Curly Girl Method Routine – Curly Hair Routine for 2B 2C 3A Hair
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This is my curly girl method routine for 2b 2c 3a hair. I use all curly girl approved products and curly girl method styling techniques to enhance my 2b 2c 3a curly hair and reduce frizz. Read on to find out more about my curly girl routine!
If you want help with embracing your naturally wavy or curly hair, you can join my FREE email course and download my FREE pdf guide, THE QUICK START GUIDE TO MASTERING YOUR CURLS, full of everything you need to know to get started and bring out your beautiful waves and curls.
Curl Type
If you don’t know your curl type, you can click here to find out. It’s not really important to know your curl type to figure out what products and methods work for you, but I know many people want to know their curl type and use it as a starting point.
2B 2C 3A Curly Hair
I have a mix of 2b, 2c, and 3a curls. It’s very normal to have different curl patterns like this. Sometimes that can change, but usually, it won’t. Sometimes my hair looks like it’s all 3a curls and other times you can see the 2b hair under the 2c waves and 3a curls. Below you can see a visual of what 2b 2c 3a curly hair looks like.
The Curly Girl Method
Over 3 years ago I decided to start the curly girl method. You can read more about how the curly girl method transformed my hair here.
If you’re not familiar with the CG method, it is basically a method of washing and styling wavy and curly hair to get softer, more defined, healthier curls and waves. It pretty much works for anyone who has frizz, waves, and curls.
My routine is based on the curly girl method with a few tweaks. You can learn more about embracing your curls in my free ebook and email course.
I will show you in detail how I style my hair, but please know that this will not work for everyone.
I have very fine, thin hair, high porosity (it can be helpful to know your porosity so click here for help with that), and live in a high humidity area.
I cannot use some of the most popular products, even though others with similar hair types can and get beautiful curls with them. My biggest struggle is maintaining volume and definition in the humidity.
Curly Girl Method Products for 2B 2C 3A hair
{Update 10/4/18: I now use EVOLVh which I LOVE because it gives me softer, shinier curls and I can go much longer between washes! You can try it with coupon code HE15 for 15% off. Check out this review to see if it might work for you.}
The EVOLVh Curls Discovery Kit is a great starter kit with the base products needed for your lineup. Check out my full EVOLVh SmartCurl review for more on these products.
First, you want to make sure you’re using curly girl method approved products. All the products I mention in this post are curly girl approved.
I use either Raw Curls Swavy shampoo, regular conditioner, and medium hold gel, or EVOLVh Smart Curl shampoo and conditioner, Smart Volume leave in, Total Control Styling Creme, and WonderBalm.
These 2 lines work best for my hair right now, and I like that they are organic. Lots of curly hair lines are full of toxic fragrances and other not so great ingredients, and they are very pricey.
Also, I love that these lines are very concentrated so the products last a long time. They end up being cheaper than the others when you factor in how long they last. I save even more by buying the large bottles during their sales which last me a whole year.
Some other curly and wavy haircare lines are Briogeo and Innersense (expensive). I also have a budget-friendly clean Curly Girl products roundup post.
If you need some tips choosing products check out this post for curly girl method beginners.
Product Matching Guide
Looking for specific product recommendations based on your hair type? Check out my product finder, the Curly Product Handbook.
This guide will show you how to identify your hair type and characteristics, provide some styling tips, and list exact products that will work on your hair type. Click here for more info.
Curly hair routine for 2B 2C 3A hair
I have video tutorials posted below the text instructions, so scroll down if you prefer visuals.
I wash my hair every 4-6 days.
First, I wash with the shampoo and conditioner. I finger comb the knots out with the conditioner and add more if I need to. I flip my head upside down to rinse out the conditioner.
I make sure to rinse my scalp really well, then with my head still upside down I spray the EVOLVh Smart Volume conditioner through the ends and scrunch my hair up.
I finger comb a bit here as well to make sure there are no tangles, and scrunch some more.
If I don’t see my curls clumping up nicely, I cup my hands to grab some water and scrunch into my hair. You want thick clumps of curls.
With my head still upside down, I scrunch in some of the Raw Curls medium hold gel, or the Evolvh styling creme and WonderBalm mixed together.
I put about a nickel size amount of product in my palms, scrunch up from the ends all the way up to the roots.
I continue squishing it at the roots to encourage better clumps. At this point, it looks like I barely have any hair and it doesn’t even look very curly.
I then scrunch out the water with a hair towel or a flour sack towel.
A flour sack towel or t-shirt material is key for reducing frizz. A regular towel will not work for this.
I do this by placing the towel under my hair when my head is upside down, then pushing it towards my scalp, and squeezing once to absorb the water. I do this a few times around my head.
Grab the hair towel I use here.
I leave my hair alone until the ends are dry and crunchy. This takes about 15 minutes.
Because my hair is so flat, I diffuse the roots with my head upside down or completely dry it by diffusing upside down. If you don’t need volume, you can skip that.
I use the diffuser attachment on my hairdryer, flip my head upside down, and dry the roots. This takes about 5 minutes. You can see below the volume it gives me.
Here is the diffuser I recommend.
I usually wash my hair at night, so I don’t scrunch out the crunchy gel until the morning.
I put my hair in a buff (pictured below) to preserve the curls and maintain volume and sleep in that. But if I am going out then I skip this part.
Grab the buff I use here.
When I wake up, I take out the buff and scrunch out the crunchiness. I flip my head over for this and try to fluff it a little bit too.
Usually, on the first day, I don’t need to add any styling product because it looks good straight out of the buff. This is what it usually looks like after I scrunch out the crunch (aka SOTC in the curly world).
For help with styling, check out the Fabulous Curls Academy Membership. This monthly membership gives you access to multiple courses that will help you transform your frizzy hair into defined bouncy curls, by learning how to use products the right way for your hair (even if they’re not CG approved)!
Results using EVOLVh on 2B 2C 3A Curly Hair
Results Using Raw Curls on 2B 2C 3A Hair
Making The Style Last
I sleep with the buff on every night to preserve the curls. Nighttime curl care is crucial to get waves and curls that last several days between washes. Read this post for more info on nighttime curl care.
On the third and fourth days, I need to refresh my curls a bit.
I usually add a tiny amount of conditioner mixed with water to recoil some of the curls in the front and top layer, and if needed add a small amount of gel with water.
Here is third day hair after refreshing with a little conditioner and water.
Check out my refreshing video below. I also have another here.
Sometimes there’s no salvaging it on days 4-5, so I do a quick side braid or side bun on those days. I also sometimes pin back one or both sides, or the front if only some parts of my hair are not cooperating.
I have a video on easy hairstyles here.
And that’s it!
Typing it out makes it seem more complicated than it is but hopefully, this was helpful. If you need more support through the process, check out my affordable monthly program Fabulous Curls Academy.
