curly girl method?

[Didactylos]

are there any mumsnetters using this who wouldnt mind telling me what products they find work for them?

am getting ready to change to this method but am getting bogged down in the details and sulphites etc, Id be interested to know how other people got started

[coalscuttle]

I use faith in nature conditioners. And instead of serum I have a spray bottle of about I part conditioner to 10 parts water.

[BonaDea]

So you don't use shampoo at all? Doesn't it get greasy and if not how long does it take to regularise?

[ThePerfectNegroni]

I use this as my all in one shampoo and conditioner stuff. When my hair is soaking wet I add a bit more as a leave in, then scrunch in blobs of John Frieda curl control gel or Eco Styler argan oil hair gel (1 litre pot from Afro hair shop cost £3.49). I scrunch with a microfibre towel, being careful not to cause too much frizz (I've realised this suits me better than plopping). I dry naturally (gives better curls) or diffuse. I then scrunch out the crunchy gel feeling when bone dry (if I've washed in the evening I'll scrunch out the crunch in the morning). To refresh I have a spritzer of water, blob of gel, blob of conditioner and a 1/4 tsp of Epsom salts, which I use in the morning. The Epsom salts really help give me tighter curls, but they can be drying. Every fortnight I use Jessicurl deep treatment.

[mathanxiety]

I've been doing it for years. I use Tresemme 'luxurious moisture' conditioner. I never use shampoo. I don't rinse all the conditioner out.

For shine, I use Tresemme extra firm control (clear) gel, watered down to about 50/50. I scrunch with a little of the watered down gel. Then I scrunch carefully with a microfibre towel.

I chose the particular formulations of Tresemme after a little experimenting with other conditioners and gels because they seemed to have a good few of the recommended ingredients even though they contain silicones iirc. It's possible my hair would look nicer without silicones but Tresemme is affordable for me and it also works well for my curly haired DDs, who also do CG.

I bought a small spray bottle and use a few drops of lavender oil in boiled and cooled water to spritz occasionally.

My hair has never been greasy using the CG method. Mind you, it was never greasy before either unless I left it for days without washing. When I stopped using shampoo and combing or brushing it, it felt completely transformed, curl-wise, in about a week.

[ZaraW]

It's not a problem to use sulphate free shampoo when doing Curly Girl. I had an appointment with Mat James and he told me it is good for your hair but some people prefer to wash with conditioner.

Am currently using Deva Curl products.

[TheVeryThing]

I use a sulphate-free shampoo 2 or 3 times a week (the palmers olive oil one, very affordable), and wash with conditioner on the other days. I like the inecto coconut conditioner (also cheap) and use boots curl cream or umberto gianni pink jelly for styling.
Some people swear by the body shop rainforest range but I didn't find it especially good and definitely not worth the price.
You really do have to experiment a little to find what suits you

[Didactylos]

Brilliant - I will go and throw some money at the problem armed with a list of these products

silly question but does anyone dye their hair as well? - I dont really like my natural mousy brown so often have a different shade in - was thinking of having a salon colour and trim to tidy up before starting?

[Superherosidekick]

I have used the Deva curl products but am currently getting on well with the Naked Bounce range.
I haven't tried the conditioner only method but the difference in my curls has been incredible

[mathanxiety]

I dye mine at home. I use Garnier nutrisse.

[Didactylos]

Thanks for the help and advice everyone
I have started with some devacurl products
and morphed into a pre-raphaelite haired evangelist overnight

absolutely astonished at how different my hair looks already though probably need to spend a few more weeks on it before its really moisturised

[daimbardiva]

Oh that's great you're having success already! I've been CGing for about 6 mo now and it really is a matter of trial and error products wise and working out what works for you product-wise. I'd love to try devacurl, but am currently rediscovering the wonders of good old Boots pink curl creme!

[AriaBanjo]

I have been following CG method with my mixed race daughters. We use Boots Naked or tresemme naturals conditioner. We also use Thalia Waajid curly cream and Eco styler gel. Loads of tips on Mathew James Facebook page - Matt surplice was trained by Lorraine Massey and works in Birmingham.

[Fallulah]

I have been using rainforest shampoo and the boots naked conditioner for a few months, followed by pink curl creme and the UG gel. Can't really see any difference to how my hair looked before, to be honest. :-(

A few of you mentioned not brushing your hair. I brush mine through before I wash it, otherwise it is really matted and loads if hair comes out when I wash it, presumably because it gets stuck in the curls and doesn't work its way out like straight hair would. Should I not be doing this?

[ZaraW]

Fallulah do you have layers? I was doing Curly Girl for 6 months and it wasn't until I had them added that my curls went from mediocre to fab.

I never brush my hair. Once my hair has been conditioned I can run my fingers through easily.

[Charliegirl21]

I have been following CG method since about January, it is trial and error to find what suits you.
Definitely don't brush it though, just run your hands through it when it is conditioned. I have been through a phase of brushing mine and it def looked worse even though I was using a wide toothed comb and waiting till it was wet.
I have just been googling looking for the ranges which are CG friendly but everything I have found is really old. Can anyone help with an up to date one please? Or a link?

[Fallulah]

Ok I will wean myself off the brushing, just hate to see all that hair blocking the plug hole!

[Mabelface]

My hair is very long and curly and I get a birds' nest at the back of my hair underneath, even though I'm doing CG so have to try and brush it out when wet. Any other way round this? Just running my hands through doesn't cut it.

[mathanxiety]

Get a good mesh strainer for the plughole.

When you don't brush or comb your hair it may look as if you are losing your hair in a serious way because lots will come out in the shower as you run your fingers through it, but don't be alarmed.

[choc0clock]

Do you really just go through your hair with your fingers to detangle it? Does it not cause knots etc longterm. I use a wide spaced comb (when I have onditioner on - never on dry hair). Never occured to me to unly use my hands. I have pretty tight curls (3c ish).