Hey everybody! It's been about nine weeks since I completely cut out sulfates and silicones from my hair routine, and here is what's been happening...
My hair, as I've mentioned before, is still feeling really healthy and soft. I guess that's what to expect with the Curly Girl Method! Maybe I should stop mentioning this in these posts, but I have to admit, I'm still getting used to having such healthy hair. I know a lot of this has to do with my leave in conditioner (Kinky Curly Knot Today), which I am still really loving.
I haven't noticed a ton of change in my curls since my last update. However, I have not been wearing my hair down very often. I'm not back to school yet, so I haven't been taking the time to style it.
I want to mention one major change- I haven't been co-washing. I know, I know. Sounds like I'm abandoning the method, but I'm not! I have been using my sulfate-free shampoo for a couple of reasons. First of all, my hair always feels really dirty. Co-Washing is not leaving my hair as clean as I want it, and I'm frustrated. I think my hair is still going through a transition. I know in one of my previous posts I said I think my hair is used to the change, but I lied. There is no other explanation... I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do! I don't use silicones at all. Half the time I don't apply any product and just put my hair up in a bun. The only thing I can think of is that my hair is still transitioning.
Co-washing was making my hair clean, but I had to really scrub. I already have a lot of hair fallout, and I started to notice a lot more the last few weeks. I think that the scrubbing I had to do from co-washing was causing more hair-fallout than usual, and I certainly do not want that. Furthermore, even when my hair felt clean from co-washing, it never felt clean for very long. Over night my hair would just get gunky again, and I hate that feeling.
So...the only solution I can think of is using my sulfate free shampoo. I'm still technically following the Curly Girl Method, but I've modified it to fit my current needs. I don't need to scrub as hard, and it keeps my hair clean. You gotta do what you gotta do.
That's all for now. What have been your experiences with the transition period? Did you find it difficult?
Much love,
Gianna
Showing posts with label curly hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label curly hair. Show all posts
Monday, September 2, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
How To Co-Wash
Hey everybody! It's been nearly seven weeks into the Curly Girl Method, and I've had some ups and downs. Co-washing is pretty much the center of the Curly Girl Method, so I thought I would devote a post to this topic.
Co-Washing is short for Conditioner Washing. Instead of using shampoo, Curly Girls use conditioner that is free of silicones to wash their hair on a daily basis. It is okay to use sulfate-free shampoo, but co-washing is more gentle on our hair. Popular conditioners that are Curly Girl Approved from the drugstore are the Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner and the V05 Moisture Milk Conditioner in Strawberries and Cream, which both usually retail for under three dollars at most drugstores. It doesn't have to be these specific scents- any Suave Naturals Conditioner or V05 Moisture Milk Conditioner will do.
When you co-wash, it is important to start off with a good amount of product. I have pretty long hair- past mid-back but not quite to my waist yet. I use half a palm-full of conditioner, or about the size of two quarters. I distribute it everywhere on my scalp, at the forehead, the nape of the neck, sides of the face, behind the ears, crown of my head...everywhere. And then I start to scrub. I use my fingers and really work the product in. I notice that if I neglect one section of hair, my hair is oily the next day in that section. So I pay attention to really scrub every part of my scalp. Don't hurt yourself or scratch your scalp or anything, just get down in there and scrub. Remember that there are no sulfates to do the job for you. You have to manually remove the dirt and product from your hair. Even though I've used a significant amount of conditioner already, sometimes I'll come back and add more to the places I feel need it. As a curly girl, you go through a lot of conditioner. Luckily we can use ultra cheap ones that aren't a hassle to repurchase.
After I have scrubbed my scalp thoroughly, I rinse out the co-wash. When I rinse it out, I scrub some more. Work the water into each section and thoroughly rinse out your co-wash. By the end of my shower, my arms are a little tired from scrubbing. But that's what gets my hair clean, so that's what I do. Make sure to use your fingers as you rinse it out. Using your fingers is the key to this whole process.
After I have rinsed everything out, I put in my rinse-out conditioner, which is a separate, heavier conditioner that replenishes moisture. I use the Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner. This is a popular drugstore rinse-out. I use this product on about 3/4 the length of my hair. I don't put it on my roots, because I just spent so much time scrubbing my scalp clean.
I let it sit as I finish my shower, rinse it out, and then I'm done.
I am learning that being thorough is really the only way to get my hair feeling clean enough (for my liking) with co-washing.
What about you guys? Any curly girl tips out there?
Much love!
Gianna
Co-Washing is short for Conditioner Washing. Instead of using shampoo, Curly Girls use conditioner that is free of silicones to wash their hair on a daily basis. It is okay to use sulfate-free shampoo, but co-washing is more gentle on our hair. Popular conditioners that are Curly Girl Approved from the drugstore are the Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner and the V05 Moisture Milk Conditioner in Strawberries and Cream, which both usually retail for under three dollars at most drugstores. It doesn't have to be these specific scents- any Suave Naturals Conditioner or V05 Moisture Milk Conditioner will do.
