Products for curly, wavy hair

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I have slightly wavy hair and would like to find a product that would emphasize waves and could be scrunched into curls.

— Rebecca L.

Dear Rebecca: You’re in luck. There’s been a huge proliferation of products for every degree of curl and wave. Finding the right product(s) is a huge step toward eliminating damaging heated styling tools and time-suck blow-drying and straightening from your hair routine.

While my hair is way too curly to be managed by products for your “slightly wavy” hair, I turned to Deb S., who is a one-woman expert on what works for wavy hair. These wave and curl aids are expensive, and more companies should sell sample sizes for us to try before we make a big investment in products that don’t work.

Deb (with an assist from her sister Andra) recommends:

„ Innersense (innersense beauty.com)

Pure Harmony Hairbath (shampoo), $9-$70; Pure Inspiration Daily Conditioner, $9-$80; Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner, $9-26. The 2-ounce

$9 sizes let you sample before you commit to a larger size. (Innersense products also sold at ulta. com, amazon.com and more.)

„ AG( us.aghair.com)

Curl Revive shampoo, $26-62; Curl Thrive conditioner, $26-$62 and Re:Coil curl activator,

$24-$38 (All three sold together, $74, currently sold out.) (AG products also sold at walmart.com, ultabeauty.com, amazon. com, naturallycurly.com

and more.)

„ Aveda (aveda.com)

be curly curl enhancer,

$10-28. (Aveda products also sold at Walmart, drugstores, and more.)

„ DevaCurl (devacurl. com)

Wave Maker, $18-26. (DevaCurl products also sold at nordstrom.com, target.com, sephora.com

and more.)

Dear Answer Angel Ellen: For three years, one nail on my right hand has continuously split at the tip. Once it gets past the tip, I must cut the nail as short as I can. Otherwise it catches on everything. I have tried nail glue and bandages but so far nothing has helped. Maybe someone on your team or a reader has a solution.

— Barbara G.

Dear Barbara: I’m flattered that you think I have a “team.” For better or worse it’s just a team of one: me. But readers have great solutions, and here’s hoping they respond to your plea. My suggestion is to ask a nail tech for recommendations. For years, I’ve been wearing acrylic nails that protect my weak natural nails. Others prefer gel nails. The upkeep is expensive, $38 every three weeks. But, since you only have one problem nail, the cost shouldn’t be much and perhaps it is worth a try.

From Ellen:

For Adrienne K. and other readers who asked me how to locate a discontinued Estée Lauder product, there’s this: Estée Lauder has a “Gone But Not Forgotten” team that will try to find discontinued products for 17 of its brands if discontinued within 36 months and not part of a special edition or seasonal promotion. That covers 17 brands including Clinique, Origins, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan Cosmetics and 13 others. To initiate a search, email consumercare-US@gcc. gbnf.estee.com or call 1-800-216-7173.

Unfortunately for reader Adrienne, they couldn’t find the product she was searching for.

Now it’s your turn

Send your questions, rants, tips, favorite finds — on style, shopping, makeup, fashion and beauty — to answerangelellen@gmail. com.

DREAMSTIME There’s been a huge proliferation of products for every degree of curl and wave.