Get me started with curly girl

[AvantGardening]

I think I want to try curly girl but I’m a bit overwhelmed with what products to try first.

Wavy/frizzy hair. Fine texture but loads of it.

I think I need

A curly girl friendly shampoo for once a week(ish)
A conditioner to wash with
A conditioner to condition/leave in
And a gel

Does this sound right? Can anyone recommend products to start with?

Morrison’s/Aldi/Tesco/Lidl all really close.
Sainsburys/boots accessible enough
Asda/Waitrose only for the holy grail products
And I could use amazon.

I’d keep it simple to start off with, rather than spending loads on lots of different products!

There are quite a few groups on Facebook such as the Curly Crew which have lots of members and can offer support. They often have albums of pictures of pre approved products. However, I do find some of the groups are quite militant and any deviation from CG is pounced upon.

I personally still use a low shampoo, so I’m not a strict CG. I find the noughty range from Superdrug good, you can also find this in Sainsbury’s! For styling I use John Frieda mouse and UG scrunching gel.

I'm wavy rather than curly and also use a sulfate free shampoo rather than washing with conditioner. I am in a Facebook group called Wavy Girl method - the wavy method international which is good for suggestions and advice (though most members seem to be from the US so product recommendations are often of items we can't easily get in the UK.) There is also no judgement if people using non CGM products, it's more about doing what works for your hair. Some members have mentioned the more militant groups that are not at all accepting of people who stray from strict CGM.

Not been doing it for long so can't really recommend products yet, but I would echo try to keep it simple to start with - something to clean your hair, something to condition it and a styler (or two - wavy hair can need more hold than curly hair). Then experiment with different washing /conditioning /styling/drying techniques to find out a bit what works and doesn't work for you. Introduce any new products one at a time, so you can more easily see if it doesn't work for your hair. Do you have a diffuser?

No diffuser.

You’re both using shampoo still. Can I ask which one?

Glad to hear I should start simple

I'm using Dr Organics lavender shampoo as wanted something mostly natural /organic (I had been using Faith in nature shampoos for years and am still using their conditioner). I might try a Noughty brand shampoo aimed at wavy/curly hair once the Dr Organics is finished to see if has any different effect on my waves.

A diffuser is good for drying so that the heat from the hairdryer isn't concentrated all in one spot, blowing your waves l over the place and potentially causing frizz and damage. Or you can air dry, but I've seen people say that sometimes can make waves looser as there weight of the water in the hair for longer weighs it down.

Fine hair? Wash with a sulfate free shampoo. You are v unlikely to get away with washing with conditioner.

I'll be honest I found it easier to just shop online from Curly Girl brands like Jessicurl or Only Curls (I've used loads of others). Most high street options just haven't been moisturising enough.

There are quite a few online shops selling curly hair products.

AsIAm coconut co-wash, and then a dab of boots curl creme on wet hair. Air dry. Done.

I do this! Keep it REALLY simple. I've ditched the shampoo and use conditioner instead to shampoo. Then after I put in any leave in conditioner or curl creme (can be the same one you use to do the wash with), then a mousse and then gel. This combo works best for my hair. I've used a combo of brands and tbh it is all much the same just the price varies. I had a ton of hand me down curl creme to use which wasn't GC friendly but it's worked fine. Also recommend the book by Lorraine Massey. It's a very quick read but way less confusing than all the info online.

Hi,
It sounds like a have similar hair to yours, particularly the finding but just absolutely loads of it.

By far the best cow ash I've used is the As I Am cowash. Cheap (for curly stuff), smells amazing and leaves my hair clean and soft.

https://www.boots.com/asiam-naturally-classic-collection-coconut-cowash-16oz-10265223?cmmmc=bmm-buk-google-ppccPLAsAs--Beauty---UKBranddShoppingBeauty+SSC&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NaJBhDsARIsAAja6dMNNi85H46jQiRXh7kAPZwxohsYLuAVt8LM7-v5OYvx7FYMFogXMMsaArAeEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

A lot of products are very heavy for fine, wavy hair.

I also like the deva curl no-poo wash, agAin cleans really well.

I'm using this conditioner atm, pretty good too.

https://www.boots.com/Cantu-Avocado-Hydrating-Conditioner-400ml-10282159?cmmmc=bmm-buk-google-ppccPLAsAsHeroCompareareBeauty--UKKBrandShoppinggBeauty+SSC&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NaJBhDsARIsAAja6dMfslFvqR9q9Qpg6Nc4DyapBSCk9Dk9OQNk88JzYt-ZauRufRwO2caAj8eEALww_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I'm also considering starting curly girl. Similar to OP - fine hair but a fair bit of it. Hoping OP doesn't mind me asking a few questions.

Is heat styling hair at absolute no-no, even once a week or every two weeks? Does this basically invalidate all the other work?

How frequently do you recommend washing? (I currently do once or twice a week)

Is diffusing the best choice? I currently air dry and don't have a hairdryer, if air drying is ok, what tips do you have?

I am vaguely CG (I brush it and use shampoo)
I alternate co wash and shampoo
Silicone green conditioner
Then whatever products but always a gel included, I like treluxe products
Loads of hair but v fine