When you co-wash, it is important to start off with a good amount of product. I have pretty long hair- past mid-back but not quite to my waist yet. I use half a palm-full of conditioner, or about the size of two quarters. I distribute it everywhere on my scalp, at the forehead, the nape of the neck, sides of the face, behind the ears, crown of my head...everywhere. And then I start to scrub. I use my fingers and really work the product in. I notice that if I neglect one section of hair, my hair is oily the next day in that section. So I pay attention to really scrub every part of my scalp. Don't hurt yourself or scratch your scalp or anything, just get down in there and scrub. Remember that there are no sulfates to do the job for you. You have to manually remove the dirt and product from your hair. Even though I've used a significant amount of conditioner already, sometimes I'll come back and add more to the places I feel need it. As a curly girl, you go through a lot of conditioner. Luckily we can use ultra cheap ones that aren't a hassle to repurchase.
After I have scrubbed my scalp thoroughly, I rinse out the co-wash. When I rinse it out, I scrub some more. Work the water into each section and thoroughly rinse out your co-wash. By the end of my shower, my arms are a little tired from scrubbing. But that's what gets my hair clean, so that's what I do. Make sure to use your fingers as you rinse it out. Using your fingers is the key to this whole process.
After I have rinsed everything out, I put in my rinse-out conditioner, which is a separate, heavier conditioner that replenishes moisture. I use the Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner. This is a popular drugstore rinse-out. I use this product on about 3/4 the length of my hair. I don't put it on my roots, because I just spent so much time scrubbing my scalp clean.
I let it sit as I finish my shower, rinse it out, and then I'm done.
I am learning that being thorough is really the only way to get my hair feeling clean enough (for my liking) with co-washing.
What about you guys? Any curly girl tips out there?
Much love!
Gianna
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Curly Hair Update: Week Six
Hey everybody!
It's been a long time since I've done a curly hair update. I was on vacation and my hair routine was a little off, so now I'm back and in the groove of things again.
Honestly, in the past few weeks, I haven't noticed a whole lot of difference in my hair. It is definitely softer than before I started the Curly Girl Method. I am finding new ways to style my hair that I am really liking. Rather than rake gel through my hair, I simply coat my hair with gel so that my curls are not separated by my fingers. I like plopping, and I leave my hair plopped as long as I can. I find that this makes my curls more defined and voluminous as they dry. I also scrunch the gel into my hair after I do an initial coat of gel, which helps my hair form curls from root to tip, rather than just half way down the length of my hair.
I am noticing that my hair is feeling like it really needs a cleansing every day. I cowash, but the gel I use seems to leave behind a stickyness that I don't like. I also think that my scalp is somewhat oily. It makes sense- I have oily skin in general. When it comes to co-washing, I think the trick is to really scrub. Get down deep and use your fingers to really work the product in. When you rinse it out, do the same thing. Use your fingers to lift up the dirt and conditioner so that you're left with clean hair. Cowashing takes work. Sometimes I am not willing to put in that extra work to get my hair clean. It's a bit of a hassle. However, I am learning slowly but surely. I am going to have to do some experimentation with cowashes and gels to find a combination that really works for me. Because as of now, I'm not really loving how my hair feels at the end of the day.
Overall, I think my hair has completely adjusted to the new system. I didn't really have any major issues during the transition. I like how my hair looks now, and I like the new techniques I have found for styling my hair. My hair is softer, for sure.
Here is what my hair looked like before CG:
And here it is today, six weeks later:
So yeah, definitely more definition.
That's all for now.
Much love!
Gianna
It's been a long time since I've done a curly hair update. I was on vacation and my hair routine was a little off, so now I'm back and in the groove of things again.
Honestly, in the past few weeks, I haven't noticed a whole lot of difference in my hair. It is definitely softer than before I started the Curly Girl Method. I am finding new ways to style my hair that I am really liking. Rather than rake gel through my hair, I simply coat my hair with gel so that my curls are not separated by my fingers. I like plopping, and I leave my hair plopped as long as I can. I find that this makes my curls more defined and voluminous as they dry. I also scrunch the gel into my hair after I do an initial coat of gel, which helps my hair form curls from root to tip, rather than just half way down the length of my hair.
I am noticing that my hair is feeling like it really needs a cleansing every day. I cowash, but the gel I use seems to leave behind a stickyness that I don't like. I also think that my scalp is somewhat oily. It makes sense- I have oily skin in general. When it comes to co-washing, I think the trick is to really scrub. Get down deep and use your fingers to really work the product in. When you rinse it out, do the same thing. Use your fingers to lift up the dirt and conditioner so that you're left with clean hair. Cowashing takes work. Sometimes I am not willing to put in that extra work to get my hair clean. It's a bit of a hassle. However, I am learning slowly but surely. I am going to have to do some experimentation with cowashes and gels to find a combination that really works for me. Because as of now, I'm not really loving how my hair feels at the end of the day.
