Hi Sephoras, I go to some black hair care stores, some general beauty hair care stores, and sometimes, just plain ole' Walmart, lol.
I have bi-racial thick, tight-to-medium coiled curls. When I first started taking care of my own hair, I had such a hard time straightening it all the time, that I decided I would try to style my hair naturally instead. At that time, it hd been years since my mother had done my hair that way, so it had suffered LOTS of heat damage. After I got married, I got even more determined to find the best products and techniques for taking care of my hair. It's an ever changing process, but here's what I've found to work for me so far:
Aveda Sap Moss Nourishing Concentrate-- I use this before shampooing sometimes and it enhances all my little curls, plus allows them to have extra slip, so there virtually no breakage when I use this!
Pantene Pro-V Treatment Intensive Curl Hydrating Mask-- Also a very good hair treatment. Very humectant. Sometimes I use this overnight, but it is very hard to find.
The Body Shop Brazil Nut Moisture Mask- The BEST treatment I have ever used! Restored my hair to it's original beauty from when I was a kid! I use this overnight, and it smells terrific! Well worth every dollar!
J.R. Watkins Apothecary Hand & Cuticle Salve-- This I actually use on my scalp and it does a great job of moisturizing it wthout the use of petroleum or its by-products (so it moisturizes and lets my calp breathe; very important!) hen my hair is straightened (flat ironed). Various scents, all smell great!
Aveda Shampure Conditioner -- not the most detangling, but full of good-for-you ingredients, plus, has a nice tingling sensation when you come through it in the shower, and for all it's worth, actually relaxes you even if you have major tangles!
John Frieda brilliant brunette Light Reflecting Moisturizing Conditioner-- I had very little faith in this when I first tried it, but it is actually one of my favorites! No problems detangling when I use this, plus, my hair actually looks its beautiful brown instead of just "dark" when I use it! One of the *most* moisturizing conditioners I've used (yet to be beat!). Nice smell too
I know you haven't asked about shampoos, but the subject has come up. While shampooing *all* the time is probably not a great idea, using one that does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate or if it does have it, also contains cocamidapropyl betaine to temper it, once a week or twice a week (I usually do twicea week when my hair is curly, more arbitrary when it's straight haha.), won't hurt it, either. Conditioning like your hair is a princess is key, this is what got my hair back to it's current state. Granted, it is always very thirsty, but never damaged. In fact, it is so thick and strong, when I've had tangles, my hair will break the comb (it's true, I just broke one yesterday, lol!), before it will snap!
My hair is just below my ears when curly, and straightens out to just a little below my shoulders when straight (note how tight the curl pattern must be), so I think this is a great accomplishment for me, because I shaved my whole head when I had mono in January/February of last year!
Well, I HTH