I am going through "hair-apocalypse" currently! I ALWAYS had naturally curly hair and always knew how to plop/scrunch/crunch ... even before the "curly girl revolution"! But then I took my hair through a decade of flat irons and smoothing silicone products, and one day woke up to realize what 30 years of dye combined with heat irons and silicone plastics had done to my hair .... menopause hormones made it all too real that my formerly thick, curly indestructible hair ... well, was destructible after all! 😭 It wouldn't even hold a decent curl! Now I'm on a two-fold road: Joining both the "Done with the dye and growing out my silver hair" revolution, AND returning to restoring my former healthy curls revolution! Whew - It's looks a hot mess right now! 😩 This is a TRUE TEST of my confidence level! I can't wait to get to the finish line in about a year and a half from now! Your channel is super helpful on everything - style/procedure and product! Oh ... and your hair is a "reminder" of my former self and a nice goal to shoot for (in the "silver" category)! Thanks so much!!! 😀👍🏻
Yes!! The Giovanni leave in is incredible!! I've also noticed that it really helps with tangles when I wash my hair too. Giovanni also make a fantastic protein treatment mask too (although you'll probably hate it if you're sensitive to protein) but it's great if you dye your hair x
Hi! I love your videos and they've been super helpful in my CG journey. It's hard as a wavy to feel like you're really part of the curl community but you really promote that and I love it!! I was wondering if you have any suggestions/routines for being at the beach and pool over the summer. How do you care for your hair in the salt and chemical water? Thanks!!
Awesome ideas and thank you for the details in the weight, text year and smell of the products that is extremely helpful! Could you please go over the differences between co wash, squish to condition conditioner, leave in conditioner, regular conditioner and conditioner treatment masks? Much appreciation from Minnesota!
I know this isn’t an active channel anymore, but I love your content so I come back to some of your videos when I need some wavy hair product and technique information.
Hi friend! You're so sweet for commenting, and for coming back. I wouldn't call it an inactive channel, but she ain't thriving, either. Hah! Working on that in 2024. :)
That is, indeed, some bomb-ass hair! ;-) At the risk of repeating myself...my *go-tos* are B'Leave In and Frizz Free Styling Foam from DevaCurl. I'm also loving Curls Blueberry Bliss Leave In Conditioner and the Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Jelly.
Why thank you! I STILL haven't tried b'leave in. When I finally finish a bottle of something, I will have to try it. And I've heard such good things about the Blueberry Bliss line!
Bomb-ass hair! Made me laugh out loud! Your hair looks better than ever in this video. I want to try all the products you mentioned, but haven't as of yet. I have 2c hair. Been cocktailing DC Supercream and KCCC (a small amount of each) followed by Eco Gel and wowwowwow best curls ever. I have also stopped blow drying my hair and have reduced the frizz to almost zero.
Hahaha! Glad to make you laugh. Thanks, it was an awesome hair day--and almost right after I straightened it. Maybe it just needed a smack in the rear! That combo you mentioned is a great one! Supercream and KCCC are super moisturizing, and Eco is high in protein, so lends your curls a lot of structure. And no blow drying??? I just cannot. So jealous. I bet your curls are to die for.
good days and bad days-one side is curly and the other side ringlets-I got what I got lol. I am only in the 4th month of going CG but my hair looks much healthier now with all the good products.
Try spiralicious with adding DIY flax seed gel (boil 2c water+2 tblsp whole flax seeds) after, it gives great results! It's not a hard hold gel but it creates a cast (definitely overuse this gel tho).
Love all your videos, especially product reviews! As someone new to being a CG, I am trying all kinds of products and spending way too much moola, but not finding that perfect combo yet. My hair is growing in from a short cut and is just below my chin so I need patience. But keep up the good work on Instagram and TH-cam! Love your hair!
Thank you! So glad this was helpful to you! Keep trying to products; you'll find what works for you and learn a ton in the meantime. Just keep your receipts so you can take back what doesn't work!
Great reviews very entertaining... I like the way you always show the As I Am co wash and first time I heard bomb ass hair... lol... hope you keep making video... you should try bounce curl for sure you don't need to cocktail. We have the same type of hair and I'm liking bounce curl and living proof curl defining cream. Living proof it's only cream but the hold is great you just lea size cuz it's tacky if you put to much. Luv your hair
Wow, thank you so much for the sweet compliments! Bounce curl has LONG been on my list of products to try. I know my hair will love it with all that protein, I just know I would have to alternate products to prevent protein buildup/overload. Haven't tried the LP curl cream! Sounds intriguing......
Also, have you tried homemade Flax seed gel yet? That is my ultimate. Wondering when the next 50% ulta sale is. btw- I am Dandy, over on Curltalk- not sure if people use that forum anymore- it used to be great back when i started my CG journey.
