Wanting to start the curly girl method but so overwhelmed

[PixieWaist]

So I've been messing around with the cgm for a while, definitely have a lot more texture in my hair than I thought all my life. So I'm wanting to go the next step and do the cgm fully but it's so overwhelming and I have no idea how to do it. I'm the idiot who needs a step by step every day for a week that I can just repeat and tweak as needed.

Do any of you lovely people have the ability and coherent thoughts to write something like that out? Cgm daily steps plus any additional hair care steps needed?

[QueenElla]

I ended up not loving being a CGM purist but it can be pretty simple!

-Only comb when wet, only use fingers or a wide tooth comb, some people also love the denman brush.
-No sulfates, silicones. Cowashing is great
-Get a good leave-in and some 'cone-free gels/mousses

The first step is the "reset" wash, if you've been using silicone products you'll need to do a clarifying wash one more time with a sulfate shampoo. Something cheap like Suave daily clarifying shampoo is great for this.

Use a LOT of conditioner. Curly hair needs so much moisture. Scrunch it in, comb your hair with the conditioner in, scrunch it again, rinse.
Next step is products. I recommend a leave-in but it isn't necessary for beginners. Scrunch in some gel/mousse, holding your head upside down, while it's still pretty wet. "Plop" hair in a tee shirt for about 30 minutes and then take it down and let it air dry or diffuse it on a low/cool setting. Scrunch out the crunch from the product.

It'll take a while for your hair to adjust to this method. Lots of people see great success! I recommend Penny Tovar's curly hair videos on YouTube for more info about CGM and other curly hair methods!

[Kathie]

Have you read the book? Its very step by step. Not only that, the steps are simplified based on curl pattern too!

[lapushka]

And don't worry if you can't do conditioner only, there's always a mild sulfate-free shampoo, and if you can't do that, you can still shampoo. It's just all about hydrating that curl or wave well enough, and so if you double condition after shampooing with something drying (because say your scalp needs it), then all is well.

I am just... waiting for the next "guru" to come out with just that method, a method we've had here for eons: WCC. Or double conditioning after washing.

So if you have a finicky scalp, and that's the reason it's not working. You can make it work, if you only hydrate the curls well after.

And style well after washing, that's always a given!

[Simsy]

I tried the CGM, and I found I needed the shampoo at least every 2nd week. But on the weeks where things line up; conditioner and leave it in for a few minutes. Comb through while the conditioner is still sitting then rinse. Either leave some of the conditioner in, or apply a leave in of some description; scrunch the curls into clumps, and either air dry or use a diffuser on a hair dryer.

For daily dealings, bun the hair loosely on top of your head or in a bonnet to keep tangles to a minimum while sleeping. Use a wide tooth comb or fingers if you need to arrange something in the morning; but don’t brush the curls. Treat the curls gently, give them lots of moisture, and don’t try to split the clumps.

It can be a fairly low-maintenance method if you’re inclined that way. The curls won’t look perfect, but they will look like curls and honestly, that covers a lot of sins that might otherwise need fixing. Some frizz should be expected, you can smooth with oil or serum as needed. Some curls will dry weird and they really can’t be fixed without wetting them.

For myself, the curls aren’t really worth the hassle; so my hair just gets bunned 24/7.

[Eastbound&Down]

I need a lazy CGM routine. The less products, the better. I'm just too low maintenance in general to bother with all the mousses and gels and curl creams. It's too heavy one my hair I find.

[KokoroDragon]

Swavy Curly Courtney on YouTube has lots of videos on the curly girl method, specifically modified for wavy hair. She's got a few that go through what she does on her washdays step by step, and for those who don't want to bother with a bunch of products she has one for that (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKTumIOQX3s) as well!

[Bri-Chan]

Guys if you don't have a particular issue with your hair, a sulfate free shampoo, a conditioner and a gel or a mousse and that's all.
I don't follow the cgm in terms of products but I use their styling tecniques and they still work.

[lapushka]

Swavy Curly Courtney on YouTube has lots of videos on the curly girl method, specifically modified for wavy hair. She's got a few that go through what she does on her washdays step by step, and for those who don't want to bother with a bunch of products she has one for that (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKTumIOQX3s) as well!

Yep, and in her latest video she said she has an oily scalp so needs the sulfates once in a while. She also wasn't pleased when Suave changed its formula on the daily clarifying. She uses the Neutrogena one as well.

Love her, BTW!

[lapushka]

Guys if you don't have a particular issue with your hair, a sulfate free shampoo, a conditioner and a gel or a mousse and that's all.
I don't follow the cgm in terms of products but I use their styling tecniques and they still work.

That is basically what I do as well. And it works. I think the styling part is the biggest thing and almost the key factor in the whole thing.

[KokoroDragon]

That is basically what I do as well. And it works. I think the styling part is the biggest thing and almost the key factor in the whole thing.

I don't really style my hair (and it's pretty much straight, not curly at all), but I use "squish to condish" because I find it helps the conditioner do it's job better. I've also introduced the technique to my BIL, who uses both sulfates and silicones. Just "squish to condish" and plopping - no product change - has made his hair go from almost 100% frizz to actually having a curl pattern. So, I agree, the technique is one of the most important parts!

[Kathie]

When I first looked into it I was shocked by how many products some youtubers use! Condition, leave it, mouse, gel... all layered on top of each other. All in the quest for the perfect curl. Admittedly some had amazing curls... but this level of product requirement is way outside of my comfort zone.

Different curl types may need different requirements and no two heads of hair are the same, I would expect a little fine tuning of the basic technique and product choice.

[Solovey]

When I first looked into it I was shocked by how many products some youtubers use! Condition, leave it, mouse, gel... all layered on top of each other. All in the quest for the perfect curl. Admittedly some had amazing curls... but this level of product requirement is way outside of my comfort zone.

Different curl types may need different requirements and no two heads of hair are the same, I would expect a little fine tuning of the basic technique and product choice.

Maybe I'm weird but I couldn't stand that much stuff constantly in my hair even if it had the perfect waves. Sometimes mine ends up feeling a bit too producty from conditioner/leave ins alone I can't imagine always having styling product on top of that.

[Eastbound&Down]

Maybe I'm weird but I couldn't stand that much stuff constantly in my hair even if it had the perfect waves. Sometimes mine ends up feeling a bit too producty from conditioner/leave ins alone I can't imagine always having styling product on top of that.

I feel the same way. I need a solid lightweight gel or curl cream and I think that would be where I would leave it.

[cinamio]

I have always used some type of curly product. As I’ve gotten older, my hair has gotten curlier. I considered trying the CGM when I noticed my hair’s dryness. I started incorporating things slowly.

It’s best to do your research to avoid buying a bunch of products that don’t end up working. If you introduce one new product at a time, you’ll know exactly which product is causing problems.