Fabulous Curls Academy
Fabulous Curls Academy is my monthly membership program that gives you access to several online courses that will guide you through creating a simple routine that gives you fabulous results. Learn what your hair type is, which products and ingredients will work for you, and how to style according to your hair type by creating a simple routine that works. No more confusion about products or methods or battling frizz and time. Click here for more info.
You can subscribe to my blog, join my Facebook group Simple Curlies & Wavies, and follow me on Instagram @holisticenchilada where I constantly share tips, info, and demo videos on curly hair, green beauty, and wellness.
YOU CAN ALSO READ MY OTHER POPULAR POSTS ON CURLY HAIR:
- A Basic Guide to the Curly Girl Method for Wavy & Curly Hair
- What Products You Really Need To Start The Curly Girl Method
- Curly Girl Method Routine for 2B 2C 3A Hair
- 50+ Curly Girl Method Approved Products
- Curly Girl Night Routine To Protect Your Curls At Night
- How To Refresh Curly Hair
- Tips For Fine & Low Density Curly Hair
- How To Clarify Curly Hair
- Rice Water Rinse Guide
- 14 Hacks For Curly and Wavy Hair
- How To Repair Damaged Curly Hair
- Curly Girl Method Before and After – 1 Year Progress Update
- Ultimate Guide to Hair Porosity for Curly Hair
- My Favorite Products for Fine Curly Hair
- 11 Surprising Reasons You Have Frizz + Tips to Beat Frizz
- Common Causes of Limp Curls & Their Fixes
- Guide to Humidity & Weather Styling
- EVOLVh Review
If you want help with embracing your naturally wavy or curly hair, you can join my FREE email course and download my FREE pdf guide, THE QUICK START GUIDE TO MASTERING YOUR CURLS, full of everything you need to know to get started and bring out your beautiful waves and curls.
Want to remember this? Save Curly Girl Method Routine – Curly Hair Routine for 2B 2C 3A Hair to your favorite Pinterest board.
i don’t have a curly hair. but i enjoyed reading this. I will definitely share this with my friends who got curly hair. thanks for the nice and good tips 🙂
Thanks Shenali!
Really good information. My hair is similar in curls.
I have similar hair thin, fine and just started wearing it wavy. Do you get a special cut? Also, how often do you cut your hair? And do you have any bangs or is it all one length, layers?? I love your hair. I hope one day for mine to look half as good as yours!
Thanks,
Angie
Hi Angie! I do get a Devacut once a year, but I just started last year. Before I would just get a normal cut with a few layers. My stylist before was very familiar with my hair so she was careful not to cut too many layers or too short. Right now I do have some layers. But since it’s really thin I can’t cut too many layers.
This post was very informational , unfortunately for me I am one of those individuals with straight hair that has always wanted some curls
Aww well both types have their pros and cons. You can totally wash and go while I can’t.
Thank you Dee! I’m super excited to try this. I’ve got 2b waves and it’s always been a pain to get my hair to look good. I’m growing in the gray and going fully natural so this is perfect timing!
Yay, so happy this helps! I barely have grays but I know I will not dye my hair so I’ll be a natural gray at some point too.
Your hair looks so good! I used to straighten mine every day too- MAN, what a waste of time that was! Now I usually keep it in a bun while I’m working, but I think I’ll try your method next time I wear it curly. Thanks for sharing!
Haha it was such a waste of time! Hopefully my tips help you get nicer curls 🙂
Hair care does matter. And we want to work with the nature of the hair we have. This post does a beautiful job of showing just that. Thank you!
Thanks Verla 🙂
Girl you have gorgeous hair! Thanks for the tips. I have wavy frizzy hair, but not curly like yours, but I will see why I can do with your suggestions!
Try this and I promise you hair WILL get curlier!
Your hair is so lovely! I was also cursed with naturally wavy/ curly hair but don’t have the time to fuss with it.
It’s not a curse! Lol but I know what you mean. It really doesn’t take much. I spend less time fussing with it now that I did before.
Girl, I NEEDED this!!! Moving from dry to humid has done wonders on my hair! Thanks for the tips!
Oh I’m so glad this is helpful. Let me know if you need help. I have learned so much over the years.
I don’t have curly hair, but know people who do. Will pass these tips along!
Thanks!
Thanks for this! I love seeing how other people manage their curly hair. I’ll have to look into those products…and using a buff for your hair overnight!? Brilliant!
Haha yes I use it overnight. I got the tip from some other curly girls in a Facebook group. I would have never thought of that myself.
I have naturally cutrly hair that I get chemically straightened. My curls look nothing like yours though. Your curls are beautiful!
You should join natural curls movement!
You have gorgeous hair. Thank you for sharing your tips.
Thanks 🙂
What a great post for people with curly hair! Your hair is gorgeous!
Thank you Heidi!
Great post. I have always wanted curly hair. Mine is totally straight not even the slightest wave.
So funny how we always want what we don’t have. I always wanted straight hair as a child but I have grown to love my curls.
Great tips for curly hair types. Your curls look amazing.
Thanks!
This is great because my daughter has curly hair and I have no idea how to manage it. I just tie it up but it tends to get very frizzy.
Oh yes use my tips on her hair. One thing I didn’t mention is that you’re not supposed brush curly hair. It’s more prone to breakage than straight hair and brushing causes lots of frizz too. If you must brush (which I’m sure that’s a yes), do so when her hair is saturated with conditioner. What I do is I have a bottle filled with mostly water and few pumps of conditioner mixed to spray on my daughter’s hair in the mornings so I can get the knots out with a wide tooth comb. Then I style it. And I now put her hair in a bun for school after a terrible lice situation.
I’d never thought about hair type before seeing this. I think my hair is probably 3B. Your post is definitely food for thought!
Yeah, most people have a range of a few types. And it can change throughout your life of course. Thanks for reading 🙂
my daughter has hair a lot like yours. She’s only five now, but I have no idea how to manage hair like hers, so this is really helpful. Thanks!
I know you said you live in Florida. Does this method control the frizz in the hot humid Florida summers? I have 3a/3b curly hair and I have been chemically straightening it for years. I relocated to Florida last July and my hair is very damaged from the frequent straighteners that I have had trying to control the frizz in the Florida humidity. I’m near the coast and I am desperate for a solution to the frizz.
Hi Melanie! Yes it does. The key during very humid times is to make sure I do not use products that list glycerin as one of the first ingredients, don’t leave the house until my hair is fully dry, and really saturate my hair with conditioner when styling. Frizzing is caused by the hair absorbing the moisture in the air because it lacks moisture itself. So by applying some conditioner as a styling product before the gel, this helps hydrate the hair to protect against frizz. Getting a hard cast to form from the gel also prevents frizzing so be sure to use a good amount of gel too. Remember you want your hair to dry hard, then you can scrunch it to soften that cast and not have crunchy hair.
