➿ 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

I experimented but found that applying to dripping wet works best for me. I give it the gentlest squeeze to get rid of a bit of water by squeezing up (when upside down), so long as it doesn't disturb the seaweedy pattern. I need to use more product subsequently but I'm never at the risk of overusing it as excess is squeezed out with water with the roping method and anything that's on the surface is absorbed in the plop (t shirts for me, I've contemplated a microfibre but it's such a bad material for the environment, especially every time it goes in the washing machine so I'm conflicted about it, have searched for a bamboo version but not found one that's for hair).

I think the dripping wet thing is a wavy thing (for the most part) the increase in frizz is a lot the longer you wait to apply products (but you get a bit more volume) if you really want to preserve that seaweed pattern. Those with tighter curl patterns seem to be able to be much more laissez-faire about when to apply products.

I never rice rinsed, my GM used to loads as it's quite common from where she was originally from. My great great GM apparently never went grey with it or she did it and then reversed it, I can't remember, think meditation was also involved. Also used to rinse their faces with it, but not the fermented stuff. She just saved the water she rinsed/soaked the rice in before cooking (always done in the morning).

I think they split up my order as I received another shipping notification, so not sure what will show up in my package today. If there's no Innersense foam I'll try the roping method on its own.

Have you looked at the Boucleme Curl Towel Bo?

I hadn't, but that just looks like a piece of t-shirt fabric (with bamboo) so not sure if it's that much of an upgrade. I'll keep it in mind because I do want a towel, not a turban thingy as I wrap my hair in a specific way (I made it up myself but I'm sure it already existed and has an actual technique name) as I don't want to twist my hair when plopping as that undoes all the careful effort before it.

I was rereading the Curly Cailín post on protein/moisture balance btw and she's very disapproving of wet plopping (and the bowl method). I find this aspect of the CGM community the most frustrating, they all contradict each other.

I will steer clear of wet plopping myself, it sounds too risky with getting product sitting on my scalp and clogging it up and potentially leading to hair loss.

Thank you Pupsie, it took me a while . I was also thinking that wash day showers will be annoying now with upside down washing.

I think I watched the same powerdomi video as you with the roping and squishing to root. Want to try to follow all that next wash day. I did actually try the bowl method once but it was sooooo messy.

I have done curly Caitlin's modified rice water treatment and my hair liked it a lot. I wouldn't do it too often though as it was a pain. Planning to deep condition this weekend with a deep conditioner that has protein in it too.

I have a deva curl microfibre towel which was a gift but I use an old T shirt too. I tend to apply my products on soaking wet hair now (just squeeze out a bit of water with my hands before applying) and do some scrunching with the towel once all my products are in. I find aa hard cast from gel works best on my hair.

Bo, I think curly Cailín doesn't advocate wet plopping if hair is already well moisturised because she believes it can leave to an over-moisturised situation. I'm still unsure as to the moisture situation of my hair. And certainly I wouldn't wet plop overnight (or did you mean dry plopping for that?). I saw someone wet plopping in a shower cap rather than a towel to let all the products absorb (power domi?)

Apivita has nice lip balms. a lovely one with beeswax or something similar but tube looks like a bee.

forgot to say that I agree all the contradictions between curly hair bloggers is annoying (would be great if they all said "do this, this and this"!!) but I think it just emphasises the fact that we all need to figure out what works best for our hair.

This the first time I have posted a personal photo (a bit nervous).

This is my hair today (day 3). You can see the frizz at the top, back (and general frizz as day 3!) which I hope can be resolved in a few weeks with upside down washing.

You can also see the ends are a bit thinner which I think is the cut (as I mentioned before).

Before I get confused, as I understand it:

Wet plopping: instead of towel you place hair in a shower cap, and wrap a towel around it for a certain period of time (20 mins or so).

Dry plopping: either straight out of shower to remove excess moisture with t-shirt microfibre towel and then apply stylers or the variation of applying stylers to wet and then removing excess moisture. Again, 20 mins or so (I usually go 30mins seems a big difference for me between 20 and 30 but any longer is not much of a gain).

Overnight plopping: like dry plopping but you sleep with it overnight. Probably not that conducive to scalp health.

I think I'm okay with moisture and that I just need a bit of protein to help balance it out. I think the haphazard approach of trying everything that sounds good probably puts you at risk of swinging one way or the other.

Bounce Curl and Innersense supposedly have a good protein/moisture balance in their line up which is what attracted me to those brands. Jessicurl and Boucleme are mostly protein free.

I was attracted to Jessicurl because it doesn't contain glycerin (mostly) and that's an issue with different times of year (especially winter) that I had noticed, so really wanted to try a gel without it. Glycerin seems another deep delving chapter of influence and confusion...

Your hair is absolutely lovely Sophie 😍

I had a bit of the thinner ends like you before I trimmed it myself (at an angle, curl by curl) and it definitely gave it back body. Only trimmed it by about a centimetre so was rather surprised.

Any super hydrating treatments people can recommend? I've been no or lo-poo for years with weekly washing and my hair still seems dry and breaks really easily (it's low porosity which probably doesn't help). I've tried all sorts of products but apart from the ones that are too heavy they don't seem to make much difference. And I don't want to spend a fortune chasing the dream product!

Wow @SophieLion your hair is stunning. If I could achieve something vaguely as lovely I'll be very happy.

I gave in and washed my hair. It was itching and I was curious about using the gel as the Boucleme arrived first thing.

It's hanging in my face and I'm worried it's going to irritate my skin.

My diffuser isn't here yet. My heat cap and treatment arrived after I had washed it.

My future wishlist has some root clips and a spriggle pick.