I just recently discovered your videos. They're so informative and yet entertaining and very personable. You made me laugh when you apologized for being so happy about your "bomb-ass hair day". No need for apologies, you're just proud of your beautiful waves and curls. I definitely can relate to how good it feels to have a good hair day. My hair is practically your hairs "twin". I also have some "hidden" straight pieces of hair and am doing my best to train the little guys to get with the program and wave and curl a bit more for me. (LOL) I also love using Shea Moisture's Aragon Oil and use it on my hair and my face, too. One of my very favorite hair products that I CANNOT ever do without is SheaMoisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Leave-In Conditioner. I actually use this product by itself once a week and it works perfectly to help define my waves. It smells good and it makes my hair feel very soft, even on the 2nd and 3rd day. Best of all, I truly believe this product has helped my hair to grow. On different wash day, I use SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie along with their Curl and Style Milk. I use both of these, sparingly, and my waves come out looking good and my hair feels very soft, too. One product that I've thought about buying is the As I Am Leave in and after watching your videos, I plan to buy a bottle soon.
Well you've made me feel so much better about my 'it's all about me' moment. Cue slight embarassment, LOL. But thank you. :) And I actually have not tried any of the three products you mentioned (I gave up on Shea Moisture a long time ago, save for the rose gel-cream of theirs), but that's wonderful you've found a few products that work reliable for you. That's the dream! You'll love the As I Am conditioner. I don't think anyone I've recommended it to has been disappointed. Happy to have a hair twin out there!!
The Quidad was too heavy for my fine , thin hair. But I bought the DevaCurl Foam that you love and I like it a lot. It's pricy too...$26 at Ulta. But I think it will last a long time. :)
I use it almost every wash day and it has lasted me at least 6 months so far. You definitely won't need a lot. Sorry the Ouidad was too heavy for your hair! Have you found another gel you like?
Well...I don't have a lot of comparison's yet...but I'm using the Curls Goddess Curls botanical gelle. Do you have a suggestion for someone like me with fine, thinner hair? I'd love some recommendations!
Sometimes it's all about using less product--and sometimes it's not. So with fine, low density hair, you may want to avoid heavy products like shea butter, coconut oil, , mango seed butter, things like that that can easily weigh hair down, even in the smallest amounts. For my fine strands, I love the Deva foam, which you may even be able to use as your one-and-done, as it gives some people enough hold on its own. For me, I need a gel on top that gives me a crunchy cast. You might try the Biosilk RHG I mention in this video, and use a small amount mixed with a bit of water in your hands. I also continue to swear by the LA Looks gels (blue, yellow, and green), as they're easy to find and super inexpensive. Another couple quick thoughts, if layering products is problematic for you: MopTop custard. It doesn't weigh down my hair, is moisturizing, curl enhancing and has some hold. Same for Jessicurl Spiralicious. Lots of things to work with there!
Oh, I'm so glad that combo worked for you like it has been working for me! What do you usually use under your BRHG? Thanks so much for twisting my arm to finally get it!
This curly hair business is *so complicated* lol. I'm a smart, educated woman and I'm finding this so overwhelming as compared to my previous, 20 year "wash every day and put in mousse" routine. Can you explain the difference for you between a rinse out conditioner and a squish to condish conditioner? Or point me to a video you have if you've already covered this? My curls thank you!
It does get complicated, but it doesn't have to be--I like to play with products and try a lot of them out, but you'll find what works for you. And if simplicity is the name of your game, by all means, make it so! :) I think of a rinse-out conditioner as one that's a bit heavier/more moisturizing. I don't always use a separate rinse-out and STC conditioner. But if I do, my STC conditioner is something lighter (might even be my leave-in...yes, sometimes I use 3 conditioners--I'm a nut), and I usually only apply it ears-down so as to not weigh down my roots. Hope that helps!
I just started the CG method today and OMG my hair has so much wavy curl! (Profile pic is old) I used my sulfate+ shampoo to strip my hair, my biolage conditioning balm and LA Looks sport gel. I want to pick up some other products and the black orchid diffuser because the one I'm using to way to small for all of this hair! Any other tips or recommendations? I did watch your innersense review/routine video; that's how I got started!
I'm so glad to hear that video was helpful to you! Welcome to the method and all it's madness, but I promise your hair will thank you for it. You're off to a great start, just make sure the Orchid diffuser will fit your hairdryer; it's not a universal diffuser. My fave with the it is the Xtava Peony dryer. If your hair is anything like mine you may also need a good curl enhancer. Of course, I LOVE the Deva foam--nice and light, and glycerin is at the very bottom. I prefer it under my gel. You'll also need a tshirt to scrunch excess water out of your hair. Towels = frizz. Good luck! Reach out anytime with any question!
real life+curly girl I'm sad to announce that the xtava peony has been discontinued! I'm using a microfiber cloth in a tshirt to plop. My hair holds so much water and takes forever to dry!
Stop! Well that's incredibly disappointing. Hopefully it's because Xtava is coming out with something even more awesome...? At least you can still find it on eBay for a reasonable price, for now. Good idea with the microfiber inside the tshirt. Genius!
real life+curly girl I know right!!!! I ended up just getting the xtava 2200. All I saw on eBay was used peony's and that makes me nervous. Thanks for genius comment. It happens once in awhile! Hahah
You'll have to let me know how the 2200 is. I'm curious as to why they've discontinued a few hair dryers....but look forward to hearing what you think about this one! :)
You hair IS looking bomb-ass in this video! Such great volume!!😍 How I get hold from Spiralicious.....use green pea size amount of SM Smoothie, scrunch in a couple of small palmful of the Rockin Ringlets, scrunch in Spiralicious, then dip 3 fingers into KCCC, smear that little bit that clings to my fingers on my hands, then scrunch onto hair. Diffuse until gel cast is set then air dry. I don't get great second day hair with it because anything with polyquaterniums in it makes me frizz by end of day, so I have to cleanse again the next day if I use it. I call BRHG gel-eee too because it does have two E's on the end. Haha! I use a green pea size amount of the BRHG emulsified with a small palmful of Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Gel. That gives me the perfect amount of hold. BRHG by itself is waaaaay to hard hold for my hair but mixed in with the HETT gel it's perfect. This summer has been weird for me too with my curls. It seems like something works one day but not the next. I feel like I'm starting over again, figuring out what's going to work on my hair. I wonder what's up with that?!? At least I get to buy some new products to try (like I need an excuse!!)!
