Anyone else starting curly girl method during lockdown?

[MoonBabysMagicalKalimba]

I started a few days ago, I figured if my hair looks crap at least no one has to see it. Got all my products, all silicone and sulphate free, and a silk bonnet to sleep in. Curls are looking ok but quite rats tail like. There’s still a little bit of frizz too.

I’m an every day hair washer, currently trying to get my hair to adapt to every other day but the on the second day it definitely looks greasy and limp. Very glad I don’t have to go anywhere or look presentable!

Is anyone else giving this a go, or done it in the past? How long does it take for the lovely curls to appear and stop looking like I’ve been dragged backwards through a hedge?!

It looks good! Flipping from one side to the other keeps volume at the crown too.

Your sides are trying to curl but the top doesn't seem to want to play. Never mind, it can be forced. Evil

No, not bleached just high lift tint highlights but my hair is more caramel honeyish than that photo - think it was wierd lighting.

My hair has changed from loose and quite frizzy waves to more defined curls using the curly girl method.

I find that the application of products is more important than the products themselves.

I cheat a bit in that I use shampoo (silicon and sulphate free) but it was the techniques of application that really maximised my curls (and I know the names are cringy). The other thing that's key is not disturbing the curls at all as they're drying.

This is what I do:
Wash hair with shampoo.
Apply loads of conditioner and comb through hair upside down.
I squish to condish - getting loads of moisture into my hair alongside the conditioner.
Get out of shower with head still upside down.
Pulse my curl cream in (cantu) with more water.
Squish gel through my hair while it's still soaking.
Supersoaker method - Re-wet my hair with palms of water to maximise clumps of curls.
Plop for 10 minutes.
Diffuse dry.
Scrunch out the crunch when it's dry.

It looks like a palaver but I can do it fairly quickly now and I only need to wash my hair twice a week now.

I don't do anything special to refresh in the morning, just put a bit of cream through to tame any frizzy bits.

Hope that makes sense. Sorry it's so long!

What does plop mean?

Plop means I wrap my hair gently in a t-shirt on sort of pile it on the top of my head without disturbing the curl. There's loads of videos on Instagram or YouTube on how to do it.

Thanks

Back slightly better today, front still not playing ball but I'm persevering!!
Trying it on the side but it needs another inch really!

I watched a YouTube video and I think I've not been spending long enough adding the product and squishing. I also had the ultimate blends papaya on for 30 mins under a shower cap again and that definitely seems to make a distance. Hopefully I've some mousse arriving tomorrow with my supermarket shop!

Front!

The back is doing great, and the front is definitely curling more than it was before! The deep conditioning masks are fantastic, the more you do it, the better it'll get.

Hope the mousse works out for you and you don't end up with giant 80s hair

@BemidjiMinnesota yes slightly worried about 80s hair but I used to have short layers so hoping longer ones will help!

I used to get a cast with mousse as I remember having crunchy hair!!!! No SOTC in those days

Following this thread with interest. Had great hair but years of straightening abuse has taken a toll. So last 3 washes left it to dry and can see the curl trying to return. Trouble is my hair is a bit too short so it looks like a frizzy grey old lady perm!

Going to have to leave it to grow before I try again.

I have to properly rinse my hair in the shower and start again every day otherwise I find that I’m adding product on top of product and the build up over a few days makes my scalp sore and itchy.

Ok resident gurus I now have some mousse and some cheapy Tesco hair gel!
So how would you recommend I use the mousse and/or the gel.
I also have cantu custard and curl activator. What would you do with these products! I’m hoping mousse will help as wasn’t getting a cast really and the activator was making my hair sticky!

@BemidjiMinnesota and @BluebellParty you seem to have got this sorted! Any advice gratefully received

@Frankiefree maybe the products you're using are too heavy for you. You shouldn't have build up after only one day. Try using conditioner made for fine hair, and using a lighter holding product, like a mousse. What products are you using currently?

@justtakeatowel OK, it's experiment time! So I would test out a different combination each wash day to see what works for you. These are my suggested combinations:

1. Curl activator then gel to form a cast.
2. Gel alone to form a cast
3. Mousse scrunched and raked in, then gel to form a cast
4. Mousse alone.
5. Custard alone

Try all these on soaking wet hair, and try with damp hair to see what reacts the best. Try to squish (not wring) as much water as you can out of your hair with a microfiber towel or cotton T shirt.

To refresh, damp hair a bit and scrunch in some mousse.

If a product is making your hair sticky then use less of it. It will be easier to get a cast with a hairdryer or fan heater pointed at your head. Air drying takes so long.

Good luck!

I weirdly didn't have a transition period, although my hair disliked some products
CG for 4 years or so
Pics are a good hair day before CG and a good hair day now

@BemidjiMinnesota I'm taking a slight positive from today, I scrunched a bit of mousse in my hair as I had a meeting and needed to look a bit presentable and it definitely seemed to revive it a bit. Maybe it'll be a good refresh tool!

Washing tomorrow so I'll try one of your suggested plans!

I've been following this thread with interest, I have just invested in the cantu custard as my last hope.

I have very fine and thin hair, my hair is getting thinner but I think that might be due to a bad cut. I think I should have avoided layers in my hair.

I can get some curls but to be honest I look more like Susan Boyle pre makeover.

I feel very down abut my hair, it's now to thin to tie up and I'm not really sure what to do.

Fab curls @ClientQ. What products do you use/what’s your routine?

I have fine low porosity 3a/b hair. I wash my hair probably once a week with bounce curl clarifying shampoo. Comb lots of conditioner through in the shower, then use a denman brush to clump it, still in the shower. Then I wash about half the conditioner out and squeeze out moisture as soon as I’m out the shower with a Boucleme curl towel. Then I add a beauty pie smooth booster and lots of gel. Squeeze curls gently with curl towel again.

I find it makes a big difference how you apply your products. As my curls are fine they need careful handling and I tend to smooth products on rather than scrunch them in.

@hoxt thank you
It varies a lot! But my holy grail is
As I am co wash
Broo thickening conditioner comb to de tangle
Jessicurl rockin ringlets on soaking wet hair
Jessicurl spiralicious
Cake whip curl mousse

SOTC with mizani oil

It's been 4 years and I still can't work out whether gel or mousse first works best my hair is very unpredictable and wants ALL the protein so I do gelatine treatments sometimes

Oooh, more products to investigate. I like LA looks blue gel and the Boucleme strong hold one. The Mane Choice lemonade mousse smells amazing.

@hoxt I've read about the denman brush, is it easy to use?

Oh it looks shit today!

I saw a photo of me from 2 years ago where I had shorter straightened hair, I looked so much younger, a lot younger, curly hair really ages me

I took a few days off, did the routine again last night. Washed, conditioned, leave in, curl cream, mousse, then plopped for half an hour. Then added more mousse and dried with a diffuser. My curls went properly crunchy, I SOTC and had lovely, gorgeous curls. Result!

Tied in a low, very loose pony and put my silk scarf on for bed. This morning, frizz central! I tried reanimating with moisturising gel spray and some water. A very slight improvement but still quite flat and frizzy.

I’ve just been for a walk, it’s not particularly windy but I’ve come back looking like an actual scarecrow.

I just can’t crack this “reanimation” at all.

@MoonBabysMagicalKalimba if you do your routine at night, try not SOTC and just going to bed
I find it helps my curls last longer and protects them (I sleep on a satin pillowcase)

Late to the party here, but just noticed this thread. I've ordered products for cg method. I've got a growing out pixie and my hair is 2b I think.
Will update and go back to rtft!!
Currently tryed Co wash and scrunch dry.