Need help with my routine and products -2a hair. Please help, I'm pretty upset :-(

[SeRe]

I hope someone will see this and help me. I have 2a hair, very long, upto my butt crack in the shower. It is fine textured. It is only treated with henna a few months back so I believe it is low porosity and undamaged.

My current routine:
1. Oil the previous night with coconut oil or sesame oil. I oil heavily
2. Shampoo with sulphate free shampoo - Shea Moisture JBCO
3. Condition with any light non-silicone conditioner
4. Leave in - Shea Moisture coconut (on damp hair)

My issues are mainly frizz, lack of definition and consistency (hair is randomly wavy at the back near the ears, straight through the length and ends curl). Sulphate free shampoo is making my hair feel dry, but hair fall has reduced after I moved to a sulphate free shampoo and silicone free conditioner.

I need help with the following:
1. Can I comb my hair when its dry? It does become messy if I don't do this
2. Can you please recommend a good leave in conditioner for 2a hair? My hair is fine, density is medium to low
3. Is gel / mousse a must for definition? If yes, please recommend a good one for my hair type
4. Clumps make my hair look thin / without volume. Is there a way to address this? Is it ok to have wavy hair that does not form clumps?

Please do help me. I'm buying new hair products today.

[GrowlingCupcake]

Is your oil being washed off well? Your routine seems a little heavy to me. How often do you clarify?

Frizz - this is likely just short hairs or hair that wants to wave. Encouraging waves might help depending on where your frizz is. You may just need a light leave-in from your roots if your frizz starts up high. Have you tried combing/brushing damp to see if you can get those strands to lie flat?
Definition - 1c/2a hair really doesn't have a ton of definition. How well are you following the curly girl method? That's probably the best way to bring out your natural texture.
Consistency - wavy or curly hair will have different types of waves/curls throughout. 2a hair is defined with waves + straight sections. If you want your waves to be consistent, I would suggest braid waves or rope braid waves or some other method of forcing waves into your hair. Henna (which tends to straighten hair) might also be contributing to your straight sections.

1) Yes. Just be gentle, and expect frizz.
2) I like BioSilk's Silk Therapy but I believe it has silicones.
3) Not in my opinion but I don't encourage my natural waves. For braid waves, Silk Therapy gives me sufficient definition.
4) Wavy (and curly) hair clumps. It's normal. Chances are even if you brush it out, your hair will try to clump. Again, I'd suggest braid waves or something like that to change how it clumps; my braid waves rarely clump.

ETA: Another product I really like that helps with moisture, and defining braid waves: TXTR by Cantu defining cream. Keeps my hair very nice, and soft. Have to use a surprisingly large amount of it but it's not sticky or crunchy or anything once it's dried into my hair.

[Bri-Chan]

1. Can I comb my hair when its dry? It does become messy if I don't do this
Everyone's hair is different, but mine actually becomes messy if I comb it. I have understood that is better leave the clumps intact.
2. Can you please recommend a good leave in conditioner for 2a hair? My hair is fine, density is medium to low
Here I can't help you, my hair doesn't like leave in conditioner.
3. Is gel / mousse a must for definition? If yes, please recommend a good one for my hair type
I really appreciate mousses on my hair. Gel seems to weigh down instead of define. My favorite mousse at the moment is Pantene curl defining 05. But the ingredients should be different in your country ... however, it should be cgm approved worldwide.
4. Clumps make my hair look thin / without volume. Is there a way to address this? Is it ok to have wavy hair that does not form clumps?
Definition is the revers thing of volume. To gain volume you need to lose some definition.
I think wavy hair needs to have clumps to be ... well, wavy.


I second GrowingCupcake about braids to "change" the clumps. Braids break my clumps, leaving my definitely not as wavy as my natural hair (probably I'm the only one ahah).

[SeRe]

Is your oil being washed off well? Your routine seems a little heavy to me. How often do you clarify?

Frizz - this is likely just short hairs or hair that wants to wave. Encouraging waves might help depending on where your frizz is. You may just need a light leave-in from your roots if your frizz starts up high. Have you tried combing/brushing damp to see if you can get those strands to lie flat?
Definition - 1c/2a hair really doesn't have a ton of definition. How well are you following the curly girl method? That's probably the best way to bring out your natural texture.
Consistency - wavy or curly hair will have different types of waves/curls throughout. 2a hair is defined with waves + straight sections. If you want your waves to be consistent, I would suggest braid waves or rope braid waves or some other method of forcing waves into your hair. Henna (which tends to straighten hair) might also be contributing to your straight sections.

1) Yes. Just be gentle, and expect frizz.
2) I like BioSilk's Silk Therapy but I believe it has silicones.
3) Not in my opinion but I don't encourage my natural waves. For braid waves, Silk Therapy gives me sufficient definition.
4) Wavy (and curly) hair clumps. It's normal. Chances are even if you brush it out, your hair will try to clump. Again, I'd suggest braid waves or something like that to change how it clumps; my braid waves rarely clump.

ETA: Another product I really like that helps with moisture, and defining braid waves: TXTR by Cantu defining cream. Keeps my hair very nice, and soft. Have to use a surprisingly large amount of it but it's not sticky or crunchy or anything once it's dried into my hair.

My oil does get washed off very well. I do clarify twice a month, sometimes even more.

I used silicones in the past and it gave me hair strength and resilience, and also tamed frizz, but it did make it oilier sooner, and even made it straighter.
I am just looking for some consistency in the pattern and less frizz. I stopped henna, it has been a few months now.

Braid waves just look awful on my hair. They look weird and frizzy. I have tried several braids, none of them work for me.

Edit- What is your routine? Do you follow CGM?

[SeRe]

1. Can I comb my hair when its dry? It does become messy if I don't do this
Everyone's hair is different, but mine actually becomes messy if I comb it. I have understood that is better leave the clumps intact.
2. Can you please recommend a good leave in conditioner for 2a hair? My hair is fine, density is medium to low
Here I can't help you, my hair doesn't like leave in conditioner.
3. Is gel / mousse a must for definition? If yes, please recommend a good one for my hair type
I really appreciate mousses on my hair. Gel seems to weigh down instead of define. My favorite mousse at the moment is Pantene curl defining 05. But the ingredients should be different in your country ... however, it should be cgm approved worldwide.
4. Clumps make my hair look thin / without volume. Is there a way to address this? Is it ok to have wavy hair that does not form clumps?
Definition is the revers thing of volume. To gain volume you need to lose some definition.
I think wavy hair needs to have clumps to be ... well, wavy.


