➿ 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

Curly Caitlin was absolutely scathing about Cantu and Shea Moisture in her IG Curl Clinics. I don't use them. I don't understand why the hate but then I've not looked into them.

Plumbers came this morning and fixed the 2 issues with the boiler, so the water softener should in theory be tip top again. This makes me soooo happy.

With my hair loss my focus was much more on my parting as that's where it was most obvious, it wasn't until it grew back that I realised how much further my hairline had gone back and what a difference that makes to your face. Now I see receding hairlines on women everywhere 🤦 (observation wise, I'm not judging anyone for it, I'm estimating it starts/becomes noticeable somewhere in your thirties)

How much time/effort is refreshing, quirky? It always seems about as much effort as washing your hair.

Pupsie, I've noticed that in CC's comment section on her blog. She's very insistent that it's a known thing that Shea Moisture is terrible where her blog is the only time I've ever seen it mentioned. I just don't get why, I know there was some controversy as it was a black owned company and they did a lot of outreach and charity with the black community and was a very big part of the natural hair movement on YouTube becoming big. Some people were really upset when they sold to Unilever but the owner stayed on and they operate exactly the same (exact on a global scale and the owners are much wealthier than before).

Cantu can be drying for some over time, I've read, or too heavy but that's something you notice straight away so not really a problem beyond one of expectation. It doesn't seem sensible to be married to a single line of products for your entire routine anyhow.

It does come across a bit snobby by CC I'm afraid. The brands she recommends above all are very expensive in comparison and not everyone wants or can afford that. Not everyone is going to like everything but it's very noticeable that the brands that are considered no good are the cheap and accessible ones which long term curlies seem to prefer above others 🤷

Wash day today (should probably have been yesterday but I decided to lift my lashes and forgot the no water for 24h rule), modified three gel method from last time where the final gel is a foam instead and subbed ecoslay for spiralicious because I can't help tinkering It's looking promising so far, I suspect it'll be on the wavier side.

I wonder why too. They are both quite heavy and moisturising, I think. Shea moisture was recommended on a fb group, but I can say that the Shea moisture with Jamaican Black Castor Oil discoloured my hair to the same creamy yellow as the conditioner despite it supposed to be colour safe. I like Cantu, particularly this leave in one, I used to use the Shea butter in the white tub but the one with the orange label is better. It is quite perfumed, I would prefer it wasn't but it does the job.

The refresh is a quick damp down, add a bit of leave-in conditioner (if it looks dry), add some boots hair creme to define any frizz. I know lots of people use a water spray, but my hair's so thick it's easier to just use my fingers. It seriously takes me a few minutes in the morning.

I moved my parting after some scalp/hair issues when I went blonder. I might also be a bit obsessed with checking out hairlines, bo!

I think I see a little progress here. Same routine as last time (pic up thread). What I did different this time was rake the products in. I don't usually. And I diffused for around 30 minutes.

And the bavk.

(Me to DH: "can you just take a picture of the back of my hair?"

DH: "I though you were in a rush to get to the Post Office")

At least your DH is helpful, my OH refuses to be an accomplice in my 'burgeoning social media career' hair looks good, Pupsie.

I've had a bit of a hair victory, I think. Frustratingly it doesn't photograph as good as it looks in RL 😑 the side view gives a better impression of the curl pattern an definition but in most pictures my camera seems to just turn it into one blob of dark formless hair (maybe I need a ring light? Maybe I need to get my head out of my arse...). Anyhow, I'm calling it my best wash day so far. It's similar to when I was so enthusiastic about the bounce curl clump cream and the gel but without all the weird frizz. Wavy but not overly curly (which will just drop) and still bouncy. Really need to sort out my front layers though, but I probably have a few more wash days to experiment with.

Well, I've been reading up about porosity (again) on the Curly Cailin blog. I think I'm somewhere between medium and high porosity. I think it's a bit confusing as I have fine hair but lots of it, so it does take ages to dry. I definitely need something with a fair amount of conditioning, as anything too light just gets lost on my hair.

Posted too soon. Lovely wavy curls from Pupsie and bo.

Thanks Bo. I wonder if the softer water has helped? It was only fixed this morning, but they had to drain the system completely before they started so hair wash will have been all softened water 🤔

I can definitely see your curl pattern in the side view. Looks good. Like all the best individual bits of your previous wash days have all come together in one?

DH has just bought a ring light. And a green screen. This is because he needs to record some presentations for work (should currently be at annual conference in NY). I used both for my team meeting on Monday. Tricked them all into thinking I was in a coffee shop (beach/ocean backdrop would have been a step too far). The ring light was interesting: he played with various settings for me (as was set up for him. I'm warm skin tones and he's cool) and of course it made such a difference. Often these things are a little subtle for me unless glaring me in the face (no pun intended).

You could try a chelating wash, then you'll have a proper reset from the hard water Pupsie.

