How Naturally Curly saved my hair

in Hall of Fame
I got my haircut yesterday and I just can't get over how great my curls looked (even before the cut). My hairdresser sincerely complimented them AND it was my first dry cut ever which to me means that my curls are healthy and structured enough to not need a wash before.
This website truly saved my hair. A few years ago I was going for a tousled, "scene", wavy look. In other words, I was destroying my curls with my hands and a curling iron - the first pic below (September 2012) shows how unhealthy it was. I stopped using heat completely last July and in October I really started to educate myself about the best products and the best way to handle my hair. My hair is the curliest and healthiest it's ever been so THANK YOU to everyone on this website that posts reviews and advice and pictures, lends a sympathetic ear when we're having our bad hair days, and advocates for our natural curls. I'm so proud to be a curly girl!
IMG_1263_zps68f03992.jpg photo1_zps1fdc6810.jpg photo2_zpsa0aa0c44.jpg photo4_zps088f633f.jpg
Pic #2 is before my cut yesterday and #3 & 4 are after.
This website truly saved my hair. A few years ago I was going for a tousled, "scene", wavy look. In other words, I was destroying my curls with my hands and a curling iron - the first pic below (September 2012) shows how unhealthy it was. I stopped using heat completely last July and in October I really started to educate myself about the best products and the best way to handle my hair. My hair is the curliest and healthiest it's ever been so THANK YOU to everyone on this website that posts reviews and advice and pictures, lends a sympathetic ear when we're having our bad hair days, and advocates for our natural curls. I'm so proud to be a curly girl!
IMG_1263_zps68f03992.jpg photo1_zps1fdc6810.jpg photo2_zpsa0aa0c44.jpg photo4_zps088f633f.jpg
Pic #2 is before my cut yesterday and #3 & 4 are after.
3B ❤ low-med porosity ❤ med density ❤ SL (growing out) ❤
Modified CG as of Oct. 2013
Co-wash: Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut
RO: Matrix Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong Conditioner
Product: SheaMoisture C&H Smoothie, TRESemme Mega Firm Control Gel
2nd Day Product: Matrix Total Results Moisture Cure Spray, Curls Curl Creme Brule
Modified CG as of Oct. 2013
Co-wash: Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut
RO: Matrix Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong Conditioner
Product: SheaMoisture C&H Smoothie, TRESemme Mega Firm Control Gel
2nd Day Product: Matrix Total Results Moisture Cure Spray, Curls Curl Creme Brule
0
Comments
--My CG and grey hair progress -
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/going-gray/179328-jeepys-grey-hair-progress.html
--My article at NaturallyCurly about going grey -
https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/color/how-i-went-completely-gray-and-loved-it
Sent from my Samsung S3*
Suave, V05, GF Go clean gel, ACV rinses, CO, and Gelatine PT.
[URL="[url=http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/members/samanthascurlz-albums-evolvement-my-hair.html]Curls[/url]"][/url]Curls
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
--
Routine:
CW-LI: Garnier Ultra Doux (Cocoa+Coconut Oil/Mango+Tiaré) or my own products.
DC: Biofficina Toscana Maschera Nutriente Protettiva, or my own product.
Homemade FSG, L'Oreal Styling Gel.
:bunny:
NP/LP: CJ Daily Fix, KMF Whenever / Giovanni TTTT
RO/LI: Aussie Moist, CJ Argan & Olive Oil, Hask Keratin Protein
DC/PROTEIN: KC Stellar Strands / CNPF
STYLER: CJ Curl Queen
COLOR: henna, amla & indigo
:thumbdown:: glycerin in high/low dews, polyquat-10 & 11, parabens
Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
CO-wash: Inecto coconut/ Elvive Volume Collagen
Treatments: Komaza Care Matani, coconut/ sweet almond/ fractionated coconut oils, Hairveda Sitrinillah
Leave in: Fructis Sleek & Shine (old), Gliss Ultimate Volume, various Elvive
Styler: Umberto Giannini jelly, Au Naturale styling gelee
Flour sack towel, pixie diffuse or air dry.
Experimenting with: benign neglect
3B, fine, normal porosity, high density, medium width and length
Conditioner: Tresemme Naturals, Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle
Co-Wash: As I Am Coconut Co-Wash
Leave in Products: As I Am Leave-In, SM Smoothie/Milk, KCKT, Giovanni Direct Leave-In
Air Dry
Looking for new products and methods to try!
