The Curly Girl Method

[sleepsforwimps]

I want to thank whoever it was that mentioned this method in a thread a while back. I googled it and have started the no-poo method, it has absolutely transformed my hair. So thankyou, thankyou, thankyou whoever you were.

[SoyYo]

Hi PM&C the Naked shampoo I use is "shine unveiled hydrating shampoo". It is very low sulfate so usually do a couple of washes in my weekly poo session,and always brush hair while still dry before either poo or con washes. This is because wet hair is prone to breaking and mine tangles very easily so it is easier to manage and comb through if it has been brushed before washing.
Will give Dr Organic a try then and report later. Thanks!

[ClaireDeLoon]

Hi all - I'm going to give the curly girl method a go I've decided.

I have shoulder length hair that is loose curls/waves, have layers cut in to help the curl and also have highlights.

I currently use herbal essences shampoo and conditioner for curly hair and frizz ease mousse and serum and also their deep conditioner.

I wash my hair daily because it is such a rats nest when I wake up and let it dry naturally.

So I have a few questions pretty please - the co-washing, do you just use the conditioner as if it were shampoo? So giving your scalp a scrub for example? And do you use the same conditioner to do the co-wash that you then apply another bit and partially rinse out?

What combs/brushes do you use?

The plopping - how long do you leave it like that and how dry is it after you've plopped? Do you then let dry naturally or diffuse?

Also - what intensive treatments do you use, particularly if you have highlighted hair?

How often do you shampoo using the low-poo stuff?

God that is loads of questions sorry!

I am going to go along to Boots today and get some stuff, I will try the pink styling creme I think and the naked range sounds good for shampoo and conditioner.

[janek]

hi CdeL, i've been trying CG since november, and although my hair isn't looking brilliant i imagine it could (it's gone straight since i've been bfing dd2, but the shorter hairs are growing back curly. it's not a great situation.).

i am using the same conditioner to co-wash and condition. mainly because i only have one conditioner. i think you need to be fairly vigourous when washing with conditioner as it is only the friction that is getting your hair clean (someone earlier on likened it to a washing machine) and i can certainly vouch for the fact that on the occasions i have been less thorough my hair felt greasier.

i co-wash my hair every other day and haven't really noticed any difference in the greasiness (ie using conditioner leaves my hair the same as using shampoo, so why use shampoo?).

i have just today bought some pink curl stuff, so can report back on that after i've washed my hair tomorrow, hopefully it won't do anything too drastic cos i don't want to go to work looking like a grease monkey...

in answer to your other questions i never wash with shampoo (but my hair was never that greasy before), i don't use an intensive treatment (although perhaps i should... i don't have highlights though) and as far as i can see plopping is just to stop your sodden hair dripping all over the place, it doesn't really get it dry. i just leave a pillowcase wrapped round my head for about 10 mins and then it's dry enough to get on with life without getting wet shoulders (although my hair is quite thin, so that may be why). i'm sure someone earlier said that the longer they plopped the better. and yes, i think you should let it dry naturally, with as little interference as possible.

but this is all just my opinion, i'm no expert and anyone can feel free to jump in and contradict me.

[Redfox]

Anyone know what products are I use for this method ?

Is just naked and original source stuff?

(I mourne my curly locks before babies and stuff)

[Redfox]

I can not spell either!

[ClaireDeLoon]

I'm not really sure Redfox I'm a newbie to it too.

However Naked stuff is buy one get one half price at boots at the moment (the conditioners seem to be £3.99 each).

Jane - how do you plop with a pillowcase? Do you put your hair inside the pillowcase iyswim? I have to admit the plopping confuses me.

I bought the naked intesnive conditioner btw. And I'm ready to go I think, hairdressers on Sat for cut and highlights, then I'm binning all my products and starting anew.

[BornToFolk]

ClairedeLoon, you might want to ease yourself into it a bit! I tried going from the full Frizz Ease regimen into CG and it was a disaster.

What worked better was gradually reducing the amount of silcon-based products I used, then I could reduce the amount of shampoo (ie do one wash rather than rinse/repeat), then do the odd co-wash with conditioner until I was mostly co-washing with conditioner and using a low-poo shampoo once or twice a week (I wash everyday)

If you don't use silicone based styling products, you really don't need to wash your hair so much, or with such strong products.

[mathanxiety]

I use Tresemme, any kind that promises to be moisturising. I give my scalp a vigorous rub with conditioner and fingertips, then rinse out, then condition the ends thoroughly with same conditioner, then rinse but not very thoroughly. Then I scrunch with a towel followed by diluted gel, no plopping or combing or brushing. Diluting the gel is important or hair dries crisp looking. I sometimes use clips to give the top layer a little height while it dries.

[ClaireDeLoon]

Well after BorntoFolk's advice about easing in gently, this morning I used the boots curl creme instead of my normal frizz ease styling products (which I don't really like - they make my hair feel yuck) but after a normal shampoo and deep conditioner (frizz ease). And I plopped, well I think I did anyway.

And my curls look lovely, definitely more curly than wavy today.

So I'm doing OK so far. Will keep going with the curl creme and plopping after a normal shampoo and condition for a few days, then give the co-wash a go at the weekend.

[Smalline]

Many thanks mathanxiety for your advice on diluting the gel, tried it this morning and it worked a treat.

[janek]

CdeL - look it up on you tube, that's what i did, basically you lower your head onto a flat pillowcase, pull it tight from the back, then kind of secure the ends by pulling the front tight to round the back and then clip with a hair clip. no, can't explain it. sorry.

the best thing i've ever used is a long sleeved top/pyjama top though, cos you just secure it by tying the sleeves in a knot round your head.

my curl creme experiments are going okay, someone said only use a miniscule amount and i am heeding that advice, hair is def a bit curlier, but also messier, oh i do look professional at work .

[BusyMummyof3]

I've tried the Curly Girl method and even though my hair looked in better condition I just hate my curls I ended up with really curly hair and I just don't think it suits me. I think part of the problem is my hair isn't quite long enough - just above shoulders.

I think I want to continue washing with conditioner etc but I want to be able to leave it to dry naturally and loosen the curls. I am quite lucky in that my hair straightens easily but I normally pull it back in a clip and end up with straight roots and very curly ends. So does anyone have any clever ways of pulling hair back to dry that will result in lovely loose looking curls instead?? I don't have time for straighteners\blow drying every day and I'm fed up of always wearing it pulled back as I don't like it curly.

[Travellerintime]

I started doing Curly Girl about 3 weeks ago, and in general I'm enjoying the new 'curl power'. So far, the pluses are:

My hair is way less frizzy than it was and in much better condition.
Quite often I end up with lovely ringlets.

The downs are:

It's quite hit and miss as to what kind of effect I get - sometimes lots of curls, but too crispy, and also my hair is unevenly curly, so a bit lopsided and messy (think Meg Ryan v v tousled)

I'm using Boots curl creme, and despite using miniscule amount AND diluting, my curls can be v crispy. Anyone got any alt products they'd recommend? My hair is type 2, as much wavy as curly and quite short.

Also, finding plopping not really working - maybe cos my hair's short. I'm diffusing - but is this too drying? When I leave to dry naturally it takes forever - like about half a day (!) - I really don't have time for that!

[Scotlian]

Hello all

does this work for short hair? Maybe 3 inches long, if hair can be measured in inches?

I used to have v long curly hair but chopped it really short after DS was born as it was all falling out (!) and he just grabbed handfuls of it anyway. Now growing it out again and would love it to look more curly... thanks for any advice...

[Travellerintime]

Hi Scotlian,
Maybe someone else more experienced can advise - but see my post above - my hair is around jaw length, and plopping with it is definitely a bit hit and miss - hair ends up in weird shapes. However, it's definitely worth giving a go, as it's really improved the condition of my hair - if you've got post-baby hair this can only be a good thing, I imagine.

[Scotlian]

Hey Traveller thanks for your answer. Hair is all a bit weird generally as I am now pg again (!!) so it's going all thick and looks a bit like a mushroom. Not Good At All. Will try this and see what happens. Hmm.

[LilRedWG]

Please help me. I have wavy/curly hair. I decided to wash all of the crap out of it so bought NakedDetox shampoo and conditioner, which is free of all baddies. One week in and my hair is straw-like, lacking any shape and looks hideously dry.

I've tried washing with conditioner before and my hair just felt greasy.

Please help me or I'll have to wear a paper bag on my head forever!

[LilRedWG]

Oh - I use the pink curl creme from Boots already.

[mistlethrush]

A curly thread I feel at home on.... I seem to have been doing much of this method having found my hair likes it myself - although I might follow up on the recommendations for conditioner - fancy a try of something different. My only concern is that I normally use a really heavy conditioner (ausie 5min miracle) and then put Paul mitchel supersculpt on to keep things under control - I cope with the curls but its the body I struggle with - I don't want even 'bigger' hair than I already have... Anyone with any idea which of the OS or naked conditions might be best on volume control????

[AngelDog]

Anyone know if the CG method of washing improves the look of curly / wavy hair even if you straighten it??

I have wavy hair, mostly fine but some pretty thick, especially underneath. I would guess it's type 2. It used to go into large ringlets when very long, or big waves when short. I currently straighten it by putting it into a ponytail when wet, which works quite well for most of the hair, except when it's raining. :)

[KatyMac]

OK we have decided to try this for DD

So we got the conditioner (original source)

We got the boots curl cream

We have Mixed Chicks leave in conditioner

But the curl cream & the mixed chick stuff has things ending in 'cone' does it matter??

and I thought we had to use a tiny amount of the curl cream but DD's hair is long & it's not going anywhere......HELP

[mathanxiety]

KatyMac -- Try it with just the conditioner and get some gel (dilute it 50/50 for use). Do the washing with just conditioner, and the very brief rinsing concentrating just on the scaly, leaving conditioner on the ends, then scrunch with a towel to dry it a bit, then add diluted gel and scrunch again, then leave it to dry naturally. This is what I've been doing with DD3 for years now. I've never used curl cream or leave in conditioners, just stuck to the method in the Lorraine Massey book.

I think the conditioner-only approach would help hair even if it's straightened as you're giving it the moisture it needs and not drying it out with shampoo -- so it's bound to be good for it no matter how you style it, AngelDog.

[KatyMac]

What sort of gel

Her hair is so dry

[mathanxiety]

I use Tresemme styling gel. It's clear and contains either VP or PVP which add shine, but it needs diluting or the hair looks 'crisp'. Plus diluting helps it go further..

The conditioner-only washing should really help with the dryness. DD3's hair went from being a frizzy tangled mess to having actual separate curls. No more tears or screaming trying to brush it in the morning [bliss for all].

Here's a really long list of products that have the kind of ingredients recommended in the Curly Girl method.

[KatyMac]

DD's hair is beautiful immediately after washing (we have used conditioner only for some month now - 9 or 10 I think)

But by the next day it is so dry and frizzy