How do you....

2muze · 11-10-2008, 10:25 AM

Okay, you would think once you find what works it would continue to work...sadly, not so. I think my hair is 3c, super curly (maybe 3b). I have used for 10 years (don't laugh) a mix of Finese condition and the red Lubriderm on towel dried hair and once coated well, topped off with yellow LA looks gel, then blow dried. Viole great curls. It's not working anymore. My curls are dried and frizzy fly away. I have just discovered this site and see some of you are not towel drying hair at all and are putting product(s) into wet hair. I'm not sure I could sleep on wet hair and know it would be wet upon waking too. I've searched the forum, but haven't found an A-Z on how you make your curls perform and behave all day from wash to dry. Please share your how to...including best products that aren't budget busters. My hair is pretty long and I'm a single mom with limited funds.

Thanks in advance for all your tips!!!

Lyndi

CurlyHairedFarmer · 11-10-2008, 10:30 AM

There is no set routine. Everyone has to create and modify their own based on how their hair reacts.

First, are you considering becoming CG or at least modified CG? This means no sulfates, no cones.

Cheap products are Herbal Essences set me up, and body envy gels.

I suggest you read through the stickies, check out some of the users on the before and after CG thread and look at the products they use.

2muze · 11-10-2008, 11:32 AM

Sorry to be stupid, but totally new to this site as of today. Looked around and found a few postings mentioning "new to CG"...etc. but always the initials and no mention of what it stands for. Can you advise? That may help me find the forum thread. I think I know about sulfates (in my food), but cones? Speak english for this newbie please...!

:-)

Thanks!

Lyndi

delete · 11-10-2008, 11:46 AM

I'm new here too and am still trying to pick up the lingo. "Cones" is silicone which evidently is evil for curly hair. Sulfate is in most shampoos.
When you look at the ingredients label, you want to avoid the products that end in "cone" and "xane".
That's what I've picked up so far.

There are a lot of super cool people on here that have been following the CG (curlygirl) method for years. They could be super helpful in finding the right products.

What I've been doing so far is doing a search based on keywords for all the questions I have. I also do product searches which has been so incredibly helpful.

Hope all this helps! Keep asking questions! : )

(CG is based on a book by the way.)

CurlyHairedFarmer · 11-10-2008, 12:02 PM

Ok, I can give basics.

CG stands for "curly girl" which is a term pegged by Lorraine Massey, author of the curly girl handbook.

Being CG means you do not use shampoo to wash your hair. Some girls on here use a low shampoo which means it doesn't contain sulfates but has some cleansing properties. The girls that are no shampoo use a light conditioner to cleanse their scalp.

Also, being CG means you do not use silicones. Silicones coat the hair and smother it. Moisture cannot get in and this can cause long term issues. Some girls do use silicones but only ones that are water soluble but overall I recommend to stay away from them.

We also are known for applying products to soaking wet hair and only combing our hair in the shower with it conditioner soaked.

Plopping is a method used to take the water out of our hair without roughing the cuticle like a regular towel. Plopping is when you lower your hair into an old cotton tshirt. There is a video of this somewhere, though I do not know the link. You can try doing a search.

Read the abbreviation sticky at the top of the forum as well.

onethousandcurls · 11-10-2008, 08:45 PM

You can also google terms you're not sure about, which I admit to doing plenty of times (did it today with "flour sack towels").

Laura Lee · 11-10-2008, 09:16 PM

I definitely recommend the search feature on this website. I'm new to this site basically too (just a couple weeks) and I couldn't count how many things I've learned about how to take care of curly hair. Definitely take some time and just look around. For info about CG, try the "going shampoo-less" curl talk forum.