Ooh can you take some side by side pics of your curls with and without the ring light. Not like I'm interested in a social media career ring light or anything 🤞

Hello Skinful. Really nice hair! Actually lots of lovely hair photos from everyone. Can see real progress with Pupsie and Bo compared to photos at the start of this thread. What did you use for that wash Bo?

Am now wondering if my hairline is receding yet . I always have lots of short, baby hair bits around my hair line. Never figured out why...

Speaking of Cantu, I discovered yesterday that Cantu curling cream plus a little lube is a good refresh for my hair (trying to avoid using water although had to use a little bit today).

Pupsie you'll have to start taking photos of your hair using the ring light - apparently that's what most of the IGers do.

Today was day 3 for me today and I think it's the first time for ages that my hair has been in a decent enough state to wear down on day 3 (so the protein treatment obviously helped). I'll be washing tomorrow as I just did a run so it got sweaty (but washing today wasn't possible because I want to do a deep condition and it's too late here now).

Lube just remember where your lube comes from and who you're funding...

Today's routine was:

Jessicurl gentle wash (I'm really trying with the sulphate free and if I use loads it seems okay, I think this may be the issue, I'm used to expensive hair brands where you use very little, like a generous pea sized amount).

Kinky Curly knot today (nearly finished and sold out everywhere ) not completely rinsed out.

Bounce Curl clump and define

Ecoslay orange marmalade

Bounce Curl light creme gel

Innersense I create lift (I think) foam (I didn't do the whole breathing ritual thing, maybe that's the secret to zero frizz 🤣)

Plop in t-shirt for 20 mins and air dried.

I don't understand what you mean Bo. I didn't realise it is also controversial (am I being thick?)

I was going to do a chelating wash with Bumble and Bumble Sunday but I it clarified at the weekend and I think I have a decent protein/moisture balance and I don't want to rock the boat. I'll probably do the chelating one next wash.

Forgive my ignorance but what does a run light do in terms of hair appearance?

No, not at all Sophie, the internet just lost its shit when photos came out of a ridiculously excited Kim Yong Un in a lube factory. He is forever the face of lube for me now 🙈

Lube is otherwise an innocent victim in all this, although I do think goopy Gwyneth Paltrow made a whole fuss about ethical lube at some point, it was ridiculously expensive (no surprise).

I think a ring light picks up the nuance in hair colour better which would show more dimension and therefore curl pattern. I also think the sheer amount of white light probably makes frizz disappear on a photograph. Also, shine, lots more shine. I'm not sure how evolved haircare is in the way that makeup can be these days that under influence of light and camera it can look way better or more vibrant than anything you can observe in real life (the smoothing/blurring refracting particles thingies).

Important to remember all that Bo. It's like skincare/make up/body re unrealistic expectations isn't it. I actually think today that if my hair doesn't improve further I'll still never go back to straightening it. First time I've thought that and it's pretty liberating. Of course, chances are it will go backwards due to the triangle going out of kilter etc. But today I'm quite happy with it even though I know it's not where I would choose for it to be.

Oh right, I didn't pay attention to the Kim Yong photo before - thought it was the advert at the bottom of the thread . That was a few years ago although I think. Relieved that no proper nasty connotations with the lube (other than the idea of it on hair) because it really did quite a good job.

I think I mentioned here that PowerDomi (IG) had posted a photo of same hair with and without ring light and there was quite a difference.

Pupsie I was doing a lot of reading of all these IG accounts to try to find out how long these hair transformations take (I am not very patient) and most had significant results after a good few months and after that the hair still carried on improving. So it is definitely a long term job.

I must say I get really dodgy ads on MN whenever my adblocker falters so Kim Yong Un would fit right in. I've had artificial limbs from China, second hand shipping containers and a €50000 fur coat from MyTheresa. I do shop and browse at MyTheresa at least, but nowhere near spending that kind of money.

Yes, I've noticed it with my phone and my skin. I have all the filters switched off but even still my skin (which is arguably good with its occasional spot/dry spot) looks hyperreal some time. I need to train it to give my good hair now, but it's Asian so I think that's why it's emphasising mass of really dark hair...

I'm going to go search for that powerdomi post as my ring light ideas were just my musings, not based on any knowledge. Here's hoping IG will let me browse without hassle.

Oh, also, heat wave here next week. Any tips from the veterans? Or should I just accept it's going to look crap and too warm to wear down anyhow, so just embrace the messy bun?

Loving a messy bun these days bo.

Gosh re the adverts. I couldn't even tell you what ads I get. I rarely take any notice: I clearly have some sort of attention to detail issue generally. Although I am very pinickity/borderling OCD with some things.

Oh yes Sophie I do recall Powerdomi's different images with/without ring light.

This is mine with a ring light (pre highlights!)

Ring lights and makeup too
I want one in front of my face 24/7