To Dave: Artec or Aveda

Dear Dave, I enjoyed reading your review of the Artec line. Now that you have tried both, which line do you think is the best. And which products within the line do you like the best? I have wavy, highlighted hair that's a few inches past my shoulders. I'm looking for a great shampoo and conditioner, as well as styling products to enhance the wave and make my hair look as curly as possible. Can you help...Does anyone out there have any ideas for me? Thank you!

Dear June,I am glad to hear that you enjoyed reading my review of the ARTectextureline smoothing products.I have become aware that ARTec has a volumizing line of products as well.As my hair is fairly "full" (lots of medium texture hair), enhancingthe volume (beyond what the ARTec smoothing products has done for me)is not a goal of mine, so I have not tried the volumizing line.As for the Aveda, I have only used the Shampure shampoo and CurressenceConditioner. I have heard that the Chamomile shampoo has a tendency todry the hair a bit, and for me keeping my dark blond hair moisturizedis important, so I have not considered trying anything other than theShampure.That said, I have to say that I have learned (since writing my ARTecreview) that the best thing for my hair is to switch off of the ARTecoccasionally. The combination of the ARTec products I was using hada tendency to build up and using Aveda Shampure (a relatively concentratedshampoo) every so often helps remove that build-up. The only shampoo Iused for the 7 months prior to beginning my ARTec review was Aveda'sShampure. It is definitely a shampoo I could use indefinitely. However,I found that no matter how I used the Curessence I could not simulate thesmoothing (and shining) effect of the ARTec products.As your hair is highlighted (and may have a tendency to be dry), I mightsuggest the ARTec texture creme, as its promise is "weightless volume formoisture-deprived hair." But I'm not so sure how well it will work toenhance your wave. My hair is straight and has a tendency to get a bitwavy near the ends, and the ARTec products help my hair to be more straight.So in this respect it may not be what you want.Perhaps somebody with wavy or curly hair who has used these products canattest to their effectiveness at enhancing the curl. Anybody?Dave

I also have curly hair and have tried just about every styling aid out there, cheap and expensive. Although many people say they hate spray gels, I love them. I can never get the other stuff distributed evenly. Anyways, I have tried Sabastian Molding Mud and that gives me really good curl formation, however it doesn't hold for the entire day. What I stock up on is Salon Selectives #15 Spray Gel. I know, no one here ever mentions the cheap stuff, but all the expensive guys I tried are too crusty. This stuff gives me soft, mega curl that lasts all day.P.S. Check out naturallycurly.com They have great advice for curly heads