Curly girl method

shalclon

Has anyone used the curly girl method and how do you find it? Did you just buy the products and go it alone or go to hairdresser first to get you started. I see some hairdressers are specialising in it now. aga creations in Dublin is one I know of. Any advice be appreciated.

Segotias

I've been doing it for a few years now, I read the book by Lorraine Massey and then went to see one of the curl experts, I didn't find him that good. You can do it yourself quite easily there are loads of instagrammers who you can follow who have great tips.

I lost a lot of my hair about 2 and a half years ago so cut it myself as it was growing back until all the damaged hair was gone, then I went to the Curl Artist - Cathy who I found much better in terms of cut and she goes through the products shes using and why and does a tutorial type appointment where she'll show you want to do yourself.

Its all pretty easy once you get started, it tends to be trial and error with products and you'll get some people who are militant on the products that you can use but realistically you have to use what works best for your hair

Mollyb60

Funnily enough I've just started the CGM myself. Got the no sulphate shampoo, a maui conditioner and Cantu's curl activator. It's very hit and miss. My hair just seems to be incredibly frizzy. Especially on day 2 after I do the pineapple overnight. I can get decent curls on day 1 with a cast from the cantu at least. My scalp has always been pretty dry and prone to dandruff but I've noticed since I started this that my scalp is INSANE itchy. Bought a clarifying shampoo to see if that might help.

I had just thought of what to do when I need my hair cut. Do I look for specific hairdressers or will any hairdresser have no sulphate shampoo and know not to touch my hair with a straightener?

Segotias

Mollyb60 wrote: »

Funnily enough I've just started the CGM myself. Got the no sulphate shampoo, a maui conditioner and Cantu's curl activator. It's very hit and miss. My hair just seems to be incredibly frizzy. Especially on day 2 after I do the pineapple overnight. I can get decent curls on day 1 with a cast from the cantu at least. My scalp has always been pretty dry and prone to dandruff but I've noticed since I started this that my scalp is INSANE itchy. Bought a clarifying shampoo to see if that might help.

I had just thought of what to do when I need my hair cut. Do I look for specific hairdressers or will any hairdresser have no sulphate shampoo and know not to touch my hair with a straightener?

A couple of things that might help, I still use a shampoo, its actually the cantu at the moment and had used another cleanser. What some people find helpful when they are co-washing is using a scalp brush and scrubbing their scalp for around 5 minutes. I don't have dandruff and am too lazy for this method which is why I shampoo/cleanse.

In terms of hair cuts, all the Curly haircuts I've gotten have been on dry hair, you're instructed to wash your hair and let it dry naturally so they can see the curl pattern and cut it then. If you like how your existing hairdresser cuts your hair bring your own shampoo and products with you, they won't have any problem with that. Also if you don't want it straightened or blow dried just tell them that.

lubie76

I'm not a curly girl myself but am low/no poo so I don't use sulphates or silicones as for many of the same reasons for curly girls they make my straight hair very frizzy and dry. My hair is just in better condition without them though I do wash with normal shampoo on occasions when I getting my highlights done about every three months.

There are some really good facebook groups for curly girls recommending the best products to transition and maintain the curly method but make sure you join a UK one rather than a US group as many of the drugstore brands etc they use are not available this side of the water.

DoozerT6

I would have wavy hair that has a lovely curl when it's still wet after washing. I would love to maintain this look when my hair is dry, but here's the thing: I hate, hate, HATE the feel of any product in my hair - gel, mousse, spray, anything like that. Is there anything that can be done, or any Holy Grail product to maintain a curl without that horrible heavy feeling where you can't run your fingers through your (crispy) hair?

Twee.

I use this and don't find it crunchy at all, and I dry my hair with a diffuser after https://www.amazon.co.uk/Revlon-Proyou-Texture-Scrunch-350/dp/B004JMXLLK

MrsBean

Mollyb60 wrote: »

Funnily enough I've just started the CGM myself. Got the no sulphate shampoo, a maui conditioner and Cantu's curl activator. It's very hit and miss. My hair just seems to be incredibly frizzy. Especially on day 2 after I do the pineapple overnight. I can get decent curls on day 1 with a cast from the cantu at least. My scalp has always been pretty dry and prone to dandruff but I've noticed since I started this that my scalp is INSANE itchy. Bought a clarifying shampoo to see if that might help.

Gotta recommend As I Am Cowash for Dry & Itchy. I also use a scalp brush in the shower.

MrsBean

DoozerT6 wrote: »

Is there anything that can be done, or any Holy Grail product to maintain a curl without that horrible heavy feeling where you can't run your fingers through your (crispy) hair?

Have you tried a teeny tiny bit of coconut oil?

DoozerT6

MrsBean wrote: »

Have you tried a teeny tiny bit of coconut oil?

No I haven't - would it be hard to wash out?

MrsBean

No not at all! You don't really need to wash it out - it nourishes your hair and I find it really good for curly hair. The key is just a teeny bit at a time as too much can make it look greasy.

Gemancy

Love the curly girl method. Discovered it in 2017 and have never looked back. I have used Boucléme products but noticed after a while they were a bit heavy on my hair...I use innersense at the moment and it’s lovely. Definitely recommend getting a proper dry cut by a curl expert and they will advise you properly on a good regime for your hair. I have stopped dyeing my hair now too to embrace the ‘silver’ and stop damaging the curl, but I’m really on the fence, only thing is I’m so far in I don’t want to undo it just yet!

Mollyb60

MrsBean wrote: »

Gotta recommend As I Am Cowash for Dry & Itchy. I also use a scalp brush in the shower.

Despite me saying that my scalp is pretty dry and itchy I haven't tried the cowash technique just yet as my hair can also get pretty greasy after a day and I'm afraid doing the cowash will just exasperate that. No?

MrsBean

No I can't say I've found that to be the case. My hair is less prone to greasiness now. I'm now at the stage where I co-wash and condition my hair once a week, and sure by the last day my hair is greasy but otherwise all good.

I started curly girl method in March so I'm still figuring out what works for me. It also allowed me low-risk chance to try it out as I have been mostly working from home so greasy hair days weren't so big of a deal.

With co-washing you are still rinsing your hair of the product after the co-washing process, and I use a silicone scalp brush too so I get a proper clean. I follow up with a leave-in conditioner that I only squish into the lengths of my hair so that the crown doesn't get greasy.

But like anything, you just figure out what works for you!

Mollyb60

MrsBean wrote: »

No I can't say I've found that to be the case. My hair is less prone to greasiness now. I'm now at the stage where I co-wash and condition my hair once a week, and sure by the last day my hair is greasy but otherwise all good.

I started curly girl method in March so I'm still figuring out what works for me. It also allowed me low-risk chance to try it out as I have been mostly working from home so greasy hair days weren't so big of a deal.

With co-washing you are still rinsing your hair of the product after the co-washing process, and I use a silicone scalp brush too so I get a proper clean. I follow up with a leave-in conditioner that I only squish into the lengths of my hair so that the crown doesn't get greasy.

But like anything, you just figure out what works for you!

I'm exactly the same. Working from home and I've spent more money on products for my hair this last 6 months than I've probably ever spent in my life up to now. I'll give this a go. Cheers.

Segotias

Mollyb60 wrote: »

I'm exactly the same. Working from home and I've spent more money on products for my hair this last 6 months than I've probably ever spent in my life up to now. I'll give this a go. Cheers.

I tend to go for travel size versions of the products when I'm trying them out, they are really expensive for full sized versions