Curly Girl method for idiots please

[DareIask]

I've read several articles and it all sounds so confusing.

Please give it me in simple terms someone... my hair is shocking and needs help.

I follow cg method to a point but if I do half of some of the suggestions my lovely curls look limp and 😒.

I use XHC strawberry conditioner for co wash sometimes I use faith in nature lavender. I start with this, use like shampoo and rinse thoroughly with warm water. I then condition with ultimate blends argon richness hair mask. I comb through when conditioning. Rinse but I leave a little in. I wrap in an old T-shirt to ‘plop’. Remove after 10 minutes and add lots of Pantene curls mousse leave to air dry. If I get a cast I scrunch out with conditioner spray.

Tried many products and methods but this works for me, simple and not to pricey.

Start with few products and methods and work from there. If doing it for the first time get a simple cleanser to rid the hair of silicone. I used baby bath. Some of the groups can make it a little daunting and complicated in my opinion.

I should add use the curlscan app to see if products are cg friendly.

It's only as confusing as you want it to be. It's like skincare - you can wash your face with soap and slap some nivea on, or you can use 15 different products. They're both skincare routines.

Just avoid sulphates, silicones and drying alcohols. And ideally don't brush your hair or use a normal towel to dry it.

Join one of the fb groups and you'll get loads of hints and tips. You'll read lots of suggestions from deep masks to rice water rinses and different techniques, but tune most of that out and start simple. And there's no need for a final wash - just get conditioner and gel and start straight away.

I co-wash (scrub my hair clean with conditioner) once a week, rinse then apply a tiny bit of curl cream and some gel to soaking wet hair, still in the shower. When i get out, I remove excess water by scrunching gently with a sports towel.

Applying the products to soaking wet hair was an absolute game changer for me - it really does seem to trap the moisture into my hair and give amazing curls.

What i would say is you shouldn't need much - it doesn't have to be complicated so you can get away with a 99p alberto balsam conditioner from home bargains and a gel like one from asiam, boucleme or the blue LA Looks gel from amazon which is good value.

Personally, I find the CurlFlo products to be amazing and have now switched from Boucleme. They smell fabulous and i get zero build up on my hair with them, even after a week my hair still feels light and fresh.

Good luck!

Thank you

I've just read a simpler version and your posts are helpful too.

So I need some suitable conditioner... which would you suggest?

I already have UG scrunch jelly so can start with that... putting on sopping were hair is new to me and I'm eager to try

Also have a neutragena clarifying shampoo somewhere which I could use before I start

(I have something of everything somewhere... most of it used once )

I love the ultimate blends moisture mask, Alberto balsam raspberry is lovely and cheap too. I love faith in nature too. Personally I have never got on with gel leaves residue and weighs my curls down as do most curl creams. I also find that applying product to sopping wet hair does not give me a cast or give me nice curls. I think that’s the thing what works for some doesn’t work for all, you have to find your own routine and it’s trial and error. I can’t go all week without washing and I swim a lot. I find some of the groups a bit ott apart from cg, what works for you. Some find just conditioner washing doesn’t work to so they use a lo-poo shampoo. It’s trial and error.

I’ve been CG for about 4 years now.

Start simple and cheap.

Conditioner and gel.

I don’t do it on sopping wet hair.

Get a scalp massager from Amazon for when you do a conditioner wash.
I use Boucleme now, pricy but got it on a deal.
Generally I do an oil mask and an Ultimate Blends hair mask pre washing each week. My hair needs lots of nourishment. The Shea one works better than the Banana one.
I've also discovered I should put in leave in conditioner after washing as it helps my hair stay softer. Then I'll do a quick squeeze with a microfibre towel then gel or mousse.
I'll do a cleansing wash every week or so. I try not to overwash my hair. Developing a hat collection to avoid great days.
I don't leave my hair turban on too long, if I used it at all, as it can override my hair and leaves out frizzy.
Also I only diffuse it once 70% dry as otherwise you're there forever. I've got a large diffuser attachment from Amazon to use on my normal hairdryer.
I put ear buds in when I do it to maker or less boring. Then, leave it to dry for the last 5% by itself and avoid touching it.
Wear in a high ponytail at night to avoid pulling the curls out.
Or with wet hair, sleep with it spread out on your microfibre towel on your pillow behind you.

Relatively new to CGM, but getting there - I started off using a more complicated routine with more expensive products, but have now simplified it.

I co-wash using a silicone-free conditioner (loads about, I use one from a local refill shop).

I have been using the Garnier Ultimate Blends Moisture that @EcoCustard recommends, as post-wash mask in the shower while I shave etc - it left my hair lovely and soft, but I think over-moisturised it, which made my curls a lot looser. I now only use the mask every few washes, and my curls are better again now.

I scrunch in some Eco Style Olive Oil Styling Gel when it's wet, then plop with a t-shirt for 30 mins.

Then I scrunch through a bit more gel and diffuse with my head upside down - low power, medium heat, 60 seconds in each place, switching off before I move the diffuser.

Days two and three I dampen it down with water from a spray bottle, scrunch in a bit more gel and diffuse. If it's looks a bit frizzy on non-wash days I put a tiny bit of the garnier mask in my hands and scrunch through.

