co washing round 2, possible advice

waymire01

Still very much in transition to CG, trying lots of different things. A lot of setbacks and frustration (and expense). Had a bit of a breakthrough. Co washing left me with nasty greasy yet dry and stiff/limp hair that took 4+ hours to dry(like so many others based on posts on the forum) so went back to shampoo. Discovered my shampoo and leave in (shea moisture C/H shampoo and milk) were breaking me out (most likely the shea butter). Problem was I had no other sulfate free on hand and really wanted to wash my hair, I was on my third day. Since I was planning to stay home I decided to just co wash and deal with the mess the next day. I used Aussie Moist (which I had switched back to since I discovered I'm protein sensitive, all the other conditioners I bought had protein, and it had been my HG pre CG. It does have a cone but it's not a bad one) as co wash and all over my length, rinsed well, then added back a dime size amount as leave in and nothing else.. since I expected greasy hair anyway I didn't want to put in a lot of effort. Imagine my surprise when my hair was fantastic. Curl all the way to the root, good definition, shiny and soft, dried very fast. The curl was really strong as well which is something I struggle with, for example if I lean back on the couch it tends to flatten the ones in the back and they held up great today, bounced right back. It was a bit frizzy, but I just scrunched in a little serum after it dried and was good to go. I think the problem is not the co washing... it's everything we put on top. I highly suggest anyone who has tried to co wash and failed, take a day or two when you don't need to have perfect hair and experiment with just the conditioner, nothing else. Then when you get that one product right, add another if you need it just a little at a time. It's hard enough to find one product that has all the characteristics you need, I think trying to use 3 or more at the same time (the usual "prescription" for newbies is co/w, RO, LI, and gel) when each one has numerous possibilities and interact with every other product used, while at the same time completely changing how you treat your hair... is a major reason for the frustration and "failure" so many of us are experiencing.

That said I'm in the market for a serum or maybe a milk that contains frizz and has a little bit of hold and not a lot of heavy ingredients (and does not contain shea butter, lol). I don't think gels are for me, they leave too much build up, and puddings are way too heavy. Today I grabbed Loreal eversleek frizz taming creme serum which I had on hand, and I will try that next wash on wet hair, but I'm open to other suggestions. All my other favorite products (garnier creme gel and anti humidity smoothing milk) have dimethicone.

bringingcurliesback?

There are actually a lot of people on here who do conditioner only styling. To each their own. There are just so many factors like you said that can affect a person once going cg. By all means stick with something when it works! I've never heard of the breaking out because of SM. Are you sure? Maybe diet not in check or something else? Regardless if you don't like cowashing too much you could incorporate low poo into your routine. What is your type/texture like? Many do this and it helps with the so called "build up" that you were saying. I would highly recommend a protein treatment perhaps? I totally understand what you mean by the prescription style regimen most people are given but it is much more complicated. I've never seen anything like this with someone going cg. Idk its definitely new to me but no means impossible. Let me know how it goes! Try lalsg or suave? Their both fairly cheap and easy for most people to get their hands on. That's all I used yesterday and my hair looks awesome today!

waymire01

As I said, co washing is working for me now, and I am protein sensitive so a protein treatment would not be a good idea.

I did some research online about the shea butter though.. and now I believe it is the coconut oil in those same products. There is a much higher occurrence of breakouts from it than the shea butter. I knew it had to be one or the other because those are the only two ingredients I had not used in the past. It's definitely from my hair product because it is isolated to the tops of my ears and nape of my neck. Thanks for the feedback.

Corrina777

I know it's not a drugstore brand, but I've been getting amazing results with "modified" conditioner only styling. I use a light conditioner as my primary styling product and then top with some CHS Curl Keeper. The Curl Keeper reduces frizz and adds just a very small amount of hold.

bringingcurliesback?

Well I'm glad you found what works for you and the culprit! So many people can get frustrated and give up on such an awesome method! Have fun and with the seasons changing you may find some new things. If the product jumkie in you ever begins to itch

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using CurlTalk App

waymire01

corinna777... I was just looking into the curl keeper/KY liquid dupe possibilities last night. I believe I am going to grab a bottle next time I'm out and give it a try. The serum I used yesterday is mostly glycerin, but also has some cornstarch, a fatty alcohol, and a light oil (sunflower). My hair this morning isn't the slightest bit stiff or greasy, yet still has definition (I can tell just by feeling it will bounce right back with some rehydration) and is very soft. Heading on the right track now I think. Apparently less is more with my hair, and it likes glycerin. I just wish I had gone this route to begin with instead of the mess I have been dealing with for the last three months, all the money I wasted on product, and the nasty cystic breakout I had to deal with at my hairline.

Corrina777

I did find that this particular routine is the only routine that will give me second day hair (as long as I'm not training).

Firefox7275

waymire01 wrote: »

I think the problem is not the co washing... it's everything we put on top. I highly suggest anyone who has tried to co wash and failed, take a day or two when you don't need to have perfect hair and experiment with just the conditioner, nothing else. Then when you get that one product right, add another if you need it just a little at a time. It's hard enough to find one product that has all the characteristics you need, I think trying to use 3 or more at the same time (the usual "prescription" for newbies is co/w, RO, LI, and gel) when each one has numerous possibilities and interact with every other product used, while at the same time completely changing how you treat your hair... is a major reason for the frustration and "failure" so many of us are experiencing.

That said I'm in the market for a serum or maybe a milk that contains frizz and has a little bit of hold and not a lot of heavy ingredients (and does not contain shea butter, lol). I don't think gels are for me, they leave too much build up, and puddings are way too heavy. Today I grabbed Loreal eversleek frizz taming creme serum which I had on hand, and I will try that next wash on wet hair, but I'm open to other suggestions. All my other favorite products (garnier creme gel and anti humidity smoothing milk) have dimethicone.

I think a lot of the failure is people not properly researching the Curly Girl method or all the information on this site, they only avoid silicones and sulphates. The method absolutely permits for low poo and that is often recommended here to newbies with scalp problems, fine or thin hair, weak waves or low porosity. It is a myth that you must co-wash to be CG.

It's also widely discussed on these forums that many more ingredients than just silicones can build up - butters, waxes including cetyl esters, petrolatum/ mineral oil, certain polyquats. An awful lot of us use the same product for rinse out and leave in conditioner, and again we do often suggest that to newbies. However too many have not understood that 'leave in' is short for leave in conditioner and instead use no conditioner but two styling products - another source of failure.

I have done as you say here - a lot of conditioner only styling and it was really helpful in understanding what different ingredients do for my hair. I do think more people need to try really basic products - a plain conditioner based on little more than the major emollients, a plain gel with a simple copolymer for hold, THEN consider adding in products laden with proteins, butters/ oils or potent humectants.

A Curly Girl friendly gel should be water based and rinse out with no build up or residue. A lot of people like lighter jellys such as flaxseed or okra, or make their own curl cream from a gel plus conditioner.

HTH.