Hi there! Thank you. I have used a refreshing spray from Carol's Daughter that smelled AHHHHmazing, but with hydrogenated castor oil (which is not water soluble, so technically not CG friendly) and coconut oil so high on the list of ingredients, I found it to be too heavy for my hair. Such a disappointment. Many of their products contain other water-insoluble ingredients. Haven't tried Miss Jessie's just yet, but I know many wavies who love their Pillow Soft Curls (not CG) and Jelly Soft Curls--the latter of which might actually be a great gel for my type of hair, with carbomer, PVP, and hydrolyzed wheat protein in it. Might have to check that one out now!
I have tried that one! My hair likes protein, so it was a good curl-enhancing gel for me, but ultimately didn't have enough hold to last the day. It's a good one - hope it keeps working for you!
Of course! This has become my summer routine--I actually made a video on it because it's been working so well, so consistently. All products are named and also listed in the description box: th-cam.com/video/6eT-JNbFh74/w-d-xo.html. Hope it helps you!
I really like your video's !! But i wanted to ask you for some advice because i have 2b/2c hair and i have really thick hair. I also started today with the curly girl method to see if it works for me. Do you have some advice for my type of hair or how to style it ?
Well, that's super tough without knowing anything about your hair properties. The 3 things you want to know before you start choosing products and why are: 1. Porosity: Low-porosity hair will get buildup easily; high porosity hair (typically damaged from heat styling or bleach/dye) will need lots of conditioning; 2. Texture: Coarse vs. fine: coarse hair is already rich in protein, while fine strands are not; fine hair loves/needs protein to add structure and hold, and coarse hair typically gets 'stiff' if too much protein or the wrong kind of protein is used; and 3. Density: The number of hairs on your head; More hair = use more product; less hair = use less product. I think texture is probably the most important determinant in figuring out what products will work for you. So would you say your strands are coarse (will usually look bumpy or very thick) or fine? And is your hair colored/bleached, or recovering from heat damage?
real life+curly girl at first , thankyou for your reaction. I have really thick hair and it gets frizzy easily. No i never colored or bleached my hair. I don't know if my hair is recovering because i don't use the straightener very often, but if i do i always use a heat protector.
Julie Wijthoef I’m 2b/2c wavy and thick (so much hair!). I just wanted to jump in regarding curly haircuts. I tried Deva Cuts twice but my hair was still too full. I’m loving Ouidad (wet) haircuts. This method removes bulk but does NOT use thinning shears or razors. Now my hair lies just right, without the puff in the back! 😊
I know this is probably an old video but I’m only a month into my journey however I need help, my hair is a frizzy bomb today! I live in western New York state and it doesn’t get horribly humid often but boy when it does it does and I used the Spirilicious when I washed my hair and I am frizz city second day, what can I do? What is great anti-frizz stuff? I do have the raw curls anti-frizz spray that’s not even helping. 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩
Thanks for your helpful thorough video! I feel the same about Jessicurl...I couldn't even get enough of a cast for it to perk up my waves, but loved the non synthetic fragrance and the moisture of it. I mixed the Ouidad and Rock Hard Gelee and really like those results. Try that combo next! Lol. I bought a small sample of that Giovanni conditioner at Whole Foods after talking with you about it on Instagram. It kind of foamed up like a shampoo on me, which was so weird to me for a conditioner. Did that happen to you too? I did notice it is super concentrated and I do need less.
PS when I say try the ouidad and rock Hard Gelee combo...I don't mean use a pea size amount of the rock Hard Gelee. Lol. I used 3 nickel sizes of Ouidad and 2 quarter sizes of The rock Hard Gelee. Your hair does look exceptional in this video!
The Ouidad and BRHG combo has been my jam this summer, but I've only tried applying the BRHG on top of the Ouidad gel, not mixing it in my hand. It's fascinating to me how small technique changes like that can have such a big impact on the finished 'product.' Wonder how different that would make things look... Whoa! So, were you using the Giovanni conditioner like a cowash? It hasn't done that to me, but I've only smoothed it on as I tend to do with conditioner; no scrubbing action on this end.
I have 2A /2B hair. Hair looks good wet, but when dried is a frizz ball nasty mess. So reading all comments, am I not suppose scrunch? People are saying it changes the curl pattern. What should I be doing?
This is where reading ingredients comes in. You'll need to make sure neither of them contain an ingredients that ends in -cone, unless said -cone has a PEG or PPG in front of it. In the case of these two products, neither of them should have a -cone at all. You should be able to find the new formulations for Ouidad at Ulta or Beauty Brands; Biosilk RHG at Ulta as well.
