" hair. I think I have found them. They are the perfect products to loosen my curls and soften them, without using any chemical processes. Knot Today is part of a system of products designed to work together to achieve maximum curl length, looseness, shine, and frizz reduction. The Knot Today is odorless, which is nice - it won't be offensive to those who have smell sensitivities. I have to apply it quite liberally - I goop a lot on to my hair and then comb it through. It detangles my hair easily, without lots of pulling and effort on my part. Love it! My only problem is that the bottle isn't very big and I have to use a lot to detangle my mass of hair, so I feel like I went through half the bottle already! Kinky Curly, make bigger bottles of this stuff!

Retail Price: $12 for 8 ozs. (at kinky-curly.com or scroll to the bottom of the shopping page to see a retail location near you)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "This magical Asian Hair Tea conditioner combines exotic extracts and vitamin packed botanicals with natural emollients to moisturize, condition, strengthen and protect your over worked curls. If you have dry, coarse, chemically treated and/or damaged your hair...this conditioner is a must have!"

Toya's Take: According to the Curls website, the Ecstasy Asian Hair Tea Conditioner is the stuff to use when you have "dry, damaged, chemically processed, overly stressed" hair. It's supposed to be useful as a regular conditioner, a leave-in or as a deep treatment with heat. I tried it as both a regular conditioner and a deep treatment. I have to say that I like the product, but not any more than the Coconut Sublime Moisture Max Conditioner. I really couldn't tell the difference. My hair did feel nicely moisturized and easily detangled, but it feels that way every time I use Curls products. So, I have nothing bad to say about this product. I like it a lot. But I have to say that I think this is duplication of effort for the product line. You can get equally good results from the other conditioner offered.

Retail Price: $19 for 16 ozs. www.curls.biz)

DeLush Rating:

What They Say: "Are your curls dry, dull and lifeless? Give them just what they need ... daily moisture! This EXCEPTIONAL moisturizer will hydrate, condition and revive your curls, restoring their natural beauty. Consider this your "under wear for your hair." Excellent companion to any of our Step 4 styling products. Acts a curl refresher, prepping them for styling."

Toya's Take: I have fallen in love with Curls products. For years, I have searched high and low for a hair care system that truly works for me and Curls is that system. Never has my hair been so well moisturized or healthy-looking. I am very impressed. I haven't found that Quenched Curls has made my hair look better than it did when I was using the other products in the line without the Quenched Curls, but it surely hasn't hurt. What I would suggest is that it be used in addition to all the other products in the Curls line - your thirsty curls will thank you. However, while I'm sure it works to add moisture, it didn't work well as a curl refresher - it didn't saturate my curls the way I like. I think it's because such a small amount comes out of the bottle with each pump - it took way too much effort to "refresh" my curls. I'd just suggest misting your hair with a fine spray of water with a little oil added for extra moisture.

Retail Price: $13/8 oz. (Curls.biz)

Rating:

What They Say: (about the Curls Milk Shake) "The perfect 4-in-1 leave in for all curlies ... especially for those with needy, dry curls. It is guaranteed to define, defrizz, revive, hydrate and soften dry, kinky curls. Derived from natural milks (coconut and sweet almond milk), this moisturizing cream will bring life back to your overworked tresses." (about the Spiral Curls Cream) "For perfect curls with the hold you've been looking for! It performs like a gel, but with much more sheen and moisture. This miracle worker glides easily on the hair and dries without a producty feeling. Great for all hair types."

Toya's Take: I am always more than happy to try a new product for my naturally curly/kinky hair. I have to say that I really like the Curls products. They smell awesome and are made from natural, moisturizing ingredients that work great on curly hair of all kinds. The Curls Milkshake made my hair feel instantly soft and supple and really made it much easier to detangle after washing. And the soft coconut scent is quite pleasing. I like the Spiral Curls Cream, too, but I don't think the product is heavy enough for my dry, thick hair. However, I think it would work quite well on someone with a more fine hair texture. At these prices and with such good results, I will be making the Curls Milkshake part of my regular hair routine and will be trying other Curls products, as well.

Retail Prices: $16 (Curls Milk Shake) and $15 (Spiral Curls Cream) (at curls.biz or go here to find a salon location that carries Curls products near you)

DeLush Ratings:
Curls Milk Shake -
Spiral Curls Cream -

What They Say: "This alcohol-free, curl defining gel, formulated with Thermacore Complex, a US patented ingredient, revitalizes naturally curly or permed hair as it creates flexible texture and definition with soft control, natural movement, and added shine.

How to use: Work throughout towel-dried hair and style as desired. For added definition or special effects, apply after drying and mold hair into desired shape."

Toya's Take: After washing and conditioning my hair as usual, I towel-dried my hair and applied a bit to my hair, making sure that I applied the product to each section. The first thing I noticed was the scent. It's kind of light and sweet - it actually smelled like something you would use as a bath or shower gel. I really liked the texture - it didn't feel sticky to the touch at all. I let my hair air dry. After drying, my curls were nicely defined and even shiny, with minimal crunchiness and not stickiness at all. I'm able to run my hands through my hair without getting any product residue on my fingers. I like it a lot - I think I'll add this to my regular product rotation.

