At midnight on July 12, I decided I needed a change and chopped off my hair. There were things I prepared myself for, like the inevitable shock of seeing myself with a super short cut or thoughts that I'd made a huge mistake (thankfully, I haven't felt this way at all). But what I wasn't expecting was for my hair to start acting differently. Now that it's short, it frizzes up more than it used to. To fix this, I began rummaging through the bottom of my hair-care bin for the mousses and Afro-hair-friendly gels that I didn't really use before.
In that stash of products, I found the Mielle Organics Hawaiian Ginger Moisturizing Styling Gel, a thick jelly that adds hold to any style without flakiness. I've been obsessed with the brand for the last five years, and couldn't tell you a single product I've tried that I dislike. I had a good feeling the gel would deliver the results I needed because the other products in the collection, like the leave-in conditioner and hair butter, served me so well, plus the hydrating avocado and ginger root oils in the formula looked promising. The gel is intended to be used for your braid-out, a slicked-back bun, or extra definition where necessary.
My three-day-old hair full of frizz
Courtesy of subjectAfter cleansing my hair, I started with my three-step routine — applying a milky leave-in conditioner, almond oil, and a styling product, usually a hair butter. This time around, I skipped the butter and instead went in with the gel while my hair was still wet. Starting from the back, I distributed roughly a tennis ball-sized portion of product evenly throughout my hair using circular motions.
I coated my palms with a quarter-sized amount of the Mielle Organics Mint Almond Oil that I smoothed into my hair starting from the front. The oil would help fix any excessive crunchiness or flaking, which the brand recommends for best results. Then, I let my hair dry and do its thing.
My teeny-weeny-afro (TWA) typically starts frizzing up on day two, and by day three, it looks like it's been fully brushed out. But going on day three and even four, my curls were still defined with this gel. The best part is that it didn't feel dry or crunchy. My short hair got the definition and hold it needed, plus a little extra hydration.
That moisture comes courtesy of the avocado and ginger root oils in the formula. Like the other products in the Moisture RX Hawaiian Ginger collection, it has a refreshing citrus and floral scent that's not overpowering.
The Mielle Organics Hawaiian Ginger Moisturizing Styling Gel is turning into my secret weapon against frizz. For $7, you can get your own at target.com or mielleorganics.com.