Curl issues...and helpful hints please?

SweetMystique · 05-30-2009, 11:52 AM

I have brastrap length, naturally red hair that has 3a curls. They need a little help forming but when they do, its great. My problem is, I rarely get them to form correctly. I have tried many combinations of techniques- from raking products in soaking wet hair and damp hair, scrunching in products in soaking wet and damp hair, plopping, diffusing. Its exhausting and frustrating to repeatedly have bad hair days. I've been CG since mid April, cowashing with Suave or VO5. I have a lot of products I've tried combos of, including Pink Boots, HESMU gel, LA Looks Curl gel, Biotera Curl Creme, LOOB. I always end up with stringy curls, (ESP if I diffuse) even after I SOTC. Does anyone have any tips for a frustrated newbie, please? Thanks in advance

Boomygrrl · 05-30-2009, 12:08 PM

Something I like to do...especially with the hair that's framing my face. I like to use my fingers like they are curling irons...that's probably the best way to describe it.
I either use my middle finger or I use both my index and middle finger (depending on how big I want it)...while moving my finger(s) down my hair, I'm gently wrapping a section of my hair around it (smaller sections will give thinner ringlets, bigger sections will give bigger ones), then gently release the hair from the finger(s). Don't wrap tightly. Do that to sections of your hair and voila! ringlets!

I use a creamy leave-in conditioner to help...many people find curl creams work well in conjunction or instead of leave-in.

Boomygrrl · 05-30-2009, 12:09 PM

Do this while hair is wet, then when it's dry, scrunch the crunch like you normally do.
I will do this randomly to other areas of my hair, but I focus mostly around my face. For the other areas, with random twirls, I also just scrunch in the curls.
Hope that helps.

whatsercurl · 05-30-2009, 12:29 PM

If your hair is stringy after SOTC, it's likely the product isn't working well for your hair - either the ingredients or the amount you're usig.

I have fine hair and haven't had much luck with any of the creams or stylers you listed. Creams/stylers I have had success with are KCCC, Re:coil, CJ Aloe Fix gel, CJ Coco Coffee Cream but I have to use less than most others do even with almost BSL length hair.

KCCC, for instance, you see many reviews and people use 5+ handfuls. I can't use more than 2 or my hair doesn't curl well and it's a bit stringy.

masa_inn · 05-30-2009, 12:43 PM

My thoughts:

1. Your hair still can be in transitioning - I was lucky to skip it all together, but if your hair is damaged and/or really dry etc. it might take some time to get into a good shape.

2. How do you diffuse? I have to do it upside down only, really scrunching the sections of my hair with a diffuser bowl. If I do it upright, I always get stringlets. Also, make sure your diffuse on high heat, but the lowest blow level.
Here is a good video: http://www.jessicurl.com/Demo-Videos-p-6.html
(I think, thou, she touches her hair way too much).

Also, after I'm done with drying/duffusing, I do a cool shot all over - still on low. It helps to set the curls.

Diffusing made a huge difference for me, but it took ages to learn how to do it.

ETA: CG method is not for every curly head. If you do better with silicones/SLS (gasp) - then go for it.

SweetMystique · 05-30-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masa_inn

2. How do you diffuse? I have to do it upside down only, really scrunching the sections of my hair with a diffuser bowl. If I do it upright, I always get stringlets. Also, make sure your diffuse on high heat, but the lowest blow level.
Here is a good video: http://www.jessicurl.com/Demo-Videos-p-6.html
(I think, thou, she touches her hair way too much).

Also, after I'm done with drying/duffusing, I do a cool shot all over - still on low. It helps to set the curls.

Diffusing made a huge difference for me, but it took ages to learn how to do it.

Yes, I do diffuse upside down. I kinda create a pineapple, pile it all into the bowl of the diffuser and do it on high heat, low blow. I'll check out the video link, thank you! I'm thinking after the suggestions here that I'm overloading on product. This is definitely a trial and error project!

SunshineGrrl · 05-30-2009, 08:34 PM

I also agree with whatsercurl that you might be using too much product. I haven't worn my hair curly in weeks because of a nightmare bleach job I did on myself, but when I did, I don't use near the portions everybody else seems to.

I had just past shoulder length medium porosity medium texture high density hair. I would end up using a pea-sized blob of re:coil followed by 2-3 quarter sized blobs of KCCC and ended up with great hair. I think it's all just a trial and error. Try less product and see if you get better clumps.