Post your before & After CG pics

[ZigaZaga]

Originally Posted by msgiblet

WOW!! Your hair is absolutey gorgeous!!! Please tell me what your routine is!

Originally Posted by SoaringSiren

Your S curls are GORGEOUS!! I wish my s curls would look like that!

Originally Posted by iwantcurls

I agree, ZigaZaga. I'd love to know what products you use. Do tell us about your routine!

Thank you!! msgiblet, SoaringSiren and iwantcurls! Your comments just made my day! :-)

My routine is changing all the time as I search for local products in here Italy. I seem to be settling on a few things.

I co-wash with a pretty natural and very cheap conditioner. It has coconut oil in it, the rest is non descript. Rinse that out and I condition with a heavier conditioner. I leave that one for about 5 minutes. There are two conditioners I like most and sometimes I mix them. One has flaxseed oil in it and the other has honey in it. Both with real simple bases - neither has protein. I pass a wide tooth comb through with the conditioner.

I quick-rinse that out and do a ACV rinse dipping my ends right into the cup of ACV-water mixture before pouring the rest on my hair. I do a super quick rinse out of that.

Then I take about 5 sprays of flaxseed oil in my palm, rub together and then pass over the dripping wet ends. I do another swoop under the shower just to keep it dripping wet.

From there I add my styling product - I want something that gives me good "slip". I am trying to find something close to CK ingredients over here. I have found about 4 different ones that work about the same. They all have hydroethylcellulose and glycerine in various degrees and some holding ingredients. In the last picture I used Biopoints modelling fluid for blondes.

I learned on a Canadian site (darned if I can find it now) that to get good clumps it helps to use a fine toothed comb. So that is what I do. Ya really need good slip and lots of product (kinda like is shown for CK on their site but more gently!). Hair is really dripping and soaked. When I comb I start with the lower back and split the clumps into smaller sections with my fingers and then throw them back out of the way. When I do the top comb sections upward I clip those as I go (focusing clipping on the upper back area because I tend to get a "great divide").

Then I scrunch in some gel. The one I used in the picture is Cliniques "strong control gel". I don't use much of this because it has such strong hold. Absolutely no raking. Then I turn upside down and swing a bit so my curls can find space and do their thing. This whole styling part takes me about 5-10 minutes to do. It gives me more control than if I just apply products after rinsing up side down.

I let the whole thing sit a bit but sometimes I lightly plop while getting dressed. Plopping tends to give me zig zags so I loosely plop with a MF turban without buttoning it which would be too tight. Then I partially diffuse upsidedown.

Air dry the rest of the way, remove clips carefully and then scrunch out the crunch.

I think what has really been helping me lately has been to do an AVC rince each time I co-wash (about 2-3 times a week) rather than every now and then. I have such hard water it seems to be necessary. And I just discovered scrunching in gel. Before I would just put it on top of the modelling fluid. I think doing that weighed down my curls. I have also be upping the oil treatments and that has really made a difference.

Gee, this was long! Sorry! It isn't as complicated as it might seem.

Edited to add: Sorry about the no face on the one pic. I do not white out my face in my folki but this site is public and wide open to the whole world.

[jeepcurlygurl]

Originally Posted by tulipan

Hmmm...I think it's decision of owner of pics to be anonymous or not, so I don't understand the problem. Maybe you want them to colour this white pole?

I think everyone was kidding. I know I was anyway. I have not problem with people being anonymous. I'm sure most times people would rather I covered mine! : )

[tulipan]

Originally Posted by jeepcurlygurl

I think everyone was kidding. I know I was anyway. I have not problem with people being anonymous. I'm sure most times people would rather I covered mine! : )

Okay

[CurlyEyes]

I have no pre-CG pics. I was (and still am) extremely camera shy, and my hair was a hot mess, so I figured I had no need for pictures.

I'm loving all the drastic changes I see, and the curls are so gorgeous! It's like all of my dream curls.