I second GrowingCupcake about braids to "change" the clumps. Braids break my clumps, leaving my definitely not as wavy as my natural hair (probably I'm the only one ahah).

Thanks for replying. Braid waves do not work for me, and make my hair weirdly wavier which I don't like. I prefer my natural hair.

Do you follow the CGM?

[SeRe]

1. Can I comb my hair when its dry? It does become messy if I don't do this
Everyone's hair is different, but mine actually becomes messy if I comb it. I have understood that is better leave the clumps intact.
2. Can you please recommend a good leave in conditioner for 2a hair? My hair is fine, density is medium to low
Here I can't help you, my hair doesn't like leave in conditioner.
3. Is gel / mousse a must for definition? If yes, please recommend a good one for my hair type
I really appreciate mousses on my hair. Gel seems to weigh down instead of define. My favorite mousse at the moment is Pantene curl defining 05. But the ingredients should be different in your country ... however, it should be cgm approved worldwide.
4. Clumps make my hair look thin / without volume. Is there a way to address this? Is it ok to have wavy hair that does not form clumps?
Definition is the revers thing of volume. To gain volume you need to lose some definition.
I think wavy hair needs to have clumps to be ... well, wavy.


I second GrowingCupcake about braids to "change" the clumps. Braids break my clumps, leaving my definitely not as wavy as my natural hair (probably I'm the only one ahah).

Thanks for replying. Braid waves do not work for me, and make my hair weirdly wavier which I don't like. I prefer my natural hair.

Do you follow the CGM?

[SeRe]

I guess at this point I want either of the two:
1. Wave definition/consistency/less frizz
2. Push it to be straighter - 1c/2a without frizz

I will happily accept straighter hair without frizz, or wavier hair with definition. Anything that looks less messy and more put together.

[Kathie]

Hi Sere, I dont have your hair type but I want to share what info I can.

If combing your hair works for you, I say go for it!

With regards to gel and mousse. They are not a must for definition but they do help.

For me to get definition I need to leave my normal conditioner in. Its a silicone free conditioner, in the shower I only apply a small amount to where its needed until my hair feels like slippery seaweed. This really moisturizes my hair, which is a must for definition. It also means I don't need to use a leave in. All my combing and what-not happens at this stage- while trying to encourage curl / wave clumps. I then use gel on soaking wet hair to help hold the waves / curls in their clumps while they dry. I don't touch until my hair until its dry, then I scrunch out the gel cast.

The gel or mouse helps to hold everything in place while my hair dries and sets the curl pattern. If I use gel I dont comb or brush my hair when its dry, its going to break up the clumps. To be honest it would hurt trying to get the comb through... but I'm more towards a 2c/3a when I do this. The gels I have used include: Uncle Funkys Daughter, Curly Magic and Jessicurl Spiralicious. These gels work for my hair, and I live in a humid climate.... I put this as a disclaimer because gels will react differently in different environments.

But gel is not a must... if my hair is moisturized it will clump. At the moment I'm not trying to encourage my curls so I just use a bit of oil in the ends and that helps to create clumps. But granted we have very different hair lengths and types. I just wanted to share my thoughts on the gel and combing side of things.

These techniques come from the Curly Girl method, there is so much more info out there around this method that you might find helpful.

[GrowlingCupcake]

My oil does get washed off very well. I do clarify twice a month, sometimes even more.

I used silicones in the past and it gave me hair strength and resilience, and also tamed frizz, but it did make it oilier sooner, and even made it straighter.
I am just looking for some consistency in the pattern and less frizz. I stopped henna, it has been a few months now.

Braid waves just look awful on my hair. They look weird and frizzy. I have tried several braids, none of them work for me.

Edit- What is your routine? Do you follow CGM?

Henna's straightening effect is more or less permanent. Those strands have been straightened; there's no way around it.

I do not. I don't bother encouraging my waves in any way since I am just going to be bunning up my hair. Shampoo with sulfates, conditioner with silicones, followed by NB detangling spray, and then biosilk serum. Sometimes a drop or two of oil. I also brush my hair while it dries (after at least 50% dry) with a wet brush.

Personally, I would strip back to the basics. Clarify. Then stick with just shampoo, and just conditioner. If you find after a day or so that your ends are too dry, add a *small* amount of leave-in. Use as little as you can get away with. Then after a few washes like this, add something back one at a time to see if you really need that product. Maybe it's contributing to frizz. Maybe it's weighing your hair down too much or making the texture more uneven. Maybe the pre-oil followed by an oil heavy leave-in is too much.

[SeRe]

Henna's straightening effect is more or less permanent. Those strands have been straightened; there's no way around it.

I do not. I don't bother encouraging my waves in any way since I am just going to be bunning up my hair. Shampoo with sulfates, conditioner with silicones, followed by NB detangling spray, and then biosilk serum. Sometimes a drop or two of oil. I also brush my hair while it dries (after at least 50% dry) with a wet brush.

Personally, I would strip back to the basics. Clarify. Then stick with just shampoo, and just conditioner. If you find after a day or so that your ends are too dry, add a *small* amount of leave-in. Use as little as you can get away with. Then after a few washes like this, add something back one at a time to see if you really need that product. Maybe it's contributing to frizz. Maybe it's weighing your hair down too much or making the texture more uneven. Maybe the pre-oil followed by an oil heavy leave-in is too much.

Henna explains why the hair on my scalp is wavier then. Maybe i should restart, so it becomes consistent with the rest?

What do you mean by NB?

Tomorrow I will try the shampoo / condition only without the leave in and see how it goes.

[SeRe]

Hi Sere, I dont have your hair type but I want to share what info I can.

If combing your hair works for you, I say go for it!

With regards to gel and mousse. They are not a must for definition but they do help.

For me to get definition I need to leave my normal conditioner in. Its a silicone free conditioner, in the shower I only apply a small amount to where its needed until my hair feels like slippery seaweed. This really moisturizes my hair, which is a must for definition. It also means I don't need to use a leave in. All my combing and what-not happens at this stage- while trying to encourage curl / wave clumps. I then use gel on soaking wet hair to help hold the waves / curls in their clumps while they dry. I don't touch until my hair until its dry, then I scrunch out the gel cast.

