For fun - pre CG routine

thataliciagirl · 08-10-2007, 08:41 PM

Fun to reminisce and for some of us maybe scary to think of pre CG days!

What was your routine then?? And now?

For me:

I actually haven't shampoo'd regularly in over 2 years ...
Pantene Curl Care Co', fully rinse out.
Squeeze and towel out as much moisture as I could.
Rake in Zero Frizz Serum.
Rake in Curls Rock Aplifying whatever that stuff was creme.
Diffuse dry as much as I possibly could.
Sometimes add some Curls Rock Amplifying curl hairspray stuff.

Now:
Still don't 'poo regularly, and now if/when I do it's sulfate free and at most 1xweek.
Loving high moisture co' - just got Nature's Gate Aloe Moisturizing, mix it 50/50 w/ honey.
Usually don't rinse completely out.
LA Looks Sport Look gel rake/scrunch into wetwet hair.
Biotera Curl Creme rake/scrunch in.
Plop for 15-20 minutes.
Air dry 5-10 minutes.
Diffuse dry ~10 mins (50-80% dry).
NEVER touch during drying process.

Oh what I've learned from nc.com

redcelticcurls · 08-10-2007, 08:59 PM

Pre CG:

Shampoo with Frizz Ease stuff ro the John Freida stuff for Red Hair.
Condition with the above line. Comb through to get out knots.
Apply Curls Rock Amplifier, usually by scrunching.
I wrapped my hair in a towel in something like the plop we see here. I just used a regular towel though which probably didn't help.
Diffused dry.

Now.
Kinky Curly Knot Today as a detangler. I scrub my scalp with this if it needs it. It also serves as a light conditioner.
Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle rose conditioner to the hair from the ears down. Rinse out.
Knot Today as a leave in.
Curl Keeper if humid.
Kinky Curly Curling Custard as my "gel"

I comb through the conditioner. I comb in my products. Then I sideways scrunch any separated peices together and then accordion scrunch my curls. Plop and diffuse.

My routine pre cg as far as mechanical stuff goes wasn't that far off. I never dry combed. I made a lame attempt at plopping. I scrunched. I diffused dry. Product change made such a huge difference for me.

justjessie · 08-10-2007, 09:27 PM

Then:

Shampooed and Conditioned (2 in 1)every other day
Wrapped hair in towel for at least 30 mins
brushed through Frizz Ease
pulled back into a bun

My scalp was always

and flakey

Now:

CO-wash every other, or every day with Suave.
Clarify once a week or every 10 days with a baking soda CO mix
Also use Suave as my regular Co
Comb only with CO in hair, rinse out well
Use Suave as a leave in
Spray with GF Curling Spray Gel
Scrunch and plop for 15-20 mins

Scalp is now much better with no itching or flaking,

I have a before and after pic that is really dramatic.

SpunGold · 08-10-2007, 09:41 PM

most of the late 80's and high school:
shampoo with Head & Shoulders (don't remember how often but not every day)
blow-fry (my mom, a thin-haired straightie told me over and over that if I didn't, my hair would be "stringy straight witch hair")
brush through and wonder why my hair was so dry

(i didn't discover condish until college.)

pre CG:
shampoo with Redken Smooth Down poo about every 3-5 days
condition with Redken Smooth Down condish
leave-in condish with Infusium 23
heat protect with Chi Straight Guard
Blow-fry straight until dry; comb through
Never found a good product to calm the stray frizzies after this
throw on a stretchy headband and hope no one noticed my split ends

now:
shampoo with Devacurl No Poo about every 3 days
condition with Devacurl One C; rinse out
leave-in condish with One C; leave in
scrunch in either Devacurl Angell or Abba Weightless Gel (alternating for protein crunchies)
plop, sometimes overnight (i use a turbo towel from BB&B - towel shape is perfect for plopping)
clip up a few choice curls in front with mini claw clips or throw on a stretchy headband and go!

asleep to audio · 08-10-2007, 09:42 PM

Pre:
(a LONG time ago)
Pantene Hydrating Curls Shampoo
Pantene Frizz Down Condish/occasionally Pantene Hydrating Curls Condish
Sometimes G&F condish (can't remember which kind)
Condish left in
Matrix Curl Creme
Marc Anthony Curl Gel stuff

(more recently, about 1 1/2 yrs ago, desperate)
Some random 'poo
Ouidad EVERYTHING
Soft Sheen Carson Silk Conditioning Creme (or something)
Tresemme Touchable Curls Milk
...and other stuff.

