Hair accessories can make a bad wash day great, especially when you are transitioning! Scarves, scrunchies, gentle updos and braids, claw clips, etc. Learn to style your hair with them so when the inevitable hair freak out happens, you can still look great! It's also very useful if you want to give your hair a break from products once in a while. I've been wearing my wavy/curly hair natural for about 3 decades now and I still regularly go minimal on stylers and rely on accessories to get me through it gracefully. Oil, shampoo, deep conditioner, hover diffuse on low heat and that's it. No stylers. Yes, my hair gets floofy, but nothing a few accessories can't handle, and my hair always comes back better than ever at the next wash day. I think it likes the mini holiday! 😁 Plus I get a true feel of how my hair is doing so I can course correct (more protein? more moisture? all's good?) going forward.
I had very long hair for years and I began this journey bracing myself for several months of transition. And after 2 years, it felt like I had made no progress. I really was convinced by that point that I actually did have bad hair. I ended up doing a big chop because something just had to give. And it ended up being the magic missing piece for me! Suddenly I was able to get wash day results that I was happy with! Absolutely life changing! I wish I had known that the right haircut could sometimes make such a huge difference!
I wish i knew that water = clumps. I have worn my hair wavy whirly for a couple of decades with no problems, but when i stopped coloring it and let my gray grow out, everything changed lol. I started my RUclips search a few years ago and thankfully found you! More water has been the best thing you taught me. Thank you!
Fortunately there are channels related to the "curly girl method". After ill-treating my hair now for about 3 years, I finally found my way back to my something between 2c - 3c curls. And for this new mindset I needed to turn over 50 years now. Ok, still coloring my grey hair, but due to all the treatments I bought now, learning how to use them, investing 269 Euros into a Shark 5 in 1 hair dreyer, I see every day better results. And my journey just began a couple of weeks ago. I am SO thankful for all your videos, Courtney. Even when I have sometimes to use my dictionary, because I do not understand every single word you say (I am from Germany), I think I still got the message. So please never stop with your videos, I learned and still learn so much. Thanks again and best from Duesseldorf, Germany😘👍🥳🥂🍾💃🏽
I totally understand how your hair journey is helping you feel more confident! I was teased ao much for my frizzy hair that I combed with a fluffy 80s brush that made it look so big and fluffy frizzy. I've always hated that my hair was so different. I just started the CG method this week, and it’s brining up some of these old feelings of self judgement and rejection. But, my hope is to get past that and embrace my hair and myself even more. I've been straightening my hair for almost 20 years. This will be interesting!
Oh my goodness Courtney, you have named everything I wish I’d known too! I’ve been doing this curly wavy hair process for about 9 months now but one of the most helpful thing has been watching your videos. My hair is just about tolerable on day 2 now so 🙌 to that! Thank you so very much for the time, effort and enthusiasm you put in to making your videos. They have been invaluable!
I am one year into my curly hair journey. It took 9 months for me to go through transition. My hair has never been this soft! I wish I had known that using an oil before shampooing was going to be the key for me. I love your content.
You are so right about needing different products for different seasons. Actually, I find it works best for me to switch off products depending on how my hair feels on the day and the weather.
It can be kind of frustrating once you get a routine dialed in and all of a sudden the weather changes and your go to routine quits working for you. But understanding that you need to make simple switches based on the weather is so helpful sometimes!
I agree 100% with using a diffuser is the key! I get much better waves and curl pattern with diffusing and air drying takes way too long. A cheap tool that is key!
Thank you again Courtney. I wasnt using a diffuser the first 6 months of this journey. And also used nothing with sulfates! If not for you ...And I been terrified to try and oil, but now you've given me the courage. I have used a silk pillowcase for years. For my skin then, but also for my hair now too!
Would love to hear you discuss how we ask hairdressers to cut our hair. Is it layers or thinning out?! Layers have been disastrous for me in the past. Do we leave it blunt? Is there a trick for wavy curly hair?
Ingredients - protein in particular - is something I wish I understood earlier. I was using my old shampoo and some gel and my hair was just a mess. I switched to a shampoo and conditioner with protein and gentle moisturizers (by accident at first), and it made a huge difference in the structure and feel of my waves.
For wavy people who struggle with not-so-great wash day results: in the beginning of my own journey no-heat overnight curling methods saved me from a lot of stress. If done properly, it does no damage to your hair, and also helps to get good hair styling results even in the beginning of your wavy/curly journey.