Have you ever tried aloe Una? I did a series of aloe and coconut oil masks made from a fresh aloe leaf when my hair became quite fragile and brittle because of a medication. I think KY jelly gets recommended too. Otherwise there's quite a few suggestions here if you look under the
'Products Emphasizing Film-Forming Ingredients (humectants)' section.

My order arrived, everything but the foam 🤣 I'm trying to decide what to try now... Tempted to use two new products but I think it's probably more sensible to just try one, the spiralicious gel as the gel I have currently feels like the weakest link.

Oooh, can I join in.

I have been wearing my hair curly for over a year and keeping an eye on CGM techniques. So I have got to an adapted version which I'm pretty happy with. I have wavy hair, more than curly. I have a thread on here somewhere.

Once a week, I wash with Johnson's Baby Shampoo, use Garnier Oats conditioner and brush hair thoroughly in shower (with head down). Squish it a bit and rinse out completely. Squish in a bit of mousse and Giovanni LA gel (I leave out the gel sometimes). Put hair in a tshirt, do some other stuff in the bathroom for about 20 mins then dry to 80 per cent dry with a diffuser. Scrunch out the crunch when fully dry.

Two other times, I wash with Yves Rocher Low Poo (not full CGM) with everything else the same.

Refresh - second day, I usually don't bother. If I'm not washing on the third day, I'll wet hands and scrunch in a tiny bit of gel.

I sleep with a pineapple with an invisibobble and a silk pillowcase.

I straighten my hair to cut the length and then next time cut individual curls to get the right look.

It sounds long-winded when I write it out, but I'm pretty quick in the shower, although drying takes a bit longer. I just dry it for as long as I have time for when I go out in the morning, then air-dry the rest.

Brushing in the shower was the biggest discovery. It makes my hair curlier (more like ringlets actually) and less frizzy. Just a cheap round, plastic brush.

I'd like a towel too Bo. I just find it easier, especially when doing skincare routine. I haven't mastered the tee-shirt tie up yet.

Welcome Crumpet. The invisibobble makes the top of my head tender in a pineapple. It doesn't give me a headache, just makes it sore.

Thank you Pupsie and Bo. I actually found another photo from a couple of weeks ago of the side of my hair and prepared it to send but then had to pick up some DCs from school. You can see the side is much less frizzy. I was also thinking about a DIY trim but not sure how I'll do it at the back of my hair without it going all wonky.

Did you like the Boucleme co wash Pupsie? I have the roots clips but rarely use them (and not at all recently). I find them a bit annoying as you can't leave the house with them in and I often get them tangled in my hair trying to get them out.

Yes got the plopping now Bo. I might try wet plopping and see. Definitely not overnight. Ah the glycerin is another can of worms! As I understand it, avoid glycerin in extremely low humidity or extremely high humidity. I bought the Jessicurl gel because I already have the DC gel that has glycerin. I saw you ordered the Ecoslay marmalade. My cousin tried that yesterday and liked it.

Hello Una, are you sure it's moisture (hydration) that your hair needs and not protein? Hair which is dry and breaks easily is also a sign of a lack of protein. Have you tried any protein deep conditioning treatments?

Hi Crumpets

I plop with a cotton t shirt mostly and only for long enough so it stops dripping
Wash day tomorrow I think!
I forgot I had a curlee box subscription on pause, anyway it has unpaused itself so I'm down to receive the next box. At least I'll have used up a good few products by then

Here is photo of the side. It was actually my first wash day with Boucleme co wash. You can see it is much less frizzy which really makes me think that upside washing will help the back of my hair.

Excuse the fact I have two colours in my hair. Neither is my natural colour (which is what I want). Front too dark and back too light. It's a long story and I need to go and get it sorted.

On the protein front, does protein intake via diet have an impact? My hair is strong and I generally aim for 120g of protein per day. Maybe there's no correlation lol.

Sophie your hair is truly lovely and gives me hope. Although I have to say I think I owe Bo an apology for dismissing her suggestion that my hair is curlier than I think. I'll add a picture later, and a long way to go, but I'm happy with it for day 2!

I didn't use Boucleme today. I didn't want to try too many different things too soon, so I only used the Boucleme gel.

Actually I was wondering the same thing myself re protein intake and hair earlier today Pupsie. I'm sure good diet plays a role but I think topical treatments also important. Same as skincare I guess, everything counts. I have no idea how much protein I eat a day....

And honestly Pupsie if you saw the transformation in my cousin's hair over six months you wouldn't believe it!!! She took regular photos of the back so she could document it all. Also if you go on curly Cailin's Instagram page you'll see a post from yesterday with a photo of her hair from 3 years ago - there were no curls in it! A complete transformation.

I really want to get a good cut. That's my thing at the moment.

I'm not quite sure what to ask for in a cut Sophie. I think I'm lucky in that it's not been cut since early March, nor blowdried, so I definitely feel like I've got a head start. I'd never have attempted this pre-lockdown due to work and lifestyle.

I'm resisting the urge to follow too many hair people on IG. I generally keep the number of people I follow to under 80 and most of those are fitness, National Geographic etc. But I have to say I really like powerdomi. I watched some of her saved stories last night where she talks about embracing a bit of frizz and how perfect hair is never her goal etc.

Day 2 front and side. Explained to my boss my sudden curls during our Google video call lol.

This was 2 weeks ago before I even had a notion of doing this. And the other one shows my current root situation.

Bo I have both aloe gel and coconut oil so could give that a try.

I haven't tried protein SophieLion but happy to give it a go - I've heard rice water is a pretty good homemade treatment for protein and obviously easy to obtain!