[madmb20]

so i've looked through this post more times than i can count and finally have some pics of my own. the first one was taken in 2005 on a very humid, rainy day and the second one a few weeks ago (started cg in march).

[realistic]

Originally Posted by madmb20

so i've looked through this post more times than i can count and finally have some pics of my own. the first one was taken in 2005 on a very humid, rainy day and the second one a few weeks ago (started cg in march).

You have beautiful hair and it looks more 3a than 2a.

[Kitara]

Originally Posted by jeepcurlygurl

I think everyone was kidding. I know I was anyway. I have not problem with people being anonymous. I'm sure most times people would rather I covered mine! : )

No, I wasn't kidding. They really do freak me out and the was because I think it's funny. Especially SapphireMoon's with just the eye poking out. If I saw that on the street I would run for cover.

I'm not sure how that translates into a "problem" or taking away the poster's decision to be anonymous, but ok. I didn't suggest or imply that anyone should do anything differently. I wouldn't expect anyone to change, just laugh and see the humor in it.

ETA: Just to clarify, I wasn't talking about the cut out faces, or the black circle over the face, but the blurred faces that are the same color as the skin like they really do have no face. Hence my "no faced people".

[SapphireMoon]

Originally Posted by Kitara

No, I wasn't kidding. They really do freak me out and the was because I think it's funny. Especially SapphireMoon's with just the eye poking out. If I saw that on the street I would run for cover.

I'm not sure how that translates into a "problem" or taking away the poster's decision to be anonymous, but ok. I didn't suggest or imply that anyone should do anything differently. I wouldn't expect anyone to change, just laugh and see the humor in it.

ETA: Just to clarify, I wasn't talking about the cut out faces, or the black circle over the face, but the blurred faces that are the same color as the skin like they really do have no face. Hence my "no faced people".

Haha, believe me, if you saw the weird face I was making underneith the blur you would be running for cover twice as fast

[notegal]

It reminds me of the faces of the kids in the Pink Floyd video "The Wall" their faces were kind of like that (the one eye or the way that the eyes are...) after being brainwashed by the education system...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=M_bvT-DGcWw

[Usoda]

Originally Posted by ZigaZaga

I learned on a Canadian site (darned if I can find it now) that to get good clumps it helps to use a fine toothed comb. So that is what I do. Ya really need good slip and lots of product (kinda like is shown for CK on their site but more gently!). Hair is really dripping and soaked. When I comb I start with the lower back and split the clumps into smaller sections with my fingers and then throw them back out of the way. When I do the top comb sections upward I clip those as I go (focusing clipping on the upper back area because I tend to get a "great divide").

So, are you combing individual sections of hair with product in them and with the fine tooth comb? This, then helps that section to clump together?

[SapphireMoon]

Originally Posted by Usoda

3C; coarse ringlets; mix of Irish, Black, German, Native American (Cherokee)

This is off topic, but it sounds like you have amazing hair.

[curls of summer]

Wow, everyone's transformations are amazing! I love going through this thread!

[Miss Kitty]

Originally Posted by Kitara

I just have to say that you no faced people freak me OUT!

LOL! I was thinking the same thing!! I'm worried I'll have nightmares tonight.

I get wanting to remain anonymous though

[ZigaZaga]

Originally Posted by Usoda

So, are you combing individual sections of hair with product in them and with the fine tooth comb? This, then helps that section to clump together?

Yes! It sounds strange but it actually clumps better with a fine toothed comb than a wide toothed comb. I comb a section with one hand and fork my fingers of my other hand through and slide to separate into clumps. My hair is so wet and slippery combing is not damaging.

I have tried just scrunching product into conditioned and rinsed hair while upside down but I end up with a funny formation. Way less control.

[swirlygirl]

Originally Posted by ZigaZaga

Thank you!! msgiblet, SoaringSiren and iwantcurls! Your comments just made my day! :-)

My routine is changing all the time as I search for local products in here Italy. I seem to be settling on a few things.

