Curly Girl method

[bimbi284]

I agree that that website it overwhelming! I tried the conditioner wash thing and it also wasn't for me. I am now doing sulfate free shampoo and silicone free conditioner, and am trying to go 'cone free with my styling products but that's a little more tricky, because I find I need a little bit of somethin' in there to tame the frizz and create some separation in my curls without weighing them down.

I've slowly been transitioning and trying new products, like the Deva stuff and Kinky Curly stuff, with some decent results.

Oh, I also don't "plop", because it doesn't work as well, and I find I waste too much product on my wet hair that then just gets absorbed into the towel. Instead, I use a microfiber towel and wrap my wet straight from the shower hair in it while I put body lotion on and get dressed. THEN, I take it down, and put all my product into damp/wet hair. I find getting some of the excess water out first lets me put the right amount of product in so I don't use too much. Once I get all the product in, I scrunch it a bit to get the curls going, and then I bunch it up on top of my head, and put a shower cap on while I do my makeup. The heat from my head and the shower cap help to activate my curls better I think, and none of the product gets wasted in a towel. once my makeup is done, I remove the cap and use a diffuser attachment on my blow dryer with my head upside down, and get it like 70% dry. Then I flip my hair to the side, and work on each side to add "oomph" and make sure its evenly dried. Finally, when about 80% dried, I flip my head back up and sort of "spot diffuse" different sections that need it, adding any additional product to parts that need it.

[bimbi284]

Jul 9, 2012 10:55:01 GMT -5 loonylunalovegood said:

I dont understand the cowash idea. After i get started I use conditioner to wash and then a clarifying shampoo once a week or so? Do I need two conditioners?

For the CG method, you are supposed to use a clarifying shampoo ONCE before you start the method, and then (this is my understanding), never again. I think some still use a clarifying shampoo every once in awhile when they "need it", but to me that defeats the purpose of going sulfate-free.

You use a light conditioner (like suave naturals) to "wash" your hair. Some people will then use additional conditioner as a leave-in. For me, this is way too much conditioner and weighs my hair down. I'm sure if I would have done it long enough, my hair would have gotten used to it, but I just couldn't bear how limp and lifeless my hair was. I think the co-wash thing works best for people with REAAAAALLLLY curly/kinky hair that is dry. Mine is dry and curly, but not necessarily kinky everywhere. My hair is also sensitive to product, so I use very little of everything I use to avoid weighing it down.

[bimbi284]

This gives a slightly less confusing breakdown of the method www.wikihow.com/Follow-the-Curly-Girl-Method-for-Curly-Hair

[Chrysanthemum]

Here's what I do:
I wash with Deva No Poo 2x/week. I will occasionally co-wash with Suave naturals if my scalp feels dirty but it's too soon to shampoo.
I use Deva One Condition every day as a leave-in. After I put it in, I comb it through with a wide-tooth comb in the shower. Then I flip upside down and finger comb it a little more (this helps get rid of the halo of frizz).
Next, I apply Deva B'Leave In. First I scrunch out some of the water and then I scrunch in the product.
When I get out of the shower, I plop with a cotton T-shirt and wrap my hair on top of my head like that for about 15 minutes.

I might try some of Bimbi's ideas because I, too, feel like I'm wasting a lot of product my plopping my wet hair. Thanks for that tip!

[nessia]

This is a post I did on my local board about the CG method. Everyone is different though, so what works for me might not work for you.

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k, I started following the Curly Girl Method (here too) last May and I do like how my hair looks now. It will take a few weeks for your hair to adjust to your new routine. Those that have oily hair that swear they need to shampoo everyday, your hair will adjust. And well, most curlys like me have the opposite problem that your hair is too dry. That's the gist of this method. You need to moisturize your hair and stop stripping and the essential stuff from your hair from normal shampoos.