Retail Price: $11.99/8.5 oz. (Visit GrahamWebb.com for salon locations)

Rating:

What They Say: (about the Curl Refreshing Shampoo & Conditioner) Senses are indulged as hair is treated to a beneficial blend proven to activate and define curl. Gentle cleansers and detangling conditioners in these moisturizing, anti-frizz formulas keep curls smooth and separated, soft and shiny.

(about the Curl Activating Gel) Formulated with a natural blend proven to activate, define and separate curls. Moisturizing, anti-frizz formula keeps curl smooth and shiny throughout the day.

Jamie's Review: Hello, my name is Jamie, and I have high maintenance hair.

(in chorus) Hello, Jamie.

Despite several very solid DeLush reviews on the Back to Basics line of products, I was skeptical about this one. I second guess any product that claims to have any control whatsoever over my naturally curly hair. Do these so-called "curly hair only" products actually do what they say they will?

Well, yes. And no.

The shampoo is predictable, nothing special happening there. It rinsed out quickly and completely, which I always appreciate. The conditioner, on the other hand, is phenomenal. It was very creamy upon application and especially rinsing - it had an instant softening effect on my hair. When I stepped out of the shower, I was able to run my fingers through my hair without physical pain. Usually, I need 4-5 spritzes of detangler before that can occur. Hallelujah! Graham Webb, I love you, wherever you are. After a quick brush, it was onto the gel. It went on very goopy but distributed nicely in the end. The "golden rule of hair gel" definitely applies here - the more gel you use, the crunchier your hair will be. It also did not control the strange, frizzy waves I have on the back of my head at all.

A note on the scent: Holy jasmine, Batman! I found the scent (a very thick, heady floral mix) completely overwhelming, and not necessarily in a good way. If you're like me and prefer a lighter, fresh, citrus scent, do not purchase this product. The scent lasts all day and well into the evening, which is fantastic, if you like the way it smells.

Overall results of the "curl refresher" suite of products? Average at best, save the conditioner. If they made the conditioner in citrus, I would use it everyday!

Retail Prices: (the shampoo & conditioner) $9.95 - 31.95 each in a range of three sizes (the gel) $9.95 (available at salons and select distributors - find a location near you here)

DeLush Ratings: Back to Basics "Curl Refreshing" Shampoo
Back to Basics "Curl Refreshing" Conditioner
Back to Basics "Curl Activating" Gel

Jeannette has always struggled with finding products that can help her feel in control of her natural curls, which are not super-tight spirals, but more difficult-to-style waves and flips with frizzy tendencies. So we asked her to try this line by Halo to find out if it is a curly-haired girl's dream come true.

What They Say
(about the shampoo): "Mild cleansing and foaming ingredients gently cleanse without robbing hair of vital moisture. Panthenol prevents thermal damage to scalp and hair, while promoting body and moisture. Jojoba conditions and moisturizes for intesified body and spring. Wheat proteins subdue static and frizz. Improves combability of curly hair. Humectants help curls retain moisture and spring."
(about the conditioner): "Protective, shielding forming agents surround each hair shaft for increased combability and silky feel. Lightweight silicones deliver a soft, sleek feel without buildup. Wheat proteins condition and reduce static. Softens and unties tangles in rough, curly hair."
(about the curling crème): "Sensual emollients assist with softness and in reducing flyaways. Jojoba proteins condition hair with added moisture leaving hair with improved body, shine and feel. Humectants attract added moisture to promote additional and even curl formation. Silky texture slips through damp hair for quick, easy distribution in salon and at home."

Jeanette's Reviews
(about the shampoo): It cleanses gently and is moisturizing, also the hair shaft seemed to feel stronger after using it. I truly feel it saved my hair from breakage when our water softener went out and our water was terrible. In the past, I've had to get my hair trimmed to take off the damage when dealing with hard water. However, while using this shampoo I felt like my hair stayed healthy and strong which was a hugely noticeable benefit.

(about the conditioner): This conditioner is really nice, however my hair is fine and curly, so less was the key here. While it didn't weigh my hair down, if I used more than a tiny bit my hair was actually TOO soft to manage. If you have more coarse hair, this conditioner may be something that really helps you with your hair texture.

(about the curling crème): This product greatly reduced flyaways for me, which has ALWAYS been an issue. This actually is the first product I've ever used that made that much of a difference. I still felt that less was best for my fine hair.

Overall, I think these products are worth the investment because of how much healthier my hair has become while using it. For those with very thick, coarse hair it should work well, too. If you have fine curly hair like myself, just be careful about the amount of conditioner or curling crème you use. I used this while styling my hair curly as well as straightened with a flat iron, and the most significant benefit no matter what the style method was the reduction of flyaways and increased strength.

Retail Prices: Shampoo & Conditioner $16/each, Curling Crème $18 (the complete Halo Curl collection is available exclusively through premier salons and distributors across the Unites States and Canada. For more information on salon and distributor locations, call 800-456-9322 or visit www.halohaircare.com)

DeLush Rating: