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.

[chocolatefudgebrownie]

reading with interest. My dd's hair is very curly and I don't have clue how to deal with it, as my hair is very straight! Is this method ok for toddlers? Not sure she would keep still long enough!

[BitOfFun]

I think it's a good method to use with children, as it keeps the chemicals down. I've just put a pic on my profile temporarily of my hair after about 3-4 weeks of no shampoo at all, just washing in conditioner.

[mathanxiety]

It's great for children of all ages and eliminates the need for painful brushing through the tangles every morning, plus chemical exposure is reduced. There's a section in the Lorraine Massey book about children's hair. (the book is short to begin with and full of photos and drawings, so text is very to the point and easy to follow).

[Crapweasel]

Just discovered that I have accidentally "plopped" when decorating as I tied my damp hair up in a pillow case to avoid paint. Curls were, indeed, gorgeous.

Does UG Scrunching Jelly not give you "crunchy curls". They are my nemesis....

[PuzzleRocks]

Thanks for starting this thread. DD1 doesn't have a lot of hair yet but what she does have is wildly curly.
And now I can sort out DH's sometimes crispy barnet.

[hoxtonchick]

i am really torn by this. i looked at the curlies uk site, think i'm a type 3. am scared of this no shampoo thing tho. am swithering. your hair looks fab BoF.

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

I tried this for a few weeks (my hair is wavy rather than curly, but I got fed up with all the blow-drying).

I didn't know any of the stuff about avoiding certain chemicals, just used random conditioners - until I developed a painful sebaceous cyst at the base of my hairline, still waiting for it to clear up a month later.

Maybe I didn't do it right, or maybe I didn't have enough natural curl to start with. I found it looked nice on the first day but just flopped for the next two, until I washed it again.

[sleepsforwimps]

Thought those considering doing the Curly Girl method might find this helpful, someone has posted a list of Curly Girl friendly products on the British Curlies site.

[BornToFolk]

OK, I'm not quite ready to commit just yet (have a stack of Frizz Ease products to get through first) but I've decided to wean myself into the Curly Girl method.

This morning I just did one shampoo with my usual Aussie Mega. I just used a tiny amount and made sure I cleaned my scalp carefully, rather than whack on, lather, rinse as I usually do. Then conditioned and styled as normal but tried not to mess with it too much and just let it dry and gave it a quick blast with the diffuser to finish it off.

It looks better already! I'm going to try plopping tomorrow as I'm not working and taking DS swimming so my hair is wrecked by lunchtime anyway.

Hoxtonchick, if you are scared of not shampooing, maybe you could just try cutting it down?

[sleepsforwimps]

From finding out about the no poo method it took me a good couple of weeks to actually psych myself up to do it. I started by cutting down on shampoo and cutting out the hair stylers I was using that had silicones in them. Personally I just couldn't face the thought of being so tired (I don't appear to make babies that sleep) and have crap hair too.. But I took the plunge in the end (with my Aussie poo on standby) and so far so good.

BornToFolk goodluck with your first plop.

[BornToFolk]

Thanks - I'll let you know how the plopping goes!

BTW, went to Poundland last night and they had microfibre turbans and the Original Source conditioners. Got to love any beauty regime that starts with a visit to Poundland

[BitOfFun]

Never a truer word was spoken

You need to try the Oil Cleansing Method for your skin I use from reading about it on here too next- we will all be saving enough for a weekend away on the back of these tips!

[cyteen]

sleepsforwimps, your hair is gorgeous Do you think any of this stuff will work for hair that is annoyingly neither properly curly nor properly straight? I have a decent wave that starts at about ear-length and would like to encourage it (I dream of having actual curls) but so far have just ended up looking like I'm wearing a helmet.

[BitOfFun]

I reckon it would help, cyteen, according to the book on it I've got- it encourages curls to emerge from their slumber

Also very admiring of SFW's hair too btw...

[WorkInProgress]

What do Curly girls do on days they don't ' wash ' their hair. I have tried no poo and it does help, but on days I don't wash my hair can go fine and frizzy and the only thing I can do is put more gel/ mousse on - which then goes heavy and sticky and needs washing with poo. Any advice ?

[BitOfFun]

In the book it recommends making a spritz of boiled water and a few drops of lavendar oil to refresh and re-scrunch the curl with. It works well for me, and is cheeeeeeeap

[WorkInProgress]

Thanks - I'll give it a go!

[sleepsforwimps]

cyteen I'm no expert but I do think it would help your hair, the Curly Girl method is for any level of wave/curl.

BornToFolk Turbans and Original Source for a £1 I must figure out where my nearest Poundland is pronto.

[mathanxiety]

In order to avoid the crunchy curl appearance, dilute the gel. This will also stretch the gel budget . I use about 50-50 gel-water. I squirt it all into a bigger size bottle and add water on top.

On days you don't wash your hair you can spritz your hair with a water and essential oil mixture of your choice, or spritz with glycerin and water (even food grade glycerin is fine).

[hoxtonchick]

ok, well i've ordered one of those weirdo looking curl towels (am a bit gutted i could have got a poundland turban tho!), & am going to search out an sls free shampoo. baby steps!

[mathanxiety]

Baby shampoo might be a good bet for sls free shampoo.

Look for ingredients like panthenol and proteins in conditioners, and no -cone ingredients, or very few.

[hoxtonchick]

i am going to be feverishly reading ingredients!

i like weleda stuff, have used this before & the ingredients look ok i think smells delicious:

INCI: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Cetyl Betaine, Alcohol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Citric Acid, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Sodium Chloride, Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Zingiber Officinalis (Ginger) Root Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Zingiber Officinalis (Ginger) Root Oil, Sorbic Acid, Citral, Limonene, Linalool Constituents of the natural essential oils

[SilentBob]

This sounds amazing. I have huge, huge hair which is curlier than a curly thing on a curly day in curly land. I shall go forth and plop to my heart's content (am v. of everyone's curls on here- you're all stunners!)

[grin]

OOooh this is great, I never knew about any of this! I am always frizzy, more than ever now I am pregnant. I am reading with interest (and envy at your gorgeous hair SFW). Thanks all!

[hoxtonchick]

right, i have bought 3 bottles of original source conditioner, some sls paraben free baby shampoo & was rooting through the cupboard this morning mentally discarding all products with silicones in (loads of them). and my british curlies stuff has shipped. am tragically excited about washing my hair tomorrow .