I’m a Miami girl too. Been here my entire life. Growing up I owned my curly hair because I swam competitively and washed my hair daily and sometimes 2 times a day. Only used a little gel and air dried it. It was great. Fast forward to college time and straight hair is in… started ironing, since I have thin hair, my hair would last nicely, then keratin came in, and all of a sudden, I didn’t need to do anything except wash 2 times a week, brush, and go. Now years later I miss my curls and have been going with it or living with a ponytail or bun because the heat… lol. I want my curls back and didn’t know about this cg method. I’m definitely going to give it a try. I hope I can go back to my natural curls… Interesting that you say not to leave out till dry, never thought of that… Definitely you’ve given me a lot of options and ideas. Thanks girl!!
Thanks for sharing your story Drea. I hope you can give your curls some new life with this method. Feel free to reach out for help whenever! 🙂
Thank you so much, I just found your post and I’m excited to try the products. I’ve been straightening my hair for too long, and I’ve been wanting to embrace the curl, but couldn’t find any products that work for me. My hair is very similar to yours, and I live in Florida, too! I’m going to try exactly what you are doing, I hope your methods work for me as well as they do for you!
Great curly hair tutorial, Dee!
Much like yourself, I grew up thinking I just had frizzy, wavy, impossible-to- manage-in-high-humidity hair until I discovered the Curly Girl way some eight years ago. I’ve been using Deva Curl No-Poo, One Condition and Arc Angel Gel every day since then.
At night, I pull my hair up into a ponytail on top of my head using a good ol’ fashioned scrunchie, but sometimes I end up with a flat spot on top the next day. I’ve got a Buff, but never thought to use it as a curl protector while I sleep! Gonna give it a try tonight!
Thanks! I used to use Deva Curl but Raw Curls is a better fit for my hair. I learned the buff trick from another curly girl in a Facebook group and it has shortened my mornings by quite a bit 🙂
Do you know if this works for permed hair as well? Or only naturally curly hair?
I am not sure but I imagine it should, as all this really does is not disrupt the curl pattern.
On days you don’t wash your hair, do you just cover it when you shower? Also, do you ever co-wash on days you don’t shampoo?
Thanks!
Hi Rachel. I usually put it up in a bun and place a headband over the front. I used to use a shower cap but I don’t anymore. No I don’t co-wash. I tried a few times but my hair is so fine and thin that it just looks like day 3 flat hair and my scalp shows through.
I have 2c/3a curls and I followed your routine and my hair was INSTANTLY curlier and less frizzy. I was looking at purchasing the microfiber towel you recommended but how do you plop with that turban style?
Thank you!
Hi Samantha. I’m glad your hair is looking better! I usually scrunch a bit with the towel then while still upside down I let my hair fall into the larger opening of the towel by placing it directly underneath and just bringing it up closer to my scalp, once it’s on I twist the end and tie it up. It’s easier than wrapping any regularly shaped towel but you could do it with any. I actually just got a flour sack hair towel that I will be trying. SUpposedly it works even better at minimizing frizz.
What a great blog and tutorial! I am less than a week into my CG Method journey, but already I am seeing less frizz. Your tutorial is really great and I love that you show your products and explain curly terminology. Thanks!
I’m so glad this helped!
Thank you for this post! I have the exact same hair type as you, and it’s so hard to get advice that would actually work for my hair. I’ve been going natural for about a year now after years of hair straightening, but I feel like my hair isn’t at its full potential. Will be trying these tips!
It definitely takes some time just keep going! I hope this helps.
Thanks so much for this, Dee!
I am 42 and I’ve vascillated between my natural curls (which look just like yours) and blowouts my entire adult life. I use Deva Curl products currently and no heat. My hair is fine and thin also, so I think I’m going to try blowing out my roots to help with volume. I have two questions: due to the thin and fine nature of my hair, I’ve always been afraid of leave-in conditioners because I thought they’d make my curls look flat and greasy. How do you manage that balance? Also, I work out frequently, which means I sweat frequently, so I feel like I have to wash my hair every day. I’ve never had great luck with trying to refresh it on day two. What are your thoughts?
I used to avoid a leave in for the same reason but my ends really need it and it makes a huge difference in frizz. The key is to use a light one and only scrunch it in from the ends up so that you don’t get much if any near the scalp. As for working out, I don’t do it often but when I do I put my hair in a buff like when I’m sleeping, but make it look more like a headband. This way it’s not being pulled tight and the sweat doesn’t get on all the hair, just what’s near the scalp.
In between washes, does your scalp not get super greasy? Or do you have any recommendations for greasy roots? Around day 3 I get really greasy because I work out and my head sweats so I usually have to use dry shampoo on my roots
Yes my hair gets greasy by day 3, especially in the summer. I do use dry shampoo or go ahead and wash if it’s really bad. Check out this post on how I extend my wash days https://holisticenchilada.com/extending-wash-days-with-briogeo-and-scalp-massages/
Hey I am so glad this pin showed up in my feed, it was exactly what I needed. All of my life I have had weird frizzy wavy straight hair. The only good part about ut was that it kept a curl for days. I thought I was cursed to always have to blow dry it, like my dad does. My mom always had pin straight hair and I thought I was supposed to also, so I forced it. Just a few weeks ago I found the cg method and started to implement it. My hair is in the stringy phase, so I almost lost hope and turned back to the blow dryer until I saw your pictures. Thank you for sharing the good the bad and the stringy parts about going natural. I am excited that I might actually have my grandmothers beautiful bouncy curls.
I’m so happy to help 🙂 Make sure you’re deep conditioning on a regular basis andI’d recommend using a clarifying shampoo at least once a month to help those stringy curls clump and form better.
Wow, thank you!! Our hair types seem really similar and this post gives me hope my hair might look good one day! I’ve always felt like I had the worst of both worlds..fine..so can look oily, stringy etc but curly so also really dry and frizzy. As far as cuts and shape..need layers for shape w the curls but too many layers and now I have a mullet bc the bottom layer is so fine. So yeah, your post has me hopeful. I’m definitely gonna try your methods and product.
I am just embarking on the curly girl journey and loved reading your story – thank you. Currently my hair is wavy/curly underneath yet the top section around my head is just a little wavy. Should following this method help the curl to better come out in my less curly part? Should I be coiling that part for now until curls develope? Thanks!!
Yes after a few months you should see the hair curling more. Also a good curly cut helps with that. You can coil it to encourage the curl, I do that sometimes when a clump isn’t cooperating.
Thank you so much for the detailed instructions! I want to try this so bad, but i feel like i MUST brush my hair. How do i get past this? My curls look tangled & crazy with frizzy ends.
I struggled with this too. After 3 years I figured out I needed a haircut and better conditioner. Once I did that I was able to finger detangle.
Thank you so much for the simple presentation of your routine. The pictures are great! I’m curious do you go to a hair salon with a stylist trained in curly hair, such as a Devacurl stylist? How do I go about getting a great cut without spending an arm and a leg? Or is it worth that much money for a good foundation?