When I started out I was on a very tight budget and had to use drugstore products, but I made the best of it. I quickly found the more conditioner I used the better - in the beginning I was using Suave Coconut conditioner as a co-wash and Suave Professionals Rosemary + Mint conditioner as a rinse out and leave in. Alcohol-free gel was also key. Loreal EverStyle had an alcohol-free one but I haven't been able to find it lately.
I was still wetting my hair in the shower every day (I'm trying to get away from that now) but once I learned to STOP TOUCHING my hair it improved quickly. I was constantly tousling, pulling at curls to make them look longer, and trying to untangle knots on dry hair. Such a disaster!
Invest in some good (not necessarily expensive) products and trust in the process. It takes time but you can turn it around. Good luck!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Modified CG as of Oct. 2013
Co-wash: Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut
RO: Matrix Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong Conditioner
Product: SheaMoisture C&H Smoothie, TRESemme Mega Firm Control Gel
2nd Day Product: Matrix Total Results Moisture Cure Spray, Curls Curl Creme Brule
fine/medium texture and a bit porous-I color
Spring routine: Renpure luxurious argan oil shampoo/Loreal Advanced Care Color conditioner , HETT gel
Microfiber towel/diffuse
Trying KKCC
I was still wetting my hair in the shower every day (I'm trying to get away from that now) but once I learned to STOP TOUCHING my hair it improved quickly. I was constantly tousling, pulling at curls to make them look longer, and trying to untangle knots on dry hair. Such a disaster!
Invest in some good (not necessarily expensive) products and trust in the process. It takes time but you can turn it around. Good luck!"
I'm not new to Naturally Curly. Actually, I was pretty strict with co-washing and only occasional shampoos for close to 4 years(between 2009 and 2013) and then experimented. My hair did get a little curlier, but nothing like some of the more dramatic before and afters I've seen here. I'm kinda back to a modified CG routine after a foray into sulfates and silicones. Like you, I had to go with drugstore and Sally's. I didn't experiment a whole lot when I started - I just went with the Suave Coconut Conditioner, GVP Conditioning Balm, Renpure Originals Argan Oil Shampoo(no sulfates), and two treatments - GVP Protein Reconstructing and the L'Oreal Nature's Therapy Mega Moisture one. Later, I switched to One 'n Only Hydrating Mask.
Unlike you, I was never trying to pull out my curls longer - if anything I'm always wanting my hair to be CURLIER and most of all more consistent.
I apologize if I came off as condescending. I didn't know what your experience with CG has been so I wanted to share what my hair had to recover from and what I've been doing.
I don't experiment with products much either unless something REALLY isn't working. I don't have the product junkie fever that a lot of CGs seem to have 😉
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Modified CG as of Oct. 2013
Co-wash: Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut
RO: Matrix Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong Conditioner
Product: SheaMoisture C&H Smoothie, TRESemme Mega Firm Control Gel
2nd Day Product: Matrix Total Results Moisture Cure Spray, Curls Curl Creme Brule
Sent from my GT-I9000 using CurlTalk App
M/C, Low/Medium/High Por, Normal Elast. Medium Density
LP: INSIGHT DAMAGED HAIR Restructurizing Shampoo
CO: Generic protein conditioner, Hair Academy Deep Cleansing CO
DET/RO/LI: GNC Avocado And Shea Butter Conditioner +/mask,
Styler: Schwarzkopf Taft Fixing GelWellaflex Instant Volume Boost Mousse
DT: EVOO, C.O
HG
Goal: WL when curly
CG since Feb 2014
Sent from my GT-I9000 using CurlTalk App
M/C, Low/Medium/High Por, Normal Elast. Medium Density
LP: INSIGHT DAMAGED HAIR Restructurizing Shampoo
CO: Generic protein conditioner, Hair Academy Deep Cleansing CO
DET/RO/LI: GNC Avocado And Shea Butter Conditioner +/mask,
Styler: Schwarzkopf Taft Fixing GelWellaflex Instant Volume Boost Mousse
DT: EVOO, C.O
HG
Goal: WL when curly
CG since Feb 2014