Come along with us on a Curly Canadian Road Trip this summer! We've suggested products based on the different climates we have in Canada so you can get the best out of your curls, regardless of where your holidays may take you. This is the last installment of our series. Check out our blog for the other posts if you're looking for information for other areas of Canada.
The Curly Canadian Road Trip: The Northern Territories (Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut)
Sun Protection
The summer weather in northern Canada has a lot of sunlight hours. The first thing you might want to consider in your routine is a UV protectant. Yes, there are ingredients that provide UV protection for your hair! For a list of these ingredients and how they work, check out this post by Science-y Hair Blog: UV Protectant Hair Ingredients and Products.
For a softer hold try the Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Featherlight Styling Cream. For a cream to put under a gel or a mousse, you can try Amika Supernova Moisture & Shine Cream or the Amika Supernova Blonde Violet Moisture & Shine Cream. For a stronger hold, take a look at the Ouidad Coil Infusion Give a Boost Styling Shaping Gel Cream. Note these products have some non CG-approved ingredients if you are strictly following the Curly Hair / Curly Girl Method.
It might also be a good idea to put a bit of your sunscreen into the scalp area if you are outside without a hat - although wearing a hat if you're spending all day in the sun is a better option!
Here is list of other products that have UV protection that we can usually find in Canada. Please note they do have silicones if you are strictly following the Curly Girl / Curly Hair Method:
- Paul Mitchell Color Locking Spray
- Sun Bum Conditioner and Leave In Spray
- Living Proof Restore Instant Protection
If you want to try a bar and eliminate your plastic, you can use the Blonde Bombshell Shampoo and Conditioner bars from Jack59. They're a Canadian brand!
If you want something to hold your bars that is compostable check out Jack59's Compostable Shower Container. It's great for travelling.
Conditioner Recommendations for Dry Days
Conditioners are a combination of ingredients to smooth and seal the hair so that it is better equipped to hang on to that hydration (water). Here is a short list to give you an idea of what to look for on your product bottle:
- Emollients - Butters, Isopropyl palmitate/isostearate, Plant oils
- Occlusives - Cetyl/Stearyl alcohol, Squalene
- Humectants - Glycerin, Propylene glycol, Flaxseed, Aloe, Xantham gum
- Cationic Surfactants - Behentrimonium methosulfate/chloride, Centronium chloride/bromide (slip)
- Polymers - Polyquats, PVP/VA, Hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, silicones
- Proteins
Some great conditioners that you can use as a leave-in to keep your hair soft on those dry days include:
- AG Hair Remedy Apple Cider Vinegar Leave-on Mist - This is a nice light spray perfect for fine textures and lower density hair.
- Curl Keeper Slip - Even though it says it is a detangler it does make a light leave in or refresh spray.
- My Soigne Protein Leave-in Cream - For those who prefer a cream this one can be emulsified to make it lighter if needed.
- Original Moxie Everyday Leave-in - This one from Original Moxie is great for coarser texture and lower porosity curls.
- Ecoslay Rice Pudding - Last but not least, this is a fave with our customers!
If your hair is extra dry, it is also okay to use a conditioner or a cowash product between your low poo or clarifying shampoo to get that extra conditioning your hair will need over the summer. As I Am's Coconut Cowash is a cost-effective product and works well. Just remember it doesn’t have any cleansers so scrub your scalp a bit more to get it clean and scrub some more as you rinse this off.
Well, that's the end of our road trip! Enjoy the long last days of summer my Northern curls and wavies!