I recently did for the first time. What most people do is take the tips from the Curly Girl handbook to their hair stylist and ask them to cut it like that. Other than that I don’t have any other tips. It’s expensive! If the stylist is good and you’re not happy with your hair then I’d say it’s worth it.
I think Inhave the same exact hair type as you! I really enjoye reading your hair routine. I do have a question though. With my hair being so thin, any time I have tried washing it at night (even when I think it is COMPLETELY dry) I will end up with flat spots in my hair. Is this what the buff helps with? It seems that it may make it even more flat by holding the hair to your head? I want to try this I’m just scared I will wake up looking like a cross between Frankenstein’s wife and a wet dog! Have you ever had this problem with washing at night or with the buff?? Thanks for any feedback!
Yes the buff is exactly for that. I thought the same as you and did not try it for years and was mad at myself for not trying it sooner. Doing the pineapple that other curly girls do gives me flat spots because it pulls but the buff doesn’t. I have a video on my Instagram on using the buff. http://www.instagram.com/holisticenchilada
Seems like you have to have an Instagram account to view the video 🙁
Would love a post on your blog about using a buff at night!
Hi Kat. Yes, most of my videos are on Instagram right now. I will be creating a YouTube channel soon and will update the post then.
On day 3 or 4 when you mix a little conditioner and water, do you just finger comb through your hair? Or get completely wet in shower and add conditioner?
I normally just smooth over my hair praying hands style and finger coil individual curl clumps. I rarely wet all my hair but you certainly can. Just depends on what works better for your hair.
Great article! Just a few questions. Did the change in shampoo make most of the difference? My very top layer of my hair is almost straight while the rest of it is a 2b and I just don’t know what to do with that top layer! As for most of the rest of your method I do. Also my hair gets very oily quick and I have to wash it every day. Does that shampoo help with that? My curls always look better on the morning of day 2 but I have to wash it and no dry shampoo doesn’t work! 😞
The biggest difference was the method of applying products to get clumps with definition and little frizz. The right products improved shine, bounce, dryness, frizz, and reduce styling time. I have a few spots that don’t curl as much and it has taken years for them to curl up more so you have to be patient 🙂 My hair also used to get oily more quickly but I figured out it was that I was washing too often and using products which were too heavy. Try clarifying regularly and do apple cider vinegar rinses. Since your hair is wavy you need light products. No shea butter or waxy products.
Truly inspiring! So glad I came across your post!
I have the exact same type of hair and have abused it for the last decade. I’ve been trying to restore it for tre last 6 month and it is slowly turning around. Just now learning about the CG method, and began applying it on myself and curly haired daughters today.
Your detailed post has been a great help. Thank you!
You’re welcome. I’m so glad this helped you!
Oh my goodness my hair is exactly like yours I needed this so badly!! Silly question how to you get the buff to stay in place and on your head I have a child sized head lol
Hi Kayla. I think you already found me on Instagram but if not, I have a video on there about how I put the buff on to keep it in place.
Thanks for this! I’ve revently given up fighting my curls and began embracing them. I use Divacurl products, but it looks like I can still use your process. I especially like that you can wash at night so that hair is dry in the morning. My hair takes hours to dry.
Yes I either do late afternoon or night washes because I am not a morning person haha!
I’m on day three of the CG Method, and my hair already looks fantastic. Just switching from regular products to products that are sulfate and silicone free has changed the texture of my hair. I don’t wash my hair often, and I just did the clarifying step, but I look forward to seeing the progression. I wish I could post pics! Thank you for this article!
You’re welcome! And yes the smallest changes can make a huge difference. Just wait to see how beautiful your hair will look in a few months.
Also, I’m the only person in my family who has curly hair. Pretty sure I’m either adopted or switched at birth. So my mum never knew how to deal with my hair. I’m the middle of five kids, three girls, and the only curly. I stumbled across your article on Pinterest a few days ago, and I’ve passed it on to every curly I know. Thanks again!
Alright. So until I was 12 I had super straight hair, then when I got a little older it got wavier. But I really didnt know what to do with it so I treated it like straight hair! As a freshman in highschool I started using moosse like my mom who has super beautiful curly hair. But it didnt really work that great for my hair! I never really knew my hairtype. I figured I was just a mutant because my mom has super curly hair and my dad (When he grew his long) had straight hair. By the second semester I was back to straightening it on a daily basis. WAYYY too much work! Over this summer I really didnt see the need to straighten it since I wasnt really having a busy summer so I’d let it air dry and put it in a bun. Well today is the day before the first day of school and I decided I need to do something with my hair. I got a shower, let it air dry, looked in the mirror and my hair was a mess! It was a weird, stringy, half straight, half wavy mess! So imedeatly what do I do? I get on Pintrest and look up “Natural wavy hair HELP ME” (lol) I see this post and I somewhat followed what you said and combined it a little with what ive seen on other posts and my hair has never looked better!! I think im hooked on my new head of hair! Thank you so freaking much!!
I’m so glad this helped you! In no time you’ll see your hair will look great.
I was… JUST about to give up on my curls and go back to ironing all the time… because frizz, because summer, because compliments-on-my-straight-hair… or simply because I am sick of trying to find the perfect method/product/cut for 2+ years…
However, I see YOUR GORGEOUS HAIR, which looks INSANELY beautiful and healthy… and UGH! And my breath is taken away. And I will not give up on my curls just yet… will try to embrace them a little while longer! My God, I LOVE YOUR HAIR!
Thank you for taking the time to write this, Dee!
Hello! Thanks for the post – I’m about 2 months into the CG method and still experimenting with products and routines. But I am loving and loving my waves/curls. I wanted to ask about sleeping with the buff..is your hair wet when you sleep? I’ve tried sleeping with my wet hair in a tshirt (plopping) which was amazing for my curl definition but of course terrible for my frizz halo!
Thanks!
Hi Fatema. No, my hair is dry when I go to sleep. I make sure it’s been dry for at least an hour to help set the curl pattern before I put the buff on and go to bed.
Thanks so much for simplifying this!! Growing up curly was not cool in my day & I damaged my hair so much. I’ve been battling with horrible looking hair & just gave up. It became thin, stringy, curly in spots and fried and straight in others. This was just wash, condition, towel dry, comb & leave alone so I’d quit “damaging” it. Years later it still looks dreadful &l I just pull it back. Now almost 50 my daughter got me looking into this by telling me the problem with my hair is I’m still a curly & I need to do CG (she is one too.) I didn’t believe it but her hair was looking great after a couple of months. I was so overwhelmed with info but luckily found you! You made it so much clearer. I tried your method with products I had on hand as soon as I saw this. My hair looked better immediately after drying & SOTC’ing!! This with one try!! It gives me hope with the right products and routine I can be happy with my curls! Thanks so much for this!!
Yay, I’m so glad this helped you! Keep trying and experimenting and you’ll figure it all out.