Overall, I think my hair has completely adjusted to the new system. I didn't really have any major issues during the transition. I like how my hair looks now, and I like the new techniques I have found for styling my hair. My hair is softer, for sure.
Here is what my hair looked like before CG:
And here it is today, six weeks later:
So yeah, definitely more definition.
That's all for now.
Much love!
Gianna
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Curly Girl Method Question: Build Up, Weighed Down, or Just Plain Gross?
Hey everybody! I haven't done a curly hair post in a while, so I wanted to take some time to get one up today. I didn't do a hair update for week 3 of the curly girl method because I was on vacation for the last week. My hair was all out of wack due to weather and elevation changes and all that stuff, so I decided to skip it. I'm not sure about whether there will be one up for week 4 or not. I am leaving for Vegas soon, so we shall see.
Anyways! I was on Instagram today and I saw that somebody I follow had posted a picture of some sulfate free shampoo and conditoner, and somebody had commented saying she didn't like those products at all because they weighed her hair down. This got me thinking about my own hair and what I experience with my own sulfate-free products. Now, I don't know the girl who commented on the picture, and I don't know anything about her hair. Maybe these products really did weigh her hair down, I can't say for sure. But I would venture to say it was probably not the shampoo and conditioner, but the products she was using to style her hair in conjunction with the sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. More than likely she uses products with silicones in them. She was trying to wash the products out of her hair with sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Well, obviously, that won't work. So she experienced build up, greasy-ness, and hair that was weighed down. I could be wrong, because I don't know this girl. But I'm basing my theory off of the knowledge I have of the Curly Girl Method.
Remember guys, silicones are not water soluble, unless they have the prefix PEG-, for example, PEG-Dimethicone. We can spot silicones in ingredients lists because they have the suffixes -cone, -conol, and -xane. Silicones need sulfates to be washed away. Without those harsh cleansing ingredients to wash silicones away, we will probably experience build up. I'm not saying this is the case all the time for everybody. I don't know everybody's hair. All I'm saying is that there's a science behind this whole Curly Girl method that really makes sense.
I imagine that most people who know I don't often use regular shampoo on my hair think my hair is greasy, gross, dirty, and weighed down.
So here's the ultimate question:
Does the Curly Girl Method make your hair dirty?
Answer: No! I have taken silicones out of my hair's diet. Therefore, I no longer need sulfates. When I co-wash my hair with silicone-free conditioners, my hair rinses clean of the water soluble products that I put in it when I style. Water soluble products, obviously, rinse away with water. I don't need the harsh sulfates to clean my hair anymore. I can rely on the gentle cleansers in my co-wash to clean my hair without stripping it. When I get out of the shower, my hair is perfectly clean.
Once a week, after I swim, or whenever I feel like I need it, I wash my hair with a sulfate-free shampoo to get a bit of a deep cleaning. I used to do the same thing when I wasn't CG, except I used a really harsh, clarifying shampoo that left my hair stripped and dry. Some Curly Girls only use sulfate-free shampoo once a month. Some don't have any routine, and do it whenever they think about it. Some probably never do it at all. My point is that it's entirely up to you. I feel that my hair is quite clean with just a co-wash and a rinse out. I use a sulfate-free shampoo once a week because it's just part of my routine that I feel comfortable sticking with. You decide what you want and what your hair wants. Don't think that CG's have dirty hair, because that isn't the case.
Much love to all you curlies out there! If you would like to get the low-down on the curly method, click here.
Gianna
Anyways! I was on Instagram today and I saw that somebody I follow had posted a picture of some sulfate free shampoo and conditoner, and somebody had commented saying she didn't like those products at all because they weighed her hair down. This got me thinking about my own hair and what I experience with my own sulfate-free products. Now, I don't know the girl who commented on the picture, and I don't know anything about her hair. Maybe these products really did weigh her hair down, I can't say for sure. But I would venture to say it was probably not the shampoo and conditioner, but the products she was using to style her hair in conjunction with the sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. More than likely she uses products with silicones in them. She was trying to wash the products out of her hair with sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Well, obviously, that won't work. So she experienced build up, greasy-ness, and hair that was weighed down. I could be wrong, because I don't know this girl. But I'm basing my theory off of the knowledge I have of the Curly Girl Method.
Remember guys, silicones are not water soluble, unless they have the prefix PEG-, for example, PEG-Dimethicone. We can spot silicones in ingredients lists because they have the suffixes -cone, -conol, and -xane. Silicones need sulfates to be washed away. Without those harsh cleansing ingredients to wash silicones away, we will probably experience build up. I'm not saying this is the case all the time for everybody. I don't know everybody's hair. All I'm saying is that there's a science behind this whole Curly Girl method that really makes sense.
I imagine that most people who know I don't often use regular shampoo on my hair think my hair is greasy, gross, dirty, and weighed down.
