Curly girl method for a year and greasy roots on day 2

[Fannydango]

Been doing CGM for a year. Hair is much more consistently curly where as previously I never knew if my hair was going to be curly, wavy or straight and meh from one day to the next.

Lots of trial and error and the best products I’ve found as yet are: co-wash with As I Am coconut co-wash which I love (co-washing with a standard conditioner makes my hair absolutely disgusting!) use a Giovanni leave-in conditioner (which is ok - I think my hair is low-porosity so I have to use v light conditioners) and Umberto Gianni scrunch jelly (looks lovely when first styled but drops throughout the day).

My main problem is that the following day, my roots (particularly around my ears) look really greasy. The hair there is all strandy and eugh. I see all these women with beautiful bouncy curls on the CGM FB page who manage not to wash their hair for 4,5,6 days , just refresh it, and it looks lovely. What am I doing wrong?

All the advice says that you get greasy hair through the transition stage but surely I’m well past that?

I’m so gutted as I really thought I was for once on my way to lovely hair but I can’t seem to master it. Any tips?

Think I’m a mix of 3a/2c. Definitely get some ringlets but also some meh waves.
Conditioning first is an interesting idea...I’ll try that. Thought I might do a cowash tomorrow but use no product as I’ve never gone product free throughout the whole time I’ve been doing CG. It’ll be interesting to see what my hair does when it’s naked.

We quite often go naked. I think think curly girl purists like such a defined curl they can look almost oiled. We like Sarah Jessica Parker!

Hair pictures reattempt...

And another very natural one...

Hopefully better than mine. If I don't do anything I will get corkscrew curls at the back but the top of my hair is weird wispy waves.

Will try and remember to post a picture once I've washed it, it's stuffed up in a bun for the next few days now.

Lovely hair Swaying. Some of my hair looks a bit like that on a very good day!
And I know what you mean about the oiled look! Some curly hair looks wet - not really the look I want. Yes to SJP!

I'm low porosity and find the As I am too heavy to use every wash
I like the Shea moisture low porosity conditioner and the Giovanni tea tree to wash with. I do use a scalp scrubber brush
Maybe try the other as I am Co wash? It's a tea tree based one

Slightly rubbish view of mine

Lovely hair Yesqueen. I didn’t know there was another As I Am cowash. Will check it out.

I have very curly hair but curly girl hair just doesn't work for me.
I wash and condition my hair with herbal essences moisture one (light blue packaging) then brush through whilst still quite wet. Scrunch with a towel to take some of the wetness out. I then use Boots own brand curly hair mousse (pink bottle £1.50 or usually on offer of 2 for £2) then use a firm hairspray.
My hair is very porous so I use a lot of mousse and hairspray but it isn't hard when it dries.
Im 37 now and this is definitely the best combo for me.

Wish I could find something that worked for me like that, Dilli. I do get a bit fed up with all the experimenting.

Tried product free today - so just As I Am cowash and Giovanni leave in. Hair went less curly and has gradually dropped and gone really limp.

OP, I you have thicker (or denser coverage) hair than me, but if it’s still really fine, give a version of my routine a trial. If I use no styling product my hair ends up fluffy and the curls undefined too.

Thanks Ypsilanti. My hair’s not even fluffy and undefined today - as the day’s gone on, it’s just lank and limp with maybe a bend in it but no curls at all.

I’ve followed CG for 10 years+ and agree the evangelical bit about co washing only doesn’t work for everyone. I alternate with co washing and lo sulphate shampoo followed by a more intensive conditioner. Style with gel, sometimes mousse.
If I co wash exclusively I find my curls stop behaving after a week or so and need to co wash more often.
So don’t be afraid to use a lo sulfate shampoo once a week/every 10 days to deep cleanse. Because it’s used less frequently it’ll last ages anyway so you can afford to buy a more expensive brand and use cheaper conditioners to co wash in between.
After a year of co washing your hair should be in great condition anyway so I think even a clarifying shampoo once every few months would be fine and have read plenty of girls who follow CG do it. Just make sure it’s silicone free.

As for refreshing I do it (too lazy to fully co wash every day) and it does bring back the curl (just wetting hair a bit instead of fully drenching it) but I always get frizz too. I’m not that worried about a bit of frizz (comes with the territory) and it saves me having to co wash/diffuse every day and day 2/3 curls are okay. By day 4 I need to start all over again and co wash or lo sulfate shampoo and deeper condition.
I used to be a 3b/c. Hormonal changes make me more of a 2c/3a now and it’s thinning too...

Hi OP. I have quite fine curly shoulder length hair. Any products with Castor oil and too much Shea in them gives my hair a consistency like rope.

I now use the Trepadora range and I can honestly say it makes my hair shiny, bouncy and really well defined even with highlights. I co-wash my hair once a week and spritz or use a day creme in the mornings. Also pineapple or use a silk cap. All the products are either vegan or vegetarian and whilst pricey it's worth it after a lifetime spent searching for the right products.

Keep going until you find what works for you.

@bike The Trepadora mint low sulfate shampoo is my total favourite, agree on Shea Butter being too heavy.
I also like Boucleme shampoos (I alternate between Trepadora lo poo and Boucleme cowash).
The only Shea Butter mask that’s not too heavy for me is the 10 in 1 Multi Benefit. I do recommend that one if you have healthy but tending towards dry hair...but my curls never get greasy roots if anything it looks dryer and frizzier if I leave it too long without washing

@SoyYo yes I love the Gojiberry shampoo as well it feels like toothpaste for the head it's so refreshing!

