To think the curly hair method is a con?

The curly girl method originally was very simple, with few products, but somehow it's been hijacked and now seems to require numerous products and lots of time.

I just stick with the original method.

There are different types of curly hair -
I'm around 3A!

https://flawlesshair.com/different-types-of-curls-curly-hair-type-guide/

Are you using the right methods, products and tools for yours?

Do not brush it when dry - only when full of conditioner.

When you've washed and conditioned it,
squeeze out water (I like a microfibre towel), add your curl cream, then leave it to dry naturally. And do not fiddle with it.

Leave it ALONE till it's dry, then shake it out briefly and leave it.

My hair is wavy but too fine to do the curly girl method. I tried it and all the product just weighed my hair down and made it greasy. Nowadays I shampoo and condition with volumising products, then rinse my hair out upside down. Give it a few squishes with a towel (still upside down) and let it dry naturally. Sometimes I’ll pop a tiny bit of serum in the ends.

The trick is to wash as normal, use a leave in conditioner and then styling spray to perk it up as needed

Probably not but if people don’t mention it then.. mentioning it means education

Well, in that case I sincerely apologise. I still don't think @Axolotyls had any intention whatsoever of being offensive.

Well I appreciate you coming back to say that. It honestly is a thing and even more so in the curly world, where I spend plenty of time on forums getting tips for my own curly hair.
I also don't believe for a minute that OP was being racist, but I do think it's important to increase awareness. ❤️

Not a con. My daughter and daughter in law have both used the curly girl method for the last couple of years. Both had nice wavy but slightly frizzy hair before. Have now got gorgeous very curly and non frizzy hair now.

@TreeCake Well, in that case, I've been educated and I sincerely apologise for my ignorance.

Yes, thanks. Its frustrating that because someone doesn't believe it should be offensive, that it isn't. I tried to explain without being nasty. Maybe people haven't realised that it's not ok to say this.
It was also weird to assume I'm not black.

Which ones????

I think it’s like anything, you take from it what’s useful.

For me that meant moving away from shampoo and conditioner with sulphites and silicone in them and using curly curl approved leave in conditioner and gel.

My hair looks better than it used to.

It IS offensive

I have very curly hair & I use modified curly hair method. I also have to avoid coconut as it doesn’t work on my hair & makes it itch. I’ve simplified it & 43 still get lovely comments about my hair from strangers, people I know young & old.

I AM a mumsnetter of black origin and this is my view. I am not being goady. It's a real thing.

When I first read your post as I was casually scrolling down, I smiled as I assumed your comment was meant to be amusing and gently mocking of people who would take it seriously and literally.
But.......I think you are serious, aren't you? I have no connection whatsoever with @Axolotyls, but I would bet my life on believing the last thing she wanted was to be offensive.
Like it or not, describing hair as "Afro" has become a normal description of a type/style of hair, not an insult to people of black origin.
Your post actually feels quite "goady", and feeds on peoples' anxiety of being called out as racist when that is the very least of their intentions. I would welcome the views of any Mumsnetters of black origin on this issue.

That’s not really how it works, you can’t force curls that aren’t there unless you’re using tongs etc
a product won’t add curls - it will make them less frizzy, define them etc
my hair is naturally wavy and I could just leave it be if I wanted frizzy, undefined fly away hair but I don’t

Some of it doesn’t work for me
my hair wants protein and hard hold, never deep conditioning as it’s very fine and soft
I switched to the CurlMaven method and had way more success

basically I use a clarifying shampoo regularly and sulphates, a protein rich conditioner and then hard hold gel and mousse or just gel, and sometimes hairspray

Doesn't sound like you have wavy or curly hair then as no way could I ever blast my hair with a hairdryer

I always wanted curly hair and then perimenopause gifted me with waves! It’s taken a few years but I’ve persevered as I feel more ‘me’ with bigger, bouncier hair.
Things I have found as a very fine haired wavy - I need to use a stronger/clarifying shampoo most wash days. Deep conditioning is not for me - I mostly use a leave in that I rinse out. My hair LOVES protein so I use a protein cream most wash days. Gel and sometimes a mousse work best, no curl creams. A lots of this is opposite to the advice given for properly curly hair, and I think it’s a lot of trial and error. I will say that now as long as I sleep in a buff/bonnet to maintain the waves, I only need to wash my hair twice a week now, rather than every other day. It just doesn't get greasy any more. hair masks and conditioning treatments would mess that up.
It’s taken time to get to this point however, and it would have been easy to give up and just blow dry it at times.

I have curly hair and this year I stopped using the method and I had my first wet cut for 10 years. I still use product but far less quantities and I don't do all the brush styling. A bit if frizz makes my ( now short) hair look great.

Takes time for hair to settle down after going sulfate free mine is now lovely barrel curls/ringlets rather than frizzy and I also dry with a deffuser with head upside down but took practice.

I use cantu shampoo & cantu hydrating cream conditioner that i use on wet hair to scrunch before wash out after a time while in the shower. I dont use a leave in one. Don't towel dry either.

I hated sitting around with wet hair especially when you can't guarantee it'll look good when it eventually dries.

I experimented with curly hair for a few years and was amazed at how curly it really was. I loved it—until suddenly, my hair started falling out in clumps. I tried a product which went rock hard in my hair, and eventually, I had to get four inches cut off. Now, I’ve gone back to a straight and sleek style. My boyfriend and friends say it looks a lot better, and I no longer resemble Russell Brand.