**Edited** Hey Dawn - they've actually reformulated most of the line, and the conditioner contains a water-soluble silicone (PPG/PEG in front of it). The shampoo contains amodimethicone, which doesn't 'act' like a traditional silicone in that it fills in gaps in the hair shaft but doesn't build up on itself with repeated use, so is sort of on the 'CG fence', and the heat spray does contain dimethicone. The gel is unquestionably CG. Hallelujah!
Thanks for keeping me on my toes! I checked the ingredients last night on the Ouidad website, and they don't have commas between any of their ingredients so it was really confusing! Checked naturallycurly.com, and theirs was much clearer. So, the heat spray contains dimethicone, so that one is definitely not CG friendly--doesn't surprise me, because silicones are an excellent heat protectant. The conditioner contains a water soluble silicone. The shampoo--you're correct--contains amodimethicone, but this silicone is an interesting one. It acts more like a hydrolyzed wheat product in that it fills in gaps in the hair shaft to strengthen the hair without building up on itself with repeated use. While not water soluble, it will eventually break down on its own without harming the hair. So, it's sort of on the CG fence. Many CG followers are still comfortable with amodimethicone because of that, so it's a bit of a judgment call. Always a grey area. ;)
You know, I think i've mentioned it here and there in a couple videos, but I haven't spent any focused time reviewing it. It's one of my favorite creams (Dippity Do Curl Defining Cream is my other fave) for how light it is while still being moisturizing. I find it to be super frizz fighting--my hair in summer really needs it, but I find I can skip it other seasons of the year when the dew points are lower and more consistent. What else might you want to know about it?
hey thanks for the reply! and thanks for your videos, always super informative and helpful! we've got similar hair. i guess i'm wondering if it has any sort of hold, or if it's mostly like a moisturizing leave in. also, what does it smell like? i know it's tough to describe scents :-) i can't handle hair products with strong artificially perfumey type scents that linger!
Oh, gotcha! And you're so welcome. I'd say it has a nice clean scent that doesn't really linger, but I usually layer products over it, so there may be something to that as well. But no, not strong and not perfume-y. No hold, it's really more like a hair 'lotion' of sorts. Have you tried anything from the Raw Curls line? Their foam and gel are fragrance free and the firm hold gel's hold is really very good. They also have a medium hold gel, if that's more your speed. :)
i have their anti frizz spray and i really want to try their foam! gel has not been my friend so far, even if the formula is light it always weighs my hair down. i'm looking for the dream cream/lotion that's light but moisturizing with just a little bit of grit and hold. where are you dream cream?!
Great video so much useful info as always! Here in the UAE it is extremely hot and humid these days so I'm trying to go glycerin-free as much as possible but my hair loves protein AND glycerin which means I never seem to get the results I want when I use glycerin free products! I don't think I can do 100% glycerin-free. (racheljcx) 😘
Hey Rachel! I have the same problem but I've figured out as long as I don't avoid other humectants (sorbitol, panthenol, PVP, etc.) entirely, I still get the benefits of using them without the frizz from glycerin. My hair loves protein, too, but gets overloaded easily. That's what makes rotating this routine with Jessicurl so attractive to me! When I use the Spiralicious, I still get the benefits of the protein heavy routine I used the 2 previous wash days, and my hair gets a bit of a break. I can't imagine what your weather is like. You are tough, my friend!
real life+curly girl I'll need to look out for those other humectants then. I still tend to use at least one glycerin product, although I'm trying to make sure it's further down the ingredients list. Nowadays we spend more time inside so it's not too bad but when we do go outside even for a short time glycerin or no glycerin you can't beat the frizz! Just have to deal with it. It's funny though I've not experienced a full year of having 4 different seasons to go through with my hair like I would have to in Europe so that will all be new to me when I eventually move back!
I am going through "hair-apocalypse" currently! I ALWAYS had naturally curly hair and always knew how to plop/scrunch/crunch ... even before the "curly girl revolution"! But then I took my hair through a decade of flat irons and smoothing silicone products, and one day woke up to realize what 30 years of dye combined with heat irons and silicone plastics had done to my hair .... menopause hormones made it all too real that my formerly thick, curly indestructible hair ... well, was destructible after all! 😭 It wouldn't even hold a decent curl! Now I'm on a two-fold road: Joining both the "Done with the dye and growing out my silver hair" revolution, AND returning to restoring my former healthy curls revolution! Whew - It's looks a hot mess right now! 😩 This is a TRUE TEST of my confidence level! I can't wait to get to the finish line in about a year and a half from now! Your channel is super helpful on everything - style/procedure and product! Oh ... and your hair is a "reminder" of my former self and a nice goal to shoot for (in the "silver" category)! Thanks so much!!! 😀👍🏻
Yes!! The Giovanni leave in is incredible!! I've also noticed that it really helps with tangles when I wash my hair too. Giovanni also make a fantastic protein treatment mask too (although you'll probably hate it if you're sensitive to protein) but it's great if you dye your hair x
Ooh, I'll have to look into their protein treatment. My hair LOVES protein, as long as I don't use it too often. Thanks for the rec!
Hi! I love your videos and they've been super helpful in my CG journey. It's hard as a wavy to feel like you're really part of the curl community but you really promote that and I love it!! I was wondering if you have any suggestions/routines for being at the beach and pool over the summer. How do you care for your hair in the salt and chemical water? Thanks!!