The gel or mouse helps to hold everything in place while my hair dries and sets the curl pattern. If I use gel I dont comb or brush my hair when its dry, its going to break up the clumps. To be honest it would hurt trying to get the comb through... but I'm more towards a 2c/3a when I do this. The gels I have used include: Uncle Funkys Daughter, Curly Magic and Jessicurl Spiralicious. These gels work for my hair, and I live in a humid climate.... I put this as a disclaimer because gels will react differently in different environments.

But gel is not a must... if my hair is moisturized it will clump. At the moment I'm not trying to encourage my curls so I just use a bit of oil in the ends and that helps to create clumps. But granted we have very different hair lengths and types. I just wanted to share my thoughts on the gel and combing side of things.

These techniques come from the Curly Girl method, there is so much more info out there around this method that you might find helpful.

Very kind of you to help :-)

I have watched a million CG videos. My main issue with gel is I am afraid to scrunch, I feel it might create tangles and damage my fine hair. The other issue is my hair is fine, lacks volume, so if it forms large clumps, it will look very thin.

Can a curl cream replace a gel?

[Bri-Chan]

Thanks for replying. Braid waves do not work for me, and make my hair weirdly wavier which I don't like. I prefer my natural hair.

Do you follow the CGM?

I don't follow the CGM, I'd like to try one day, but for now I try products and styling tips suggested from CGM-influencers (I discovered I have some waves not long ago) and I keep using what works for me.

[SeRe]

I don't follow the CGM, I'd like to try one day, but for now I try products and styling tips suggested from CGM-influencers (I discovered I have some waves not long ago) and I keep using what works for me.

What is your routine? My hair is less wavy than yours in your DP. But I have been hairtyped as 2a too :)

[MusicalSpoons]

May I ask why you condition specifically with light conditioner? I would normally recommend double conditioning (CWC or WCC) especially if your shampoo makes your hair feel dry. CWC in particular can work tremendously well with pre-poo oiling. Oil is great but hydration and different conditioning agents can be just as important, if not more so.

I personally have found extra moisturising over time has lead to better definition and I can now comb in the shower and then leave it for a few days without it looking too messy. I do keep it up in a bun though, including overnight - if I slept with it loose I definitely would have to comb more often. But with my current routine, my hair is happier being left in its clumps than forced apart by combing before it's ready.

Edit: for volume I think using a shampoo that absolutely doesn't weigh my scalp hair down helps. All the conditioning is for my lengths only.

[Bri-Chan]

What is your routine? My hair is less wavy than yours in your DP. But I have been hairtyped as 2a too :)

Very simple. Shampoo (can be regular sulfate one, or without sulfates. Cowash just when I feel my hair drier or not so dirty), mask ( usually heavy mask, my hair is damaged), let the mask on the hair for about 5 minutes, rinse, gentle scrunch to remove the excess of water. Microfiber towel for 5 minutes. Scrunch my ends and lengths with a little amount of mousse. Airdry.
I clarify with an harsh sulfate shampoo when I just feel it needs, about 2-3 times a month I guess ( I wash twice a week). Pre-poo coconut oil every 2 weeks.
I sleep with the pineapple the first days, I braid when I'm closer to wash day. Oh, I only detangle my hair before washing or when I have the mask on.

[SeRe]

May I ask why you condition specifically with light conditioner? I would normally recommend double conditioning (CWC or WCC) especially if your shampoo makes your hair feel dry. CWC in particular can work tremendously well with pre-poo oiling. Oil is great but hydration and different conditioning agents can be just as important, if not more so.

I personally have found extra moisturising over time has lead to better definition and I can now comb in the shower and then leave it for a few days without it looking too messy. I do keep it up in a bun though, including overnight - if I slept with it loose I definitely would have to comb more often. But with my current routine, my hair is happier being left in its clumps than forced apart by combing before it's ready.

Edit: for volume I think using a shampoo that absolutely doesn't weigh my scalp hair down helps. All the conditioning is for my lengths only.

I have found that my scalp does not like conditioner, so I cannot co wash at all. I have tried it and it causes bad hairfall.

I usually wear it down, not up. I like it best at waist length but right now due to the lockdown in my area I havent got a trim for 6 months.

[SeRe]

Which shampoo removed a heavy pre oil in one wash? Co-washing is not an option for me and will never be.

[MusicalSpoons]

I have found that my scalp does not like conditioner, so I cannot co wash at all. I have tried it and it causes bad hairfall.

I usually wear it down, not up. I like it best at waist length but right now due to the lockdown in my area I havent got a trim for 6 months.

Not sure if you meant to reply to me about co-washing specifically, but if you did, you can still use heavier conditioner and double-condition if you wanted, without needing it to go on your scalp. You just need a shampoo that doesn't dry out your hair so only your lengths need conditioning :) that's mostly what I do.

What kind of comb do you use?

Edit: just seen your question about oil. Do you use oil on your scalp specifically, or is it for the benefit of your lengths?

[sourgrl]

I have your hair except mine is high porosity. Without my tricks my fine strands are flighty, lack definition, and dry. I'm happy to share my routine and tricks but keep in mind what works for me may not work for you because there are other variables (water harness/softness, humidity for example)

1. Can I comb my hair when its dry? Yes but if you're looking to keep your definition make sure you're using a wide tooth comb. I prefer big clumps so I use my fingers.
2. Can you please recommend a good leave in conditioner for 2a hair? I use my rinse out condish (Dermorganic) as my leave in. I do this by not rinsing out all of my condish.
3. Is gel / mousse a must for definition? Gel is the gold standard for retaining definition. The trick is to give the gel time to form a cast before you break it. If you break it too early you'll lose definition. With fine strands the less you touch it the more definition you'll retain.
4. Clumps make my hair look thin / without volume. Is there a way to address this? Is it ok to have wavy hair that does not form clumps? Some wavy hair requires help to form. There's no shame in using rag curls, braids, buns, whatever it needs to form it's shape. For volume you can clip the roots. It's perfectly acceptable to have wavy hair without clumps. That's the beauty of wavy hair... you can do just about anything to it.

My routine is below. It's detailed so it looks like a lot but it's not... at least not for my lazy butt ;) Add the fact that I rarely wear my hair down and it's really lazy: wash, condition, oil, put it up :D I use humectant free products because humectants cause frizz for me. Please keep in mind everything I do is because I'm high porosity. My hair dries ridiculously fast so my goal is to pump as much moisture into the strands before I seal it in. I wash 3 days a week (Sun,Tues,Thurs) My results when I do the styling portion of my routine can be seen in my avatar.