How do you put your hair up in the buff? I can’t sleep with a braid in so I usually put my 2c-3a curls in a bun, but sometimes that makes it all tangly, which has been my big problem as of late. I’ve got a LOT of hair, so I’m having a hard time keeping it down in the humidity and heat.
I don’t use a hair tie because it loosens the curl, so I just flip my head upside down and slide it over to my neck, then pull the top end over my hair. I actually have a video on my Instagram about this, if you want to check it out http://www.instagram.com/holisticenchilada
I grew up with very straight hair and then after my second child my hair changed to a 2b wave. It has taken over 11 years for me to embrace the curl and I am just now trying to figure out what that means. This was such a wonderful post! My hair tends to get greasy at the root if not washed daily, how do you combat this? Also, on your non-washing days, how do you protect your curls when you shower? Thanks!
I have found that as time goes one, my scalp adjusts to less frequent washing. I used to have to wash every day because of how oily my roots would get, and now I can go 4-6 days. I also use dry shampoo when it does get greasy. And when I shower I put it up in a loose bun and put a shower cap over it.
I love your post! I found it very helpful. I’m 52 and I feel like I’m just finally figuring out how to manage my curls. I was wondering if you part your hair. I was following all your steps but I found my crown looked very messy without a defined part. So I’d still like to part my hair but I din’t know where in the process it would be best so as not to break up the curl clumps. Thanks!
You can part it right after applying the products, before the curls set so you can reclump if needed.
I live in Georgia so I also fight frizz I have always enbraced my curl/ waves but am now learning that I’m not doing it right. I am very anxious to try the curly girl method and take better care of my curls. I have a question though. In the winter months, when the humidity is down, I like to straighten my hair what will straightening occasionally do to my hair? Will it make it harder to curl in the future? Will it completely reverse the curl? Thank you for your post and any help you can give me
I think that as long as it’s not often it’s not a big deal. I know other curlies who straighten every once in a while and their hair is still fine.
Hi! I love this article & want to try it out so bad. My hair is 3A, on a good day but I struggle with not washing & drying everyday because my scalp is so dry and gets flaky halfway through the day. I can’t imagine going days between washes. Any advice?
Hi Jessica. I also have itchy, dry scalp and have struggled with going a long time between washes in the past. One thing that has really helped in the last year is Briogeo’s Scalp Revival treatment drops and shampoo. As long as I use this regularly, it keeps the itching and flaking to a minimum. You can find the products here http://bit.ly/2IIqm5J
Hello Dee! I’m so happy I found your post!
I recently moved to Miami, and I’ve been straighten my hair ever since I came! My hair is in between 2b/2c and looks big, puffy and frizzy. I’m very excited to try your methods. I’m also a total newbie in the world of curls, because I just finished a 4 years transition from a chemically straight hair (I did Brazilian blow dry for 10 years). So ever since, I’m trying to figure out how to wear my hair in a good way. But after I moved to Miami everything became even harder (probably due to the humidity as you said).
So my question is: after you wash your hair, do you apply the leave-in with the gel? Like you can mix in your hands and apply everything together? And I got a little confused, which one of those products is the gel that you use?
Another question: do you know a good hair cut for a hair like this? Because the hair dressers that I know keep cutting my hair as if it was straight, so not flattering at all. Or maybe, as I’m also in Miami, do you recommend any good hair salon around here?
Congratulations on your blog and hair 😉
Hi Rhaissa! You should try applying products in different ways to see which you prefer. I like to put the leave-in conditioner to get really good clumping before applying the styling products. I use either the regular conditioner or spray leave in first, scrunch it in, then squeeze gel into my hands and scrunch it up really good with my head upside down. Try the Curl Whisperer in South Miami. They are trained in all the curly methods and are really helpful. Prices are a little steep, but it’s totally worth it to go at least once because you learn so much.
Nice blog! It was so helpful to finally read about another person with fine, curly hair. I’ve been using the CG method for about 2 months now and didn’t think I could get my hair to respond the way it has. I live in southern Arizona where it’s very dry 10 months of the year. Keeping my curls hydrated can be very challenging but I love experimenting with different products. The products you use seem very effective so I’m going to give them a try. Thank you for sharing your experiences and all the best to you!
Happy to help! I also struggled to find others with my hair type. The key for me has been not using the super moisturizing and heave curly products that work well for most others with curly hair. But I live in a very humid place so you probably don’t have that problem. If you try Evolvh, go with the UltraShine line. For Raw Curls, I prefer the Swavy shampoo and regular conditioner. Good luck!
I have spent most of my life fighting my curly hair, usually opting for keeping it cut short and blown out. Now I’m a senior citizen and my husband likes my curls. I use Wen products because they don’t have sulfate and my hair is healthier. However, my question is this: Does using microfiber or tee shirts really make that much difference in the frizz? Leaving in humid Ohio, my hair is always frizzy after the first day even with anti frizz products.
Yes it really does! Try it with a t shirt and see. Just squeeze your hair up a few times so it isn’t dripping and leave it alone. You will notice your curls will form a better cast which results in less frizz. Also, frizzy hair usually means it needs more conditioner. Try leaving in a more conditioner and make sure you use a strong hold gel on soaking wet hair to get a good cast to form. The good cast is key to having frizz free hair for days.
Girl there is no 2b in your hair ANYWHERE. Your hair is 2C/3A like mine, except mine has a little 3b thrown in at my windows peak. Stop undermining your hair!!
Haha, well you’re right there really isn’t any now but it was all 2b years ago. It’s gotten curlier with time since going CG.
I loved this post so I tried EVERYTHING in your post including using the buff since I shower at night as well however I woke up with the hair at the crown split flat, it looks like I parted my hair at the crown and all hair around it is going away from it. Did you encounter this issue? How do you fix it… HELP
Hi Ana. Yes, this happens sometimes. 2 things have helped: 1- I make sure I don’t go to bed until after at least an hour has passed since my hair has dried to help it set the pattern/style. 2-I try to make sure when I put my hair in a buff it’s not split in the back. If I wake up with it like that, I just wet the section and flip my head upside down and diffuse a bit. Hope this helps
Your curls are absolutely gorgeous! My hair is kind of weird, I will try my best to explain.
Background: During my teenage years I straightened my hair.. every. single. day. On top of that, I once put in a chemical straightener and would dye it all the time.
Leading to my hair now:
The sides of my hair is beautiful, natural, healthy curls. The back of my head – well, I think the hair is so damaged from years of abuse and sleeping on a cotton pillow (I use a silk pillow now), that I believe there is so much breakage back there that there is a portion of the back that is shorter than the rest of my hair. Also, that’s where a lot of my “mini dreadlocks” end up that I have to come out.
I have decided to get my hair cut, to fix the issue. Do you recommend anything to prevent future breakage and to help the back of my hair grow out the same length as the rest of my hair? I have grown to embrace the curls, but cannot grow to embrace that certain section because it is so annoying.
