➿ Fantastic Haircare: Making Sense and Science of the Curly Girl Method

[botemp]

Offshoot from the Fantastic Skincare threads to document the trials and tribulations in order to make sense and science of the curly girl method. We don't necessarily follow it to the letter and are even critical of it in places. Nor are we especially knowledgeable at this point but we're learning as we go. Feel free to join in (especially if you have superior knowledge) as we attempt to approach this with an interest in ingredients and try to not buy everything that promises us magical things…

Useful blogs:

Curly Cailín
Science-y Hair Blog

Psst... it's Sophie not Sallie 🙈

There's only €10 between the two. The cheaper is at Amazon which puts me off somewhat as I'm trying not to spend my money there if I can but the 7000 had an Amazon review from a hairdresser who really liked it but said the nozzle attachment fell off in use. That's with a traditional blow out but it has made me hesitant for that one.

No protein in that, maybe some of the extracts act like it a little but they're only there in tiny amounts. Do the ringlets work for you, they tend to look a bit odd on me as they're just this lump in between, I tend to carefully pull them apart.

OMFG I knew that! I am so so sorry sophie. I have had a very intense day with some online training for new work software and my brain is friend. Please, forgive me .

The ringlets are in the dark depths of the underneath. If they were on top I would definitely separate them. Trying not to pull it around too much as just mainly focussing on getting it to where it wants to naturally be whilst on lockdown.

Lovely hair Pupsie! Does your DH like it? Did the Giovanni give a very hard cast? From the ingredients it looks like it doesn't contain protein.

Ps shall I change my user name to Sallie?! Maybe easier for you to remember

He does Sophie. Last time it did give a harder cast. This time I feel like it sort of dissipated a bit with the diffusing. I've not really diffused before (apart from a couple of minutes last week) so this is new to me.

On Amazon.co.uk the 5000 is £90 and the 7000 is £71.70 Bo. I'd be tempted by the 5000 but not at that price!

Found another listing. It's this one right?

Diva 5000

Yes weirdly it's a lot cheaper on Amazon here, just under €60 in black. The 7000 is on All Beauty at €80 but I have a code off with them for my birthday which brings it to €70, although that may have expired, they usually drop the discount often though. I haven't checked eBay though, it may be cheap on there too. The 7000 is their most powerful one so it's weird that that's cheaper.

Yes that's what I thought Bo. I expected the 7000 to be more expensive. I think I will wait for my diffuser to arrive and try it with the Parlux. If I don't like it I'll likely sell the Parlux and buy a Deva.

I think I cross posted with you both before.

I'm speaking from experience: make sure you get a genuine hairdryer if you buy from eBay or amazon. If it's cheaper than normal then it could well be a fake (or an older model - which wouldn't bother me necessarily).

When is/was your birthday Bo?

Pupsie - there is also a technique of adding gel when you've diffused to about 50% or 80% dry. You could try it if you feel the diffusing led to the cast disappearing (I find the opposite, as my hair dries with the hairdryer, the gel starts to form). Anyway Think the technique is called Smasters (strange name. Not sure where that comes from).

Not sure I answered your question re bottom of my hair Pupsie, yes a bit like power domi (I wish ).

Was watching a video about hair porosity. Apparently there are actually 5 grades. Grade 1 is extreme low porosity and grade 5 is beyond repair and needs cutting off!! would say I'm grade 3 based on what she was saying about hair colour (although never lightened my hair which seems to be one of the worst things you can do).

Last week Sophie, I haven't checked how long the code is valid for. All Beauty is a legitimate retailer so that helps, the one on Amazon is sold by Amazon so that's generally a safe bet too.

I suspect the 7000 is actually an older model, it's not carried everywhere but the 5000 seems to have been around for much longer. I'm a bit annoyed that neither come with a diffuser.

I just watched a video by Dr Dray (a dermatologist) on rice rinses. She's usually very disapproving of all things DIY but she was very positive about it, especially when fermented, although she suggests no more than 3-4 days and to leave it on only for 5-10 mins and generally considered it harmless.

Happy birthday for last week then Bo

Yes Amazon is generally reliable. My dodgy hairdryer purchase was from eBay.

I think I've watched some videos by Dr Dray but never sure if I was watching the right person or not. American I think with a brown bob? She talks a lot about her life and daily routine? Does that sound right??

@SophieLion yep! I love rockin ringlets
Clump cream as leave in
Two gels mixed (the yellow isn't enough hold so I'm using it up by mixing it)
Plop
Mousse

How do you apply rockin ringlets Client? I have the impression it is dripping out of my soaking wet hair. Should I se a bowl to catch it? How much Rockin ringlets do you use?

I use a smallish amount, slightly more than a pound coin? And yeah I use a bowl to catch it! Then squish the rest back in

As much as I try to separate my ringlets they just clump bath together again .

Diffuser just arrived. Very impressed given I only ordered it at 5.30pm yesterday. From Sally's. It does indeed for my Parlux. Looking forward to trying it. Probably tmrw. Going to dry hair til 50% dry then apply gel as suggested by SOPHIE. Also my afro comb has arrived and also the Puff Cuffs. The latter are a bit big. Might need smaller size. I'll experiment properly later.

What size puff did you get?

PS belated birthday wishes Bo

I got the mini Client. They work but they don't hold my hair in a ponytail: it slips down. I've only had a quick go though. I uses to love banana clips back in the day. Worked v well for my hair. I can't often find clips to keep it up as there is too much of it. These are similar.

Thanks for birthday wishes, it was a bit of an odd one.

I tried the bounce curl products (clump cream and light creme gel) today and was very unconvinced when it was out of the plop as the clump cream did not do much clumping and it looked like it was going to be stringy or piecy but it's about 70% dry and now I'm beginning to see the potential and understand why it's called bounce curl as it's very bouncy. Roots are looking a bit flat, I'm blaming the Jessicurl shampoo for that and it's reaffirming why I don't like sulphate free shampoos, they work fine once but the next time they're just not cleansing out what they should.

The bounce curl gel doesn't seem to have a cast, from what I've dared to touch it's quite soft and won't need scrunching out. Ends are weirdly taking forever to dry

I really love the smell of the clump cream but it's quite strong! I hated the gel and can't remember why, used it twice and sold it

The gel causes flash drying for some, doesn't seem to be the case for me as it's taking it's sweet time and no wet frizz that I could see. I really disliked the smell of the clump cream, the gel smelt marginally better. I don't like fragrance in genera though 🤷

Bo that looks very good. Bouncy and springy. In

Thanks Client. I think next time I use rockin ringlets I will squish some water out of my hair first too.

Let me know if the gel thing works Pupsie (and noted you got my name right and in capitals too )

Is that Bounce Curl Light Creme gel Bo? If so, I think it contains a lot of protein. I think your hair looks good - smooth, bouncy and frizz free

Yes, it's the light creme gel it contains a lot of large molecular weight proteins, the rest of my routine was protein free so I assumed it would be okay especially with the clump cream being so heavy. I do think there will be some soft frizz when it's dry but I'll live.