I wash at night a few hours before bed. Wash roots only with Paul Mitchel Awapui Shampoo. Condition length with Dermorganic Conditioning Masque. I use Atoya's conditioning technique and leave the Dermorganic in my hair https://www.instagram.com/tv/B0bkfjEluwK/ I wrap my hair in a tee to catch dripping water while I dry off and get dressed. Then I take my hair out of the tee and wet plop it in a shower cap. This keeps the strands wet while I finish doing my nightly body routine which takes 20-30 minutes. After the wet plop I work plain argan oil through the length to seal in moisture, comb it back into a cinna bun secured with spin pins, and wrap a satin scrunchie around the base for the night. I'm a side sleeper so the bun is placed on the back of my head. The morning following a wash I take down the bun, detangle with a wide tooth comb, and put it up in a cinna bun secured with a ficcare clip for the day. That night I let it loose a couple hours before bed to finish drying though it's usually dry by this point. Before bed I comb roots only, fingercomb length, and put it up in spin pins and a satin scarf for the night. Day 2 is my style day. I take it out of the bun, run a wide tooth comb through it once and part my hair in my preferred part. Oil the length with plan argan oil by finger combing it through, spray Aussie Headstrong Gel in my hands, rub them together, then glaze the gel down the length in a loose praying hands motion. Wet my hands with a misting bottle and then glaze the water down the length in a loose praying hands motion. Don't touch it until dry. Once dry gently break the cast formed by the gel.

ETA: I could have a tighter wave pattern but it requires more work than I'm willing to put into it. If you're looking for more definition/tighter pattern I would recommend diffusing and combing as little as possible once dry. I prefer a loose pattern and the above routine works for that goal.

[MusicalSpoons]

1. Can I comb my hair when its dry? Yes but if you're looking to keep your definition make sure you're using a wide tooth comb. I prefer big clumps so I use my fingers.


Ooh, the Hercules Sägemann jumbo rake is like fingercombing but easier (for me) because it has a handle :D

[sourgrl]

Ooh, the Hercules Sägemann jumbo rake is like fingercombing but easier (for me) because it has a handle :D

I will keep that comb in mind if I ever break the wooden purpleheart comb I've had for years, MusicalSpoons :)

[SeRe]

Not sure if you meant to reply to me about co-washing specifically, but if you did, you can still use heavier conditioner and double-condition if you wanted, without needing it to go on your scalp. You just need a shampoo that doesn't dry out your hair so only your lengths need conditioning :) that's mostly what I do.

What kind of comb do you use?

Edit: just seen your question about oil. Do you use oil on your scalp specifically, or is it for the benefit of your lengths?

I use oil for hair growth and to prevent hair loss. My scalp loves oil and I have managed to reverse hair thinning by using oil, so I use it 2-3 times a week. I oil both my scalp and length, maybe use 3-4 tbsps.

I own a wide toothed comb (wooden), a fine tooth comb (metal), a wet brush and a wide tooth plastic comb. I typically like to use my wet brush to detangle hair, and then a wide tooth plastic/wooden comb twice a day. My hair is very easy to comb/detangle.

Money is not an issue for me, I can easily afford any expensive combs/tools if you think they will help. Same with products. But I used to be a product junkie and tooks years to curb the habit, so now i control myself before buying too many hair products.

Which conditioner do you recommend?

[SeRe]

I have your hair except mine is high porosity. Without my tricks my fine strands are flighty, lack definition, and dry. I'm happy to share my routine and tricks but keep in mind what works for me may not work for you because there are other variables (water harness/softness, humidity for example)

1. Can I comb my hair when its dry? Yes but if you're looking to keep your definition make sure you're using a wide tooth comb. I prefer big clumps so I use my fingers.
2. Can you please recommend a good leave in conditioner for 2a hair? I use my rinse out condish (Dermorganic) as my leave in. I do this by not rinsing out all of my condish.
3. Is gel / mousse a must for definition? Gel is the gold standard for retaining definition. The trick is to give the gel time to form a cast before you break it. If you break it too early you'll lose definition. With fine strands the less you touch it the more definition you'll retain.
4. Clumps make my hair look thin / without volume. Is there a way to address this? Is it ok to have wavy hair that does not form clumps? Some wavy hair requires help to form. There's no shame in using rag curls, braids, buns, whatever it needs to form it's shape. For volume you can clip the roots. It's perfectly acceptable to have wavy hair without clumps. That's the beauty of wavy hair... you can do just about anything to it.

My routine is below. It's detailed so it looks like a lot but it's not... at least not for my lazy butt ;) Add the fact that I rarely wear my hair down and it's really lazy: wash, condition, oil, put it up :D I use humectant free products because humectants cause frizz for me. Please keep in mind everything I do is because I'm high porosity. My hair dries ridiculously fast so my goal is to pump as much moisture into the strands before I seal it in. I wash 3 days a week (Sun,Tues,Thurs) My results when I do the styling portion of my routine can be seen in my avatar.

I wash at night a few hours before bed. Wash roots only with Paul Mitchel Awapui Shampoo. Condition length with Dermorganic Conditioning Masque. I use Atoya's conditioning technique and leave the Dermorganic in my hair https://www.instagram.com/tv/B0bkfjEluwK/ I wrap my hair in a tee to catch dripping water while I dry off and get dressed. Then I take my hair out of the tee and wet plop it in a shower cap. This keeps the strands wet while I finish doing my nightly body routine which takes 20-30 minutes. After the wet plop I work plain argan oil through the length to seal in moisture, comb it back into a cinna bun secured with spin pins, and wrap a satin scrunchie around the base for the night. I'm a side sleeper so the bun is placed on the back of my head. The morning following a wash I take down the bun, detangle with a wide tooth comb, and put it up in a cinna bun secured with a ficcare clip for the day. That night I let it loose a couple hours before bed to finish drying though it's usually dry by this point. Before bed I comb roots only, fingercomb length, and put it up in spin pins and a satin scarf for the night. Day 2 is my style day. I take it out of the bun, run a wide tooth comb through it once and part my hair in my preferred part. Oil the length with plan argan oil by finger combing it through, spray Aussie Headstrong Gel in my hands, rub them together, then glaze the gel down the length in a loose praying hands motion. Wet my hands with a misting bottle and then glaze the water down the length in a loose praying hands motion. Don't touch it until dry. Once dry gently break the cast formed by the gel.

