How do you apply your gel(s)?

Salamander · 06-17-2010, 01:31 PM

I was just lurking on the 3a board and there is a thread about how everyone applies their gel. Many different techniques -- I will have to try some of the variations!

So, how do you wavies apply your gel? Rake it in? Comb it in? Scrunch it in? Before or after plopping?

Some of the 3a's are putting in curl enhancer type products into soaking wet hair, then plopping for 15-20 minutes, THEN applying hard-hold gel. This idea intrigues me...getting the urge to wash my hair right now and try some different techniques!

CurlyPolkaDot · 06-17-2010, 01:34 PM

I... Apply Leave in, Curl Creme then Gel by raking in soaking wet hair and then Plop.....

DEL2C · 06-17-2010, 01:43 PM

I've experimented many different ways and always go back to the same 'ole way. Apply to soaking wet hair. I lightly rake it in on top of whatever curl enhancer I'm using, scrunch and plop. The only exception is CJ Aloe Fix this one works better for me if I lightly blot first.

pedaheh · 06-17-2010, 01:55 PM

I apply leave in and ecostyler (curl enhancer for me) to soaking wet hair in the shower. I scrunch both in. Plop. I pixie diffuse half way. I wet hands and scrunch in gel and pixie diffuse again. (AKA Smasters method)

If you ask me in another 2 months, the answer may be completely different.

emilylouise · 06-17-2010, 02:17 PM

I apply a strong hold gel to soaking wet hair, scrunch lots with just my hands and then a couple times with a t-shirt.
If I am in the mood or want tighter curls, I might apply a curl-enhancing product after this. I've never experimented with applying it before so I really can't say if that'd be better.

I find the one thing that makes a big difference in how defined my curls are is scrunching. I scrunch my hair in the shower as I'm wetting it, I scrunch conditioner into it, I scrunch it after rinsing conditioner out, I scrunch gel in, I scrunch it to dry, etc. I think if I raked a product into my hair it would lose a lot of its curl.

side note - does anyone else feel like not a true curly/wavy because if they don't apply product and or scrunch, it's pretty straight? sometimes I struggle with that. but as my cousin told me, you can`t do that (curls) to straight hair! So I guess if scrunching gives you curls, you`re curly.

solidgold · 06-17-2010, 04:52 PM

I scrunch in gel and then plop. It just doesn't work for me otherwise!

asianrunner · 06-17-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emilylouise

side note - does anyone else feel like not a true curly/wavy because if they don't apply product and or scrunch, it's pretty straight? sometimes I struggle with that. but as my cousin told me, you can`t do that (curls) to straight hair! So I guess if scrunching gives you curls, you`re curly.

Yup, that's my hair! If I don't put any product in (and scrunch) my hair is super poufy and barely wavy. Looks like our hair could be similar!

I squeeze out some of the water from my hair first. Rake/comb in leave-in, then scrunch in my curl enhancer. Plop for 10-15 mins then scrunch in my hard hold gel. Plop again for 10 more mins then airdry. I SOTC with a butter.

twister89 · 06-17-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emilylouise

side note - does anyone else feel like not a true curly/wavy because if they don't apply product and or scrunch, it's pretty straight? sometimes I struggle with that. but as my cousin told me, you can`t do that (curls) to straight hair! So I guess if scrunching gives you curls, you`re curly.

I agree. My friend has just slightly wavy but pretty much straight hair and I had her scrunch her hair, and it came out no wavier than before!

pedaheh · 06-17-2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

side note - does anyone else feel like not a true curly/wavy because if they don't apply product and or scrunch, it's pretty straight? sometimes I struggle with that. but as my cousin told me, you can`t do that (curls) to straight hair! So I guess if scrunching gives you curls, you`re curly.

Me too. I have to either talk my hair into being straight or into being curly. Left to it's own devices, it's meh. That said, my curl pattern is much stronger since going CG.

xodevin · 06-17-2010, 05:56 PM

I apply leave in first, then scrunch until around 40-50% dry with a microfiber towel. Then I apply gel by scrunching. I'm still working out whether to apply upside down/rightside up/both etc, but you get the idea! (:

curlywurlygurly · 06-17-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedaheh

Quote:

side note - does anyone else feel like not a true curly/wavy because if they don't apply product and or scrunch, it's pretty straight? sometimes I struggle with that. but as my cousin told me, you can`t do that (curls) to straight hair! So I guess if scrunching gives you curls, you`re curly.

Me too. I have to either talk my hair into being straight or into being curly. Left to it's own devices, it's meh. That said, my curl pattern is much stronger since going CG.

this is one of those - oh it's not just me moments. I've always felt a little... bit like an wavy/culy impostor. If I get anywhere near my hair with a hairdryer no diffuser, it'll dry almost straight, with a "body wave" like shape (my really straightie friend is envious of this, i hate it!) but if I scrunch and/or add product waves appear. I've always got those annoying "kiss curls" at my nape or around my temples especially on humid/ rainy days

Now I don't feel so impostor-ish

finaleofseem · 06-17-2010, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlywurlygurly

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedaheh

Quote:

side note - does anyone else feel like not a true curly/wavy because if they don't apply product and or scrunch, it's pretty straight? sometimes I struggle with that. but as my cousin told me, you can`t do that (curls) to straight hair! So I guess if scrunching gives you curls, you`re curly.