Oh! Also, my hair is kind of straight on top, and then turns into curls. I feel like that could be a result from me straightening it so much. Will I still be able to follow this method? Sorry for the story of questions! 🙂
You should try scalp massaging. I have seen lots of other curlies do it and speed up the growth of their hair. There are also some oils you can apply to the scalp to help with this, but I have not used any myself. Definitely deep condition on a regular basis to help with breakage. As you cut off the damaged part, the new growth should not break as much. SOme layers might also help with the uneven length. And the top of my curls are also pretty straight. In 8 years that has not changed so it could just be your hair type, or that the length weighs it down. It really just takes some time and care to get to where you want.
I see you wear the buff when you go to bed on wash days to protect your curls, but what do you wear on non-wash days when you go to bed to protect your curls? My hair is too short to pineapple (which is the most frequent recommendation), and I move constantly when I sleep, so it’s not like it would stay in place anyhow. Any tips?
I wear the buff every night. I also just invested in a silk pillowcase and I’ll be doing a post on night time protection soon. You’d probably do best with a silk pillowcase since you can’t pick up your hair.
I am brand new to this curly haired lifestyle and am working on a finding a routine that works. I’ve switched my products, dry with a t shirt and sleep on a silk pillowcase, and I am starting to see results for my 2B waves. My problem is the hair at the top of my head. It looks awful! It has so many flyaways and doesn’t lay nicely when it’s dry. How do I get it to stop sticking up every which way/turning into a ball of flyaways without brushing it?
It could be that you just need time for your hair to adjust or better application of products close to the roots. Also, if you’re using heavy products like those with shea butter then you need to clarify often and one sign is having frizz and flyaways.
Wow! Your hair looks exactly like mine…I was a little freaked out when I seen the photo of the back of your hair! I have never seen or met anyone that has the same type of curls and color as me! Love your tips!
Haha! I would freak out too. Thanks!
I am trying ONCE AGAIN to grow my curls out. I see these tutorial and wish it was that easy for me. I seem to have all the curly hair types on my head in no particular pattern or order. FIne and course, flat, wavy, curly in different areas. No one has ever (in my 54 years) been able to cut or style my hair to any satisfaction. This morning I came so close to chopping it off again. I’ve been trying a more natural approach, but it’s so bad when its dry it looks like I have holes in different areas because those areas are sooooo tightly curly. I have to fight with it and beat it into submission just to feel ok enough to walk out the door and go to work. I guess I’m just venting, but your curls are B-E-A-UTIFUL!
Thank you Angela! I completely understand but remember that I started where you are. You can see it in the pic from before I did the CG method, my hair was 2a/2b, stringy, frizzy, and super damaged. It was so dry that it always looked bad but I stuck with it and after 6 months it started to change. It takes time and patience and it doesn’t always look good. Now it’s much easier because my hair is healthier and I have figured out how to style it best, but I have been doing this for almost 10 years. Stick with it and come up with a few go to hairstyles when your hair is not looking great to help get you through this period.
How often do you deep condition? What about deep clean? I’m prone to serbacious dermatitis if I don’t do a deep cleanse now and again. Also any suggestions to any changes I may need, I go to the gym or run daily. I’m in a super humid climate as well and had great luck with no poo until I stopped for some reason… but still struggle with something to keep the curls defined. Thanks!
I deep condition once a month because that’s all my hair needs. I clarify once every 2-3 months when I see lots of frizz and feel buildup and can go this long because I use a shampoo that lathers. I have a similar problem with my scalp so no or low poo doesn’t work for me. I have another post on scalp care on the blog.
Dee, just started using the CG method in my 2b hair. When I poop my hair in a T-shirt ir wrap it up to sleep at night when it’s wet, I end up with my front door looking all funky in the morning and then I have to pull it back. Ina clip at least the front. How can I avoid this?
Hi Shanna. I have similar issues when plopping for more than a few minutes so I simply don’t do it anymore. So sorry, I have no tips to improve plopping 🙁 Try not plopping and see how that works.
Thanks for all the great info! I think I may have similar hair to yours so goodness I hope I end up with lovely curls like you with CG. I am brand new to it and discovered my waves about 10 years ago, so have sometime worn my hair messy curly, but didn’t have a clue I needed to care for it differently until recently. A few weeks ago I saw a pinterest post about CG but the girl seemed like her hair was WAY curlier than mine, so I figured it wasn’t relevant. But this week, I noticed my hair seemed curlier…I’d unknowingly been doing some of the CG things for a month or so…I usually sleep with my hair in a bun at the top of my head, I use sulfate free shampoo and often just finger comb wet hair. I am so excited to get started in earnest now, especially now that I know I’m not crazy and my curls have gotten better. I have never seen the idea to sleep in a buff and I really like this idea…a bun some times leaves me with strands standing up strangely and I think a buff would be more gentle. Thank you for sharing your progress, products and routine for new curlies like me 🙂
Hi Caitlin! I’m so happy that my post has helped you. It is definitely a long journey but it’s totally worth it. Just remember to have patience and experiment a lot because your hair is not exactly the same as anyone else. That’s how I figured it all out.
Thank you for all this information! I just discovered how to properly take care of my hair about a year ago, and I”m still having difficulties. I’m only 15 so I can’t really try a bunch of different products or even buy a buff since neither of my parents has to deal with curly hair and they think all the ‘extra’ products are a waste of money. I was wondering if you had any suggestions on how to wear my hair at night without a buff, maybe a cheaper avenue? Also, I have 3a-3b curls (depends on the mood of my curls honestly) and I have trouble getting my curls to reach closer to my scalp. My hair lacks volume (though the curls at the ends look mostly okay) and I can’t make the curl go the full length of the strand. I know it can, it (sometimes) used to before I started the curly girl method. I was hoping you would have any suggestions for me. Thank you!
Try a satin pillowcase. That would be your cheapest option. You need something that will let the hair slide so it doesn’t get ruined at night. And as far as the curl starting higher up, I had that problem for years. So I don’t think there is much you can do. Remember that hormones can change your hair so that might be what happened, or the length is weighing it down. My fix is to diffuse upside down. This gives me more volume and pushing the curl up while it’s drying makes it start a bit higher.
Thank you! I will definitely try that 🙂
Thank you for this post! I ordered the Evolvh Smart Curls tester size line plus Wonderbalm after reading this. The first time I used it my curls were amazing and lasted so well over the next few days (with the exception of super frizz at my scalp – any recommendations for this?). I haven’t been able to recreate that since though. Rather my hair looks quite dry and inconsistently wavy/curly throughout.Do you have any suggestions? I also never get the “crunch” with these products. Should I? And last question – what does the Wonderbalm actually do?
Thank you for your help!!
Hi Gina. I don’t get that crunch with these products either so don’t worry about that. If you have lots of frizz at the top try different application methods and make sure your hair is really clumped well when you apply the styling products. Also id your hair looks dry it needs more conditioner. Do deep conditioners and use lots of leave in. And the Wonderbalm helps define curls and gives them shine and softness. It’s not something I need but I do like how it makes my curls look.