So here's the ultimate question:
Does the Curly Girl Method make your hair dirty?
Answer: No! I have taken silicones out of my hair's diet. Therefore, I no longer need sulfates. When I co-wash my hair with silicone-free conditioners, my hair rinses clean of the water soluble products that I put in it when I style. Water soluble products, obviously, rinse away with water. I don't need the harsh sulfates to clean my hair anymore. I can rely on the gentle cleansers in my co-wash to clean my hair without stripping it. When I get out of the shower, my hair is perfectly clean.
Once a week, after I swim, or whenever I feel like I need it, I wash my hair with a sulfate-free shampoo to get a bit of a deep cleaning. I used to do the same thing when I wasn't CG, except I used a really harsh, clarifying shampoo that left my hair stripped and dry. Some Curly Girls only use sulfate-free shampoo once a month. Some don't have any routine, and do it whenever they think about it. Some probably never do it at all. My point is that it's entirely up to you. I feel that my hair is quite clean with just a co-wash and a rinse out. I use a sulfate-free shampoo once a week because it's just part of my routine that I feel comfortable sticking with. You decide what you want and what your hair wants. Don't think that CG's have dirty hair, because that isn't the case.
Much love to all you curlies out there! If you would like to get the low-down on the curly method, click here.
Gianna
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Curly Hair Update: Week 2
Hey everybody. Two weeks has gone by since I started the Curly Girl Method. Last week I was amazed by how soft my hair was feeling. This week I'm sad to say I don't feel as great. My hair is still soft, but I feel like my hair isn't as soft as it was last week. I don't know. Maybe I got used to it. I'm also thinking maybe I'm using too much protein on my hair. I have no idea. Maybe it's just a normal down swing of the transition to gentle products.
Other than that, I'm happy. I'm not missing my old routine, other than my old hair mousse. My current gel (L.A. Looks Sport Gel) is fine, but I am still getting used to how much I need for my hair. There's a fine line between controlled and crunchy, you know?
I've been working out a lot this week. Pretty much every day (leaving for vacation in two days- gotta be ready!). I've been noticing that my hair doesn't feel completely clean when I co-wash after my workouts. Obviously, I'm sweating and my hair is a hot mess when I hop into the shower after some cardio. I just feel like my co-wash isn't getting my hair totally clean. Perhaps I'm not using enough product and I need to adjust the amount of Suave Naturals I use according to how dirty my hair is. I don't know! Anyways, I shampoo'ed today with my Shea Moisture shampoo and I feel fine again. It's not like my hair was greasy before or anything- the co-wash was doing an okay job -I just felt like my hair was a little weighed down. I would run my fingers through it and it felt clean enough, but there was just a little bit of residue that was bothering me.
I don't know, people; trial and error!
Anyways, I've been experimenting with plopping and I decided I like it. It defines my curls nicely. I also helps keep my hair from getting crunchy. Not mention it adds volume. It's good, I like it.
Overall, I guess it was an okay week.
Here is my hair before CG:
And here it is today:
My curls are certainly more defined, and I have more volume.
Okay, seeing the pictures side by side has made me feel better about this week.
Much love to you curly heads out there!
Gianna
Other than that, I'm happy. I'm not missing my old routine, other than my old hair mousse. My current gel (L.A. Looks Sport Gel) is fine, but I am still getting used to how much I need for my hair. There's a fine line between controlled and crunchy, you know?
I've been working out a lot this week. Pretty much every day (leaving for vacation in two days- gotta be ready!). I've been noticing that my hair doesn't feel completely clean when I co-wash after my workouts. Obviously, I'm sweating and my hair is a hot mess when I hop into the shower after some cardio. I just feel like my co-wash isn't getting my hair totally clean. Perhaps I'm not using enough product and I need to adjust the amount of Suave Naturals I use according to how dirty my hair is. I don't know! Anyways, I shampoo'ed today with my Shea Moisture shampoo and I feel fine again. It's not like my hair was greasy before or anything- the co-wash was doing an okay job -I just felt like my hair was a little weighed down. I would run my fingers through it and it felt clean enough, but there was just a little bit of residue that was bothering me.
I don't know, people; trial and error!
Anyways, I've been experimenting with plopping and I decided I like it. It defines my curls nicely. I also helps keep my hair from getting crunchy. Not mention it adds volume. It's good, I like it.
Overall, I guess it was an okay week.
Here is my hair before CG:
And here it is today:
My curls are certainly more defined, and I have more volume.
Okay, seeing the pictures side by side has made me feel better about this week.
Much love to you curly heads out there!
Gianna
Monday, July 8, 2013
Review/First Impressions: Curly Girl Method Starter Kit
Hey everybody. It's been one week since I started the Curly Girl Method, so I've had a couple days to try out my new products that I bought for my new hair routine. I wanted to give you my thoughts on the products thus far. Even though I've only had them for a short time, I feel confident that I can tell you whether they work for my hair or not. I can't speak for how they affect my hair over time, but I think I know what my hair likes and what my hair doesn't like so much.