Co-wash with silicone free conditioner.

Only comb when wet (or just use your fingers).

Plop hair with microfiber towel or a t-shirt.

Experiment with what styling products work for you. I found a lot of Umberto Giannini products great but curl jelly/gel doesn't work for me I just use a curl cream or mousse.

Refresh your hair by just wetting it in the shower or using a spray bottle. Some blogs say to wash your hair once every 5 days or once a week but I have to do mine every other day.

Try and avoid touching your hair, just leave it to dry or it'll go frizzy.

Oh yes @RizzleRazzle - forgot that crucial point.

DON'T BRUSH IT.

EVER!! Just rake through with your fingers when it has conditioner in.

Reading to understand..
So the technique is basically:

Use Conditioner instead of shampoo
Plop hair using t shirt or microfibre towel
Possible use curl cream or gel that works for you

Except there are variations as people figure out what works for them
Is that correct?

@TinyTroubleMaker

Reading to understand.. So the technique is basically:

Use Conditioner instead of shampoo
Plop hair using t shirt or microfibre towel
Possible use curl cream or gel that works for you

Except there are variations as people figure out what works for them
Is that correct?

Pretty much.

You need to work out what works for your particular hair type though.

I have 3B/C hair. It’s THICK and high porosity.

So I don’t style on soaking wet hair as it just doesn’t work for me. I also don’t plop and instead just scrunch out excess moisture with my microfibre towel.

I use a
leave in (Giovanni)
Curl cream (cantu)
Custard (also cantu)

My hair prefers custard to gel.

My hair LOVES protein. I like Boucleme products but can’t use them regularly as they have no protein and my hair gets very sad very quickly 😂

Following because I need idiot proof help too.
I agree that you need to work out your hair type and go from there.
I have fine and wavy hair which gets greasy quickly so I do need to shampoo more often and some of the products are just too heavy for my hair. I shouldn't be using the same products as someone with thick curly hair which is prone to dryness.

Also, gel casts just don't work on my hair so I need to try something else.

I've just started using Noughty co-wash and my roots are really limp and greasy today so I've had to use dry shampoo to liven it up a bit.

@sistersnottwins sounds like mousse might work for you? Not too heavy, don’t want to weigh your hair down.

So I went to Sainsbury's this morning and couldn't remember your recommendations 🤦🏻‍♀️
I was sure it was herbal essences and it wasn't!

How do I find out which are ok?

@DareIask

So I went to Sainsbury's this morning and couldn't remember your recommendations 🤦🏻‍♀️ I was sure it was herbal essences and it wasn't!

How do I find out which are ok?

Have you joined any of the Facebook groups? They’ve got albums of approved products.

I have very fine hair it is wavy curly. I find I need to use a silicone free shampoo as the conditioner wash doesn’t work with my hair. I use conditioner and ‘squish to condish’ so basically scrunch the conditioner from your ends to the roots. I use curl enhancing creme and gel ( and occassionally a volumising mousse if I am not air drying) but it is very much trial and error, about 8 weeks in and I have good and bad days and I do a wet refresh. I do brush my hair before washing.

Use curlscan to check products on your phone. It will tell you if cg friendly when you scan a products barcode.

My son who has corkscrew curls co washes, I was wondering if it would work on my hair which is mid back length, heavy, very thick and coarse with a wave in it. It can also get very dry. Would it leave my greasy do you think ?

@NaughtyNell I thought my hair (very thick with an unmanagable wave) was prone to oiliness, so was dubious about only washing with conditioner. But I would say the opposite - since starting curly girl, my hair has been fair less greasy, and will happily go 5 or so days without looking oily (used to be two max). And it turns out its wavy/curly rather than just unmanageable!

I think the not brushing helps with the oilyness too, because brushing stimulates the scalp to produce more oils, and spreads the oils through your hair too.

@Gizlotsmum I have fine and wavy hair too. I wash with Johnsons Top to Toe, which is CG approved according to Curlsbot and the groups I'm on. Co-wash did not work for me either.

Rbe78

Thanks will give it a try x

Today is day 3 for me

Day 1... washed hair in a neutragena purifying shampoo and then conditioned and used UG curl jelly while was still sopping wet. Dried naturally and was pretty much as normal.

Day 2. Woke with a birds nest on my head and felt sticky so washed with conditioner in shower and repeated the UG. Air dried and was dull and lank.

Day 3. Abandoned that conditioner and washed hair in a gentle shampoo to get rid. Repeated the UG on wet hair. Hair is much better

Tomorrow I'm going to try boots curl creme (another Ive had ages) and a different conditioner

Not sure how I'm going to move to less washing without looking like a freak atm

I have wanted to do CG for ages but found the whole thing very intimidating. I’ve just bought an entire kit:

merwave.co.uk/

Only used it once but had good results! I have wavy hair (mainly 2b, with some 2a and 2c areas).

I have fine wavy hairs me live in a very hard water area. I tried CG and it didn’t work for me. I now use a ‘normal’ shampoo and conditioner 2/3 a week and wet my hair in between washes. I use cantu curling custard and scrunch it in to wet hair. Lovely curls (most of the time!)
I think it’s all about what works for you. Try different things. It’s doesnt matter if it’s not CG ‘approved’ if you like it.