ETA: I could have a tighter wave pattern but it requires more work than I'm willing to put into it. If you're looking for more definition/tighter pattern I would recommend diffusing and combing as little as possible once dry. I prefer a loose pattern and the above routine works for that goal.

Thank you for sharing your routine. I suffer from very bad sinus headaches if I sleep with wet hair. This is the biggest challenge in following your routine.
I watched the video, I more or less follow it but I will try following it exactly as mentioned.

In your routine, do you use gel on dry hair?

[SeRe]

I have your hair except mine is high porosity. Without my tricks my fine strands are flighty, lack definition, and dry. I'm happy to share my routine and tricks but keep in mind what works for me may not work for you because there are other variables (water harness/softness, humidity for example)

1. Can I comb my hair when its dry? Yes but if you're looking to keep your definition make sure you're using a wide tooth comb. I prefer big clumps so I use my fingers.
2. Can you please recommend a good leave in conditioner for 2a hair? I use my rinse out condish (Dermorganic) as my leave in. I do this by not rinsing out all of my condish.
3. Is gel / mousse a must for definition? Gel is the gold standard for retaining definition. The trick is to give the gel time to form a cast before you break it. If you break it too early you'll lose definition. With fine strands the less you touch it the more definition you'll retain.
4. Clumps make my hair look thin / without volume. Is there a way to address this? Is it ok to have wavy hair that does not form clumps? Some wavy hair requires help to form. There's no shame in using rag curls, braids, buns, whatever it needs to form it's shape. For volume you can clip the roots. It's perfectly acceptable to have wavy hair without clumps. That's the beauty of wavy hair... you can do just about anything to it.

My routine is below. It's detailed so it looks like a lot but it's not... at least not for my lazy butt ;) Add the fact that I rarely wear my hair down and it's really lazy: wash, condition, oil, put it up :D I use humectant free products because humectants cause frizz for me. Please keep in mind everything I do is because I'm high porosity. My hair dries ridiculously fast so my goal is to pump as much moisture into the strands before I seal it in. I wash 3 days a week (Sun,Tues,Thurs) My results when I do the styling portion of my routine can be seen in my avatar.

I wash at night a few hours before bed. Wash roots only with Paul Mitchel Awapui Shampoo. Condition length with Dermorganic Conditioning Masque. I use Atoya's conditioning technique and leave the Dermorganic in my hair https://www.instagram.com/tv/B0bkfjEluwK/ I wrap my hair in a tee to catch dripping water while I dry off and get dressed. Then I take my hair out of the tee and wet plop it in a shower cap. This keeps the strands wet while I finish doing my nightly body routine which takes 20-30 minutes. After the wet plop I work plain argan oil through the length to seal in moisture, comb it back into a cinna bun secured with spin pins, and wrap a satin scrunchie around the base for the night. I'm a side sleeper so the bun is placed on the back of my head. The morning following a wash I take down the bun, detangle with a wide tooth comb, and put it up in a cinna bun secured with a ficcare clip for the day. That night I let it loose a couple hours before bed to finish drying though it's usually dry by this point. Before bed I comb roots only, fingercomb length, and put it up in spin pins and a satin scarf for the night. Day 2 is my style day. I take it out of the bun, run a wide tooth comb through it once and part my hair in my preferred part. Oil the length with plan argan oil by finger combing it through, spray Aussie Headstrong Gel in my hands, rub them together, then glaze the gel down the length in a loose praying hands motion. Wet my hands with a misting bottle and then glaze the water down the length in a loose praying hands motion. Don't touch it until dry. Once dry gently break the cast formed by the gel.

ETA: I could have a tighter wave pattern but it requires more work than I'm willing to put into it. If you're looking for more definition/tighter pattern I would recommend diffusing and combing as little as possible once dry. I prefer a loose pattern and the above routine works for that goal.

Also, your hair looks so pretty, wow :-)

[GrowlingCupcake]

Before you buy combs/brushes:
Do you like combs? Do you like brushes?

Before you buy products:
Does your hair like gel? Does your hair like creams?

Think about what your hair does or doesn't like in terms of tools used, and products used. Maybe it could benefit from light silicone usage, and once a fortnight clarifying.

For instance, I can't use combs. Combs = breakage for me. but a wet brush? Wonderful. Will ruin my waves but it's worth it.
I also can't use gels or most creams; they make my hair very tacky, linty, and encourage breakage.

(Also NB = Nightblooming. Her detangler is amazing, and I get her salves as deep conditioners, and her oils to add a couple of drops when my hair needs it.)

[sourgrl]

Thank you, SeRe. I use the gel on dry hair but because it's a spray it's really watery. The water I apply immediately following the gel is applied while the gel is still wet. The combination gives my hair enough moisture to curl but without weighing the curl down. Getting wavy hair to do what you want it do do requires finding the right balance needed for your desired results. I've tried applying gel to wet and damp hair and the combination is too heavy for my strands.

[MusicalSpoons]

I use oil for hair growth and to prevent hair loss. My scalp loves oil and I have managed to reverse hair thinning by using oil, so I use it 2-3 times a week. I oil both my scalp and length, maybe use 3-4 tbsps.

I own a wide toothed comb (wooden), a fine tooth comb (metal), a wet brush and a wide tooth plastic comb. I typically like to use my wet brush to detangle hair, and then a wide tooth plastic/wooden comb twice a day. My hair is very easy to comb/detangle.

Money is not an issue for me, I can easily afford any expensive combs/tools if you think they will help. Same with products. But I used to be a product junkie and tooks years to curb the habit, so now i control myself before buying too many hair products.

Which conditioner do you recommend?

An right. Odd that your scalp likes oil but not conditioner, usually scalps either like both or neither!

Using a wide tooth comb for daily combing is exactly what I was going to recommend :)

As for conditioners, hmm. Garnier hair food / hair treats masks are quite good, as long as your hair is okay with glycerin. Which ones are the most conditioning seems to vary between people but it seems to be that most find either the papaya and banana ones to be the most conditioning. If your hair isn't so happy with glycerin then Garnier Ultimate Blends / Whole Blends have some silicone-free conditioners which are also quite good, but you have to check the ingredients because formulations seem to be different in different markets.

My other recommendation is Faith in Nature BB Rose and Neroli, but I don't know where in the world you are as to whether it's available to you. Their other conditioners sound quite good too but I haven't tried them. (Another silicone-free line is Love Beauty and Planet but I haven't tried those yet either so can't vouch for them personally.)