Now:
Creme of Nature Conditioning Detangling 'poo
Ion Purifying Solutions Swimmer's Shampoo (after swimming, sulfate-free)
ACV every once in a while
VO5 to detangle and/or co-wash
Either B2B Pom, One C, or Too Shea! to condition occasionally with honey
Condish left in
Some combo of: LA Looks Sport, BRHG, Paul Mitchell The Conditioner Leave-In, MJCP, just tried LOOB...could be a keeper.

What a difference!...but I still have to get my routine PERFECT.

thataliciagirl · 08-10-2007, 10:25 PM

OH I forgot WAY long ago: I used whatever poo and co my mom had (probably suave, which hey isn't that bad), my hair was short and I used to use infusium 23 leave-in and mane n' tail, air dry.

Even before that I used to brush my chin-length hair ... needless to say, I had a poofy triangle head of hair!

Annika · 08-11-2007, 01:01 AM

Pre-CG:
- Shampoo every day (John Frieda Frizz-Ease straightening whatever-the-name was my latest find)
- Condition with a matching conditioner
- Rub hair with a regular towel
- Brush out, apply a straightening cream
- Blow dry while pulling/stretching the hair with my fingers to make it as straight as possible
- Spray on a heat protecting spray
- Straighten with a flat iron
- Apply gloss serum
- Shine spray
- Hair spray
- Pray and hope that the weather will cooperate, because the slightest sign of humidity would cause the hair to curl up and frizz like crazy despite the "anti-frizz" effect each and every product I used claimed to have.
- Worry about and actually avoiding to encounter people I know unless I knew that my hair was perfectly straightened and the air was dry
- Feeling extremely self-conscious about my hair, always frowning at it.

Today:
- Co-wash every day, condition the lengths with the same condish
- Mix up aloe vera gel and honey in my hands, rake/scrunch in
- Scrunch with microfiber towel
- Diffuse until about 75% dry
- Pull my growing bangs back with two miniature claw clips
- Done!

zeldagoblin · 08-11-2007, 09:04 AM

Oooh good question! Seems so long ago!

Pre CG:

BRUSH hair before shower... I was pretty savage with that brush too!
Wash with John Frieda Frizz-Ease 'poo, Condish with Frizz-Ease, then rake in Frizz ease serum, and sunsilk smoothing cream. No curls, but the frizz would lay flat for my usual hairstyle ( ponytail and plait, or 2 braids and a bandana). Wearing my hair down was unheard of!

Now:

Detangle with Morrisons peach condish
CO wash with Escenti tea tree detangling condish for kids, adding brown sugar to scrub once a week.
Condition with same conditioner, with teaspoon of honey mixed in. Rinse most out, leave a little in.
Smooth pink boots into dripping wet hair, then LOOB. Arrange the more rebellious curls, blot lightly, then leave for 10 mins, before plopping for 10 mins. Let the curls out, air dry. Upturn head, fluff and GO!!

I love cg!!! Its been especially lovely in the holidays, I haven't had to tie my hair up, because no work..so I've been letting the curls bounce free! I have had loads of great hair days thanks to the sunshine! We're forecast some mean weather for the next week or so, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts!!!

LavenderCurls · 08-11-2007, 09:12 AM

Pre-CG (modified):
*Blow fry.

*Rubbed hair with terry cloth towel. Vigorously.

*Shampoo and lots of it.
*Hot rollers.
*Curling iron on whole head.
*Never read labels other than to look for smoothing, frizz-free products.
*Silicone laden products especially those with the evil cone.

*Brushes!

CG (modified):
*Co-wash with minimal shampoo usage.
*Lots of moisturizing conditioners.
*Reading labels.
*Microfiber towels.
*Products without the evil cone.
*Products that are either CG friendly or with a minimum of cones or all water soluble ones.
*Diffuse or air dry.
*No brushing (although I use the B&A Method sometimes).
*Satin pillowcase.
*MUCH better hair now!

JuicyTube · 08-11-2007, 09:38 AM

Shampoo with some sort of "hydrating" shampoo
condition with the "hydrating" conditioner (i think I may have detangled in the shower too)
rinse out
squeeze out the water
part my hair and apply BLUE MAGIC "HAIRDRESS" aka grease onto my hair and let it air dry!
sometime's I'd take a towel and wrap it around my hair before putting on the blue magic.

Before grease, I never tried gel and didn't have a way to wear my hair successfully down, naturally curly. I'd straighten, wear ponytails, etc. I went through a period of using aerosol hairspray every day!

echokitten · 08-11-2007, 09:52 AM

Ah the good ole' days...
Before...
-brush hair before shampooing
-shampoo twice with Suave Clarifying poo
-condition with any one of the half dozen conditioners that were laying around that produced less than average results, most recently Neutrogena Triple Moisture, Pantene for Dry Winter Hair
-wrap hair up in a towel for 10 or so min.
-pick thoroughly and vigorously to detangle
-apply Neutrogena Triple Moisture Leave in and Frizz Ease or some other Silicone laden Serum
-air dry
-then section out and curl with huge barrel curling iron to produce big bouncy giant curls. I would do this about 3 times a week last summer while my hair was growing out. It was in hideous shape because I had not had a shaping haircut since I chopped it all off. Then during the winter I wore it up every day until this Jan. Then I found this site....

NOW...
-co wash nearly every day with V05 Cham Tea or NG Awapuhi
-SheaMoisture Leave in cut with Aloeba as leave in on soaking hair
-squish until not dripping
-apply either Biotera or Aura gel
-plop for about 15 - 20 min
-air dry (in winter I wash at work and air dry there, in summer I wash at home and air dry while walking to work.)

Funny that the routine I was following previously was just as much the problem as the products I was using. I was so bummed when I went CG because I had just purchased a new bottle each of the Neutrogena stuff that I unloaded on my Mom and sister after I "de-coned" my product stock. They were pretty excited about getting new stuff. It's great for my mom, she gets great use from the stuff I find doesn't work, she's a straighty.

Mint · 08-11-2007, 10:12 AM

Pre-CG:

1. Shampoo entire head of hair with dimethicone and ammonium laureth/lauryl sulfate shampoos like Aussie Moist, Pantene or Matrix sleek.look.
2. Condition with cyclopentasiloxane deep conditioner (Pantene) or Matrix sleek.look and rinse thoroughly. "The more 'cones, the better! They're moisturizing, right??"

3. Wrap hair in terry-cloth towel to dry
4. Comb/brush in in a cone cream/gel (or nothing)
5. Comb/brush hair while air-drying

So much frizz and frustration!!

Modified CG (sulfates, but no cones routine):

1. Shampoo scalp with Tigi Catwalk Oatmeal and Honey
(occasional Lemon-aid rinse too)
2. Condition with lots of a (usually) protein-free conditioner, like Suave and leave some in and comb through to detangle before rinsing
3. Scrunch in product (Set it Free, CVS Aloe Gel or got2b Spiked up) soaking wet
4. Scrunch out excess water with T-shirt or microfiber towel
5. Air dry or diffuse on low heat (rarely)

My hair is so much happier now!

I was so clueless before I found this website and Curly Girl.

Suburbanbushbabe · 08-11-2007, 07:21 PM

Then (up until a 14 months ago)
Ouidad line, then Curlisto line
Shampoo & condition every 2-3 days
Deep treatments every week (ka-ching$)
Botanical Boost (sometimes Climate Control) then Curl Quencher gel or Control II; air dry (it was faster then)

Now
Mixed bag of moisturizing CG products
Shampoo maybe every 2 weeks or so (with a non-sulfate)
Co-wash typically every other day, detangle with conditioner, rinse
Rake in a creamy leave-in (conditioner or SheaMoisture+aloe vera)
Rake in a natural gel (AO MM, John Masters) or Angell; hood dry preferably
Try to style dry on day 2.
Deep treatments rarely these days (hair is moist enough)

MysticSpiral · 11-17-2009, 02:19 PM

Pre Curly Girl:
Didn't shampoo, can't remember where I heard it was bad for your hair, but I never did once I was in highschool.
Condish:Tresemme Curls'
Leave-in: Garnier Frutis Sleek and Shine.
Routine: Get out of shower, roughly dry hair, comb (scratching scalp to get rid of obvious build up). Slather on leave in, brush back until smooth, strangle it into one long braid.

Post Curly Girl
Loo-Poo once a week (ish). Co wash every other day, Condish every day, no more than two leave ins. Comb only, squeeze out water only. Still rocking the braid!

motleyjm · 11-17-2009, 06:28 PM

Before CG:

Brushed hair before I got into the shower.
Used whatever shampoo and conditioner was on sale.
Combed it out in the shower.
Used either no product or sprayed in Aussie Scrunch Spray.
Put up in a towel and let it air dry.

My hair was so dry!

CG:
Cowash with suave or low poo with GTTT.
Comb thru LVPNG.
Scrunch in Biotera Curl Creme or HETT.
Clip and air dry.

I'm still experimenting, but my hair loves all the moisture!

AlannahAngel · 11-18-2009, 01:01 AM

Back then, I didn't know about condish :\ and I still wondered why my hair was dry....

Anyway, I would shampoo w/ Head & Shoulders or any other sulfate shampoo. Then rinse, and when I got out of the shower, I twisted my hair so the excess water would come out and then rub a towel over it. Get dressed as usual, and then brush. Sometimes even blow dry it to one big loofah-licious mess.

mlle_carrie · 11-18-2009, 04:51 AM

Then:

~Wash and condition daily with whatever new shampoo and or conditioner I felt like trying out that month.
~Add a little conditioner to leave in and finger comb to detangle.
~Wrap in towel, turban style.
~Smooth on styling gel and or styling cream (again, trying new ones all the time).
~Air dry
~ Scrunch and/or fluff after about 75% dry to give it some "volume."

Now:

~Condition daily. Low-poo or Nizoral every 3-4 days.
~Rinse upside down, scrunch in leave-in.
~Scrunch in FSG.
~Plop for about 15 minutes.
~Arrange curls if any are weirdly placed. Diffuse until about 50% dry.
~Scrunch upside down after about 75% dry to increase volume a bit.

msjanani · 11-18-2009, 08:53 PM

Oh GOSH this was a long time ago!!

PreCG:
~Shampoo a couple days a week, Condition most days (I can't remember the brand, I'd try whatever "curls" salon-level products looked good)
~Squeeze water out of hair with regular towel
~Wide tooth comb
~Smooth through some Sebastian Potion 9
~Rake through Samy Curls Creme

Latest Incarnation of CG:
~NoPoo 1-2 times per week on scalp
~condition/detangle with Terax Crema or Mill Creeek Henna conditioner
~Comb out soaking wet with even wider toothed comb!
~Rake/Scrunch with either Condition 3-in-1 mousse or HE TMS mousse
~scrunch with curl-safe towel

Oddly enough, I was doing the basics more or less right! Not a lot of shampoo, wide toothed comb...it wasn't just all coming together the way it does now, and the silicones were a MESS.

botticelli_girl922 · 11-18-2009, 09:27 PM

Pre-CG:

-Shampooed with Trader Joe's Refresh shampoo or TRESemme Silky Smooth shampoo
-Conditioned with Suave Coconut conditioner
-Brushed out knots vigorously in shower with a round brush
-Rinsed thoroughly
-Wrapped hair in a terrcloth towel until I dried myself off and got dressed
-Let hair out of towel
-Smooth TRESemme Tres Two hold mousse over hair
-Brush my hair into a half-up half-down hairstyle, secure with elastic
-Spray heavily with TRESemme Tres Extra Hold hairspray
-Air dried

Now--CG:

-Co-wash with V05 Strawberries n Cream
-Condition with GVP Conditioning Balm, gently comb through with wide-tooth comb
-Leave it in while I do my other shower stuff
-Rinse with cool water
-Get out of shower
-Rake through leave in
-Use my choice of products....here are my two combos:
-Lustrasilk OOC, Rockin' Ringets, Confident Coils, Ecostyler

or.....

-Lustrasilk OOC, Re:coil, LA Looks Mega Hold, Ecostyler

Plop for 20 minutes and let it air-dry.

What a difference! My hair is curlier, more defined, healthier, softer, more moisturized...I LOVE the CG method!

earthnuts · 08-14-2012, 05:16 PM

until 2004: shampoo a bunch with the cheapest shampoo I could find. Brush or comb, and wear in a ponytail most of the time because of the ungodly frizz.

2004-2012: a little Johnson's Baby Shampoo, a lot of Pantene Pro-V Smooth Conditioner. Style and part while wet. Comb or brush well.

now: Everyday Shea Bubble Bath as low poo, Everyday Shea conditioner or Suave Ocean Breeze as leave in, plop.