Thank you for your reply! I will keep experimenting. I will be in the US this weekend so I plan to try out some products we can’t get in Canada 🙂
Came across this article looking for a nighttime routine and I’m so happy I did! I’m four months in to being curly, and your hair type is the first I’ve seen most like mine. I’ve been using heavy creams in my thin, 2c hair and the buildup gets so bad after just one day. I can’t wait to try the products and methods you use, thank you for this!
Hi Danae! Glas my post is helpful. I struggled to find the right products for my thin hair so I understand. I hope these tips and products work for you!
I have horrid cowlicks in the back I can’t get to fill in. Thoughts?
I’d use root clips in the spot. Look it up on YouTube to see how to use them. It’s tricky to explain through text.
How do you color your hair? I started the cgm about 4 months ago and I have been itching to color it for a change I just don’t know how I can explain the stylist.
Hi Ana. I actually don’t color my hair. I did balayage 2 years ago and haven’t done any coloring since. I am not sure how to approach coloring on the CG method, unfortunately. I know I have seen some women who color their hair on Instagram so you might try looking there.
I’m a newbie, and my hair is short 2b/2c, but with your help, the curls are looking better all the time (after a bazillion years of being blasted straight on a daily basis with a blow dryer). I am adding more Argan Oil and leave-in I would use in a month and still going a week between washes — but the curls are starting to look great, despite being crushed under a riding helmet (I ride a horse) 4 days a week and going to the gym almost daily. Another curly girl suggested rinsing the sweat with plain water, instead of washing, so I use a soaking wet microfiber wash cloth to drip water onto the sweaty parts and a microfiber towel to then absorb the water before doing a refresh. It works amazingly well. No itchy, greasy scalp or salty ick when I do wash my hair, and the refresh, if I use the diffuser on very low to pick up and dry my roots that just got the drenching, looks almost like Day 2 hair. Your other gym girls might be able to use this trick.
Thanks for sharing! That’s a great tip 🙂
Hi, love your curly girl tips. I need some help though. I have to sleep with a CPAP machine and the straps work best if my hair is in a pony tail. So, needless to say, my curls are smushed in the morning. I’d like to stop washing so often (currently at 3 times weekly) but I feel like I need to because of how my nights go. Any suggestions?
Could you use a silk hair tie instead of something tighter so it doesn’t pull your hair? Or maybe just pull the hair through the top open area without tying it up at all? I’ve never worn one so I’m trying to picture it.
Thanks for sharing all your secrets. I plan on adding them to my routine. I’m curious how you handle working out. I’m trying to figure out how to recover after a sweaty workout.
I try to do my hard workouts on wash days. Otherwise, I put my hair in a pineapple and use some dry shampoo after.
I have a similar curl pattern but also a lot of cowlicks, and they seem to be worse when I flip my hair upside down. Wondering if that’s something you deal with at all?
I do have a few and I just got used to them. When I flip my head back up after styling I shake it out a bit so the hair falls better and pray for the best 🙂
THANK YOU!
I’ve been searching the web for thin 2b hair and it’s slim pickings. Most people have really thick hair and I can’t relate at all. I’m Scandinavian and have a hopeless kinda thin hair with a frizz from hell. I see now that my mistake is not having a gel. Even though I’m sulfate and silicone free doing the curly girl method I use olaplex shampoo and maybe that’s not a good thing?
I don’t think that shampoo is approved. Check the ingredients for hidden sulfates or silicones. I have them listed in my CUrly Girl Method guide and Ingredients downloads.
Hello, thank you so much for this post – I’m currently trying to revive my curls after years after destroying them through heat styling 🙁
I have tried your trick of sleeping in a buff and it is magic! I wake up with voluminous hair instead of sad frizzy flattened curls!
My problem is that I have very fine waves and curls and I can get them looking like nice bouncy curls following the technique you’ve described above but in humid weather they fall so flat so fast! Do you have any particular advice for maintaining volume and curl in humid weather?
No tips for that other than a hard hold gel and hair spray in high humidity BUT it will still flatten a bit. There’s just no way around it, unfortunately 🙁
Thank you for your helpful post! I’m backpacking this year so figured it would be a good time to try and embrace my natural 2b/c hair as I don’t have the safety blanket of my straighteners.
After several months of plaits and buns to try and hide the frizz, I’m finally trying the CGM and am amazed that I’m already seeing results! There’s still two things I’m struggling with – sweat from the back of my neck (gross, I know!) making the under layer super frizzy, and wind that makes me look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards. Do you have any tips for these situations…?
Thanks again, I’m excited to hopefully start loving my hair after 31 years of hating it (fingers crossed!).
Hi Clarissa! Backpacking sounds like such an amazing adventure! I do struggle with the same thing when I travel or when I’m at outdoor events and honestly, I just don’t stress it. I don’t expect my hair to look good if it’s windy and the sweat part can be refreshed with a little water and product if you need to. But if I were you I’d just have fun and not worry about your hair 🙂
This is awesome, I have very similar hair so I look forward to trying it out! One question, how do you handle your hair pre, during, and post workouts? And how do you refresh it with the products after? I struggle keeping it out of the way without sabotaging the curls and having to wash and start over. Thanks!
So when I work out I put it in a pineapple using an Invisibobble or a hair buff. When I’m done I let it down, shake it out and let my roots dry. I add dry shampoo if I need to but usually, I don’t. If I sweat a lot then I just do a cowash and quick restyle.
I’m so glad to finally find a blog by someone that lives in Florida and can identify with the struggle of having curly hair in this humidity! I moved here from Texas 20 years ago, and it took me a while to learn to style my hair in such a different climate. My hair is similar to yours (fine, thin, high porosity), I just wish it LOOKED like yours! I’m going to order some Evolvh products and try them out. Thank you for your blog!
Yes, the humidity here is brutal! I hope the products work well for you 🙂
Do you have high porosity hair and do you put all of your products in when your hair is soaking wet? I started the CG method a few months ago and never thought I would have the curls I now have. I’m still experimenting with clipping for crown volume and products to find what works best for me. Your videos and other info has been helpful.
Yes I have high porosity and apply my products to wet hair. What I do is squeeze out the water by scrunching in my leave-in conditioner. Then I apply the products.
Hi,
Thank you for your article! I’m a Dad trying to help my daughter with type2b-3a hair. Her hair tends to have nice curls from root to mid length, but then gets very loose and dry/ fly away curls after that. When washing she has been combing through conditioner with wet brush (getting all knots out), and then wet brush combing again after rinsing. She drys only a little with a normal towel (we need to change that).
Should we not be worrying about combing all of the knots out of the hair with the we brush? I have a feeling that is what may be making the ends of hair dry and fly away curls.
We are trying to make the ends of her curls heavier/healthier looking and need some help. We have used so many products from expensive to cheap. All different types/ethnic brands also.