Awesome ideas and thank you for the details in the weight, text year and smell of the products that is extremely helpful! Could you please go over the differences between co wash, squish to condition conditioner, leave in conditioner, regular conditioner and conditioner treatment masks? Much appreciation from Minnesota!
I know this isn’t an active channel anymore, but I love your content so I come back to some of your videos when I need some wavy hair product and technique information.
Hi friend! You're so sweet for commenting, and for coming back. I wouldn't call it an inactive channel, but she ain't thriving, either. Hah! Working on that in 2024. :)
Wow! I've watched a bunch of your videos and never seen your hair so long!!!! You did a great job keeping your hair beautiful and so, so, so healthy!!
Thank you so much! Although, I admit, I was really happy to cut it all off!!!
That is, indeed, some bomb-ass hair! ;-) At the risk of repeating myself...my *go-tos* are B'Leave In and Frizz Free Styling Foam from DevaCurl. I'm also loving Curls Blueberry Bliss Leave In Conditioner and the Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Jelly.
Why thank you! I STILL haven't tried b'leave in. When I finally finish a bottle of something, I will have to try it. And I've heard such good things about the Blueberry Bliss line!
Bomb-ass hair! Made me laugh out loud! Your hair looks better than ever in this video. I want to try all the products you mentioned, but haven't as of yet. I have 2c hair. Been cocktailing DC Supercream and KCCC (a small amount of each) followed by Eco Gel and wowwowwow best curls ever. I have also stopped blow drying my hair and have reduced the frizz to almost zero.
Hahaha! Glad to make you laugh. Thanks, it was an awesome hair day--and almost right after I straightened it. Maybe it just needed a smack in the rear! That combo you mentioned is a great one! Supercream and KCCC are super moisturizing, and Eco is high in protein, so lends your curls a lot of structure. And no blow drying??? I just cannot. So jealous. I bet your curls are to die for.
good days and bad days-one side is curly and the other side ringlets-I got what I got lol. I am only in the 4th month of going CG but my hair looks much healthier now with all the good products.
That's wonderful! And yes, it's totally normal to have different curl patterns. Most everyone does!
Awesome review! Glad you are having so much Summer luck! Me? I've been using jaw clips. It's bad. 😩
It's been a rough summer for hair!!! :( Have you tried the new Ouidad stuff??
Try spiralicious with adding DIY flax seed gel (boil 2c water+2 tblsp whole flax seeds) after, it gives great results! It's not a hard hold gel but it creates a cast (definitely overuse this gel tho).
Before you even said you were having a "bomb-ass hair day," that exact thought popped through my head!! Go 'head girl!
HAHAH!! Thanks, lady!!
Yes! your hair looks bomb xo
Thank you, Laura!! :)
yey! I think we are getting Jessie Curl in the UK 😊 Great video as always. Have a great weekend!😁
That's wonderful! You'll have to let me know if you try it, what you think! You have a fab weekend as well. :)
Love all your videos, especially product reviews! As someone new to being a CG, I am trying all kinds of products and spending way too much moola, but not finding that perfect combo yet. My hair is growing in from a short cut and is just below my chin so I need patience. But keep up the good work on Instagram and TH-cam! Love your hair!
Thank you! So glad this was helpful to you! Keep trying to products; you'll find what works for you and learn a ton in the meantime. Just keep your receipts so you can take back what doesn't work!
Hi! I watch your videos and love them!💕💕💕Your hair is so pretty.
Thank you, Jo!
Great reviews very entertaining... I like the way you always show the As I Am co wash and first time I heard bomb ass hair... lol... hope you keep making video... you should try bounce curl for sure you don't need to cocktail. We have the same type of hair and I'm liking bounce curl and living proof curl defining cream. Living proof it's only cream but the hold is great you just lea size cuz it's tacky if you put to much. Luv your hair
Wow, thank you so much for the sweet compliments! Bounce curl has LONG been on my list of products to try. I know my hair will love it with all that protein, I just know I would have to alternate products to prevent protein buildup/overload. Haven't tried the LP curl cream! Sounds intriguing......
Also, have you tried homemade Flax seed gel yet? That is my ultimate. Wondering when the next 50% ulta sale is. btw- I am Dandy, over on Curltalk- not sure if people use that forum anymore- it used to be great back when i started my CG journey.
I just recently discovered your videos. They're so informative and yet entertaining and very personable. You made me laugh when you apologized for being so happy about your "bomb-ass hair day". No need for apologies, you're just proud of your beautiful waves and curls. I definitely can relate to how good it feels to have a good hair day. My hair is practically your hairs "twin". I also have some "hidden" straight pieces of hair and am doing my best to train the little guys to get with the program and wave and curl a bit more for me. (LOL) I also love using Shea Moisture's Aragon Oil and use it on my hair and my face, too. One of my very favorite hair products that I CANNOT ever do without is SheaMoisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Leave-In Conditioner. I actually use this product by itself once a week and it works perfectly to help define my waves. It smells good and it makes my hair feel very soft, even on the 2nd and 3rd day. Best of all, I truly believe this product has helped my hair to grow. On different wash day, I use SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie along with their Curl and Style Milk. I use both of these, sparingly, and my waves come out looking good and my hair feels very soft, too. One product that I've thought about buying is the As I Am Leave in and after watching your videos, I plan to buy a bottle soon.
