Now that I’m five years into this long hair thing, I’ve settled into a comfortable routine that gives me a good mix of affordability and relatively easy maintenance. I do still have a tendency to experiment with products and such though, and lately I’ve been digging Cantu’s flaxseed cream gel for after-shower styling.

For the longest time, I used to rely on LA Looks Extreme Sport gel to take my naturally wavy hair and enhance the curliness of it. The stuff is super cheap and it worked for what I was after, but I did find it too drying and sticky at times, and would always make my hair dry like store-bought pasta before I scrunched it up to break the “cast”.

Cantu’s flaxseed gel, on the other hand, is more liquid-y and offers less hold, which is the kind of thing I’ve started leaning towards. I’d rather have a softer, more natural-looking flow I can, y’know, run my hands through than try to force curls that fall apart within hours anyway, whether I touched them or not. I love how gentle this stuff feels to use in comparison to that thick blue alcohol goop.

Here’s the company’s description of the product:

Cantu’s Flaxseed Smoothing Gel is your new go-to for soft, defined curls! Made with pure shea butter, aloe extract, castor oil, honey, vitamin E, and flaxseed oil, this new formula not only smooths strands, but it also promotes healthy hair growth with each use. Cantu’s Flaxseed Smoothing Gel eliminates frizz, increases manageability, and enhances your hair’s natural shine.

BENEFITS:

• Eliminates frizz and increases manageability
• Aloe, shea butter, honey, and vitamin E promotes healthy hair growth
• Sulfate-free gel provides right amount of hold

You can buy a two-pack of this gel for $19 on Amazon, which isn’t the worst deal in the world, but really you can just run down to your local Walmart, Target, Sally, etc. and pick up a tub for…I think mine was around $6? Up to you.