ECOStyler Olive Oil Gel and Hair Health

Hey Ladies! I can finally say I'm one of you. I BC'd today! MY PRIORITY IS HEALTHY HAIR!! That being said I'm interested in hair products that will help define my curls. I hear A LOT about ECOStyler Olive Oil; I have seen plenty of youtubevideos and those girls use SO MUCH HAIR GEL!!! I hear the EcoStyler is crunchy. That can't be healthy for the hair! Can it? Does anyone experience breakage from the gel? Do you have any curl defining product suggestions? And why? Or maybe you mix the gel with something else so it doesn't get hard? Like I said, I'm a new natural and new to this community so I'm still learning a lot about my hair and products. Thanks for your input!!

Welcome Amchang! I love Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, KKCC, KKKT and Mizani perfect curls defining cream. These all work great for my hair, but its all about trial and error. Hope that helps! Good Luck on your journey!!!

I'm using my Eco Styler gel today for the first time.

I used my Knot Today leave in, followed by a bit of the Qhemets balm, then I applied the Eco Styler. I just dipped my forefinger in and used what came back up (not a lot at all). The curls were still a little stiff after drying - even with the balm - until I ran my fingers through my hair to separate them.

I like the curls, but they are different curls - they aren't as defined as with the Kinky Curly Curling Custard, which I think is my favorite so far. For what it does though, for the price, it's worth having I think.

I just took this pic:
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Worked great the very first time I used it, and then it was crunch city everytime I used it after that. I wound up giving away a 90% full jar.

Ecostyler can make your hair feel dry with continued use. Make sure you use a really good leave-in conditioner or moisturizer underneath the gel to keep your hair from feeling dry. Also you can apply Castor Oil on top to help get rid of the crunchy feeling.

Hey everybody thanks for your input. To Luscious Mahogany, what is KKCC and KKKT? And by the looks of everyone's responses I should probably stay away from the ECOStyler. My hair is in a healing stage. But I will definitely be willing to try Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Mizani, Kinky Curly Curling Custard, or anything made for Salons (something I can find at ULTA). Where can I find castor oil and other natural products? Some place like Fresh Food Market or Trader Joe's?? Thanks again for the help! Love you guys!!

KKCC is kinky curly curling custard and KKKT is kinky curly knot today.

Yea when I first went natural I used eco styler w/olive oil but after a few uses I stopped not only did it make my hair crunchy and a lil dry but I just could not wrap my head around putting that much gel in my head on a regular basis especially if it wasn't natural. I rarely ever use styling products like gel or curl puddings or whatever but when I do want to use a styler I have these 2 gels, KKCC and herbal essence "set me up". These are the only two stylers I have and I use the HE if i want to scrunch and KKCC if i want to shingle. I use a lil oil under it to keep crunch away. I definately retired the ecostyler and just use it for my edges sometimes.

Oh yea, and you can find oils and natural products at like a whole foods or trader joes or some where like that

@Amchang, Girl I love your BC, its very fitting for you, It looks GREAT!!!

@ Luscious Mahogany. Thanks! I had a mini photo shoot with my husband yesterday. I'm trying to decide what kind of clothes I should wear now that I have my BC. I was a t-shirt and jeans girls before, many times no makeup, but I feel the need to spice up my look. Any suggestions?

@ amchang-love the bc! I felt like that when I first bc'ed as well. Just make sure you wear earrings-they make a world of difference. I also tried to do my eyebrows and add a clear lip gloss before I headed out the door. But as for wardrobe, it will fall into place after a while. You're still you, just a little more natural now.
As for the gel, have you tried aloe vera gel? I got castor oil and avg at the Vitamin Shoppe.

love the BC...it suits your face well...and congrats on taking the plunge

i get my oils at the indian store and Whole Foods (castor oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, aloe vera juice)

i was using eco here and there but i gave it up. i then tried aloe vera gel but i was a lil too lite for me.

i used naptural85's (youtube) recipe for flaxseed gel and never looked back. it gives me the hold and shine i was looking for and is natural. you can buy whole flaxseeds in bulk from whole foods. i got a small scoop for about 80 cents.

@sydnisd183 -
Would mind sharing the recipe for the flaxseed gel? I'm currently not a liberty to check out youtube at the moment, but I'm SO curious about it. You know ... I have "the man" looking over my shoulder! (LOL) Thanks!

~NeeC1

@ freckledmom4, no I haven't tried many products. I just went out and bought coconut oil today. What has the the aloe vera gel done for you and what's you hair type? I think I'm 4b or 4c type hair, maybe a mixture, my hair isn't long enough to tell. But I want a product that will define my curls. Are natural products better??

@Amchang, I agree with Freckledmom4 that earrings are a big must and will make a world of difference with the TWA. I love to play around with makeup but if you don't I agree that the gloss and eyebrows would be subtle and nice too. I like the shirt you have on in your Avatar pic, I believe that certain colors we wear bring out something extra in our complexion, idk. Good luck tho!!

@Luscious Mahogany. Yeah, last night I went out and got some things to spice up my t-shirt and jeans look. I'm excited. I'll look into the earrings.

I use Eco Styler, and it can leave your hair crunchy, so I use a leave in underneath, and oil on top, and that usually does the trick. I do not use it often though, only for the occasional wash n' go or ponytail.

I have the best success with Eco Styler by using like suggested a great leave in, then aloe vera gel and then the Eco Styler. This usually gets rid of the crunchy feeling for me.