First up on the list is my Suave Naturals Conditioner in Tropical Coconut, which I use as a co-wash.
This is good stuff. It smells divine. I put it on my roots and it totally makes my hair feel clean. It also does a good job moisturizing my hair, even though I save the majority of that job for my rinse-out. I like it a lot. It's cheap, and it comes in a big bottle. I'm going through it fast though, as I anticipated I would.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
Yes, I would. I don't know that I will repurchase it right away, because I would like to try one of the V05 conditioners that are curly girl approved. However, this is good stuff.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
Yes, absolutely. If you're a new curly girl looking for a cheap co-wash, give this a try.
Next is my Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Conditioner, which is my rinse out.
It's love. This stuff makes my hair so freakin' soft. It also makes my hair a dream to comb through. I just love it. It's cheap and widely available. The only draw back I can see is the smell. I personally like it, but I can see how others might not. It has an organic, earthy kind of scent. It's nice, but probably not for everyone.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
Yes, absolutely. I probably won't go looking for another rinse out for a while.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
For sure.
As my sulfate-free shampoo, I have the Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo.
I like it. I haven't used it much, but it's okay. It makes my hair feel clean, but not stripped. It has a very perfume-y scent. Overall, it's fine. It's rather expensive though.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
Probably, but not right away. I sort of want to explore other sulfate-free options.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
Yeah, but I wouldn't rave about it. I'd probably just suggest checking it out.
For my deep conditioner, I chose the Shea Moisture Anti-Breakage Masque.
I have to be honest with you guys, this stuff leaves something to be desired. I don't like what it does to my hair, really. I'm going to finish the container, but I have to tell you, it does not moisturize my hair. My rinse out does a better job than this stuff. It smells fine but has a really thick texture. Like thicker than thick. You would think it would do amazing things, especially for the price, but no.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
No. But I would check out another Shea Moisture deep conditioner, I suppose.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
No. Especially not for the price.
For styling, I bought the L.A. Sports Gel.
I like this stuff. It's dirt cheap, and does the trick. I was worried about crunch, but it's actually not a huge problem. My hair can handle more of this gel than I expected. It defines my curls nicely and holds all day, unless I start touching my hair a lot. I can't say anything about the hold for second day hair. But overall, I like it. You get a whole lot for a small amount of money. It smells alright too.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
Yes, I would. I might try other gels before I get this one again, though.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
Yes. It's a great value. And it just does what it's supposed to do. I have quite frizzy, unruly hair, and this tames it.
Last, I bought the Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In Detangler.
This is amazing stuff. The ingredients list is awesome. So many natural ingredients that my hair loves. This stuff makes my hair so soft and easy to comb through. It smells good, really tropical and fruity. I love it.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
Yes, without a doubt. I don't feel any need to look for another leave in.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
Yes, and I would rave about it.
There you guys have it. That's what I think about my new products so far. I hope this was helpful in getting you started with a new hair care routine.
Out of the products I mentioned that I loved, I would recommend them to any curly, even if they weren't CG. I would recommend my rinse out to anybody at all, even someone with straight hair.
If you would like to see my original post on the Curly Girl Method Start Kit, you can find that here.
And I just want to leave you with one last thought: embrace what you have, ladies! For a long time I thought that my hair wasn't beautiful because it wasn't straight. I was wrong. My curls are beautiful because they're what was given to me. I want to keep them healthy. If you're hesitant about going curly, just take a chance. The curly girl method isn't for everyone, but you never know until you try.
Wishing you all a good hair day!
Gianna
First up on the list is my Suave Naturals Conditioner in Tropical Coconut, which I use as a co-wash.
This is good stuff. It smells divine. I put it on my roots and it totally makes my hair feel clean. It also does a good job moisturizing my hair, even though I save the majority of that job for my rinse-out. I like it a lot. It's cheap, and it comes in a big bottle. I'm going through it fast though, as I anticipated I would.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
Yes, I would. I don't know that I will repurchase it right away, because I would like to try one of the V05 conditioners that are curly girl approved. However, this is good stuff.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
Yes, absolutely. If you're a new curly girl looking for a cheap co-wash, give this a try.
Next is my Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Conditioner, which is my rinse out.
It's love. This stuff makes my hair so freakin' soft. It also makes my hair a dream to comb through. I just love it. It's cheap and widely available. The only draw back I can see is the smell. I personally like it, but I can see how others might not. It has an organic, earthy kind of scent. It's nice, but probably not for everyone.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
Yes, absolutely. I probably won't go looking for another rinse out for a while.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
For sure.
As my sulfate-free shampoo, I have the Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo.
I like it. I haven't used it much, but it's okay. It makes my hair feel clean, but not stripped. It has a very perfume-y scent. Overall, it's fine. It's rather expensive though.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
Probably, but not right away. I sort of want to explore other sulfate-free options.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
Yeah, but I wouldn't rave about it. I'd probably just suggest checking it out.
