Loved By Curls was created with Curly Girls in mind.
Our goal is to make you feel proud of your natural curls and to help you every step of the way!
We’re now a year into the blog and we’re blown away at the response and welcome we’ve received from the Curly Girl community.
We, therefore, wanted to take a look back at the things we’ve learned this year and do a round-up of the tips and advice our readers loved the most!
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”BwZwybAY” upload-date=”Thu Oct 29 2020 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)” name=”Curly Girl Tips By Loved By Curls” description=”Our best Curly Girl tips by Loved By Curls!”]We’ll talk Curly Girl Method and ingredients and provide answers to your most burning hair questions!
Let’s get to it.
CURLY GIRL METHOD
Loved By Curls was initially launched as an online community to help make sense of the Curly Girl Method. Whether you’re a new follower of the method or you’ve been at it for years, it can still be a struggle!
We’ve written many articles about the CG method to help understand the do’s and don’ts and here are some of the most important things we’ve learned:
You Don’t Need a Final Wash
We discovered that many Curlies were doing a so-called ‘final wash‘ with regular shampoo before starting the Curly Girl Method.
A final wash is a term that has been circulated around online GG communities for a while now, but as we pointed out in this article, you absolutely do not need to do a final wash.
A final wash using sulfate shampoo simply prolongs your journey.
Instead, find a sulfate-free co-wash or conditioner product and begin your journey without any harmful chemicals!
The CG Method Works For Wavies Too
The reason why the Curly Girl Method is so popular is that it helps wavies achieve curly locks too!
Granted, you won’t be getting 3C curls if you’re a wavy, but the method really does work.
In a previous article on how to follow the CG method if you’re a wavy, we saw how I had gone from a curl type 2A to a 2C on my best days. This was even without using any styling products!
The idea is really simple. Use CG approved products, follow our simple beginner’s guide and you’ll soon see results!
Understanding Terminology is Key
Plopping? SOTC? Co-washing? Following the CG method can be daunting if you don’t know what these words mean.
Some curly girl groups online seem to frown upon newbies asking such questions, so we created a Curly Girl Method glossary so you never have to wonder again!
The reason why CG terminology is so important is because, without it, you may miss a crucial step that could make all the difference to your curls.
For example, it’s important to know the difference between no-poo and low-poo as well as co-wash and conditioning.
Understanding these terms will help you fast-track your journey towards bouncy soft curls!
The Transition period Won’t Last Forever
How many times have you heard the phrase ‘patience is key’? Well, as annoying as it might seem, it really is true. Especially when it comes to the Curly Girl Method.
If you’re a newbie, you may be going through the dreaded CG transition period right now and wonder when your hair will feel normal again. It will…we promise!
The key to getting through the first few weeks is to not overdo it. Don’t buy five different conditioners and don’t overspend.
Start easy. Buy one conditioner, one gel and if you need it, a low-poo or co-washing product.
Dry your hair in an old t-shirt and focus on following the method properly rather than the products. You can follow my curly girl method easy step-by step guide if you need further advice.
If your hair becomes greasy, it’s OK to use a sulfate-free cleanser. Or try an apple cider vinegar cleanse!
Whatever you do, keep at it because the method really does work!
INGREDIENTS
It can be difficult to find ingredients that work well with your curly hair. Every head of hair is different and so the key is to understand the ingredients at hand.
Over the course of the year, we’ve written some great articles on various ingredients and here are a few of our best tips:
Glycerin Can Be A Friend Or A Foe
For some, glycerin is a magical ingredient that helps tame frizz. To others, it’s a real nightmare.
Glycerin is a humectant, which means that it draws moisture from the air.
However, it can also draw moisture from YOUR hair.
This means that in very humid conditions, glycerin could draw moisture from the atmosphere and make your hair frizzy.
Sounds confusing? All this means is that whether glycerin will work for you, is both down to the weather conditions as well as the moisture balance of your hair.
It’s worth trying products containing glycerin though. In general, glycerin has many benefits such as moisturising, reducing itching and stimulating hair growth.
If you do want to avoid glycerin altogether, try one of these 17 glycerin-free hair products.
Avoid Protein If You Have Low Porosity Hair
One of the most common questions we hear is ‘do I need protein or moisture‘? It’s a hard question to answer because everyone’s hair is different.
The best way to answer this question is to figure out the porosity of your hair. Is it low, medium or high?
We previously wrote a great article about protein and low porosity in which we found that low porosity hair does NOT need protein.
