Submitting to the curl. What do I need for Curly Girl method?

[MrsKravitzFromAcrossTheStreet]

My hair has been getting curlier for a while now, but lately much more so - particularly since having a lot of medium-length layers in it (it's shoulder length). I have been using Brazilian keratin straightening treatments, straightening products, Babyliss Big Hair etc to smooth it until now but I think I will have to give in and let my hair do what it wants. I wake up with it curly again every morning after washing and straightening it.

I like curls and it does suit me to have wavier hair, but I have a problem with washing and styling...if I have dried my hair smooth and then it goes curly the next day, it looks reasonably nice and shiny, but if I let it dry curly after washing, either by leaving it to dry or scrunching it with the drier, it goes frizzy and awful. I've washed it today and I look like Brian May.

I would like to be able to achieve a smooth, shiny curl to my hair. I have read a bit about the curly girl method and it's a bit complicated with all the ingredients you're supposed to avoid in the products so I thought it would be great if any of you could tell me what I need to get? I am going to town tomorrow so can get from Boots or Tesco, I don't have a huge budget so not too expensive please (especially as I just bought new shampoo and conditioner last week that contain sulphates grr).

Please give me your tips for curly hair products. I understand I will just need a conditioner and no shampoo, and will need an oil or gel-type product? I already have a microfiber turban for drying. My hair is thick and quite dry; I wash it just once a week.

I mainly use Naked hair products, so am also finding this thread really useful for getting ideas of new things to try. However, I do use Tescos coconut conditioner for cowashing inbetween using sulphate-free shampoos. It's really cheap, but works well for me. I think it's this one although it looks like they've changed the packaging.

Boots Naked range is very good, as is their really cheap curl creme. The trick with the curl creme is that you only need a finger dipped in, but you need to run it in your palms til it goes white before you put it on your hair, otherwise you used too much and it looks greasy.

You might find you need shampoo, I use either the Naked or Bodyshop Rainforest. I use the pink Umberto Gianni conditioner and then loads of the pink gel while hair is soaking wet before 'plopping'.

I have layers too; I'd be triangular without them!

Sorry, rub it in your palms, not run it.

Not sure if anyone's mentioned it, but I find the Aveda 'Be Curly' range the best thing I've ever used. I'm 52 and have been blessed/cursed with very curly hair since I was 7. It's the only thing that seems to keep the frizz at bay and I've tried most ranges!

It is quite expensive (approx £20 for the conditioner and £17 for the shampoo), but you don't need very much of it at all and it seems to last for ages. I use the shampoo, conditioner and the curl enhancer every other day. The curl enhancer is applied to damp hair after conditioning. There's also a hair spray in the range which is a godsend if I've washed my hair in the morning and know it's going to be a damp or drizzly day. Hope that helps!

Some great tips here, thanks! Lovely pics of glossy curls too, I am very jealous. My hair is more wavy than curly; I would love to encourage it to curl more. I definitely feel that layers help it curl, and I suffer terribly from A-shaped hair without plenty of layers in it.

Tresemme Naturals was sold out in Boots and on their website too! I wonder if this thread has caused a run on? I managed to get some curl crème though.

I am going to wash with just conditioner tomorrow and then put the curl crème through and plop it with a long-sleeve t shirt. Fingers crossed!

Do a before and after shot, just for your own curiosity if you don't want to share it- I bet you'll see a difference.

Thanks for the reminder BOF, I've just taken the before one!

An update. I have photos! These are the 'before' ones when I had washed it and let it dry by itself. As you can see, rather dry and not particularly curly.

These are the after ones, this is after my second time of washing in Tresemme Naturals conditioner, plopping and scrunching upwards with a t shirt, and Boots curling crème. I am quite pleased with the improvement and surprised at how much more curly it is! I still have some flyaway frizz which I hope improves with time - I find the underside of my hair clumps more and looks shinier, which I think is because I touch it less. I am really trying not to mess with it or touch it at all but its a hard habit to break!

I have also bought some Boots Naked shampoo which is free of all nasties, as I think I might wash my hair every other week. I do find it gets itchy after a few days.

Wow what a difference! Tresemme seems to be on offer quite often. I love just washing with conditioner and it saves time too