For my deep conditioner, I chose the Shea Moisture Anti-Breakage Masque.
I have to be honest with you guys, this stuff leaves something to be desired. I don't like what it does to my hair, really. I'm going to finish the container, but I have to tell you, it does not moisturize my hair. My rinse out does a better job than this stuff. It smells fine but has a really thick texture. Like thicker than thick. You would think it would do amazing things, especially for the price, but no.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
No. But I would check out another Shea Moisture deep conditioner, I suppose.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
No. Especially not for the price.
For styling, I bought the L.A. Sports Gel.
I like this stuff. It's dirt cheap, and does the trick. I was worried about crunch, but it's actually not a huge problem. My hair can handle more of this gel than I expected. It defines my curls nicely and holds all day, unless I start touching my hair a lot. I can't say anything about the hold for second day hair. But overall, I like it. You get a whole lot for a small amount of money. It smells alright too.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
Yes, I would. I might try other gels before I get this one again, though.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
Yes. It's a great value. And it just does what it's supposed to do. I have quite frizzy, unruly hair, and this tames it.
Last, I bought the Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In Detangler.
This is amazing stuff. The ingredients list is awesome. So many natural ingredients that my hair loves. This stuff makes my hair so soft and easy to comb through. It smells good, really tropical and fruity. I love it.
The bottom line.
Would I repurchase it?
Yes, without a doubt. I don't feel any need to look for another leave in.
Would I recommend it to a friend?
Yes, and I would rave about it.
There you guys have it. That's what I think about my new products so far. I hope this was helpful in getting you started with a new hair care routine.
Out of the products I mentioned that I loved, I would recommend them to any curly, even if they weren't CG. I would recommend my rinse out to anybody at all, even someone with straight hair.
If you would like to see my original post on the Curly Girl Method Start Kit, you can find that here.
And I just want to leave you with one last thought: embrace what you have, ladies! For a long time I thought that my hair wasn't beautiful because it wasn't straight. I was wrong. My curls are beautiful because they're what was given to me. I want to keep them healthy. If you're hesitant about going curly, just take a chance. The curly girl method isn't for everyone, but you never know until you try.
Wishing you all a good hair day!
Gianna
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Curly Girl Method Update: Week One
Hey guys! So it's been exactly one week since I did my last wash with a sulfate shampoo and started co-washing. It's been a really interesting week.
Here are a few things that I've noticed so far...
First of all, my hair is way softer than it was before. I did trim my hair last Sunday, so I'm sure that has something to do with it. But my hair actually feels more hydrated. It's also a lot easier to de-tangle than it ever was before. I love it. Even my best friend noticed, and let's just say if he notices something, it must be drastically different.
He said that my hair is at least ten times softer to the touch than it was before. I'm not sure if it's actually ten times softer, but it certainly feels smoother and more hydrated.
I'm not entirely sure where all this hydration is coming from, but I have a few guesses as to which products are doing it for me. My rinse-out, the Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner, makes my hair so silky soft. My leave-in, the Kinky Curly Knot Today Natural Leave-In is also lovely. I'll do a full review on the products I chose for my Curly Girl Starter Kit in another post, probably tomorrow.
Anyways, on to a little bit about what happened this week. So on Sunday I washed with my last sulfate shampoo and deep conditioned with my Shea Moisture masque. The next day, I did not wash at all, I just had my hair up. The following day, my hair felt really greasy, and I was concerned. I thought it would take my new sulfate-free shampoo to get it cleared out. But, instead, I decided to give co-washing a shot to see if it could do the job. Turns out that co-washing with the Suave Naturals conditioner was perfect. My hair felt clean and moisturized.
Here is my tip for the week: if you're afraid of co-washing, just give it a shot. I was so pleasantly surprised at how clean my hair felt. I gave my scalp a good massage with my conditioner, and it came clean, I swear.
I'm not sure why my hair felt so greasy that day. It might just be adjusting to my new routine, or perhaps I just didn't rinse my masque out well enough. Either way, it's fine now.
I also noticed that my curls seem more defined. I have no idea why. Maybe they're more moisturized, or maybe it's my new gel. It's probably a little bit of both. But seriously, my curls look nice. My best friend noticed this too. I asked him how my hair looked, and he said it looked "more curly" and, amazingly enough, he said my curls looked more "clumped together." Little did he know that he used the exact word us curlies use when we describe nice hair! I know in my last post I said I don't like my curls to be too clumped, but I think I lied.
As far as styling, it's been hit and miss. Sometimes I feel like I get the exact right amount of gel that I need, and other times I'm concerned about too much or too little.
I know I've been celebrating in this post so far, but as life goes, good is often accompanied with bad. Not every day has been a good hair day this week. Honestly, I haven't even attempted second day hair yet, other than just throwing my hair in a bun. But right now I'm just happy about the moisturization and definition that I'm starting to see.
