This is my current experience:
🔹I still have crazy hair days. But they are slowly getting less frequent.
🔹I still get discouraged (yesterday and today even) – BUT – that is also far less frequent. I refuse to give up.
🔹I’m still tempted to straighten my hair on a weekly bases.
🔹I am still tempted to wash it, brush it and just go to bed in a pony tail or just sleep on it wet and draped over the back of my pillow (old habits 🏼)
🔹 I still enjoy an occasional pony tail but it is a curly hair pony tail with a silk/satin scrunchy and as far up on the top of my head as possibly. ( I learned there is a huge difference between straight hair pony tails and curly ones)
Speaking of learning:
I have learned:
🔹 I brush my hair in the shower with conditioner in my hair. NEVER dry. I did try dry brushing one once just for the sake of it. Right before a shower. I ended up having terrible hair afterwards.
🔹Apply products to soaking wet hair in the shower (for me)
🔹Curly hair approved products are FREE from chemically altering ingredients that would “force” hair to do anything. Thus – allowing the natural curl do what it wants/needs to do. So my products do NOT and should NOT create Curl. They should ONLY enhance what the curl already has the ability to do.
🔹 The “curly girl method” is just a method, not a company. And it will not work on people with naturally straight hair. No mater how hard you try.
Why? – because the products do not form curls, they only “feed” the hair what it needs to curl naturally.
🔹Microfiber towels are the best things ever.
-BUT-
So is a Flour Sack Towel (my favorite) for scrunching out excess water and helping encourage the curls to find their families.
🔹Curls need to remain in their Curl families (clumps) or they become frizz. Frizz = lonely or struggling curls.
🔹There is a such thing as “healthy frizz” and all curly girls have a small bit of healthy frizz. It proves our curls are ours and not from heat.
🔹I personally think Denman brushes are the best brush on the planet for curly hair and they help remove frizz. I use it in the shower while I have conditioner in my hair and my hair is in love with this brush. (Personal opinion)
🔹Water is my friend – water IS my friend – water is my friend. Once I figured out how to make water my friend, my hair was thankful. Water = frizz if I’m not careful. But water also means hydration. And hair needs water just like plants do. Hydration is huge for curls.
🔹 Damaged hair has to heal as it grows out. So my roots are the healthiest part of my hair. I can’t wait to see my curls in 12 months.
🔹Never ever use parabens, sulfates and a bunch of other things… these are terrible for all hair types.
🔹My hair does not like oils at all. Even healthy hair oils. My hair goes instantly straight and what I like to say as, “angry”.
🔹If you have been around me at all in the last few months, you have likely heard me say, “My hair is angry today”. This is what I say when I have used a product that my hair did not like and I have had a terrible result.
🔹I also say, “My curls are tired today.” I say this when my hair is over moisturized (limpy and loose), or its been too many days between washing.
🔹My hair is high density, mid/high porosity, and 100% course. The heaviest hair can get – I have that. So I have to use super light weight products and MINIMAL amounts. Meaning – my curls are not saturated in products = my curls are partially naked. My hair gets weighed down way to fast. So less product is more curl for me.
🔹Hair must be wet and hydrated to absorb products. Otherwise it tends to sit on the Hair and weigh it down. Hair “drinks” water and water mixed with products get soaked up.
🔹Hair Gel forming a hard cast protects the curls while the curls dry so they stay in their “families” and produces less frizz. We call this a “cast” and once Hair is 100% dry we “scrunch out the crunch – sotc” to remove the cast and this will then showcase our soft, bouncy curls with minimal frizz. I personally prefer a softer cast.
🔹Shampoo is hair “food” and “hydration” (generally but not always called a low-poo or no-poo)
🔹Conditioner is “moisture” and “food”
🔹Curly Hair needs natural oils so washing it daily is not recommended. Stripping with shampoos is not recommended unless there is build up. But if you have a high quality low-poo/no-poo/shampoo and conditioner washing daily is 100% ok. Because then you are “feeding” your hair.
🔹Conditioner can be used instead of low-pop/no-poo/shampoo and when this is done it is called “co-wash” (conditioner washing). Curls often times LOVE this more than washing. There are some who say the hair does not get clean, but results are often times positive. So do what works for you.
🔹Hair Buff’s ROCK!
🔹Sleep on a satin or Silk pillow case, with a silk or satin bonnet, in a silk scarf, or in a hair buff, and often times with your hair with a pineapple pony tail (google a pineapple pony tail) or loosely if you prefer.
🔹Use Satin or Silk in all your hats unless you use a hair buff under them.
🔹Satin and silk protects curls, curl families, curl hydration, and curl health. It prevents drying, snagging, knotting, dehydration and breakage. All hair (and skin) benefits actually. But this is a huge must for curl health.
🔹Never use a regular bath towel on your hair. It catches and pulls the Curl families apart. = frizz
🔹It takes time to learn what your hair needs. See a Deva Curl specialist first to learn your hair type. Deva Curl specialist are specifically trained in your specific curly hair. Other hair dressers have general knowledge from school, but Deva Curl specialists have additional training that is specific to your exact curl type with hair needs. Porosity is a huge factor. They know what your curls need based on porosity, density, and texture. It’s like taking a Chevy to a Chevy mechanic. Ford to a Ford.
Ford can successfully fix a Chevy. But, Chevy has the exact computer technology and engine training for the Chevy. Both do good – one just has additional advantages. Do the Deva Specialist for a consult then you can always go back to your hair dresser. I just really recommend this if you want to save stress and money if you are beginning your curl journey. @Motivations with JLee is our local Deva Curl specialist for our area.
🔹Curly hair shouldn’t and doesn’t need to be high maintenance.
HOWEVER!!!
It should not be treated like naturally straight hair. They are not even the same thing. Their only similarity is they are hair. The curly hair shaft itself is actually completely different than straight hair shafts. Beyond that they also require 2 completely different care techniques. What works for straight hair will damage and dry out curly hair. What works on curly hair will work for straight hair but it will not form curls. Curls are not equal to straight hair for washing, caring, styling and sleeping.
🔹There is a HUGE misconception about porosity in the world.
▫️If you are high your hair gets wet fast and takes forever to dry. It can be healthy and high, but high generally happens because of damage. High is not the goal.
▫️If you are mid it gets wet and drys decently. This is generally considered normal porosity (the goal)
▫️If you are low, it’s hard to get wet and it drys really fast. Low is not the goal. Low is the one that struggles to be healthy. It can be healthy, but it struggles. The goal is to get low to medium. Low is not fun to have.
🔹Hair needs protein and moisture.
▫️Not enough moisture = dry
▫️Not enough protein = mushy and limp
Hair is mostly protein. Their is no such thing as protein overload. If your hair is super dry and brittle – it needs moisture. If it’s super limp and mushy, it needs protein.
🔹I no longer participate in the Curly Gurl Method groups on Facebook, because they are not using correct education and my hair was a mess following the advice I was getting.
I learned from a Deva Specialist and took her advice and my hair in just 1 month has transformed tremendously and is finally balanced and healthy.
If you have made it this far, you are awesome! Thank you.
I have more info and I am FAR from nailing this down perfectly yet, but I have learned a TON. May the info above help you as well.
If you care to follow my curly hair journey check me out on Instagram at “FaithHopeGrowth” with LaCota Overton
