How can I bring out my wave / curls?

[DeadCertain]

After years of straightening my hair and having a very short, sleek bob with fringe I had a new haircut having grown out the fringe and length in lockdown and today, for the first time in a very long time, let my hair dry naturally after having been caught in the rain. I appreciate that it's a frizzy mess because I didn't style it in any way but had forgotten how much texture it actually has. I THINK I like it...what can I do to maximise the wave / curls best or is it a bit of a lost cause in that I have neither straight nor curly hair? I am good at styling a sleek "do" but otherwise a little clueless!!!

[DeadCertain]

Thanks HeySeamus - that is the shampoo / conditioner I am using. Smells gorgeous.

[DeadCertain]

@YellowMonday I run and do other exercise daily too. I have settled on still washing my hair every day because I don't like the idea of smelly / dirty hair but doing the drying and gel thing the CG way and it's actually really made a huge difference. I start work early and also have a long commute in my car so I put in the gel and leave wet / drying crispy then scrunch out the crispy by the time it is dry at work. This only works as there's no one else in until at least 45 minutes after I get there, so no one to witness the wet look gel / permed look!!!!

[HeySeamus]

After years of searching, I have recently discovered the holy grail for my hair
imbuecurls.co.uk
I have tried SO many different products and wasted a lot of money but this stuff worked miracles for me. Bit pricey but they had 3 for 2 at Superdrug a while back.

[YellowMonday]

Dyson Airwrap - I can't do curly girl method as I wash my hair every day (love the gym and can't deal with sweaty hair).

Finally committed and my hair is completely changing. No more hot irons or curlers to define my hair/get rid of the frizz. Airwrap I can quickly define my curls or straight hair blow out worthy. Plus only takes 10-15 minutes.

[raffegiraffe]

I also learned from this thread to scrunch the crunch and it makes all the difference. I was abandoning products because if the crispiness

[DeadCertain]

I just wanted to thank everyone; I have experimented by using Alberto Balsam Ultra Hold Styling Gel (£1) following the CG method and there is already an incredible difference after trying it just once - curlier and much more defined hair (no frizz) after I have scrunched off the crispiness. There may well be hope....

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

Thanks @MummytoCSJH :)

[Evvyjb]

Curl creme and gel (i love cantu custard or twisted sister gel). Let it dry - it will be crispy. Then scrunch it and the crispness disappears and you're left with curls!

[Silverparting]

@DeadCertain

Wow Silverparting - what a difference! Perhaps there is a little hope for me then.

Thanks. I have hated my hair for years, because I tortured it by forcing it to be straight and blonde, and this has rescued it. It seemed to spring to life after just one CGM.

Like others said, it doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.

You have wave and so you can definitely work with that!

[Anordinarymum]

@WhoNeedsaManOfTheWorld

Read about curly girl, spend your life savings buying CG products, have fantastic curls 1% of the time and particularly when you are seeing no-one, going nowhere and look a stringy mess the rest of the time
Well almost but go for it

I'm currently on with curly girl and struggling. You are dead right but I am persevering in the hope that one day I will look amazing :)

[womanity]

@TheBoots

Does anyone have any recommendations for zero waste products for CGM? I currently use Beauty Kubes shampoo and don't want to go back to having loads of plastic bottles on my bathroom shelf!

I tried and failed. ☹️

But my hair is definitely lower maintenance and so lower waste than it used to be. 🙂

[MummytoCSJH]

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants hopefully my picture attaches. I've been using this one! It was really cheap from a local shop, think 59p and it lasts a while as you don't need much at all. If I had to guess in measures I'd say roughly a tablespoon each wash day. I'm not halfway through the tub yet and I've had it 3-4 weeks. I put it in whilst soaking wet, and then scrunch with a micro fibre cloth, it does make a crunchy cast once fully dried but then I scrunch it out again and it's super soft. Just had a quick look and think you can get it online fairly cheaply too.

[TheBoots]

Does anyone have any recommendations for zero waste products for CGM? I currently use Beauty Kubes shampoo and don't want to go back to having loads of plastic bottles on my bathroom shelf!

[DeadCertain]

Wow Silverparting - what a difference! Perhaps there is a little hope for me then.

[Silverparting]

Favourite budget products are Garnier Ultimate Blends conditioner £2 and the V05 Mega Hold Gel around £3

[Silverparting]

I have fine, lank hair that's been straightened, coloured/bleached for years.

The CGM has transformed my hair and I now wash twice weekly instead of every other day.

[Silverparting]

Me pre and post CGM in less than a month

[DeadCertain]

Thighdentitycrisis I dug out my ancient diffuser today and it was a disaster - HUGE but not at all defined, actually looked better in yesterday's scruffy picture!!!

[Thighdentitycrisis]

I wouldn't recommend diffusing, use a curl cream or gel and let it dry naturally

[DeadCertain]

Thanks for all the tips; I'll certainly try and do it the cheapest way possible at first - but prob look OK 1% of the time as you say WhoNeedsaManOfTheWorld......

[Notgoingonholiday]

Curly girl method 100%. I've been doing it for 4 years now. My DD follows it closely too, and my DS uses the products though doesn't do the full routine, we all have curly hair. As pp have said the products involved can be cheap. The method makes total sense and makes your hair really healthy. It seems a lot of work initially but once you get going it's fine and I don't wash my hair nearly as much as I use to have to.

[WhoNeedsaManOfTheWorld]

Read about curly girl, spend your life savings buying CG products, have fantastic curls 1% of the time and particularly when you are seeing no-one, going nowhere and look a stringy mess the rest of the time
Well almost but go for it

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

Can I do a quick hijack please? @MummytoCSJH so you use the curl creme, then the gel? Which gel please? I prefer to have my hair not crunchy, but I also get fed up of the curls falling out, so it's a terrible first world problem

[womanity]

@MummytoCSJH

CGM over here too! You can get some really cheap conditioners from Aldi and Poundland that are still approved. I personally use a cantu curl cream (from Superdrug) for definition and a cheap approved gel to hold my curls in as well.

Same. And the cheapo Pound shop banana conditioner if I’m near a pound shop and the garnier banana hair mask if I’m not.

[MummytoCSJH]

CGM over here too! You can get some really cheap conditioners from Aldi and Poundland that are still approved. I personally use a cantu curl cream (from Superdrug) for definition and a cheap approved gel to hold my curls in as well.