This thread made me remember to order fresh supplies actually. I like that they always put in a freebie (yes I know, a marketing ploy) and I also like that there's absolutely no waste in the bottle so you get your money's worth.

I will have a look at the 10 in 1 Multi Benefit though. What's great is that it's no longer a curse to have curly hair and us CG's can finally embrace our curls.

@Bike you know I’ve always been so super curly that I gave up straightening it in my teens, it was mission impossible! I’m now late 50’s but indeed the CG method has helped me make it super healthy and it’s a bit of a revelation the frizz Free curls I achieve with the gel cast...
I have also tried Lorraine’s terms and conditions products (only available through some of her CG guru hairdressers) they are also super good but sooo expensive that yes Trepadora and Boucleme are best in UK. I met Lorraine and the girl who created the Trepadora range last year.

The only other thing to say is invest in having your curls properly styled by a CG hairdresser. If it’s properly cut you only need to have it trimmed every 4/6 months.
I’m now growing out the dye and trying to let my natural grey through and being a curly helps with that too as the old dye looks more like intentional highlights rather than a stripe which you would get with very straight hair. Still transitioning and curious to see if I’ll stay with it or go back to dying it (not sure yet)

@SoyYo

Late 50s CG here too!
I go to Matt at Spring Hair ini Birmingham, he trained with Lorraine in the US so I make the pilgrimage twice a year, was up there two weeks ago.

OP, hope you're still reading and you find the right product for your hair. Only NOW do I love people noticing my hair when, previously, I would cringe and curse that I wasn't born with straight hair.

@Bike my first ever CG cut was by Matt! (Around 7 years ago?) he’s brill.
Then because she’s closer I went to Lindsy Hughes in London until she became so popular it’s almost impossible to get an appointment without booking months in advance
Last 3 cuts were with Fabien (curllove) and one of Lorraine’s stylists. I’ve actually seen Lorraine in action! She’s totally fabulous and signed my CG book

Actually Lorraine is doing lots of classes now in UK so in the future there will be a lot more CG hairdressers to choose from 🙏
When I was little my mum used to just pull my hair into a tight ponytail or cut it really short. I hated my curls too till my late teens when I gave up after frying it with chemical straightening treatments, Had to have it all cut off and then realised as it grew that my curls were fine (it helped it was the 80’s too so everyone was having a perm).
I’ve not looked back since!

Hello Soyo and Bike. Thanks for your advice.
I’ve been using curly hairdressers for a year (there are 2 near me) and yes, it definitely makes a difference. Although I’m really annoyed as I had it cut about a month ago and didn’t get enough off but don’t want to have to pay another £80 so soon!

Can I ask why you don’t just use lo poo all the time if it works for your hair - why do you co-wash too? Because it’s gentler?
Like the sound of the Trepadora - which cowash is it? I love all the suggestions on this thread - but also don’t as there are so many different things to try which could take ages to find “the” perfect products!!

I tried a rice rinse today - never done it before. Thought some protein might help with the limpness. It did...nothing!!

I started getting what you describe. I started using a scalp brush, and made sure I didn't apply any products too close to my scalp, and used a clarifying shampoo more often. So far it's helped. Have you tried cantu curl activator. It's really good for defining curls/giving them a spring!

Hi @Fanny yes the Trepadora shampoo here
www.trepadora.com/collections/cleanse/products/gojiberry-mint-reviving-hair-rinse-100ml-1
It’s completely sulfate free but lathers and removes build up gently. I just like giving my scalp a proper cleanse rather than just condition wash all the time as it makes my curls behave so much better. I feel a bit skunky if I just co wash all the time plus after 2/3 weeks of exclusively co washing I feel my curls are weighed down and sometimes end with itchy scalp.
The Trepadora you only need one wash every week or 10 days, 2 or 3 small pumps so lasts forever and it’s kind but deep cleansing.
I’ve had mine for nearly a year and it’s still half full.
I then tend to follow with a stronger deep condition but that’s because I have naturally normal towards dry hair. You may be fine with just your regular silicone free conditioner and avoid putting too much in your roots but concentrate on your ends

I also co wash in between because my curls tend to lose definition after 2/3 days...even if I refresh I tend to go super frizzy. I sometimes co wash with any silicone free cheap conditioner but my favourite is this one from Boucleme, it’s light so doesn’t weight curls down and smells delicious. I used to get knots/tangly curls at the nape of the neck but since following this routine I hardly need to detangle:
www.boucleme.co.uk/collections/all/products/curl-cleanser

I also recommend their gel and curl cream, great for refreshing days and styling after washing, smell fab and not at all heavy (I hate it if my hair is overloaded with product) you’ll get a medium Cast which is easy to scrunch out. If you follow them on Instagram or sign up you’ll usually find the do frequent discounts.

I know a lot of curlies do rice and vinegar rinses and make their own linseed gel but tbh I can’t be arsed with all the faffing about but some swear by it.

I think Cantu is good for super thick super dry hair. For me it’s too heavy so wouldn’t recommend if you have greasy roots.
Hope this helps you