Low maintenance curly girl method - does it exist?

[CoffeeandPastries]

Hi,

So I know CGM has been done A LOT on here, but tbh, it looked way too time consuming for me, so I gave it a swerve.

My hairdresser insists I should try it and thinks it would work really well on my hair, so did a bit more research and it looks as though it kind of has to be a tailor made method for each individual.

I have average-thick, wavy-curly, mid length-long hair.

Used to have super thick, long hair that I used to leave to dry naturally, whilst up in a bun or plait. Used to take an entire day! I couldn't use a hair dryer as it created too much volume. Whereas now my hair is quite a bit thinner, it's volume that I need.

In some ways I think now that it's thinner, it might be easier to do, but I can't be arsed with all the steps. I don't want loads of curls, just a nice controlled wave.

Can I create this just with products and a bit of scrunching? Really want to ditch the heat as much as I can, as I'm now committed to colour, so want to reduce the damage where I can.

All advice and recommendations welcomed!

It is trial and error which for me is the time consuming bit!
But I mean you can wash your hair, condition (wash it all out or leave some in) so that's just as normal really. Then products, so you can use a leave in conditioner or gel or mousse or a combo then dry with either diffuser or just air dry it. I like my hair to form a cast so go crunchy, then I scrunch out the cast in the morning (wash hair at night)
I sleep with a satin pillowcase
Innersense I create volume is really nice and they do a sample size
It's how complex you make it but also what your hair needs - mine needs hard hold products so I often use a gel and mousse but applying them is minutes

This might help
https://curlycailin.ie/how-to-build-a-curly-girl-hair-routine/

https://curlycailin.ie/what-is-the-curly-girl-method/

I just wash with conditioner and leave to air dry. On non washing days, I just stick my head under the tap to wet it and air dry.

My routine is very low maintenance but trying out and finding a routine in the first place was time consuming.

Following some of curly cailins product reccomendations worked for me because my hair is similar. I found it good to look at people on instagram with similar hair and see their product reccomendation, to build up your own routine.

I only wash my hair twice a week, I dont need to refresh anymore now its in good condition although i do put it up occasionally. I wash with a mild shampoo thats sls free (not cg but I have scalp issues) condion leaving a little in, gel, plop (put it up in a towel in a certain way) then leave to dry naturally for less volume or blow dry for more volume, using a diffuser.

I deep condition once a week and do a protein treatment very few months. What I will say is the better condion my hair is in the quicker it dries, its to do with the protein moisture balance being right if I remember rightly

Tbh I did a lot of research and learn a lot but now I have my routine down I have forgotten most of it and just know what works for me

It really doesn't have to be complex, although some people seem to overcomplicate things.

Tbh even that curlycailin website seems way complicated to me. My routine is very very simple.

Once a week i scrub my hair with a suitable conditioner (currently using the super cheap alberto balsam one) then rinse, comb and apply gel to my soaking wet hair in the shower, scrunching up to mix product and remove moisture, then when i get out of the shower i use a sports towel to gently remove excess moisture by scrunching a bit into the towel.

Part way through drying i add a bit more gel if i feel my hair needs it -this is called the smasters technique BTW - and that's really it. Days when i don't wash, i wet hair, add a bit of gel and then dry.

I don't do deep conditioning, don't do leave in masks, don't do rice water rinses or make my own flex seed gels and i certainly don't clarify and never did a final wash.

So for me, this is a super straightforward, easy routine and my hair has literally never looked better. You should give it a try!

Feel free to ask any questions.

I workout a lot which means my hair gets sweaty, so I wash with a gentle sos free shampoo, I lie, Boucleme hydrating shampoo, it's a bit £££but I don't use much, then condition with Boucleme conditioner. This is key for me because these products work well with my hip hair, I then rinse out, may leave some in, it usually rinse out. I then wrap in a sports towel, until slightly dry, apply a cg friendly mouse or gel and plop in a t shirt. I leave it until the morning, then scrunch out the crunch. I don't like a lot of volume in my hair though and like it fairly flat. This gives me waves without it looking bouffant. I sometimes use a little oil on the ends if it looks frizzy. I never use a hairdryer or diffuser. I'd rather just go out with it still wet if I need to

Sometimes, if I've been to the hairdresser and they've used silicone based products 😱, I wash with baby shampoo to remove most of it.