Do Aveda products work on kinky hair?

02 March 2010 ~ 20 Comments

BGLHer Clara submitted this question…

“I’m a third time natural from Cincinnati, Ohio who is NEVER EVER going back! I finally found a stylist who doesn’t have natural hair but her daughter does and she appreciates the naps.

In the past, I took my own products to her, but she just relocated to Dillards Salon which means I am no longer allowed to bring my stuff. Dillards uses Aveda products and she has asked me to do my research and tell her what products from Aveda to get that could work for my hair. I have very thin, fine and curly/nappy hair. My shrinkage is probably 200% and I am not kidding. When I my hair is stretched is comes down to my chin but when I wear a wash and go, it’s a very TWA! So, if you can please ask my fellow naturals with such hair type or know someone with my hair type that uses Aveda, to give me suggestions.”

Alright ladies, what have your experiences been?

20 Responses to “Do Aveda products work on kinky hair?”

lina40 2 March 2010 at 12:47 pm Permalink

not sure if my hair matches yours – you can check my fotki album (member name okorolina40)

But I have used the following Aveda products for years with great success, although my hair is very THICK and coarse (4b-ish):

My commercial holy grail products this year so far have been the Aveda detoxifier shampoo and the damage remedy restructuring treatment — I feel like i have a whole new head of hair every time I use them. I have also used these with good success too:

Brilliant Shampoo and Conditioner – love it! I use the conditioner as a leave-in sometimes, but for fine hair I would rinse out.

Aveda be curly conditioner and curl enhancer – I liked both of these, but they were very thin consistency. I use both as leave-in stylers, because I need way to much to wash the condish out. You may like these for your hair, though, since you said your hair is fine but very kinkycurly.

Aveda smooth infusion style prep & smoother — i like these as heat protectants for a rollerset.

Aveda heat damage spray – i really like this as a daily hydrating spray. It does have silicones, which is good as a potential heat protectant if you need something light for a quick blowout. I add 1oz rosewater and 1/2 oz glycerin for extra hydration and moisture – (since i use it daily)otherwise I apply it as purchased to damp hair and seal with a light mix of coconut oil and shea butter.

This fotki member below is an ‘Aveda loyalist’ and I have used most of the same products she likes with similar rave reviews. You may want to check her out as well

http://public.fotki.com/melanizm13

You can also buy Aveda products on ebay in larger sizes once you find the ones you really like — way cheaper!

Hope that helps sweetie! Blessings and Happy Hair!

Lina40

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Ambi 2 March 2010 at 1:28 pm Permalink

I have 4a type hair and the products didn’t work all that great for my hair, but it did give it a nice fragrance.

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misslycia 2 March 2010 at 1:43 pm Permalink

I used Aveda products during my transition years ago. My hair is very thin and fine too. The Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade was good for braidouts. I also got my hair colored at an Aveda Institute, and I loved it. You can see the pics here:

http://public.fotki.com/Justiceone/

I prefer to use more natural products now, but Aveda is better than most of the mainstream products out.

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FurryCoconut 2 March 2010 at 3:32 pm Permalink

it didn’t work for me

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Brit 2 March 2010 at 4:14 pm Permalink

well i haven’t used aveda products, but i do know that no two head of hair are the same. if i were you, i’d get one of the sample packs that addresses what you think your hair needs, and just try it.

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Ru 2 March 2010 at 5:05 pm Permalink

i was really excited about using Aveeda and i got basically nothing out of it. It actually made my hair really tangled which is weird.
Maybe it’s just my hair type though.

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kadiane*francophone 2 March 2010 at 5:34 pm Permalink

She likes one of it and you can see her hair type: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FANNJ9E-ps

She does to and the last link gives you a glance at her hair type:
http://nukynk.blogspot.com/2009/11/product-review-aveda-dry-remedy.html

http://nukynk.blogspot.com/2010/02/techniques-mayo-evoo-hair-detangler-and.html

Good luck

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skeeta25 2 March 2010 at 6:14 pm Permalink

oh girl, maybe you can talk to the salon management to do a trial by ordering a small amount of a productline that will work better with our hair? You could say that it will attract more “diverse” clientele. ;o)

Or, maybe your stylist can do your hair elsewhere, like at home or a friends shop…

Or maybe you could search for someone else.

From the reviews above, I would be scared to use products that didn’t truly understand or help my hair type, you have to keep those hairs for years and you want them as healthy as possible.

Best of luck!

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Clara Disi 2 March 2010 at 6:20 pm Permalink

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the information. What other products would you recomend for someone with my hair type? Have a great evening!

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Jc 2 March 2010 at 6:21 pm Permalink

I have used Aveda products and was at one point addicted to the rosemary mint conditioner.

I think they are ok for hair. They are nothing special. I no longer use them because I decided I prefer herbal essences and a l’occitane product too.

I’m still aiming to try that lustrasilk stuff.

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Poppy 2 March 2010 at 7:01 pm Permalink

Hi,

I have always passed Aveda and thought to myself ‘hmmm’ but was always put off by price and the ingredients which don’t seem that special. I’m aware that some hair board users like the Damage Ready line and the Dry remedy line which seem to be for dry damaged hair and therefore, in theory should work for natural kinky hair.

