Those who encouraged me to go for the Curly Girl Method

[GinGeum]

Thank you very much! Look - I have curls! Well, waves really. But not just a ball of frizz for once.

I started it on Saturday, bought some curl creme and was so surprised at the lack of frizz when it had naturally dried. I went swimming yesterday, popped a bit more creme in and it's still nice today.

Why did I not do this sooner?

Products seem to make mine worse, shine-wise, either no effect at all or make it look lank and dull, I've tried so many over the years and wasted so much money on them. I ought to look and see what's new out there really. I've never blow-dried or straightened routinely apart from when it was short for many years and a quick blast of the dryer was needed, so haven't ever used products routinely.

Ah Olli your curls are so much nicer than mine!

Sorry, I'm not meaning to sound negative, I'm going to give it a go again.

Can anyone do a list of the products you use for the CG method? Thanks

I use either Sainsbury's own coconut conditioner or Aesop conditioner for washing, followed by Cantu Curl Activator Cream while my hair is dripping wet. Then I have Cantu Shine and Hold Mist for day 2/3/4 hair.

Thank you @GinGeum

It looks lovely! Can I ask what silicon free, sulphate shampoo you used before you started?

I used a dove one I think, whatever you have is fine as long as no silicones
My routine is
Co wash with moogoo conditioner or as I am co wash
Condition with shea moisture
Products - cantu curl activator + cantu custard
Lube (non silicone!) for frizzy bits

cheese I used a regular sulphate shampoo to start with, to wash out the silicones on my hair from previous washes. I washed it today just with a silicone free conditioner, and it seems to be okay.

It looks salon done. Really nice.

Want I think that might be pushing it (but thank you!)

I long for hair like this girl, but I think her curls are tighter than mine.

I'm tempted, but find it hard to imagine my crazy hair being presentable without straightening the fuck out of it. My main complain is the amount of time it takes to drya ns straighten it. Does going curly save time? It all sounds quite complicated to me.

It all sounds really faffy and complicated to me too
And I have nightmare hair that could probably benefit from all the faffing about with it, but I don't have the patience!
Someone just needs to link me to an Amazon bundle starter kit!

Effectively once you've done your final wash you then
Wash with no silicone conditioner or no sulphate shampoo
Condition with no silicone (leave some in or rinse out)
Apply product if you need to

So it's no more complex than standard washing you can make it as simple or complicated as you want really

Can I ask if the method works when you blow dry your hair?

I am in the habit of washing daily in the mornings and my hair takes ages to dry naturally (even if wrapped up in a t-shirt). I'd really struggle to schedule in some air drying time

Yes but only with a diffuser really

Here's what I did today as a fairly standard routine
Washed with moogoo
Conditioned with shea moisture
Applied gel + curl activator
Dried with diffuser on low slow heat until dry and crunchy
Scrunched out the crunch with a dab of oil
Done! Tomorrow's curls will be good, the day after I'll need to smooth through and day 3-4 is up do/bun/pony tail so I wash every 3-4 days

It does save me time (and energy) but I'm quite lucky in that I don't work, so I don't have to head out in the mornings. I washed it this morning, and it had dried naturally in about 2 hours maybe. I think if I did have to rush off in the morning, I would wash when I got home in the evening, and then pineapple it overnight? I don't know.

I hated blow drying my hair every time I washed it, so now I'm so glad I can just jump out of the shower and pretty much leave it to it's own devices while I get on with other stuff. So for me, it's much less faff.

Mine was looking pretty curly this morning but then I hit another problem. It's been hot this afternoon and I can't bear my hair down when I'm hot so I whacked it into a loose bun which happens most days in summer and now the curls are pulled out.

OP, may I recommend the As I Am range, it has completely changed my life. Available in Black hair shops and on Amazon. I presume it's for Afro hair but my curly caucasian hair loves it more than anything else I have tried.