To think the curly hair method is a con?

I've done CG and found it worked well but you do need to adjust the routine for your hair type. I didn't use lots of product and multiple products like some do as that doesn't suit my hair, I just used a tiny bit of extra conditioner as leave in (only sometimes) and then one product like gel or mousse. I also never managed to only wash weekly like some do and had to wash every 3 days approx. I did have such healthy hair and zero split ends through. It also takes a while for your hair to adjust and get maximum benefit (maybe a year?) and isn't going to change your hair type or curl type, just make it as healthy as it can be and therefore reduce frizz. It definitely doesn't work miracles overnight.

Then I had DC and decided to switch to shampoo rather than cowashing, just for ease. So now I use a shampoo (I try and find a gentle one without sulphate but currently just using a standard one) and conditioner and one styling product. Nothing expensive, at the moment I use the V05 curly mousse. I make sure all are silicone free. That I find gives the best result to effort ratio. Not using silicone makes a huge difference to how my hair looks a couple of days after washing, it looks passable now whereas when I was using silicone, it'd look like rats tails the next day!

What happens if you just add a little mousse or gel to wet hair, scrunch in and let it dry naturally OP?

I gave it a solid 6 months and my hair had never looked shitter. It's took me years to figure out what works on/with my hair and I still end up with a birds nest some days.

I think it’s a faff and it didn’t do all that much for me. I do however think changing your ‘routine’/ finding the right products can make the world of difference. I took some advice from a friend with gorgeous hair and now just wash as normal, use leave in conditioner and scrunch a bit of curly gel in and in the course of a couple of weeks my hair went from a frizzy mess to really lovely defined curls. Amazed myself as it’s so simple, I leave it to dry naturally while having breakfast etc and it’s so quick and easy.

I don't co-wash but I do use sulphate-free products. It took a few months but my curls are loads better now, it used to be so frizzy.

You have to experiment a but with curly hair to find what works for you. Some products others swear by will not work, and others will. I think the not shampooing is not a great idea myself. But knowing that silicones generally don't get on with curls is useful. You could start with some cheaper curl friendly shampoo and conditioner. There are some supermarket ones as well as mor expensive brands that do miniatures and starter kits to try. Then a classic starter combo would be leave in conditioner (no silicone), mousse and gel. There are supermarket brands to try. Try different techniques and quantities to experiment. It's hard because there isn't a one size fits all method, so a bit of experimenting is required. Follow people with similar hair to you on social media for inspiration.

Since I started with it, I have massively easier to control nice looking hair that’s actually easy to manage!
before my hair was awful.

It just looks like a ridiculous amount of work to me, so many steps, so many products!

I wash my hair in the shower and blast dry with a hair dryer with a bit of volumising spray. Ta-da! Takes about 10 minutes tops every 3 days. I cba with spending hours and hours on my appearance.

It definitely works for some hair, but I'd imagine it's not suitable for everyone. My friend straigthened her hair for years, so much that I didn't know she had curly hair, then one day she came in with beautiful curls. I know she uses quite a range of products but they do work.

A friend of mine has naturally wavy hair thats almost curly. Using the curly girl method (whatever it is, its completely a mystery to me) shes got amazingly beautiful curls. She said it doesnt take her that long either. Works for some I guess and not other hair types/patience levels!

I've always absolutely loved curly hair.

Ironic isnt it that you have spent years straightening your hair whilst when I was in my 20s I spent a lot of money, and time, having " curly perms" !

For quite a few years now I've had no hair at all , due to frontal fibrosing alopecia. And I have to wear wigs. So I can quite categorically state I would rather have " shit hair" rather than no hair. And if I had your curly hair I would be over the moon.

Yanbu - curly girl method makes me look like a haunted child

It doesn’t work for me, I know my hair and there are 2 or 3 shampoos that work well, plus a certain curly shampoo and curl cream. That’s it.

I do the curly hair method and have generally nice hair (I think!).

When did you stop straightening your hair, you might find as the previously straightened hair grows out/gets cut the 'new' hair takes to it better.