To think the curly hair method is a con?

[Axolotyls]

I have frizzy bird nest hair. I straightened it for years but now I’m finding that I can’t be arsed as it’s so thin it just looks lank and depressing and makes me look old and haggered when it’s straight.

So I leave it to dry naturally - massive Afro

I tried curly hair method - Looked like a hair dresser had started styling it and then got pissed on tequila half way through

its a con isn’t it? Are some people just destined to have shit hair?

Naturally curly girl here. I also straightened it for years before becoming too lazy to bother anymore during the pandemic. Best thing I have found is Cantu leave in conditioner. Just apply it up the ends of my wet hair and leave it to dry naturally. Not amazing hair but good enough for this middle aged lazy bones.

I would go to a curly hair specialist hairdresser for a cut and advise how to style. They will also tell you your curl / hair type as I’ve learned different types need different styling/ products.

It may be that you have over straightened it too. I have wavy hair and have straightened it since childhood. You would never tell it was wavy. My hairdresser said to me it had gone wavy after she washed it, mainly underneath. She said that part must be in better condition (probably where I don’t manage to fry it with the straighter). I’d say stick with it, keep conditioning, maybe take some supplements and hopefully it will improve.

My girls have very curly hair. It’s so hard to look after!! My eldest is 18 when she was little her hair was more of a loose curl and very frizzy. she sometimes does the curly hair method now and it goes nice, but if she doesn’t do all the steps, it’s just straight. My little one is 3 and we definitely have good and bad hair days lol but hers is more ringlets. There’s a few pages on Facebook that I follow for advice too. Pic of my girls gorgeous hair below.

I do a very paired down version
Condition, then some leave in conditioner.
Eco Gel gel
Brush
Turby towel
Diffuse.

For me its the products that make a difference. I cant use anything with coconut for example, it drys my hair out horribly.
The alberto balsam conditioner is cheap and cheerful

I use merwaves, it works amazingly on my curly hair. I now only need to wash it about twice a week, whereas before when I was straightening it etc. I needed to wash every day.

You need to find out the porosity, curl type and where you are with protein and moisture levels of your hair.

I am white European (Celtic) hair. Curl type B mainly if shoulder height (less so at its current length).

The most important thing with curly hair is the porosity level! Closely followed by the protein vs. Moisture debacle.

The above 3 things are pretty much the whole deciding factors in what works on your hair.

My hair NEEDs sulphates and silicone. Needs protein but not too much, needs moisture but not too much. I have a lower porosity. Curly girl just ruins my hair. When I can achieve the perfect moisture protein balance (which is entire guess work and luck of the draw for me) then my hair is bouncy, silky, frizz free and shiny. It’s a rarity but achievable if you know what your doing.

It takes a while to figure out what products and methods work for you and how much time and effort you're willing to put in.

I've been using my personal variation on the CG method for about 15 years now, with various products (some of the ones I liked when I started are no longer around!), and I'm very happy with my shiny curls and get lots of compliments on them.

It took me decades to learn to work with my hair instead of brushing or even straightening it and dealing with frizz and boring hair as a result.

It does take some practice, or trial and error.

I’ve been using curly products for 2.5 years now.

started with only curls which was expensive really.

but now use Umburto Giavanni (from boots) I use the light pink range which is thirsty curls.
It’s often on some sort of deal 1/3 off or 3 for 2.
I stocked up yesterday as currently 50% off when buying 3 items

I use shampoo about twice a week (any kind) and moisturising conditioner every day (whatever's on offer!).

I've tried countless frizz-reducing/curly hair products and the only things that work for me are Paul Mitchell Super Clean Sculpting gel or Paul Mitchell Sculpting Lotion. I just add whichever I have to towel dried hair - miraculous stuff!

🤣

I don't do curly hair method. But I've found a hairdresser that specialises in cutting curly hair which makes so much difference and I treated myself to the her recommended shampoo and conditioner and curl scruncher stuff and I have lovely soft ringlet and waves now. So worth it. Normal shampoo and conditioner just wasn't putting enough moisture back into my hair.

Of course its a con.
"Let's use 10 products, 3 devices and 4h to reveal your NATURAL curls".
Whats natural there?

Since it became popular, influencers have taken it over and added in all those extra steps and products. The basic routine is actually simple, and only requires a conditioner and a styling product.

Ive been doing it for about 20 years now, and have lovely, healthy curls.

My hair just went really manky doing the curly girl method (co washing). I use a shampoo bar from gruum, any sulphate free conditioner and boots or Superdrug own brand curl crème. Wash, condition (squish to condish!), comb through, rinse, put some leave in conditioner in, curl crème, scrunch, plop, air dry. It's not perfect but much better than CG method.

Because black people bave Afro hair. It is a curly/coily type of hair that is exclusive to people of black origin. It is not ok to use the word Afro hair to mean unruly hair of a non black person. It implies that Afro hair is problematic, an issue, something that needs taming.
It's better so say 'I have curly/wavy hair which is frizzy/unmanageable and I would like advice about how to style it'

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.