Plopping has been a strange experience. I tried it earlier this week, and I didn't love the results. But I tried it again today, and I'm kind of really liking it. My hair isn't fully dry yet, so we'll see.
Anyways, I think that's all for my curly hair updates this week.
Here is a picture of my hair before the curly girl method:
Here is my hair today, one week into the curly girl method:
My hair isn't entirely dry in this picture. But I think the picture shows that my ends look healthier and more defined.
I'll be back next week for another update.
Wishing you all a good hair day!
Gianna
Here are a few things that I've noticed so far...
First of all, my hair is way softer than it was before. I did trim my hair last Sunday, so I'm sure that has something to do with it. But my hair actually feels more hydrated. It's also a lot easier to de-tangle than it ever was before. I love it. Even my best friend noticed, and let's just say if he notices something, it must be drastically different.
He said that my hair is at least ten times softer to the touch than it was before. I'm not sure if it's actually ten times softer, but it certainly feels smoother and more hydrated.
I'm not entirely sure where all this hydration is coming from, but I have a few guesses as to which products are doing it for me. My rinse-out, the Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner, makes my hair so silky soft. My leave-in, the Kinky Curly Knot Today Natural Leave-In is also lovely. I'll do a full review on the products I chose for my Curly Girl Starter Kit in another post, probably tomorrow.
Anyways, on to a little bit about what happened this week. So on Sunday I washed with my last sulfate shampoo and deep conditioned with my Shea Moisture masque. The next day, I did not wash at all, I just had my hair up. The following day, my hair felt really greasy, and I was concerned. I thought it would take my new sulfate-free shampoo to get it cleared out. But, instead, I decided to give co-washing a shot to see if it could do the job. Turns out that co-washing with the Suave Naturals conditioner was perfect. My hair felt clean and moisturized.
Here is my tip for the week: if you're afraid of co-washing, just give it a shot. I was so pleasantly surprised at how clean my hair felt. I gave my scalp a good massage with my conditioner, and it came clean, I swear.
I'm not sure why my hair felt so greasy that day. It might just be adjusting to my new routine, or perhaps I just didn't rinse my masque out well enough. Either way, it's fine now.
I also noticed that my curls seem more defined. I have no idea why. Maybe they're more moisturized, or maybe it's my new gel. It's probably a little bit of both. But seriously, my curls look nice. My best friend noticed this too. I asked him how my hair looked, and he said it looked "more curly" and, amazingly enough, he said my curls looked more "clumped together." Little did he know that he used the exact word us curlies use when we describe nice hair! I know in my last post I said I don't like my curls to be too clumped, but I think I lied.
As far as styling, it's been hit and miss. Sometimes I feel like I get the exact right amount of gel that I need, and other times I'm concerned about too much or too little.
I know I've been celebrating in this post so far, but as life goes, good is often accompanied with bad. Not every day has been a good hair day this week. Honestly, I haven't even attempted second day hair yet, other than just throwing my hair in a bun. But right now I'm just happy about the moisturization and definition that I'm starting to see.
Plopping has been a strange experience. I tried it earlier this week, and I didn't love the results. But I tried it again today, and I'm kind of really liking it. My hair isn't fully dry yet, so we'll see.
Anyways, I think that's all for my curly hair updates this week.
Here is a picture of my hair before the curly girl method:
Here is my hair today, one week into the curly girl method:
My hair isn't entirely dry in this picture. But I think the picture shows that my ends look healthier and more defined.
I'll be back next week for another update.
Wishing you all a good hair day!
Gianna
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Curly Girl Method Starter Kit
I went out and hauled all the products for my new hair care routine today, and I thought it would be helpful to post about what I got. All of the products listed below are sulfate and silicone free. Before I list the products,the picture below is my "before" picture.
This is my hair on what I would consider a good hair day. As you can see, my hair is pretty thin and I have relatively loose curls, though I would not consider them waves. My hair is pretty frizzy at the ends, where it is lacking moisture. Overall, I think my hair looks okay. I could use some more definition and some more moisture. I do not like my curls to be too clumped-- I think it looks nicer when my curls are a little separated.
Here are the products I bought today:
On the left, I have Suave Naturals Conditioner in Tropical Coconut. It's a pretty popular drugstore option for cowashing. Here is a picture of it:
For a rinse-out, I chose Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Conditioner. It's says "silicone free" right on the bottle. It's cheap, and I've heard it's a nice rinse out for a moderate amount of moisture. I'll give it a shot. Here it is:
Now, here is the part that's a little controversial. I bought the Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo. Now, you're probably like, "Wait a second Gianna, I thought you said no shampoo!" You're right, I did. But this shampoo is free of all those harsh ingredients and is totally natural. I won't use it every day, or maybe not even every week. But I will use it when my hair is just needing a good cleansing, like after I swim or if my hair is just weighed down from product. It's a little expensive, but it's got some great ingredients that make the price (in my opinion) worth it.