I like a bun on top of my hair with a silk scrunchy. I also like loose french braids. Not regular braids or i am flat on top and poofy on the bottom.@tiffanyhatch4174
I used to wash my hair every day and blow dry it out with a round brush. I thought the back was just wavy and the front was straight. Last year the hairstylist burned my hair all over giving me highlights and gave me the worst cut ever! So, I was literally not able to style and decided to just wash it and let it go until it all grew out and cut it. During that time of not straightening it every day, I noticed that the back of my hair was somewhere on that stupid chart of 3a or 3b and the front was wavy and curly. So, I decided to just wash twice a week, condition, put gel in and scrunch and I have been doing that ever since. I knew my hair was curly when I was a child, but I thought I straightened it over the years LOL. I'm now glad that I did not. I do wish I had the same curl pattern all over my head though.
Thanks!! Your videos rock. Very new to this. Most interesting thing in this video to me is hearing pros of diffusing and that stylers make hair air-dry way slower (though that has me curious to try sleeping in styled, non-diffused hair with strong gel cast on it overnight). My hair journey in case it interests anyone reading and just felt like sharing it here: Starting one step at a time: watching videos. Didn't buy any new products yet. Washed and conditioned with the new different techniques such as first time ever holding head upside-down in shower and very thorough scalp shampoo and raking in and squishing/pulsing in conditioner, etc.. That alone just one day of that has given me more volume, less tangles, no longer itchy scalp, cleaner and more cared for feel, tiny bit softer, and a bit wavier! Though can sense even just those 2 steps can improve such as adding in a brush for shower and conditioning roots. So focusing on just the shampoo and condition steps to see how that changes hair before any stylers and will try stylers one at a time before combining any so I can see one at a time each new step make changes. Tried wrapping in t shirt though now I hear micro-plopping better than plopping. Have not yet tried any stylers, diffuser, clarifier, deep conditioner - or better shampoo and conditioner. For years have done nothing to hair except underwash it, barely ever conditioner, air dry, never blow dry, zero dye, very rare chlorinated swims, at times much sun with never hats, at times too harsh of hairbands/styles but mostly now gentler ones or often air-drying in loose high bun in clip (that alone helps bring out wave). Some so-called natural techniques I think damaged it like baking soda, acv, Dr Bronners as shampoo - plus just buying whatever shampoos and conditioners are cheapest travel-size bottles I saw (and all those seemed too toxic). It is definitely over tangly and frizzy and I would guess overly dry. I lose too much hair in shower. Longest by far it has been in MANY years and so much gray in it now it has become thicker and finally more fully realized it is not straight but wavy with I sense more hidden wave definitely eager to come out - which is all so fun and somehow has me feel more ME the more the length and texture and non-dye are welcomed. But definitely need a haircut. Been starting to try long layers for first time ever. Need to find even better hairdresser; I want one who really understands encouraging wave. No hairstylist ever has really acknowledged or encouraged the wave cause it is easy to confuse with straight hair.
Hi Courtney, I love your content. I have wavy slightly curly hair. I’d love to get on this bandwagon, but my life might not allow it. I shoe horses for a living so I shower and wash my hair nightly during the week. I also keep it in a ponytail every day at work. Is there any way I can do this with nightly washing? (I get very sweaty, covered in dust and dirt and sometimes horse poo 😬, and lots of smoke smell) Thanks for any advice you have. Thank you!!
If I were you I'd do the cgm without the gel. Save the gel for days off or special occasions. I also have a very active lifestyle. That's what I do. I have 2b, 2c waves. 😊👍👍
I had no idea I had curly hair, which is funny because I am a hair dresser. My hair was stick straight, or so I was told over and over, and I did not understand the frizzy mess I had to deal with my whole life. At the ripe age of 58, A friend asked if your hair is really Wavey or curly? I laughed and said no way, I would have known. Nope I was dead wrong, Cosmetology school does not teach you about curly hair and what to do with it. I had so much fun finding the right shampoos and conditioners, then using gel and mousse. Always go to the ethic aisle, no matter what kind of hair you have. Its the best place, and you don't have to spend an arm and a leg.
Agreed!!! I did hair for 15 years, had no clue I had wavy/curly hair. For years I thought it was just because of all the colors and excessive heat tools I used on it. Assumed it would go away once my hair healed someday. 6 years of no tools and no color, and still a frizzy mess. So starting the wavy journey. I’m really disappointed how little we were taught about curly and wavy hair for styling, assessing, etc.