I co-wash with a pretty natural and very cheap conditioner. It has coconut oil in it, the rest is non descript. Rinse that out and I condition with a heavier conditioner. I leave that one for about 5 minutes. There are two conditioners I like most and sometimes I mix them. One has flaxseed oil in it and the other has honey in it. Both with real simple bases - neither has protein. I pass a wide tooth comb through with the conditioner.

I quick-rinse that out and do a ACV rinse dipping my ends right into the cup of ACV-water mixture before pouring the rest on my hair. I do a super quick rinse out of that.

Then I take about 5 sprays of flaxseed oil in my palm, rub together and then pass over the dripping wet ends. I do another swoop under the shower just to keep it dripping wet.

From there I add my styling product - I want something that gives me good "slip". I am trying to find something close to CK ingredients over here. I have found about 4 different ones that work about the same. They all have hydroethylcellulose and glycerine in various degrees and some holding ingredients. In the last picture I used Biopoints modelling fluid for blondes.

I learned on a Canadian site (darned if I can find it now) that to get good clumps it helps to use a fine toothed comb. So that is what I do. Ya really need good slip and lots of product (kinda like is shown for CK on their site but more gently!). Hair is really dripping and soaked. When I comb I start with the lower back and split the clumps into smaller sections with my fingers and then throw them back out of the way. When I do the top comb sections upward I clip those as I go (focusing clipping on the upper back area because I tend to get a "great divide").

Then I scrunch in some gel. The one I used in the picture is Cliniques "strong control gel". I don't use much of this because it has such strong hold. Absolutely no raking. Then I turn upside down and swing a bit so my curls can find space and do their thing. This whole styling part takes me about 5-10 minutes to do. It gives me more control than if I just apply products after rinsing up side down.

I let the whole thing sit a bit but sometimes I lightly plop while getting dressed. Plopping tends to give me zig zags so I loosely plop with a MF turban without buttoning it which would be too tight. Then I partially diffuse upsidedown.

Air dry the rest of the way, remove clips carefully and then scrunch out the crunch.

I think what has really been helping me lately has been to do an AVC rince each time I co-wash (about 2-3 times a week) rather than every now and then. I have such hard water it seems to be necessary. And I just discovered scrunching in gel. Before I would just put it on top of the modelling fluid. I think doing that weighed down my curls. I have also be upping the oil treatments and that has really made a difference.

Gee, this was long! Sorry! It isn't as complicated as it might seem.

Edited to add: Sorry about the no face on the one pic. I do not white out my face in my folki but this site is public and wide open to the whole world.

ZigaZaga, Thanks for taking so much time to post your routine! Your hair is so beautiful!

[Kitara]

Originally Posted by SapphireMoon

Haha, believe me, if you saw the weird face I was making underneith the blur you would be running for cover twice as fast

LOL Doubtful. With beautiful curls like that you probably scare a whopping nobody. Well, when you have a face that is.

[madmb20]

Originally Posted by realistic

You have beautiful hair and it looks more 3a than 2a.

Thank you so much!
my hair used to be thicker & curlier (as in the before picture) but i think my birth control did a number on it. i would go off it but im afraid what will happen. learning the cg method has helped though so hopefully it'll turn itself around!

[ZigaZaga]

Originally Posted by iwantcurls

ZigaZaga, Thanks for taking so much time to post your routine! Your hair is so beautiful!

My pleasure and thank you! I love your shiny loopy hair pattern. The cut is great for your hair type - it really brings the pattern out. It suits you. Gorgeous! Seems you are doing all the right things.

[sweetpeacurli]

I AM SO TOTALLY LOVING THIS THREAD!

I just lost way too much of my work day looking through all the pictures. Everyone's hair is positively unbelievable! I have so many new hair idols!

Ok, here's my contributions. I can't just do before and after... there were way too many shades of gray along the way.

July 2003


Fall 2004


July 2005, about a month after going CG:


December 2007 (CG for 2.5 years):


March 2008


---------------- Now playing: Stars - ageless beauty via FoxyTunes

[ZigaZaga]

Sweetpea your hair is stunning! Love the color too. Is that hennè?