As I mentioned before I've looked at naturallycurly.com a lot at first and read through some of their message board. It can be overwhelming and some of these peeps are REALLY into their hair care. I don't use a ton of products but I usually buy them from curlmart.com. I like their reviews of products and that I can pick up locally. Target and Ulta are really the only place that will have curly hair products. Curlmart often has 15% and 20% off promotions which is why I end up using them. I've become a little bit of a product whore. Here is my current routine:

• Shampoo 1-2x a week with Elucence Mouisture Benefits Shampoo. I've tried the Devacurl Shampoo but I liked this better.
  
• I use Conditioner every time I shower. I'm currently using Curl Junkie Beauticurls Argan & Olive Oil Daily Hair Conditionerand I'm really liking it. Previously I used DevaCurl One Condtion and I liked it too. I think my hair was "tired" of it and is liking the change. You use a TON of conditioner initially. It will make "squishy" noise when you have enough. Once your hair adjust you won't have to use it as much. This is also when I comb my hair. It de-tangles my hair and gets the conditioner everywhere. Sometimes I will rinse and add more conditioner if I feel like it needs it. This is the only time I comb my hair at all. Curlies shouldn't brush your hair other than a wide tooth comb in the shower or just out of the shower.
  
• Once out of the shower use a micro-fiber towel or t-shirt for your hair. A regular towel just makes it frizzy.
  
• There are two ways to apply products. Usually you add products while it is sopping wet. Literally water dripping. A lot of people use leave-in conditioners but I have found any that I really like yet or make a lot of difference imo. My favorite gel is the Kinky-Curly Curling CustardI stand over the tub and scrunch in the gel. Remember your hair is totally wet which is why I'm doing this while over the tub. After I applied the gel, I use the micro-fiber towel to scrunch all the moisture out.
  
• Right now I'm not using gel, I'm using DevaCurl Frizz-Free Volumizing Foam It's DevaCurls version of a mousse. I've always preferred mousse and am liking this too. With this mousse your hair doesn't have to be sopping wet so you scrunch with a micro-fiber towel and then scrunch in the mousse in sections. I'll then spray in DevaCurl Set it Free. I meant to buy then spray gel but accidentally bought the Set it Free and it is working. I will probably buy the Spray Gel to compare the two.
  
• After adding product in my hair I plop with a t-shirt while I get dressed. Here is a video if you didn't get the diagram (like me).
  
• I take the plop off and head to work with wet hair. I aim the ac in my car towards my car but usually end up with wet hair. In my job, it doesn't matter. Usually takes close to lunch before it is totally dry.
  
• You don't want to be touching your hair while it's drying. If you use gel and especially the kinky-curly stuff your hair will be really crunchy (it's called a gel cast). Once your hair is dry just turn your head upside down and scrunch the crunchiness out. Flip back over and ta-daa crunch all gone but hair still curly. I do this with the mousse too even though it doesn't really get curly. If you can't air dry, use a difuser for sure. I want to get this weird dryer/defuser but haven't yet.
  
  

I've tried other products but these are just the ones I currently like. I also get DevaCut and color.

[dakotadangerdog]

I have tried doing the Curly Girl method but it's impossible for me to go without my head and shoulders! I feel like it's like a drug to my scalp haha. I tried to get off the "crack" a few months ago but my scalp was so itchy and gross I just couldn't take it.

[bimbi284]

Jul 10, 2012 15:02:00 GMT -5 dakotadangerdog said:

I have tried doing the Curly Girl method but it's impossible for me to go without my head and shoulders! I feel like it's like a drug to my scalp haha. I tried to get off the "crack" a few months ago but my scalp was so itchy and gross I just couldn't take it.

Try scalpicin!! It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Seriously haha.

[StormyDixon]

I have been cg for over a year now and my hair never looked or felt better, I get so many more compliments now a days.

I cowash with v05 strawberry, rinse out trees me naturals, leave in kinky curly know today, seal with glycerine, add lalooks sport gel and I can get 3 day hair easily