This is due to the fact that low porosity hair has a hard time retaining moisture due to excess keratin. Keratin, as you might know, is protein!
Therefore low porosity hair tends to be protein sensitive and any use of protein-heavy products could cause damage to your hair.
If you have low porosity hair, it’s best to use moisturising products. Treat yourself to a weekly hair mask and watch your curls come back to life!
Hard Water Can Cause Calcium Build-Up
Some of us unfortunately live in hard water areas. Hard water contains a lot of minerals and these can have a direct impact on the condition of your hair.
For example, hard water can lead to calcium build-up.
The build-up is caused by a reaction that happens between the calcium in the water and the fatty acids in your shampoo, creating soap scum.
Soap scum is insoluble in water and can often end up sticking to your scalp.
There are some general symptoms of calcium build-up:
- White Flakes On Scalp
- Shampoo Doesn’t Work
- Weak Hair or Hair Loss
- Brittle Hair
- Yeast Infections
There’s a few things you can do if you believe you may live in a hard water area and suffering from calcium build-up:
- Install A Shower Head Filter
- Use A Scalp Brush
- Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
- Do a Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment
Calcium build-up can be tricky but if you follow the above advice, you should be able to rid yourself of it rather quickly.
Sparkling Water May Work Wonders On Curly Hair
Another way to combat the issues of living in a hard water area is to use sparkling water. Sounds crazy, but hear me out.
We wrote an article earlier this year about the benefits of using sparkling water on your scalp.
We found that diluting regular water with sparkling water could help balance the pH of the scalp.
This helps with removing excess build-up, irritation, and white flakes caused by dandruff.
Here are some further benefits of using sparkling water for your hair:
- Removes build-up
- Reduces frizz and brittle endsActs as an exfoliant
- Promotes hair growth
- Provides a deeper clean for scalp
If you live in a hard water area and you think it may be affecting your curly locks, try adding sparkling water into your routine!
DID YOU KNOW
Our last few tips fall into the ‘did you know’ section. These are things we had never really considered but are glad we now know!
Shampoo Does Expire
Have you ever found yourself with a cupboard full of shampoos and conditioners? You don’t want to waste them so you end up storing them for months and months. Well, be careful because we found out that shampoo actually does expire!
Who knew?
Using an expired shampoo could negatively impact the state of your curls so you should always check that the product is OK to use.
Expired shampoo could result in frizzy or brittle hair or even an itchy scalp.
Now, shampoo doesn’t expire straight away of course. An unopened bottle can last you up to three years and an opened bottle may last even up to 18 months.
There are things to check for if you suspect your shampoo may have expired:
- Smell
- color
- Consistency of product
If any of the above seems a bit off to you, you might well have an expired product on your hands. Don’t use it if you think this is the case.
The best way to ensure that your shampoo lasts a long time is to take proper care of the product.
You can do this by handling your shampoo with care. So put the lids back on, don’t expose to heat, and store in a cool place.
Moisture Overload Is A Thing
Most of us who experience issues with our curly hair have symptoms of dry and frizzy locks.
But did you know that you can actually over-moisturize your hair to the point of hygral fatigue?
Hygral fatigue is far more serious than moisture overload and can take a long time to recover from.
Essentially, hair needs a good balance of protein and water to be at optimal health. Too much of one or the other and your hair will be affected.
If hair becomes over-hydrated, it loses some of its strong protein core and the hair strands then become weak and stretchy.
Signs of moisture overload include:
- Hair feels too soft
- Curls have stopped forming
- Suffer from split ends and breakage
- Hair has no volume
- Hair feels greasy or gummy when wet
And these are typical reasons why you may suffer from moisture overload:
- Never using protein products
- Washing hair too often
- Over-conditioning
- Leaving hair wet overnight
- Overuse of deep conditioner
The best way to combat moisture overload is to follow 3 simple steps:
- Clarify
- Use Protein Products
- Seal with Oils
Use a sulphate-free shampoo to clarify your hair and then follow up with a protein-rich conditioner. After washing your hair, seal your ends with organic natural oils.
We hope you’ve enjoyed these top tips from us and we wish you all the best on your Curly Girl journey ahead!
Disclaimer: This site is not intended to provide professional or medical advice. All of the content on LovedByCurls.com is for informational purposes only. All advice should be followed at your own discretion. Ingredients may change at any time so always check the product label before using. Check our full disclaimer policy here.