For a deep treatment, I bought the Shea Moisture Anti-Breakage Masque. Another kind of expensive product, but I wanted a heavier conditioner for the days when I use shampoo to restore the moisture. I won't use it all the time-- only when my hair is needing some TLC. By the way, I bought the two Shea Moisture products at Walgreens. I had a $5 off coupon, so I spent $15 for both. Here's a picture:
Next, I bought L.A. Looks Sports Gel. This is a curly girl approved and highly rated styling gel that supposedly has a nice hold and gives good definition. It's cheap and widely available. Hopefully it doesn't get too crunchy on me. But I am used to styling my hair with two big handfuls of strong hold mousse, so I should be okay. Here is a picture of the product:
For a leave-in conditioner, I bought Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave in Detangler. I've heard great things about this leave in. My hair also gets extremely knotted, especially on the second day. Hopefully this leave in can take care of it. Here is a picture:
If you would like to see my review/first impression of these products, click here.
And there you have it, folks. Tomorrow I'm doing my last sulfate shampoo and starting on this new journey.
If any of you are interested, here is a list of the products I am getting rid of:
Kirkland Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner
Garnier Fructis Style Curl Construct Mousse
Tresemme Nourishing Rituals Rejuvenating Masque
Frizz-Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-in Conditioning Spray
Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment
Suave Naturals Daily Clarifying Shampoo
Now, just for a little background information, the Kirkland Shampoo and Conditioner are actually sulfate free. I use these on a daily (or every other day) basis. Once a week, I use the Suave Clarifying Shampoo. This is the product I will be using tomorrow. However, I hope that my transition period is not too long because my hair is pretty used to sulfate-free products already. However, it is exposed to sulfates on a weekly basis, and silicones on a daily basis. Fingers crossed my hair doesn't go crazy. Hope my starter kit helps you in finding some good products to start with as well.
Wishing you a fantastic day!
Gianna
This is my hair on what I would consider a good hair day. As you can see, my hair is pretty thin and I have relatively loose curls, though I would not consider them waves. My hair is pretty frizzy at the ends, where it is lacking moisture. Overall, I think my hair looks okay. I could use some more definition and some more moisture. I do not like my curls to be too clumped-- I think it looks nicer when my curls are a little separated.
Here are the products I bought today:
On the left, I have Suave Naturals Conditioner in Tropical Coconut. It's a pretty popular drugstore option for cowashing. Here is a picture of it:
For a rinse-out, I chose Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Conditioner. It's says "silicone free" right on the bottle. It's cheap, and I've heard it's a nice rinse out for a moderate amount of moisture. I'll give it a shot. Here it is:
Now, here is the part that's a little controversial. I bought the Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo. Now, you're probably like, "Wait a second Gianna, I thought you said no shampoo!" You're right, I did. But this shampoo is free of all those harsh ingredients and is totally natural. I won't use it every day, or maybe not even every week. But I will use it when my hair is just needing a good cleansing, like after I swim or if my hair is just weighed down from product. It's a little expensive, but it's got some great ingredients that make the price (in my opinion) worth it.
For a deep treatment, I bought the Shea Moisture Anti-Breakage Masque. Another kind of expensive product, but I wanted a heavier conditioner for the days when I use shampoo to restore the moisture. I won't use it all the time-- only when my hair is needing some TLC. By the way, I bought the two Shea Moisture products at Walgreens. I had a $5 off coupon, so I spent $15 for both. Here's a picture:
Next, I bought L.A. Looks Sports Gel. This is a curly girl approved and highly rated styling gel that supposedly has a nice hold and gives good definition. It's cheap and widely available. Hopefully it doesn't get too crunchy on me. But I am used to styling my hair with two big handfuls of strong hold mousse, so I should be okay. Here is a picture of the product:
For a leave-in conditioner, I bought Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave in Detangler. I've heard great things about this leave in. My hair also gets extremely knotted, especially on the second day. Hopefully this leave in can take care of it. Here is a picture:
If you would like to see my review/first impression of these products, click here.
And there you have it, folks. Tomorrow I'm doing my last sulfate shampoo and starting on this new journey.
If any of you are interested, here is a list of the products I am getting rid of:
Kirkland Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner
Garnier Fructis Style Curl Construct Mousse
Tresemme Nourishing Rituals Rejuvenating Masque
Frizz-Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-in Conditioning Spray
Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment
Suave Naturals Daily Clarifying Shampoo
Now, just for a little background information, the Kirkland Shampoo and Conditioner are actually sulfate free. I use these on a daily (or every other day) basis. Once a week, I use the Suave Clarifying Shampoo. This is the product I will be using tomorrow. However, I hope that my transition period is not too long because my hair is pretty used to sulfate-free products already. However, it is exposed to sulfates on a weekly basis, and silicones on a daily basis. Fingers crossed my hair doesn't go crazy. Hope my starter kit helps you in finding some good products to start with as well.
Wishing you a fantastic day!
Gianna
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