Thanks for any tips or help!
Jeff
Hi Jeff! It’s great that you’re helping your daughter with her hair. I would definitely stick to getting all the knots out with a comb with conditioner in her hair. Tha towel may be causing the dryness towards the ends. Make sure to leave in conditioner in the ends and you can add some in even when it’s dry. Just mix a bit with water and smooth it over the ends. I’d try leaving in a little more conditioner than you have been and really squishing it into the ends with water. That should help.
Hi,
I have long , dark blonde(with remainder of highlights in last 6 inches or so, which I will have done no longer). My hair is rarely straightened but was very frizzy. Since quitting the highlights my curls have rushed back. I have fine hair but a lot of it. It is low porosity but takes about 5-6 hours to completely dry.
My curls are 2b-3a, and since embarking on cgm one month ago I have a natural clump that falls odd on one side of face leaving big gap between it and the rest??….Should I manipulate it to other side of head or something??
Lorraine
You can if you want to, it won’t harm them. Try pinning them where you like them to fall when wet and let them dry in that place. That might help getting them to lay more evenly.
Delilah – I am so glad I found your website! I live in Houston and have hair very similar to yours and have been looking for a long time for curly hair tips geared toward my hair type. Frizz and volume are definitely my biggest concerns, and your site is exactly what I have been wanting to help me figure out how to deal with both. I ordered some samples of Evolvh products and am super excited to try them (I’ve been using DevaCurl for a few years but I find that their products are too heavy on my hair in addition to having some ingredients that I am not thrilled about). I have two questions for you though after having read a bunch of your blog posts:
1) In terms of how infrequently you wash your hair – what do you do about exercising? I do hot yoga on a regular basis and have to pull my hair up to do this, which creases it and flattens it out no matter what kind of scrunchie I use. What do you do if you have to wash more frequently? I have tried cowashing in the past but it seems to make my build up issues worse (maybe this is a problem with the products I have been using?)
2) I have never done deep conditioning or clarifying shampoos but am about to start doing both. How do you stagger these things in your monthly routine? Do you do them the same week but different days or try to do them at different points in the month?
Thanks again for your awesome site! It has been a game changer for me for sure.
Hi Brittany!
1) I am going to be honest, I don’t exercise often. But I do have this post about what I do when I do happen to exercise https://holisticenchilada.com/style-refresh-curly-hair-during-after-workout/
2) I stagger based on how my hair feels. I have hard water so I clarify at least once a month. But if I’m noticing more buildup or heaviness then I clarify. I also rarely deep condition because my hair doesn’t like it much. I found a protein heavy mask that I use as a pre-poo mask. I do this about once a month, not on the same wash day as I clarify but you can do that. At this point, I just wait until I notice my hair feels dry and looks limper as a sign that my hair needs it. If you want to schedule things, I would do both in the same wash once a month to make things easier.
Do you know if the Evolv products you linked are fragrance free? The WonderBalm mentions it is but the styling cream, shampoo and conditioner don’t mention anything about fragrance.
Hi Stephanie. They all use essential oils for fragrance. You can read about their ingredients here https://www.evolvh.com/pages/ingredients-evolvh-natural-non-toxic-organic
Hi Delilah, my name is Lauren and I wanted to personally thank you for your insightfulness and thoroughness in all your posts!!
I have been slowly trying to make my way through all of this incredible information. I recently got serious about improving my curly hair about a year ago. I didn’t know much but I went to Sephora, picked up a box of the first reasonably priced curly girl starter kit I could find and went from there. Lol and it was Devacurl. I experienced significant hair loss with DevaCurl and got so discouraged that I decided it wasn’t worth it because the products either weighed down my hair or did not clean my hair at all. I also have fine, type 2C/ 3A (I just learned what that means) with high porosity but it’s almost medium density because I do have a lot of hair, however, each hair is fine. Anyways, I have begun researching and reading your blog and have decided that there is hope!! I didn’t know it was common for other people to have issues with everything weighing down fine curls. I am currently using Loreal Paris’ EVERCURL HydraCharge Shampoo and Conditioner as a cheaper alternative, considering it is sulfate-free. Have you heard of this brand or used it before? Any suggestions? I am still using DevaCurl’s Super Cream as a styling product however with everything going on with Devacurl I think I am going to quite the brand altogether. The hair loss significantly decreased after only using their styling product and not their shampoo or conditioner but not worth the risk. I wash my hair every 4-6 days. How much hair loss is typically or natural?
The next thing I want to add to my routine is deep conditioning. I have never done it at all but I hear that it makes a tremendous difference. My only fear is that it will weigh down my fine curls significantly. Do you have any suggestions for deep conditioning?
I guess another question I have is how many products do I really need? I have been doing shampoo, conditioner, some type of styling cream and then a light defining gel. I am always skeptical of putting too many products in my hair that might destroy it or weigh it down. Any suggestions?
Thank you for your help!!
Hi Lauren. I’m so glad you find my blog helpful. Regarding products, you only need a cleanser, conditioner, and styler at minimum. So you’re not using too many but you may not even need the cream. I have not heard of EVERCURL, but if your hair is doing better then it should be fine. Check the ingredients for sulfates and silicones. If they have, then I suggest when you finish the bottles to invest in some that are free of sulfates and silicones. I list a bunch of options all over my blog, affordable and high end so have a look around the blog. For a deep conditioner, you should use one that isn’t too heavy. In this post I share my favorite products so you might find one you like there. I have been told it is normal to lose around 100 strands a day. I would pay more attention to if it looks like more is coming out than before, then something is up.
Hello from Ireland! Thank you for all your posts and advice for us Curly Girls with fine, low density hair. You are an inspiration and I hope to have curls like yours one day (I can dream, can’t I!?)
Thank you so much! 🥰
And then it’s me from Switzerland: years later from when you posted this article 😉 I’m glad you wrote it. I have blond thin hair but really kind of wavy (I would say type 2c?). My hair is long and I really don’t know how to take care of it… I go through kind of phases: when my hairdresser tells me I should really give it a try perhaps I do it for two weeks (right products, an infinite coconat routine even though I don’t already have my microfibre towel) and then it becomes too hard and I give up combing my hair which are also nice when ‘straighter’. I just would like to understand how to maintain nice wavy hair without combing it the day after the day you showered it. Of course curls are better if I don’t comb them, but without combing my hair it gets really fast fizzy, without volume and look kind of damaged (I don’t know how I sleep but I swear my hair looks horrible if I don’t comb it). I really think it looks nicer when I comb it a little bit on day 2 (I wash it every 2/3 days) but then I read that I should be more patient because I damage my curls if I comb it…. help me please ahah also, could it be that I have a little bit of headache when I don’t comb my hair?
It is definitely a struggle in the beginning. While you shouldn’t comb it often, if you have to then do it. Wet down your hair and add a bit of leave in conditioner, then comb and restyle. Don’t stress the details, just make it work for you.