I'm sure there are other really good conditioners available too, maybe at higher prices or brands that I can't get here. Actually I think Matrix Biolage and ... oh, what's the other one? They come in smaller bottles, look a bit like smoothies ... one member here swore by them and it's going to bug me now. Anyway, the point was those have good reputations, and if I remember what the second one was I'll let you know!

[baanoo]

Hi SeRe, so much good advice on this thread! (also bookmarking the excellent notes provided by some of our comrades here to try out in my own routine) Here are my thoughts on your questions. My hair is also fine, also 2A, and hip length.

1. Can I comb my hair when its dry? It does become messy if I don't do this
I do. I also use a brush when it's dry before I put it up. It puffs up when I brush it, so be prepared for that. Combing when dry for me means it will become more flat, though. I comb/brush/comb in the morning and evening usually.

2. Can you please recommend a good leave in conditioner for 2a hair? My hair is fine, density is medium to low
Lapushka mentioned the L'oreal Paris Eleve line at one point, and I bought the "Total Repair" leave-in and really like it.

3. Is gel / mousse a must for definition? If yes, please recommend a good one for my hair type
For wave definition, you need something. I use a little aloe vera and that's a light enough hold for me, though I agree with Bri-chan that mousse tends to do better for me than gel. I haven't experimented with too many, mostly because it takes an age to go through it, but the Frizz Ease curl reviver is my current favorite.


4. Clumps make my hair look thin / without volume. Is there a way to address this? Is it ok to have wavy hair that does not form clumps?
Of course it's ok! The trick is finding what works for you and your preferred style.

After reading all the posts and your responses, I would consider applying mousse/gel, twisting it up cinnamon-bun style, then using a diffuser to dry and see if that helps. I second the recommendation for clipping up your roots if you're looking for more volume at the crown. I also shamelessly flip my hair over and mist my head with hairspray if I am going to be wearing it down.

[Kathie]

Very kind of you to help :-)

I have watched a million CG videos. My main issue with gel is I am afraid to scrunch, I feel it might create tangles and damage my fine hair. The other issue is my hair is fine, lacks volume, so if it forms large clumps, it will look very thin.

Can a curl cream replace a gel?

I sometimes scrunch sideways, rather than up. I've heard of people not scrunching at all and just letting the cast break by itself. But that's fair enough, if it doesn't feel right I wouldn't push it, you know your hair best.

It is possible to control the size of the clumps... me, I like big curls so I do all my curly/wavy styling while my hair is soaking wet. If I dry it a little before doing this my hair breaks into smaller clumps.

That's a good point! A curl cream might work, in my experience they are more hydrating but with less hold than a gel... essentially no cast. The one that I've used is Curl Junky Spiral Lotion. I was actually using this as a refresh product and I found it was good at taming frizz and smoothing (but not straightening) my waves and curls.

[MusicalSpoons]

An right. Odd that your scalp likes oil but not conditioner, usually scalps either like both or neither!

Using a wide tooth comb for daily combing is exactly what I was going to recommend :)

As for conditioners, hmm. Garnier hair food / hair treats masks are quite good, as long as your hair is okay with glycerin. Which ones are the most conditioning seems to vary between people but it seems to be that most find either the papaya and banana ones to be the most conditioning. If your hair isn't so happy with glycerin then Garnier Ultimate Blends / Whole Blends have some silicone-free conditioners which are also quite good, but you have to check the ingredients because formulations seem to be different in different markets.

My other recommendation is Faith in Nature BB Rose and Neroli, but I don't know where in the world you are as to whether it's available to you. Their other conditioners sound quite good too but I haven't tried them. (Another silicone-free line is Love Beauty and Planet but I haven't tried those yet either so can't vouch for them personally.)

I'm sure there are other really good conditioners available too, maybe at higher prices or brands that I can't get here. Actually I think Matrix Biolage and ... oh, what's the other one? They come in smaller bottles, look a bit like smoothies ... one member here swore by them and it's going to bug me now. Anyway, the point was those have good reputations, and if I remember what the second one was I'll let you know!

Briogeo! That's the one I couldn't remember.


(sourgrl ah lovely, that's one of my very favourite woods :D I have a purpleheart comb but it's fine-toothed so it mainly gets used when I oil a day or two before washing.)

[SeRe]

Thank you for your reply. My hair likes silicones but due to CGM I cant use them. I want to give CGM a genuine shot, maybe try one last time before giving up.
I'll check out NB's stuff, thank you :-)

[SeRe]

I see. I guess even with the same hair types, every head of hair behaves differently and has different needs :-)

[SeRe]

Which comb material is good? Is a rake better?

Briogeo - I have been meaning to try it out. I'll go check out their website now. I think they are CG approved.

My hair becomes very straight and sleek with Garnier - the conditioner and leave in with silicones. But CG strictly forbids it, I heard it causes buildup and does harm in the long run.

[SeRe]

Hi SeRe, so much good advice on this thread! (also bookmarking the excellent notes provided by some of our comrades here to try out in my own routine) Here are my thoughts on your questions. My hair is also fine, also 2A, and hip length.

1. Can I comb my hair when its dry? It does become messy if I don't do this
I do. I also use a brush when it's dry before I put it up. It puffs up when I brush it, so be prepared for that. Combing when dry for me means it will become more flat, though. I comb/brush/comb in the morning and evening usually.

2. Can you please recommend a good leave in conditioner for 2a hair? My hair is fine, density is medium to low
Lapushka mentioned the L'oreal Paris Eleve line at one point, and I bought the "Total Repair" leave-in and really like it.

3. Is gel / mousse a must for definition? If yes, please recommend a good one for my hair type
For wave definition, you need something. I use a little aloe vera and that's a light enough hold for me, though I agree with Bri-chan that mousse tends to do better for me than gel. I haven't experimented with too many, mostly because it takes an age to go through it, but the Frizz Ease curl reviver is my current favorite.


4. Clumps make my hair look thin / without volume. Is there a way to address this? Is it ok to have wavy hair that does not form clumps?
Of course it's ok! The trick is finding what works for you and your preferred style.

After reading all the posts and your responses, I would consider applying mousse/gel, twisting it up cinnamon-bun style, then using a diffuser to dry and see if that helps. I second the recommendation for clipping up your roots if you're looking for more volume at the crown. I also shamelessly flip my hair over and mist my head with hairspray if I am going to be wearing it down.

