CURLSMITHShape Up Aqua Gel, Lightweight Styling Gel with Proteins for Damaged Hair (59ml)

I feel like this review is going to be a long one, but stay with me.I thought I’d share my experiences with the physical and mental struggle with trying to achieve a state of health and growth with curly hair. I am British mixed Afro Caribbean and my whole life i’ve found my hair to be something I was ashamed of growing up in a white community with constant comparing to my white friends with their straight hair that had new styles in constantly and from that I became very envious of the versatility of their straight frizz-free hair. Furthermore I grew up with my mum who is white (absolutely no negativity towards her because she took care of my hair very well and often learnt how to manage it from my dads side of the family who is black when we had the chance to see them- which was rarely.) But as good as she was I didn’t have a mother who had the experience with growing up with curly hair so this made it difficult for me to relate to anyone.At primary, I would have my hair slicked into a pony tail or a braid because I hated how it looked out and as I got older that was the only thing I would do with my hair. In high school, I would put my hair into a slick back ponytail every day with just gel, no other product and I done that for 3 years. In year 10 I really started to think about my hair more and i grew increasingly unhappy with it. I was still very envious of my white peers! So everyday i would slick it back into a range of hairstyles: Half up half down, bun, ponytails, french braids etc. I loved doing my hair at this point of time and i finally started to see how beautiful my hair could be when I put some effort into it. I started exploring brands like shea moisture, african pride, mielle and many more and I started to fall in love with my hair.But then I decided to take my hair more seriously.I spent hours researching my hair, hair type, hair porosity, moisturising ingredients, best products, hair routines etc as I have always been insecure about my frizz in my hair and I wanted to do something about it. In 2021, the back of my hair wouldn’t even curl because the amount of times i had put high tension onto my hair from slick backs and a lack of moisturising ingredients- it would just frizz! Anyways, I found out my hair texture was a mix of 3b, 3c, 4a, my roots are tighter and the shaft being slightly looser. My porosity type is high porosity as my hair soaks up moisture quickly and would frizz and dry out easily. With this information I tried popular brands such as shea moisture (didn’t like, not moisturising at all and doesn’t penetrate the hair shaft, although their deep conditioners are great) mielle (loved this brand but they changed the formula and there has been controversy about their products causing hair loss, so I stopped using it) and now finally curlsmith.It has taken me years to get where i am today, i’ve provided photos of my hair in 2021 up until today in 2024. It’s taken me 3 years of love and struggle to get to where i am and many small hair cuts. I used the Curlsmith protein salve in my hair before i shower, Redken bonding shampoo, Shea moisture deep conditioner, the leave in oil cream and the shower-in gel and a diffuser and these are my results each time i use them which last around 7 days if i wrap it properly at night.I am proud to say after coming all this way I well and truly love my curls, I always have my hair down or i’ll VERY occasionally style it into a bun or ponytail. Curlsmith has the most natural ingredients you can get and is a great place to start if you want to bring your curls back from the dead; it is possible with time and patience! I hope my “story” has provided some comfort to people who experienced/experiencing what i’ve been through and to let them know it will all get better and to love your hair unconditionally! Wear your hair out, embrace it!

I have low to medium porosity hair with a 3B curl pattern, and my hair typically doesn't react well to protein-based products. However, it loves this treatment! I use it every other month or whenever I straighten my hair, and I'm always amazed by the results. quality. I would recommend it as an occasional treatment for low porosity hair, and after using heat or bleach.

Leaving my hair soft and moistured

Loving this gel and finally found my combination for my curly hair.I have sorry had.. limp thin curls that didn't hold the whole day. Now using only curls cleanser and conditioner, a small amount of leave in and this gel whilst using a curl brush but not the one with wide separater but for thin separater curls is my holy grail after years of trying so my different products these are what work for me. I use the gel whilst separating hair in sections and adding gel then brush style and repeating once all styled I add more gel scrunching before drying.. first pic is hair before and the 2nd is my hair after drying before scrunching out the crunch and 3rd is after curls last days now and don't dropped by end of day one. Finally embracing my curls

Good hold, but does leave your hair very stiff and sticky? Felt a bit disgusting and had to wash it off once I got home

I love this. I bought 3 of this to be sure if I like it. Ordered the medium size, then came across the bigger bottle at tkmaxx I purchased.That's how much I love this product, it's a stable for me

Works well, lovely scent. It is an intense treatment so should be used infrequently.

Been using this for a few years. My high porosity curls love it and have noticed less hair fall with regular use. May not be suitable if your hair does not like protein. Bit expensive but a little goes a long way.