Well you've made me feel so much better about my 'it's all about me' moment. Cue slight embarassment, LOL. But thank you. :) And I actually have not tried any of the three products you mentioned (I gave up on Shea Moisture a long time ago, save for the rose gel-cream of theirs), but that's wonderful you've found a few products that work reliable for you. That's the dream! You'll love the As I Am conditioner. I don't think anyone I've recommended it to has been disappointed. Happy to have a hair twin out there!!
The Quidad was too heavy for my fine , thin hair. But I bought the DevaCurl Foam that you love and I like it a lot. It's pricy too...$26 at Ulta. But I think it will last a long time. :)
I use it almost every wash day and it has lasted me at least 6 months so far. You definitely won't need a lot. Sorry the Ouidad was too heavy for your hair! Have you found another gel you like?
Well...I don't have a lot of comparison's yet...but I'm using the Curls Goddess Curls botanical gelle. Do you have a suggestion for someone like me with fine, thinner hair? I'd love some recommendations!
Sometimes it's all about using less product--and sometimes it's not. So with fine, low density hair, you may want to avoid heavy products like shea butter, coconut oil, , mango seed butter, things like that that can easily weigh hair down, even in the smallest amounts. For my fine strands, I love the Deva foam, which you may even be able to use as your one-and-done, as it gives some people enough hold on its own. For me, I need a gel on top that gives me a crunchy cast. You might try the Biosilk RHG I mention in this video, and use a small amount mixed with a bit of water in your hands. I also continue to swear by the LA Looks gels (blue, yellow, and green), as they're easy to find and super inexpensive. Another couple quick thoughts, if layering products is problematic for you: MopTop custard. It doesn't weigh down my hair, is moisturizing, curl enhancing and has some hold. Same for Jessicurl Spiralicious. Lots of things to work with there!
Thank you so much ! I will add them to my must trys.
Glad you like the biosilk! It's my ride or die.
I also tried your ouidad, brhg combo and got amazing hair too.
Oh, I'm so glad that combo worked for you like it has been working for me! What do you usually use under your BRHG? Thanks so much for twisting my arm to finally get it!
The BRGHG people sent me 2 free tubes , after i emailed them to let them know the old formulation didnt work for me! how cool
so beautiful, adore u so much.
from a fellow curly girl💞✨
Good hair days are the best!
The VERY best!!!!!!! xoxo
This curly hair business is *so complicated* lol. I'm a smart, educated woman and I'm finding this so overwhelming as compared to my previous, 20 year "wash every day and put in mousse" routine. Can you explain the difference for you between a rinse out conditioner and a squish to condish conditioner? Or point me to a video you have if you've already covered this? My curls thank you!
It does get complicated, but it doesn't have to be--I like to play with products and try a lot of them out, but you'll find what works for you. And if simplicity is the name of your game, by all means, make it so! :) I think of a rinse-out conditioner as one that's a bit heavier/more moisturizing. I don't always use a separate rinse-out and STC conditioner. But if I do, my STC conditioner is something lighter (might even be my leave-in...yes, sometimes I use 3 conditioners--I'm a nut), and I usually only apply it ears-down so as to not weigh down my roots. Hope that helps!
I just started the CG method today and OMG my hair has so much wavy curl! (Profile pic is old) I used my sulfate+ shampoo to strip my hair, my biolage conditioning balm and LA Looks sport gel. I want to pick up some other products and the black orchid diffuser because the one I'm using to way to small for all of this hair! Any other tips or recommendations? I did watch your innersense review/routine video; that's how I got started!
I'm so glad to hear that video was helpful to you! Welcome to the method and all it's madness, but I promise your hair will thank you for it. You're off to a great start, just make sure the Orchid diffuser will fit your hairdryer; it's not a universal diffuser. My fave with the it is the Xtava Peony dryer. If your hair is anything like mine you may also need a good curl enhancer. Of course, I LOVE the Deva foam--nice and light, and glycerin is at the very bottom. I prefer it under my gel. You'll also need a tshirt to scrunch excess water out of your hair. Towels = frizz. Good luck! Reach out anytime with any question!
real life+curly girl I'm sad to announce that the xtava peony has been discontinued! I'm using a microfiber cloth in a tshirt to plop. My hair holds so much water and takes forever to dry!
Stop! Well that's incredibly disappointing. Hopefully it's because Xtava is coming out with something even more awesome...? At least you can still find it on eBay for a reasonable price, for now. Good idea with the microfiber inside the tshirt. Genius!
real life+curly girl I know right!!!! I ended up just getting the xtava 2200. All I saw on eBay was used peony's and that makes me nervous. Thanks for genius comment. It happens once in awhile! Hahah
You'll have to let me know how the 2200 is. I'm curious as to why they've discontinued a few hair dryers....but look forward to hearing what you think about this one! :)
You hair IS looking bomb-ass in this video! Such great volume!!😍 How I get hold from Spiralicious.....use green pea size amount of SM Smoothie, scrunch in a couple of small palmful of the Rockin Ringlets, scrunch in Spiralicious, then dip 3 fingers into KCCC, smear that little bit that clings to my fingers on my hands, then scrunch onto hair. Diffuse until gel cast is set then air dry. I don't get great second day hair with it because anything with polyquaterniums in it makes me frizz by end of day, so I have to cleanse again the next day if I use it. I call BRHG gel-eee too because it does have two E's on the end. Haha! I use a green pea size amount of the BRHG emulsified with a small palmful of Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Gel. That gives me the perfect amount of hold. BRHG by itself is waaaaay to hard hold for my hair but mixed in with the HETT gel it's perfect. This summer has been weird for me too with my curls. It seems like something works one day but not the next. I feel like I'm starting over again, figuring out what's going to work on my hair. I wonder what's up with that?!? At least I get to buy some new products to try (like I need an excuse!!)!