Thanks for your message. Most of the recommendations have silicone. But I heard that in CGM you cant use silicones, supposedly they build up over your hair and form a coating, which is a pity because my hair looks nice after I use them. I also noticed that it becomes much straighter, sometimes I see it becomes a 1c!

[SeRe]

Thanks, maybe curl creams are a good option for me. I'll check out the recommendation :-)

[baanoo]

Thanks for your message. Most of the recommendations have silicone. But I heard that in CGM you cant use silicones, supposedly they build up over your hair and form a coating, which is a pity because my hair looks nice after I use them. I also noticed that it becomes much straighter, sometimes I see it becomes a 1c!

I have a question: do you want to strictly follow the curly girl method, or are you open to other things and can revisit the CGM at a later time?

Henna, in my experience, straightens hair a bit. If that’s what you’re working with for the majority of your length, and your hair likes cones, maybe focus on what makes your hair happiest in its current texture. A clarifying shampoo will remove any buildup you might accumulate from silicone products – many wavy-haired folks here swear by them! – and that doesn’t mean you can’t work in some volumizing strategies/aspects of CGM that appeal to you. I suppose I’m wondering how you really *want* your hair to look, beyond ‘not messy.’ :)

[sourgrl]

Depending on your location Garnier may not have 'bad' cones in it. I use a Herbal Essence conditioner in the winter because the cone it contains helps my hair retain moisture, very important when the air is dry. Give the CGM a try but be open to your results. Like anything else it's a method that works for some but not all. If you find it doesn't work for you try a modified version of it that incorporates cones that don't build up on themselves. Mousse has a softer hold than gel. Creams tend to not have much hold at all. A lot of them are great as the leave in step before you apply a gel. With fine strands I've found less is more, otherwise all the stuff pulls out the curl. Not a bad thing if less definition is your goal.

[MusicalSpoons]

Which comb material is good? Is a rake better?

Briogeo - I have been meaning to try it out. I'll go check out their website now. I think they are CG approved.

My hair becomes very straight and sleek with Garnier - the conditioner and leave in with silicones. But CG strictly forbids it, I heard it causes buildup and does harm in the long run.

Wood is often good but it's not useful for wet combing in the long term, so if you want to do that then something like acetate or vulcanised rubber or any kind of plastic as long as it's all smooth. What teeth spacing works best really depends on your hair and when you want to comb but generally wide-toothed is a good starting point.

The Garnier hair food / hair treats masks don't contain silicones (what exactly they're called depends on where you are). Some of the Whole Blends / Ultimate Blends don't either, but you have to check the ingredients to find the ones without. E.g. here the cranberry & argan oil, one of the coconut ones, and the oat & rice water ones are silicone-free.

However with the heavier conditioning ones even without silicones, some people do find they leave their hair straighter than less heavier products, so again it just comes down to how your hair behaves with them. The hair food / treats masks can also be used as a leave-in, incidentally.

[You might also find water-soluble silicones are okay; I'm not sure how CGM views them but being water-soluble they shouldn't build up - although with everything formulation tends to determine how exactly they would behave in your hair. They are the silicones with PEG- at the start of the name.]

[SeRe]

I have a question: do you want to strictly follow the curly girl method, or are you open to other things and can revisit the CGM at a later time?

Henna, in my experience, straightens hair a bit. If that’s what you’re working with for the majority of your length, and your hair likes cones, maybe focus on what makes your hair happiest in its current texture. A clarifying shampoo will remove any buildup you might accumulate from silicone products – many wavy-haired folks here swear by them! – and that doesn’t mean you can’t work in some volumizing strategies/aspects of CGM that appeal to you. I suppose I’m wondering how you really *want* your hair to look, beyond ‘not messy.’ :)

I want to try the CGM just because I feel I will look really nice with 2a defined waves, also, I feel I should embrace the texture I was born with. I want to give it my best shot for a few weeks, and if I fail, I can always go back to my usual routine.

[SeRe]

Depending on your location Garnier may not have 'bad' cones in it. I use a Herbal Essence conditioner in the winter because the cone it contains helps my hair retain moisture, very important when the air is dry. Give the CGM a try but be open to your results. Like anything else it's a method that works for some but not all. If you find it doesn't work for you try a modified version of it that incorporates cones that don't build up on themselves. Mousse has a softer hold than gel. Creams tend to not have much hold at all. A lot of them are great as the leave in step before you apply a gel. With fine strands I've found less is more, otherwise all the stuff pulls out the curl. Not a bad thing if less definition is your goal.

Yes, as we are in lockdown here and I'm working from home, now is the time to experiment with CGM. If I dont succeed in 1-2 months, I will go back :-)

[SeRe]

Wood is often good but it's not useful for wet combing in the long term, so if you want to do that then something like acetate or vulcanised rubber or any kind of plastic as long as it's all smooth. What teeth spacing works best really depends on your hair and when you want to comb but generally wide-toothed is a good starting point.

The Garnier hair food / hair treats masks don't contain silicones (what exactly they're called depends on where you are). Some of the Whole Blends / Ultimate Blends don't either, but you have to check the ingredients to find the ones without. E.g. here the cranberry & argan oil, one of the coconut ones, and the oat & rice water ones are silicone-free.

However with the heavier conditioning ones even without silicones, some people do find they leave their hair straighter than less heavier products, so again it just comes down to how your hair behaves with them. The hair food / treats masks can also be used as a leave-in, incidentally.

[You might also find water-soluble silicones are okay; I'm not sure how CGM views them but being water-soluble they shouldn't build up - although with everything formulation tends to determine how exactly they would behave in your hair. They are the silicones with PEG- at the start of the name.]

I will check out the materials you recommended on Amazon and get a few combs. My wooden comb just broke so it is a good time.

I live in the US, and most of the Fructis products have cones here, but I haven't checked the other lines of Garnier yet. I will research it.

I think water soluble cones are allowed in CGM, Reddit has a sub dedicated to this and I will check there. Thank you!

[MusicalSpoons]

You're welcome :) I don't know if you've seen this already but Science-y Hair Blog has a good article about moisturising low-porosity hair. As one of the fundamental principles of CGM seems to be moisture, moisture, moisture, I thought it might be of interest http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/moisturizing-low-porosity-hair.html

[Jo Ann]

SeRe, if CGM doesn't work for you, maybe a modified version will. There are links in Lapushka's signature for ROO (Rinse Out Oil), WCC (Wash-Condition-Condition) and LOC/LCO (Leave-in Conditioner, Oil, Cream/Leave-in Conditoner, Cream, Oil) that can help you out.