I think it may be time to admit that you need a new stylist but you have had good suggestions here. It sounds like your old routine with your old products was working with the stylist and it seems a shame to alter your routine to fit a salon’s ethos, just so you can also keep your old stylist.

You should ask the stylist about doing your hair at your or her house. She may be too busy but it’s worth a try. You should also try out the Aveda lines that I have mentioned and see if you like enough to switch to Aveda. If not then you need a new stylist or to take your hair into your own hands.

Now having not seen your hair, nor knowing your type (curly/nappy says nothing to me, sorry) I can only say that for me Qhemet’s Biologics Burdock Root Cream was the best. I couldn’t keep up with it because of availability where I live and the cost for the one supplier to ship it, meaning that it cost alot more than U.S ladies pay for it. It kept my fine hair soft. I liked their olive and honey product as well but the Amla Heavy Cream was too heavy and I didn’t finish it. It left my hair coated and tacky.

I’ve tried Shea Butter which I currently use. I don’t feel that it is enough alone to moisturise and may go back to QB or try Darcy Botanicals. Being in the U.K, I have far less choice than I’d like so all that Afroveda, karen’s, Shescentit etc is out of the question for me.

Good luck.

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LBell 2 March 2010 at 9:17 pm Permalink

I too have thick, fine-stranded, mostly 4b hair with super shrinkage. Aveda Be Curly leave-in worked for me when my hair was shorter but like lina40 said, it’s kind of thin, so it doesn’t do much now.

Aveda Brilliant Humectant Pomade was my favorite product to use for twists that I planned to keep in for a week or more. Actually I’m thinking of putting in small twists this weekend (I haven’t had 4-6 hours free to dedicate to hair in a LONG time) so I might pull it out.

Back when I used to heat-straighten my hair (1-2x/year), I tried using Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade as a finishing gloss just to see if it would keep the press longer. Can’t say that it did.

Finally, I recently rediscovered my collection of Aveda Chakra Purefume Oils. Adding some drops to my homemade mixtures is a real treat! Aveda products always smell really good IMO.

As for non-Aveda products, here are my basic staples: Dr. Bronner’s almond castille soap (diluted 4 to 1), Hello Hydration conditioner, castor oil, coconut oil, olive oil. I do not use shea butter straight because it just sits on my hair; I prefer to use it mixed with other ingredients.

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Tiffany 2 March 2010 at 10:39 pm Permalink

Clara,
I’m originally from Cincinnati now living in Columbus. I have a name and number for a stylist who handled my natural hair when I lived there. email me @junegemini1572@yahoo.com if you’d like her info.

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LuckyAnaiya 2 March 2010 at 11:49 pm Permalink

I have 4a/b hair and my hair really likes the Damage Remedy conditioner. I also really like the Be Curly leave in – when I run out of Knot Today (Kinky Curly) I use the Be Curly. It gives my hair a lot of slip so it’s easy to detangle and I don’t have to worry about a lot of build up.

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Jesmimi 4 March 2010 at 1:38 am Permalink

I use the Damage Remedy conditioner and restructuring treatment, too. My hair loves them. I just realized they contained cones a few months ago, so I feel sorta bamboozled. Lol. I used to use the Sap Moss Shampoo, but they discontinued it. The Damage Remedy shampoo, in conjunction with the two conditioners, makes my hair feel too hard…like I’m exposing my hair to too much protein. The only other super moisturizing shampoo they have is the Dry Remedy, and while it feels like it’s moisturizing (the texture is similar to the Sap Moss Shampoo), the fourth ingredient is dimethicone. This is true for that whole line. Dimethicone is in the top five ingredients of each product! So, I’m still searching for a new, good, moisturizing Aveda shampoo. Since I’m having trouble finding one, I’m trying out Oyin’s Honeywash. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

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Enny 4 March 2010 at 4:05 pm Permalink

I’m a type 4b and the only Aveda product that worked a bit for me was http://www.aveda.com/templates/products2/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY10538&PRODUCT_ID=PROD15806

Every other thing gave me the same ole crispy aftermath. LOL.

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Enny 4 March 2010 at 4:06 pm Permalink

Oh and that response was for styling products only, not shampoo or anything.

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PR Urbanista 5 March 2010 at 4:20 pm Permalink

I went to Aveda to highlight my hair and it was the best experience ever. I am a color freak and have tried just about every at home blonde color there is on the market. But it was drying out my natural curls. I went to them because they have a 98% natural hair color that is suppose to better to your hair and it was. I definitely felt the difference and did not have the damage the I noticed using other colors.

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Ashley 8 March 2010 at 9:48 pm Permalink

I have 4b hair and I LOVE Aveda products. They give me lots of moisture which I crave. I use the Dry Remedy line and love it.

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serena 11 March 2010 at 10:21 pm Permalink

I’m a stylist at an Aveda salon and I highly recommend Dry Remedy Shampoo & Conditioner. I actually leave in the conditioner for extra moisture and longevity with my twist set. I think it’s great for all curly textures, it’s packed with moisture…what most curly textures need! The Brilliant line offers some moisture but mostly shine.

Good luck!

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