Embracing my curls

[Bumbolina]

I've got wavy/curly hair if I leave it to dry with a bit of mousse. I like it and would like to embrace my curls - what can I do to encourage them? I have days when they curl brilliantly and others where they barely kink!

I've been reading stuff online and a couple of websites have suggested not shampooing...?

[HazleNutt]

that is one option, but have you tried special curl-enhancing products? Mousse is not the only option: www.hqhair.com/health-beauty/hair/curl-enhancing.list

[Bumbolina]

Nope not tried much to be honest - I've always straightened my hair before now I'd have no idea where to start with that list!

[overmydeadbody]

There is a technique called 'plopping'that works well.

[FlirtingFail]

Google the Curly Girl Method. I use this and it has transformed my hair. It's so much curlier now, and I almost never have bad hair days.

The basics are avoiding sodium laurel sulphate (which is in most shampoos) and silicone (which is in most conditioners and a lot of finishing products).

I use the Rainforest shampoo from the Body Shop, a Faith in Nature conditioner, and a basic L'Oreal gel. They are all cheap and work really well.

Its' worth getting the Curly Girl book if you can, as it explains it all really well, also how to wash and dry your hair. I tend to wash it at night and 'plop' it in a Primark microfibre turban overnight.

[SavoyCabbage]

My dds have curls and a plant spray filled with water is good for reviving them in the morning.

[Bexicles]

I started using the curly girl method last October and am very happy with the results. My hair is glossy and healthy looking. my curls are larger and more defined. I co wash so don't use any kind of shampoo at all.

[Bumbolina]

Oh that looks interesting, but a bit scary!

[FlirtingFail]

Oh yes I also use a plant spray filled with diluted hair gel. Brilliant for reviving curls.

Honestly, Curly Girl isn't scary at all. If you avoid SLS, you can still use shampoo (although I tend only to use it once a week or so).

[Thecurlywurlymum]

Do it. You will never look back. You will also wonder why you spent so much time time straightening it. Curls all the way!!!

[ivegotaniphone]

Bexicles what do you mean by co wash? and do you just wash it in water then? I cant use SLS and sadly am v allergic to glucosides, whcih is what most shampoos/shower gels etc have as their SLS alternative. I wash in soap, proper glycerine soap, which has added the added effect of getting rid of my eczema, If I wash my hair in it and slap a bit of frizz ease on it looks fab, but I want to get away from silicones really

[Bumbolina]

Currently plopping...

[Patilla]

Be aware it can take a bit of time to see results with curly girl so don't give up initially.

I found the first week bad and getting slowly better over a couple of weeks.

Then randomly around six months my hair suddenly got loads better again. Thus could be curly girl or post baby hormones but I was in two minds up until then as I worried my hair just looked greasy and now I love it.

I use tresemme naturals conditioner.

About once a week I use a loreal sulphite free shampoo as my hair is happier this way.

I then mostly just use the cheapie boots pink curl creme

[Damnautocorrect]

Yes to curls. It's quite liberating and I wonder why I spent years with shit hair.
I use mousse on the ends and squidge it up. The next day I just dampened it down a bit and it curls up again. I do find I need to keep it a certain length or it doesn't curl (I guess because of the weight)

[SavoyCabbage]

Flirting, what do you mean by hair gel? I am remembering the luminous pots of the 80's so I'm sure it's moved on since then. I have the book but no gel as I wasn't sure what it was'

[MsWinnieBaygo]

As anyone actually tried plopping? Does it make a noticeable difference?

[Bexicles]

Ivegot co washing just means using conditioner to wash. I use the tresemme natural one to co wash and a heavier nourishing conditioner to condition. I am currently using Dr Organics Moroccan argan oil conditioner, it smells lovely.

[auldspinster]

Boots pink curl cream is great and cheap as chips.

[FlirtingFail]

Savoy, this is the gel I use:
www.fragrancedirect.co.uk/loreal/loreal-studio-line-mineral-control-invisigel-150ml/invt/0050545?utm_source=google&utm_medium=merchant&utm_keyword=foo&istCompanyId=17773c4e-a26f-4631-9b91-73e6422dbe77&istItemId=xrxqlrqrm&istBid=t&gclid=CJnT5qezlLwCFU_KtAodCF8AIg

I am sure they are all much of a muchness though.

In the book, she suggests using gel (lots of it), so that's what I have always done. I know people rave about the curl creme, but it's never been great on my hair.

Plopping makes a big difference I find, as does scrunching the hair while the conditioner is in, and then again when you've put the gel in. What I do is to leave quite a bit of water in my hair, and then put in lots of gel, and scrunch most of the water and gel out. Then I plop in a Primark turban.

[FlirtingFail]

gel

[idlevice]

Do you think if you have naturally curly hair it will look better if you wear it curly? Because that is what naturally suits you?

[Floisme]

I think the way your hair is cut is just as important as any product. I'm not quite sure what my hairdresser does other than cut in loads of layers and chop it all up. But I do know that, if I get a bad cut, the weight of my hair just drags out all the curl.

I am so bored of seeing women with artificially straightened hair.

[Thecurlywurlymum]

I've just discovered the kinky curly range and love it. It seems a bit expensive to start with but you only need a small amount. I get it from the curly emporium web site. This is coming from a curly who has tried everything going and has the half used jars to prove it.

[mathanxiety]

Curly Girl method is great. I haven't shampooed for many years now. I also use Tresemme conditioner for washing though not every time -- sometimes just water.

DD1 got me some DevaCurl curl products for Christmas -- lavender scented refreshing spray and gel to put in after the shower. They are wonderful. The owner of DevaCurl authored the Curly Girl method.

If you use gel other than that brand, water it down.

If you do go curly, pay attention to your eyebrows and always have them neat and shaped. Otherwise the effect can be a bit wooly all over.

[TheRaniOfYawn]

Plopping makes a huge difference to my wavy hair.

[Solo]

I like and use Twisted Sista curl activator.

And yes to a bad cut pulling all the curls out too!