I don't think I saw how often you wash your hair, but maybe stretching your hair washes might be in order? If you wash your hair, say, twice a week, maybe once a week will help? If not that, maybe a CO-wash mid-week (lengths only, not the scalp) might help you out.

Maybe a different oil will help, too. Garnier's Moroccan Oil Sleek and Shine is argan oil-based and might help you control your frizz better (I know it helps me out!); applying it after washing, as part of LCO/LOC and again daily (but only a wee bit) either at night or when you style in the morning might work out better.

I also found that, every fourth wash or so, using a sulphate-based shampoo (not necessarily a clarifying shampoo, though) helps remove any build-up from the sulphate-free shampoos you use. Using an anti-dandruff shampoo or one such as Prell helps keep my hair happy. Just a thought :flower:

[Eleanor_]

Hi! I have a similar hair type. Thought I'd share my routine just in case it's useful.

I wash my hair every other day (get a lot of head sweat from horse riding).

1) I detangle with fingers and then a tangleteaser
2) shampoo roots with shea moisture sulphate free shampoo, using forwards and backwards motions (less tangles than circular motions)
3) condition with Garnier Ultimate Blends almond milk conditioner and work through with fingers. Often ends up as a second detangle!
4) scrunch out excess water
5) plop in cotton tshirt while I get dressed etc
6) scrunch in Elvive Extraordinary Oil fine coconut oil. If I notice any tangles forming I'll finger detangle
7) scrunch in Garnier Ultimate Blends almond milk leave in.
8) leave to dry until I go to bed (normally about 2 hours) then put in an English braid. As my hair is mostly dry by then, this seems to make my straighter bits wavy without disrupting my natural wave too much.

I'm basically doing a modified LOC - liquid = water, oil is Elvive, cream = my leave in. I've never had much success with gel, I get weird 3a curls that fall out if they touch anything.

Good luck!

[illicitlizard]

Thank you for your reply. My hair likes silicones but due to CGM I cant use them. I want to give CGM a genuine shot, maybe try one last time before giving up.
I'll check out NB's stuff, thank you :-)

My hair becomes very straight and sleek with Garnier - the conditioner and leave in with silicones. But CG strictly forbids it, I heard it causes buildup and does harm in the long run.

Understand wanting to try something new and embrace your natural waves. If you're already considering going back to the coney routine that works for you, definitely don't go crazy spending money on CG approved products! Maybe there would be a way to add a styling product to your preexisting routine to bring out the waves?
With the silicone buildup, as I understand it that's only a problem if you don't clarify/use sulphate shampoo to remove the cones fully. They do a great job for me for silkiness and less tangles with fine hair.

[TechnoAngel]

Maybe you can replace the shea moisture leave-in with the As I Am leave-in. It's less heavy.

[SeRe]

You're welcome :) I don't know if you've seen this already but Science-y Hair Blog has a good article about moisturising low-porosity hair. As one of the fundamental principles of CGM seems to be moisture, moisture, moisture, I thought it might be of interest http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/moisturizing-low-porosity-hair.html

I will check it out, thank you!

[SeRe]

SeRe, if CGM doesn't work for you, maybe a modified version will. There are links in Lapushka's signature for ROO (Rinse Out Oil), WCC (Wash-Condition-Condition) and LOC/LCO (Leave-in Conditioner, Oil, Cream/Leave-in Conditoner, Cream, Oil) that can help you out.

I don't think I saw how often you wash your hair, but maybe stretching your hair washes might be in order? If you wash your hair, say, twice a week, maybe once a week will help? If not that, maybe a CO-wash mid-week (lengths only, not the scalp) might help you out.

Maybe a different oil will help, too. Garnier's Moroccan Oil Sleek and Shine is argan oil-based and might help you control your frizz better (I know it helps me out!); applying it after washing, as part of LCO/LOC and again daily (but only a wee bit) either at night or when you style in the morning might work out better.

I also found that, every fourth wash or so, using a sulphate-based shampoo (not necessarily a clarifying shampoo, though) helps remove any build-up from the sulphate-free shampoos you use. Using an anti-dandruff shampoo or one such as Prell helps keep my hair happy. Just a thought :flower:

Yes, I'm giving up. I am now looking for cruelty free silicone leave in options.

[SeRe]

Hi! I have a similar hair type. Thought I'd share my routine just in case it's useful.

I wash my hair every other day (get a lot of head sweat from horse riding).

1) I detangle with fingers and then a tangleteaser
2) shampoo roots with shea moisture sulphate free shampoo, using forwards and backwards motions (less tangles than circular motions)
3) condition with Garnier Ultimate Blends almond milk conditioner and work through with fingers. Often ends up as a second detangle!
4) scrunch out excess water
5) plop in cotton tshirt while I get dressed etc
6) scrunch in Elvive Extraordinary Oil fine coconut oil. If I notice any tangles forming I'll finger detangle
7) scrunch in Garnier Ultimate Blends almond milk leave in.
8) leave to dry until I go to bed (normally about 2 hours) then put in an English braid. As my hair is mostly dry by then, this seems to make my straighter bits wavy without disrupting my natural wave too much.

I'm basically doing a modified LOC - liquid = water, oil is Elvive, cream = my leave in. I've never had much success with gel, I get weird 3a curls that fall out if they touch anything.

Good luck!

Thanks for sharing. I'm giving up on CGM! I would use your recommended brands except I am going cruelty free.

[SeRe]

Maybe you can replace the shea moisture leave-in with the As I Am leave-in. It's less heavy.

I have given up on CGM. I now need some names of silicone containing products that are cruelty free.

[ynne]

Ah, just a few thoughts:
A week or two is far from enough to figure out if a routine works for you, imho! Did you start with a clarifying wash and then introduce a new technique or a product every few washes? (Every few washes, not a new product with every wash, as it takes trial and error to really give them a chance. E.g. as others pointed out, you get different results just by putting on products when your hair is soaking wet vs. damp.)

And you don't have to give up on CGM methods and products just because you are adding back silicones. :) A lot of us do a modified CGM, it's just a general guideline and it makes sense to adjust it to what works for you, personally.

But of course, if this was just a fun one time experiment, it's fair to go back to what worked for you before. I noticed you couldn't use a bunch of suggestions from earlier because of cones, so you might go back and reread those, hopefully some are cruelty free. :)