Would love if you would try out the Cantu line! Your hair is super similar to mine and would love your opinion :)
Cantu has a notorious buildup factor....but I'll think about it. ;)
Great review!! Have you ever used products from Carol's Daughter or Miss Jessie's? I would love to hear a wavies opinion!!!
Hi there! Thank you. I have used a refreshing spray from Carol's Daughter that smelled AHHHHmazing, but with hydrogenated castor oil (which is not water soluble, so technically not CG friendly) and coconut oil so high on the list of ingredients, I found it to be too heavy for my hair. Such a disappointment. Many of their products contain other water-insoluble ingredients. Haven't tried Miss Jessie's just yet, but I know many wavies who love their Pillow Soft Curls (not CG) and Jelly Soft Curls--the latter of which might actually be a great gel for my type of hair, with carbomer, PVP, and hydrolyzed wheat protein in it. Might have to check that one out now!
Have you tried the eco gel with argan oil? My hair seems to like that one. I've only used it once so far.
I have tried that one! My hair likes protein, so it was a good curl-enhancing gel for me, but ultimately didn't have enough hold to last the day. It's a good one - hope it keeps working for you!
Don't apologize - it IS a bomb-ass hair day for you. Embrace your kick ass hair.
Can you please list what products you used for today's bomb hair?!?
Of course! This has become my summer routine--I actually made a video on it because it's been working so well, so consistently. All products are named and also listed in the description box: th-cam.com/video/6eT-JNbFh74/w-d-xo.html. Hope it helps you!
I really like your video's !! But i wanted to ask you for some advice because i have 2b/2c hair and i have really thick hair. I also started today with the curly girl method to see if it works for me. Do you have some advice for my type of hair or how to style it ?
Well, that's super tough without knowing anything about your hair properties. The 3 things you want to know before you start choosing products and why are: 1. Porosity: Low-porosity hair will get buildup easily; high porosity hair (typically damaged from heat styling or bleach/dye) will need lots of conditioning; 2. Texture: Coarse vs. fine: coarse hair is already rich in protein, while fine strands are not; fine hair loves/needs protein to add structure and hold, and coarse hair typically gets 'stiff' if too much protein or the wrong kind of protein is used; and 3. Density: The number of hairs on your head; More hair = use more product; less hair = use less product.
I think texture is probably the most important determinant in figuring out what products will work for you. So would you say your strands are coarse (will usually look bumpy or very thick) or fine? And is your hair colored/bleached, or recovering from heat damage?
real life+curly girl at first , thankyou for your reaction. I have really thick hair and it gets frizzy easily. No i never colored or bleached my hair. I don't know if my hair is recovering because i don't use the straightener very often, but if i do i always use a heat protector.
Julie Wijthoef I’m 2b/2c wavy and thick (so much hair!). I just wanted to jump in regarding curly haircuts. I tried Deva Cuts twice but my hair was still too full. I’m loving Ouidad (wet) haircuts. This method removes bulk but does NOT use thinning shears or razors. Now my hair lies just right, without the puff in the back! 😊
I know this is probably an old video but I’m only a month into my journey however I need help, my hair is a frizzy bomb today! I live in western New York state and it doesn’t get horribly humid often but boy when it does it does and I used the Spirilicious when I washed my hair and I am frizz city second day, what can I do? What is great anti-frizz stuff? I do have the raw curls anti-frizz spray that’s not even helping. 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩
Thanks for your helpful thorough video! I feel the same about Jessicurl...I couldn't even get enough of a cast for it to perk up my waves, but loved the non synthetic fragrance and the moisture of it. I mixed the Ouidad and Rock Hard Gelee and really like those results. Try that combo next! Lol. I bought a small sample of that Giovanni conditioner at Whole Foods after talking with you about it on Instagram. It kind of foamed up like a shampoo on me, which was so weird to me for a conditioner. Did that happen to you too? I did notice it is super concentrated and I do need less.
PS when I say try the ouidad and rock Hard Gelee combo...I don't mean use a pea size amount of the rock Hard Gelee. Lol. I used 3 nickel sizes of Ouidad and 2 quarter sizes of The rock Hard Gelee. Your hair does look exceptional in this video!
The Ouidad and BRHG combo has been my jam this summer, but I've only tried applying the BRHG on top of the Ouidad gel, not mixing it in my hand. It's fascinating to me how small technique changes like that can have such a big impact on the finished 'product.' Wonder how different that would make things look...
Whoa! So, were you using the Giovanni conditioner like a cowash? It hasn't done that to me, but I've only smoothed it on as I tend to do with conditioner; no scrubbing action on this end.
