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.

Ok

I've been following the "curly girl" method for about a months. My hair has good/bad days, tends to be quite stringy looking when it first dries, unfortunately that's when I arrive at work in the morning.

I do, however, have a horribly itchy and flaky scalp now - has anyone had this problem. I am so tempted to pick up the Head and Shoulders. I'm using Faith In Nature conditioner from the health food shop, Lavender/Geranium, and the boots pink curl creme.

It's nice to be straightener free anyway!

Hmm, tricky one- have you found any advice on any of the forums, blithedance? Might be worth a look...

Hoochie, I suppose my immediate train of thought as it skims the word leads me to fitting things up bums...but then I eventually settle on the connotation that I might have an especially delectable fit arse, so it amuses me either way round

Does this work for hair which is wavy rather than curly? It all sounds terribly complicated.

Am bookmarking for a reread when I have more brains and am more sober.

The co-washing, pooing etc I think I have got. But the fisting caught me by surprise...

I imagine it's worse if you're expecting it tbh...

Wavy hair may respond well from what I've read- especially if it's dry.

Hmmm thinkig about it I had fab hair when (don't tell anyone) I had headlice in the 6th form and put loads of conditioner on every night and spent hours combing the little blighters out.

Right definitely going to have a go at this, including pooing plopping and fisting, whatever it takes

Right, I've got everything, I've read so much on other threads and forums that my eyes hurt (no other mentions of fisting on those sites though, oh no.

One more question does anyone who does this colour their hair? I have a full head of highlights ever 5 months or so, is that still ok? I have seem some 'after' pics where people have been doing it a long time and look like their hair is highlighted, but maybe they are naturally blessed with hair that isn't 'mouse'?

Any thoughts?

I went to Boots at lunchtime and bought the pink creme so will try that on my next non-working day.

I spotted the Naked range of styling stuff. I've tried the shampoo and conditioner before and hated it but wondered if anyone had tried the styling range? It says that it's silicone free but does it have any other nasties in it?

And also, I'm very fond of my Frizz Ease Finishing Creme. I use it when I've dried my hair to smooth down any frizzy bits and it works a treat. What can I use in the same way that will be better for my hair?

I went to Poundland today, microfibre turban and two bottles of Original Source conditioner, three quid.

I've got an old plastic wide-toothed comb, will that do for combing through in the shower?

THANK YOU! I came across this thread purely by chance as usually too busy with work and teens to do mumsnet but your tips may well save my poor curls...in my youth I used to have gorgeous spiral curls which relaxed with age and 2 pregnancies, and now post menaupause look just about Ok for a day after shampooing and conditioning with frizz ease but quickly lose their shape, end up with a frizzy tangled mess and I so miss my old curls...
Will read all the useful links and tips and report on progress after the weekend. Some of the stuff you mention like not brushing and only combing through with conditioner and wide tooth comb, never touching wet curls, and steering clear of hairdryers I have been doing forever but my hair is soooo dry and frizzy looking lately that I put it down to old age and post menaupasal hormones...I was planning on having it all cut off (thinking I was starting to look like ageing hippy)Maybe hormones play a part too but I suspect the harsh chemicals and silicones are mostly to blame!
Anyhow thank you so much to all you who posted, it appears there is hope for my poor curls after all!

That was me!! (I think) I have now changed over to using Baking Soda. I have dead straight hair and I tried the conditioner only method but I think it is suited to thicker, wavier hair.

Good luck SoyYo!

Frizzease finishing creme might be replaced by Vitapointe (around two quid from chemists?)...I think it is free of nasties, but do doublecheck first.

Plastic comb sounds fine, Wasting!

Kerrymum, good to hear of the compliments - I think the British Curlies site is a good one to recommend.

As for colouring, I'm not sure. If I find any info I will pass it on, but I am assuming at the moment that we would just have to take along a non-sulphate shampoo, and try to minimise the damage? If anyone else has got any thoughts on this, I'd be interested too.

BTW is Polyquatarium the same thing as Polyquaternium because the original source conditioner has Polyquaternium but the CG website says Polyquatarium is bad.

There are a couple of polyquats which are ok as I recall (head going now as it gets later though!)- I presume it will be one of them?

My Granny used to use Vitapointe Thanks for the tip, will give it a go.

First co-wash today, looking good so far.

I am noy impressed with my Poundland microfibre turban, the loop to go over the button broke and it barely covered my large head.

Anyone know of an alternative that's not too pricey?

I am on day 2. well I washed with shampoo today just to get rid of the nasty serum thge hairdresser put on my hair yesturday and although my hair looked good it was still serum.

Anyway I washed with Original source, conditioned with OS washed out, put a little on my hair, wrapped in turban them put some 'Naked' product from Boots on my hair. I dont like it though my hair is a little 'crunchy' I got the feeling it's the product so I will co -wash tomorrow and just leave in conditioner. Then see how that goes!

I'm not quite following the whole routine yet - am using up my Lush shampoo and conditioner and am lacking in curl products that don't have silicones in them, but have been plopping (into an old pillowcase, fact fans ) and leaving my hair alone, and it's really made a difference already. There is so much more curl in my hair than I thought. It's never going to be ringlets but it's better than the limp waves of yore.

Hello all I've been lurking but also very intrigued and am going to join you. Don't have any non-poo etc produts around, so started today with normal products but also plopping, and hope to get to pound shop / boots later.

Plopping. One side of my head looks fairly fantastic (if you ignore fuzziness around roots) - all American film star ringletty (!). The other size of head looks like dragged through hedge backwards. But 50% success on first day not too bad?

Well, that's more success than I had with plopping Stirlingstar! Keep on trying.

Today was my first day with no silicone! I did wash with shampoo but only a tiny bit, then OS conditioner and Boots pink creme.

I did have a little fall off the wagon though as I used some wax on my hair when it was dry. I don't think it has silicone in but I'm sure that wax is not CG friendly.

Anyway, I have good hair! Not great, but as good as with all that Frizz Ease stuff I was using. Even stood up to swimming with DS.

I bought some Vitapointe too so will try that tomorrow instead of the wax.

I've been giving this a go and I have to say I just look like my hair needs a good brush. Think wavy/curly rats' tails.

Where am I going wrong?