I have come to defend Garnier Fructis’ honor — I have used their hairspray for YEARS and it is phenom, and I am also a big fan of their shampoos and conditioners and anti-freeze smoothing “milk” (their word not mine). I do not have curly hair and haven’t tried this particular product, but the brand overall is legit!!!

Also, the sample service semi-exists! Try IPSY’s Glambag. It’s like Birchbox, but a greater array of independent brands (in my experience at least) and I’ve found several products through their monthly goodies that have turned into standbys. You can customize your profile to focus on hair products! Maybe not the most efficient way to find new things, but super fun and you get a fancy little pouch every month which can be used to obsessively organize things…