Curly girl method. Total newbie and hair looks awful!

[buttercupsyrup]

I've searched all the threads on this (only use the app on my phone) and couldn't quite find what i was looking for although sure I've read umpteen threads on this before.

My hair is naturally curly, used to be tight ginger ringlets in my youth buy years of GHDs and a few DC seem to have totally broken its spirit. I'm on day one of curly girl method, I've followed it all and my hair just looks awful! Lank frizzy and just wavy with no curl. Does it get better? How long did should it take to get something that I wouldn't be mortified to leave the house with? And in the meantime can I follow the method but just keep it tied up, or will this impede any curl potential I may have?

Please help!

It took a while for mine to settle down and some experimentation with routine and which products suited, but I can now wear my hair down without looking like I’m channeling Hermione Granger - the early years.

I did (and still do) tie my hair back when it’s all gone a bit Albert Einstein. Some people seem to get really zealous about it, I ignore and do what suits (including occasionally dry brushing). I think if you are, by and large following a CG routine you should see an improvement in a couple of weeks.

Thank you @LuggsaysNotaWomen I think I might have to tie it up for a few weeks and hope for the best. I can't be leaving the house like this!

This is it dry. It's a shambles!!

There is a definite curl pattern there, you can see it best at the roots. It just looks very dry which it will be if you’ve been using harsh products and heat for years.

Maybe schedule in some deep treatments. I just use normal conditioner with some sweet almond oil, whack it on and leave it for a couple of hours.

They are pricey but Boucleme products are super moisturizing (I was given a taster pack for a present and now have to try and justify buying a full price bottle once they’re finished - but I luffs them). I’ve also heard Trepadora stuff is really good and I think they are having a Black Friday sale from the 23rd, might be worth hinting to someone for a Christmas present.

You seem to have more curl at the root which makes me wonder if the rest is really damaged and need growing/cutting out! Then the curl would be amazing!

I've been doing cg for about 2 years. I stop because annoys me and seems too complicated and my hair goes to shit again. I've still not got it sussed but on a good day it looks great. Rest of the time I put it up as pp says. It's taken me ages to work out what type and porosity my hair is - I've learnt anything heavy and thick (coconut oil!!!) Drags my hair down and takes weeks to wash out. I've learnt my hair loves gel, hot deep conditioning and air drying.

I can't get my 2nd day hair to work, and if j sleep with it wet it looks like I've been electrified in the morning! I wash with update shampoo every 3-4 days, without it I get build up - this is against cgbuf it works for me! Get a good hair cut and experiment with routine/products!

Lovely colour btw - I love red hair jealous.

*sulfate shampoo

I do curly girl.

I would start simple. Once you've done your final wash (make sure the shampoo has no silicones but does have sulfates) then pick a CG approved conditioner and wash and condition with it.

Comb with a wide toothed comb when wet, and scrunch dry gently with a micro fibre towel/cloth (the micro fibre is much less abrasive on the hair cuticles.

Let it air dry, or dry with a diffuser on a low/medium heat. If diffusing, carefully pile the curls into the diffuser bowl with the hair dryer OFF, then switch the dryer on and keep the diffuser still, entirely still, for 2 mins or so. Turn the drier off again before you move it from your head. Do it again on another section. It doesn't take any longer this way than constantly moving the diffuser around, but you'll disrupt your curls less if you keep it still when it is turned on.

If you want more hold than you active like that, add in a mousse or gel. Rub it in your hands then take it through wet hair after combing but before scrunching.

If gel/mousse gives too much hold/funky feeling, use lube instead of gel/mousse. Yes, that kind of lube. Just make sure it is water based and has no silicones.

It has completely changed my hair from a fluffy mess to a smoother curl/wave depending on how long since I washed it. No more frizz at all!

That ^^
There's also a transition period so you won't go from not CG to CG and it look great straight away

Agree with others that your roots look healthy. Would you consider going shorter?

@happyasasandboy that's a great tip about turning hair dryer off and on again, would never have thought of that!

I'll persevere, just couldn't work out if the lengths were beyond help. I will report back in two weeks and see how I'm getting on.

@GhostCurry I might go for a good few inches off but need to be able to tie it up as couldn't deal with the pressure of getting the perfect curl with no other style option. I've worn it up in a loose bun with a few of the curls breaking free and didn't look too bad.

@Ollivander84 I'm definitely going to brave the transition period, but I was hoping for something with a little more pizzaz than I got! I suppose after all the years of heat every day I was expecting a bit much.

@LuggsaysNotaWomen just ordered some oil so hopefully that will help me get a bit of condition back!

@gillyweed when you put it up do you find it is detrimental to the curl process, or that a quick spritz of water etc perks it back up?

“ I might go for a good few inches off but need to be able to tie it up as couldn't deal with the pressure of getting the perfect curl with no other style option. I've worn it up in a loose bun with a few of the curls breaking free and didn't look too bad.”

I think a few inches could help, the weight of the hair will make it just that little bit harder for the curl to take.

Also what about some cute headbands, they would look great with curly hair?

Hope it goes well!

Do you have layers ? They encourage the curl and stop the triangle head.

@chapthedoor think I need to get a curly cut booked in. Do have very fond memories of the triangle head after my DM did one of her infamous home hair cuts!

The damaged hair will probably recover surprisingly well if you do some deep conditions, though I agree a few inches off and some layers will do wonders.

If you tie it back, get some of the hair ands that are like old telephone wire coils. They're much less damaging and hold curls really well without being tight.

Note if you do get the telephone hair bobbles and you have a cat, hide them. Two of mine are residing under the cat and I am NOT allowed to remove them. The others are "in MA secret cat hiding place" and fuck knows where that is 🤷🏽‍♀️🙄

@happyasasandboy I've just done an amazon shop with these and a few products I've seen on curly girl Uk site. Only three in a pack though, I can lose three hair bobbles in a day!

@Ollivander84 ahhh, our cats must be friends. Things often get squirrelled away to a secret hiding place in this house too!

You can get large cheap packs of bobbles in places like the pound shop, B&M etc or on eBay :)

It is important to put product through your hair when it is soaking wet, then use kitchen roll or a micro fibre to soak up some of the moisture. That makes sure the product bonds to your wet hair properly and gives me much more curl than frizz. Give it a try!

Your hair looks very similar to mine. I've attempted curly girl several times and given up so I'll be interested to see how you get on with it.

The CG method is great once you find the products that work well for your hair but it is also a fucking nightmare ..I have learned loads form curly girl instagram accounts and you tube videos.

Curly susie is great , as is marisacurls , there are loads of them to lose hours of time watching .

I also think using a rice water rinse helps ...see there is too many options ...fucking nightmare..wish I suited a pixie cut .