Starting Curly Girl Method - join me in achieving shiny bouncy hair!

[CurlyWurlyTwirly]

Have been researching this for ages (3 days )
Anyway found a fab curly girl thread from 2009

However some of the products have been discontinued, not all the blog links work, so I thought I would star a new thread.

So here is what I have gleaned so far:
Sulphates (the stuff which makes your shampoo foam) is a Bad Thing as it strips all your hair of oils, so you need sulphate free shampoo.
Found this list from the original thread which lists all the banned products.

Silicon ( Frizz Ease type serum) is a Bad Thing as it seals up the cuticle, so that moisture cannot get back in.

So moisture is the holy grail, and that is why hair gets frizzy, as it is too dry.

So most curly girls seem to cowash, which is washing with conditioner, or a special runny conditioner type product.

So here are the steps I have figured out, ( I haven’t bought the book yet).

One last wash with a sulphate shampoo, to clear out build up.

On subsequent washes, you cowash, but only use your fingers or a shampoo brush ( a stubby ruby bristled brush) to loosen dirt.

It is recommended that shower not too hot, and also wash hair upside down, so you are not flattening your “ canopy” of curls.

Comb through a handful of conditioner with a wide toothe comb

Also add your styling product in the shower eg scrunch with gel.

DO NOT use a normal towel, dry with a tshirt, or a microfibre towel.

Then there is the “ plopping” method where you lie a dry t shirt on a flat surface. ( loo seat) and sort of lower your head upside down and let your curls gather then sort of gather up the t shirt & fasten gently round head.

either air dry or dry with a diffuser, not too hot.

Other stuff I found : curl type 2 a, b, c, 3 a, b, c 4 a, b, c it’s a whole new world

Also deep condition according to curl type. I am about a 2b and am sitting here with a mixture of coconut oil & olive oil slathered on my hair.

Right off to create some curls!

My hair is 3b and I wash it upside down with any cheap conditioner ( usually the runnier stuff). Rinse well and while dripping wet I add a 2 inch blob of Wella Shockwaves curl mousse and same of volumising mousse. Scrunch up hair while still upside down then pat dry with a normal towel ( still upside down!) and leave to dry naturally ( right way up) For me it gives best results as my hair is fine ( thus the volume mousse). I find the Wella mousse is the only product not to leave my hair sticky or weighed down.

After a straightening disaster with my hair about 15 years ago, I found www.naturallycurly.com forum really useful, although it was quite US based. The lady that developed the Jessicurl products discussed above was a regular poster, although not sure if she still is. I have thin fine ringlety hair but after rejecting straightening ever since have recently started blow drying my hair straight because it’s so much quicker in the morning with two small children 😳

What leave in conditioners are people using?

I am really loving Maui range! Had to start using a shampoo again occasionally after seven years of co-wash - my hair is quite straight but enormously thick and dry and highlighting combined with London hard water was frying it.

I joined a CG FB group to get some advice but bugger me, it’s hard work. Just want some recommendations for products but no one seems to be coming back to me and there’s so much to read!

My hair has gone limp and straight but is normally a 2C/B. I think it gets weighed down easily. I know it’s all trial and error but any suggestions of shampoo and conditioner to start with please? And how often should I wash? And deep condition? And how often should I use clarifying shampoo? Sooo many questions!!

Ooh I’m going to join in! Have 2b but very voluminous hair which I frankly haven’t known what to do with for years. Recently had layers cut in which makes the texture much more curly, I love feeling a bit more natural but I’m still getting used to how ‘big’ it looks round my face. I have only got as far as changing styling - I bought ‘curl activator creme’ from the twisted sista range in superdrug, sort of scrunch it in and then don’t touch at all while it dries, was amazed at the reduction in frizz! Off to shop for more bits today - is low sulfate shampoo, rather than co-wash, better for wavy hair? Or does it just depend? Lovely pictures on this thread!

If you have too much volume @buddy79 rake the product through more than scrunching. So a downward movement more than an upward one iyswim.

I'm making a fresh herb hair rinse with rosemary, sage, thyme and lavender to try as a cleanser. Kitchen smells lovely at least !

Also going to try a nettle rinse as a cleanser ... I have loads of nettles I'm about to weed out of my garden which prompted the reason for researching!

It enriches the roots and scalp apparently and other benefits ... at least it's free as only need extra virgin olive oil to add to it

Ooh @FluffyWhiteTowels those sound lush!
Can you post the recipes please?