Thank you! Now I just need it to act like this for the rest of the summer!!
I have 2A /2B hair. Hair looks good wet, but when dried is a frizz ball nasty mess. So reading all comments, am I not suppose scrunch? People are saying it changes the curl pattern. What should I be doing?
Ulta has the 20% off coupon that expires today!!!!
Ooh, noted!!!!!!!!!
If you buy from Jessicurl there shipping charges are very expensive.Almost as much as the product.
I know it! And Amazon's price is better anyway, plus free shipping if you're a Prime member.
Where can I find the new formulation of the last 2 products mentioned? Also how to be sure it's new?
This is where reading ingredients comes in. You'll need to make sure neither of them contain an ingredients that ends in -cone, unless said -cone has a PEG or PPG in front of it. In the case of these two products, neither of them should have a -cone at all. You should be able to find the new formulations for Ouidad at Ulta or Beauty Brands; Biosilk RHG at Ulta as well.
Have you tried the shampoo and conditioner that go with the Ouidad gel? Could you do a review on the shampoo
I haven't used those yet! But I've heard REALLY great things!
Polly Hall Sadly, the shampoo and conditioner have silicones. :(
**Edited** Hey Dawn - they've actually reformulated most of the line, and the conditioner contains a water-soluble silicone (PPG/PEG in front of it). The shampoo contains amodimethicone, which doesn't 'act' like a traditional silicone in that it fills in gaps in the hair shaft but doesn't build up on itself with repeated use, so is sort of on the 'CG fence', and the heat spray does contain dimethicone. The gel is unquestionably CG. Hallelujah!
real life+curly girl I just checked Ouidad.com and the ingredients list for the shampoo it's not CG friendly. It has Amodimethicone in it.
Thanks for keeping me on my toes! I checked the ingredients last night on the Ouidad website, and they don't have commas between any of their ingredients so it was really confusing! Checked naturallycurly.com, and theirs was much clearer. So, the heat spray contains dimethicone, so that one is definitely not CG friendly--doesn't surprise me, because silicones are an excellent heat protectant. The conditioner contains a water soluble silicone. The shampoo--you're correct--contains amodimethicone, but this silicone is an interesting one. It acts more like a hydrolyzed wheat product in that it fills in gaps in the hair shaft to strengthen the hair without building up on itself with repeated use. While not water soluble, it will eventually break down on its own without harming the hair. So, it's sort of on the CG fence. Many CG followers are still comfortable with amodimethicone because of that, so it's a bit of a judgment call. Always a grey area. ;)
Hair definitely affects mood.
could you tell me about the ISO bouncy curl product you mentioned briefly in this video? or have you done a video on it already?
You know, I think i've mentioned it here and there in a couple videos, but I haven't spent any focused time reviewing it. It's one of my favorite creams (Dippity Do Curl Defining Cream is my other fave) for how light it is while still being moisturizing. I find it to be super frizz fighting--my hair in summer really needs it, but I find I can skip it other seasons of the year when the dew points are lower and more consistent. What else might you want to know about it?
hey thanks for the reply! and thanks for your videos, always super informative and helpful! we've got similar hair. i guess i'm wondering if it has any sort of hold, or if it's mostly like a moisturizing leave in. also, what does it smell like? i know it's tough to describe scents :-) i can't handle hair products with strong artificially perfumey type scents that linger!
Oh, gotcha! And you're so welcome. I'd say it has a nice clean scent that doesn't really linger, but I usually layer products over it, so there may be something to that as well. But no, not strong and not perfume-y. No hold, it's really more like a hair 'lotion' of sorts. Have you tried anything from the Raw Curls line? Their foam and gel are fragrance free and the firm hold gel's hold is really very good. They also have a medium hold gel, if that's more your speed. :)
i have their anti frizz spray and i really want to try their foam! gel has not been my friend so far, even if the formula is light it always weighs my hair down. i'm looking for the dream cream/lotion that's light but moisturizing with just a little bit of grit and hold. where are you dream cream?!
Great video so much useful info as always! Here in the UAE it is extremely hot and humid these days so I'm trying to go glycerin-free as much as possible but my hair loves protein AND glycerin which means I never seem to get the results I want when I use glycerin free products! I don't think I can do 100% glycerin-free. (racheljcx) 😘
Hey Rachel! I have the same problem but I've figured out as long as I don't avoid other humectants (sorbitol, panthenol, PVP, etc.) entirely, I still get the benefits of using them without the frizz from glycerin. My hair loves protein, too, but gets overloaded easily. That's what makes rotating this routine with Jessicurl so attractive to me! When I use the Spiralicious, I still get the benefits of the protein heavy routine I used the 2 previous wash days, and my hair gets a bit of a break. I can't imagine what your weather is like. You are tough, my friend!
real life+curly girl I'll need to look out for those other humectants then. I still tend to use at least one glycerin product, although I'm trying to make sure it's further down the ingredients list. Nowadays we spend more time inside so it's not too bad but when we do go outside even for a short time glycerin or no glycerin you can't beat the frizz! Just have to deal with it. It's funny though I've not experienced a full year of having 4 different seasons to go through with my hair like I would have to in Europe so that will all be new to me when I eventually move back!