Me too. I have to either talk my hair into being straight or into being curly. Left to it's own devices, it's meh. That said, my curl pattern is much stronger since going CG.

this is one of those - oh it's not just me moments. I've always felt a little... bit like an wavy/culy impostor. If I get anywhere near my hair with a hairdryer no diffuser, it'll dry almost straight, with a "body wave" like shape (my really straightie friend is envious of this, i hate it!) but if I scrunch and/or add product waves appear. I've always got those annoying "kiss curls" at my nape or around my temples especially on humid/ rainy days

Now I don't feel so impostor-ish

Add me to the "almost straight without product/technique" camp. That's why, until I was 20 or so, I thought I had straight hair with a little extra body.

So, if you're all impostors, so am I. At least we're in good company.

rymorg2 · 06-18-2010, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emilylouise

I apply a strong hold gel to soaking wet hair, scrunch lots with just my hands and then a couple times with a t-shirt.
If I am in the mood or want tighter curls, I might apply a curl-enhancing product after this. I've never experimented with applying it before so I really can't say if that'd be better.

I find the one thing that makes a big difference in how defined my curls are is scrunching. I scrunch my hair in the shower as I'm wetting it, I scrunch conditioner into it, I scrunch it after rinsing conditioner out, I scrunch gel in, I scrunch it to dry, etc. I think if I raked a product into my hair it would lose a lot of its curl.

side note - does anyone else feel like not a true curly/wavy because if they don't apply product and or scrunch, it's pretty straight? sometimes I struggle with that. but as my cousin told me, you can`t do that (curls) to straight hair! So I guess if scrunching gives you curls, you`re curly.

I used to feel the same way, but now no. Your cousin is right, you're curly....where there's a wave there's a curl!

rymorg2 · 06-18-2010, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finaleofseem

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlywurlygurly

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedaheh

Me too. I have to either talk my hair into being straight or into being curly. Left to it's own devices, it's meh. That said, my curl pattern is much stronger since going CG.

this is one of those - oh it's not just me moments. I've always felt a little... bit like an wavy/culy impostor. If I get anywhere near my hair with a hairdryer no diffuser, it'll dry almost straight, with a "body wave" like shape (my really straightie friend is envious of this, i hate it!) but if I scrunch and/or add product waves appear. I've always got those annoying "kiss curls" at my nape or around my temples especially on humid/ rainy days

Now I don't feel so impostor-ish

Add me to the "almost straight without product/technique" camp. That's why, until I was 20 or so, I thought I had straight hair with a little extra body.

So, if you're all impostors, so am I. At least we're in good company.

I used to say "my hair is straight but has enough bend to be annoying." DUH RYMORG....bend is WURL......

rymorg2 · 06-18-2010, 03:06 AM

I scrunch mine in....if I rake I get stringlets. Depending on what I'm using I'll either scrunch in sopping hair, sometimes even supersoaking, other times I'll blot first or squeeze a good portion of the water out. But I always have to scrunch.

rileysmama32208 · 06-18-2010, 03:42 AM

i turn off the shower and put my GDLI and avg in, raking them through, scrunching a little water out, upside down. Then i turban-twist a sack cloth towel, get out, and scrunch in la bella super spiking gel.

on my non-wash days, i spritz with lav water, put a drop of leave in, scrunch in my gel and put my hair in a big claw clip while i put on my makeup. then i let it down and shake it out.

pedaheh · 06-18-2010, 08:34 AM

I started a spinoff thread for the "Wavy imposter" subject.
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlta...28#post1385028

AKgirl · 06-18-2010, 11:21 AM

I put in leave in to wet hair. Then I use my hand dry hair gloves and scrunch out water, add LOOB, scrunch with hand dry hair gloves, if needed. Then I scrunch in my gel and scrunch some more with hand dry hair gloves. I may or may not plop...matter of preference for the day, for about 10 min tops. Then I often scrunch again with the gloves, seems to give my hair more body this way and it dries faster.

mamaherrera · 08-01-2011, 08:06 PM

I am the same, don't know what to call my hair. Just poofball!! Just now at 31, starting to consider myself curly/wavy, but man it's confusing and rough!

Wavy Brunette · 08-03-2011, 12:28 AM

I scrunch out some of the water, scrunch LI, scrunch in mousse, scrunch in gel. Then squeeze out as much water as I can with my microfiber towel and scrunch a bit with it also. I use to tell people when they would ask about my hair "it's not naturally curly or straight, it's just naturally nappy" lol I didn't know I could have hair like this, thanks to CG it is very very "wurly"