Photo is my hair from the back. I've done a modified form of CG for a few years now. I wash it every 3rd or occasionally 4th day with either Cantu sulfate free or Noughty Wave Hello shampoo and then a combination of Cantu, Waitrose own brand, Tesco own brand, Noughty WH, Shea Moisture, Tresemme Botanique and Tresemme Perfectly Undone conditioner.

I switch between the conditioners except the Perfectly Undone which is my most staple product and the one I always use as a leave-in. I scrunch in a bit of Tesco gel or Shea Moisture coconut and hibiscus smoothie stuff after washing. I air dry and use a soft scrunchie and silk pillowcases at night which make a big difference to second or third-day hair.

It's mostly in pretty good condition although I do have it dyed regularly due to early greying (cheers biological father ) which isn't ideal but there's no way on earth I'm stopping.

I find the biggest issue I have with it are the bits at the very front around my face which seem to grow less than the rest of it and sometimes tend to go a bit wispy and stick up or out at odd angles. I stopped wrapping it or putting it up after washing which helps a bit but if anyone has any great tricks for the 'wispy front bits' that would be great.

@buddy79 Twisted Sista, you say? I’ll give it a try.

Those of you who use gel, please could you tell me, would any hair gel do? Or does it have to be one that contains no silicones / sulfates /parabens?

I'm wondering whether i could give DH's hair gel a go before forking out for yet more products....

Usually the cheapest gel will do. Try Eco Gel - only about £2 for a massive pot.

Gel still has to be silicone free - but that comes at a large range of prices and Eco Style is v cheap.

Wow Vet, your hair is gorgeous - I have same flyaways at front so watching.

Your hair is beautiful, Vet.

I would advise experimenting with products / gels/ mousses because everyone’s hair is different. Through trial and error you find what’s best for you.
I also use a hair mask conditioning treatment once a week...usually one with high keratin content but no particular brand.
@VetOnCall... your hair is gorgeous!

Ah thanks I've fought against it on and off over the years - I blitzed it with keratin straightening treatments/GHDs for a few years in my late 20s which totally frazzled it; I had to cut 3 inches off in the end which took ages to grow back. I love it now though and will never straighten it again, although I'd love it even more if I could tie it back/put it up without the annoying wispy bits and flyaways.

Has anyone tried using argan oil on curly hair? I've read a few positive reviews online but haven't tried it.

@curlywirlytwirly thanks, and no, I have tried the soaking oil method. I’ll try that. In fact, I’ll probably try anything if it promises to get rid of the dryness.

It’s funny, because, back in the country that I was born, it’s the norm to apply coconut oil after every hair wash. I used to turn my nose up at it as it makes your heir really greasy and ‘dirty’.

@eggncress what brand of keratin hair treatment did you use? Again, does it have to be silicone free?

I’m seeing an increase in dandruff. I was wondering whether the dryness of my scalp is a contributing factor.... before I started the CG method, the dandruff was kept under control by Head & Shoulders. Hope to see a reduction of this once I start doing oil treatments.

Ok, so I’m going to wash my hair with just conditioner tomorrow. First time I’ve ever attempted it. Tbh, I’m expecting it to go limp and dull and have to be put up in a ponytail. But I suppose I won’t know unless I try....Wish me luck!!

I want to do this too so will read and follow this later

@Ironfloor269... the one I’ve been using lately is Daily Defense with keratin and jojoba 3 minute leave-in conditioning treatment. I’ve just read on the packaging that it’s sulphate free. It cost £1.99 from Home Bargains for a reasonably sized tub

Thanks, @eggncress. I don't have a Home Bargains near me but will see whether I can get it online.

@chocwocdoodah if you've been using regular shampoo and conditioner, you might want to wash your hair with your regular shampoo (which will hopefully include sulfates) for the last time before starting cowashing. This is to cleanse your hair of the silicones left behind by your regular conditioner.

And, good luck!

TKmaxx is also good for conditioning treatments ( check the reduced section first)

Secinding what egg just said about TKMaxx; I went there yesterday and got a massive bottle of Yes to Cucumbers conditioner and a bottle of Natural World certified organic argan hair treatment oil for £2.99 each.

ironfloor269 - sorry, should’ve said, I’d already done my “last wash” the other day.

So, washed with conditioner this morning and my hair actually turned out ok! Thought it’d look lank and greasy. I didn’t put enough product in and had to blow dry it a bit (which can make my hair a bit lifeless) so it’s not as curly as it could be but I can adjust next time. Is it best to use an actual shampoo for my next wash (albeit a no-silicone or sulfate one)?