To think Curly Girl Method is just a huge amount of stress to look lank and greasy??

[TheOtherSideOfTheMountain]

I know the die hard CGM followers will lynch me for this.

I thought lockdown was the absolute perfect time to take up Curly Girl Method. So I've not only been doing it myself for 5 weeks now, but also avidly researching and following loads of social media groups to learn all about it.

The thing that has really struck me is...even those who get through the "settling" period of letting your hair adapt to no shampoo, no silicone and sulfates etc - because it's accepted that you have to become a greasy mess for a bit to come out the other side - whisper it just never end up looking that great.

I must have viewed hundreds of galleries of people showing before and after pics. Some of them DO look amazing- that's how I got sucked in. But what I've noticed is the ones who look fab with huge bouncy curls, when you really read their routines properly - often aren't following it properly. They're cheating with the odd shampoo, or a non CGM conditioner. Those who religiously only use the approved products and methods seem, even at their very best, to look a bit dreadlocky....sort of greasy and stringy. Even when everyone tells them they look awesome.

So why has this method got such a cult following? People are spending literally hundreds of pounds trying to find the holy grail approved product. They're beating themselves up if they accidentally use something which isn't CGM approved. I'm seeing people get really really stressed about not following every instruction to the letter. But nobody is acknowledging the fact that actually they might look a whole lot better if they just cherry pick the bits of the method that work for them?

@hammeringinmyhead - Yes! I've spent hours reading stuff, and just ended up totally confused, and my bathroom isn't big enough for all the products I was buying. No more.

@Picklypickles Creme of Nature on the list! Thanks! As with everything you can use loads of products but I use co-wash, a hair mask/conditioner thing and leave-in conditioner. Which is maybe one more product than most? It really doesn't take me ages but it seems like a way of life for some. I also only wash it every 5 days and (used to!) get comments from colleagues and friends about how it always smells lovely. Greasy hair would smell but my curls just dry out....

I bought the recommended products and they didn't work on my hair, I ended up with a head full of fluffy curls that made look like side show bob.
So I have gone back to basics, I don't use any shampoo, I use conditioner only not even a recommended one one that works for my hair. and use leave in stuff while wet. Occasionally use50/50 mix of shea butter and coconut oil overnight. Keep it simple for you once you find what you like.

I have found this a good resource: likelovedo.com/2019/04/curly-girl-method-uk-products-from-drugstores-and-supermarkets/

There are lots of cheap CGM friendly products out there.

I use a co-wash, a leave in conditioner and gel. Sometimes a curl taming cream too. I have the Noughty wave hello shampoo as well in case I need to clarify. So far I haven't (but only a few weeks in) as the cleansing conditioner I use to co-wash has exceeded my expectations - my scalp is clean but not as dry and 'stripped' feeling as normal.

Every wash I do I get a bit more curl (well, wave) to my hair, and they start a bit higher up each time.

Which cowash are you using @FeedMeSantiago?

I use the As I Am coconut co wash. It smells like tangerines :)

www.superdrug.com/Hair/Shampoo/Everyday-Shampoo/AS-I-AM-Naturally-Coconut-CoWash-Shampoo-454g/p/771231

(It's cheaper on Amazon)

I use a scalp brush before to help wet my scalp, and use the scalp brush to help remove the conditioner from my hair after cleansing. You need to work it a bit longer than you would shampoo, but it was much easier than I had anticipated.

Anyone have any suggestions for very fine 3b hair??

Mine is extremely curly but very fine, so I find that lots of conditioner/heavy products just leaves it looking lank.

But it looks sooooo frizzy within a day or two of me washing it, I’d love to get it looking nicer. I think I need a good curly cut too.

I found that it was a very good starting point. My hair is wavy with a couple of sections of loose ringlets, and doesn't get as dry as a lot of curly hair. I use cowash most of the time, but use shampoo every couple of weeks, and that seems to work best.

SorryImNotCreative I’m 3a and the same my freshly washed hair only looks decent for 24/36hr at a push then goes frizzy I’m afraid I have no suggestions for you I just live with it

Has anyone had a curly girl haircut and can say what difference it made to your hair? Was it worth it? Thanks

Not curly girl as in the brand... but I go to someone who specialises in curly hair and cuts it dry

It’s soooooooo much better, firstly the actual cut is just better, it comes out the style and length I actually ask for, but also they can style it and sell products that work for my hair...

@tabulahrasa thanks for that info. That is really interesting, I wonder how they cut it differently (sorry - curious, not expecting you to know this ? And does it cost more?

Well I don’t know about technical stuff - but I get it cut completely dry, so it’s being shaped exactly how it sits when I come in, I think though that actual curly girl trained people do it more curl by curl than mine...

It costs me about £60ish? I think, I often get it coloured at the same time though so I’m not sure, lol so not cheap, but not ridiculous for where I am.

I think it depends on how your hair reacts to the products and your method. I started CG last year with xhc ginger conditioner and DHs styling gel. I never noticed a transitioning stage. Washed my hair about twice a week and it never went greasy.
Just before lockdown my local shop didn't have the ginger in, so I bought another "flavour". My hair feels different and I need to wash it more often or it will go greasy. I can't wait to get my hands on the ginger one again.
I also found that method made a massive difference to me (not that I have much of a method) but I'm really happy with the results now.

It's worked very well for my hair, I do see a lot of people in the groups whose hair is only wavy or loose curls but they load it with products which obviously isn't a good idea... CG method doesn't mean you need to spend lots of time or money on it, for me it has meant spending far less time on my hair. Lots of people have had amazing results, I see photos of them daily.

not for me either. my hair is too thick. it felt like a thatched roof.
I've gone for an undercut and I just blowdry it ''straight'' well less poofy.

YANBU op.
I have curly hair but I'm pretty sure my hair would become a smelly greasy mess soon if I'd try this method.

What works for me is using a shampoo brush to massage shampoo with natural oils in, follow up with a very moisturizing conditioner. After shower I wrap my hair in a microfiber hair towel and brush it after putting argan oil trough it.

I also take collagen supplements.

I do wonder whether some people with wavy hair think they buy loads of products and end up with curls!

it doesn't work like that.

I am curly and less is more. Shampoo, conditioner and a curl cream.

I also have a curly cut. I am doing it myself. Lots of tutorials on YouTube.

What does anyone use overnight to stop the curls/waves becoming a frizz party in the morning? Do you use any sort of hat or cover?

I use it for my daughter and she has perfect spiral defined curls, I absolutely love it for her, it does take time to find the right routine though but now we have I’ve set her up for a life of perfect curls.

CrazyTimesAreOccurring
I wrap her hair in an old T-shirt, works great, had a silk bonnet but it kept sliding off in the night

I have also struggled with the CG method - but I think a lot of that is because my hair is "low-porosity" and therefore products sit on top of the strand, making it look limp and greasy.

I use a clarifying shampoo every wash followed by a deep hydrating mask. I then apply a tiny amount of kinky curly, plop and diffuse. This works best for me as it means I do not get the build up of product.

My problem with curly girl was that as I ran my fingers through it, lots of hair would come out with the tangles and I didn't have massively thick hair in the first place. After a while, it started looking noticeably stragglier. I never really struggled with greasiness and it did make the curls nice and shiny and loopy.

@CrazyTimesAreOccurring I 'pineapple' my hair and sleep on a silk pillowcase.
I tried a bonnet but I have way too much hair and it used to give me a headache. I'd wake in the morning without it anyway

Thanks @Brainfogmcfogface and @Neron