This may be a silly question, but I just started my cgm journey and I like to wear my hair with a middle part. My question is at which point in the cgm process do I part my hair? When I try to part my hair after my hair is dry, I end up inevitably breaking some curls and creating frizz, but when I try parting it just before putting stylers in, it dries a little stranger and flatter at my roots. Any suggestions would be SO greatly appreciated 😊
So true about zero predictability on wash days and clarifying! My goal was 3B curls too. I'm 2C with some 3A patterns, but that's how it will always be lol
Prepoo with oil is great! When I clarify I deep condition in shower for a few minutes & rinse out. My hair is baby fine & wispy so heat & time do not work for me. I also wide tooth comb after it dries to break cast. These all work for me for my waves. Do what works & let the rest go! Love your channel.
Yes!! Almost everything you experienced has been yhe same for me. My wavy hair journey has been with me for about 3 years now and im just now really learning how my hair works lol. I started with the curly girl method and i could not have been more wrong!! Im still learning how to work with seasonal changes and different products 😬
3-4 years in and I'm still in the stringy/ugly phase. It's healthier, but I've never really had curl clumps, and I've tried everyone's techniques. It takes 45 minutes to diffuse my hair, never mind the other steps involved.
Love the new logo! I would love to see you try brush styling with a round brush, or styling with only hairspray. If anything I always loved the look of curls! When I was learning how to do my hair I would try countless ways to get it to curl, including two failed perms. I think there was only a handful of times I touched a straightening iron. Now I so relate to the "it gets worse before it gets better" aspect. I really wish I would've been told that over two years ago.
I'd say dare to experiment! With products, with combos, with the amount of water while styling, with styling techniques. Don't get stuck with a combination that worked once. It's a learning curve, so try and test and play with it! It's supposed to be fun 😊
I was forty-one when I finally figured out that my hair wasn't frizzy-straight, as I'd believed it was for decades. Like most teen girls in the late-1980's to early-1990's, I got my hair permed. I absolutely _hated_ the nasty, sticky, crunchy, stinky, loud (the memory of the sound of my stringy, glue-strands moving against each other all day still gives me the heebie-jeebies), hard hair that resulted from saturating my hair with the big bottle of liquid "styler" from Costco. Between that and the ubiquitous Aqua Net, I developed a deep dislike of having _any_ products in my hair. My aversion was strong enough that after a visit to the stylist, the first thing I always did was go straight to the shower and wash out any products they'd put in my hair. Even once I came to the conclusion that my hair wasn't actually straight, the thought of putting any product into it to encourage the curl stopped me from doing anything about it. It helped that I wasn't starting from the same place that most people do when they realize their hair isn't straight and unmanageable. I'd been formulating my own shampoo and conditioner for years, and had already stopped using ingredients on the curly "forbidden" list, since my hair clearly doesn't like them. I'd been exclusively using a wide-tooth comb since college, when a stylist convinced me to switch from using a brush to minimize damage. I'd even gotten to the point of only washing my hair once or twice a week. But, even though I put a lot of effort into making sure my hair was healthy--I've been donating my hair for the last fifteen-ish years, and want the recipients to have the best I can give them--that wasn't going to make my hair magically start holding its own curls. It took me almost a year to accept that I needed the help of leave-in products. Finally, I started researching which products to use and how to use them. My goal was to get my curls to look like India Baston's. I wanted to use almost no product in it, continue bleaching it platinum to dye it fun colors (currently royal purple and hot pink), grow it out to donate it, _and_ maintain as much health as possible. Sigh. To further complicate everything, I developed psoriasis. Of course, it's just my luck that it's worst on my scalp. So, I had to add in medications and non-prescription treatments to my experimentation. Fortunately, I started out with stylers that left my hair feeling soft and healthy. They were nothing like what I used on my permed hair as a kid. That helped me become more open to experimenting with layering products. My background as a scientist helped with this, as I automatically documented everything, and changed one variable at a time. I think first I found you on Instagram, then came here for more information. Your example helped me adjust my goals to be much more realistic. If I saw a technique I wanted to try--the bowl method, for example--I came to your channel to see your procedure and results. You taught me well. The pictures I've shared of my curly hair have gotten my cousin interested in starting to experiment with encouraging the curl in her daughter's hair. I'm back on your channel to curate a playlist of videos for them, so they can learn from you, too. I'm hoping that my little cousin's hair likes the same things mine does, so they can use my experience to dial in her products without having to spend so much time and money trying things that don't work for her. Thank you for sharing your trials and errors! You're helping multiple generations of curly girls in my family. 💙
This may be a novice question, but do you brush your hair on non-wash days? I've been struggling with this one because if I brush it, it will turn fluffy. But if I don't brush it i'm afraid I'll start developing dreads 😆
I never realized I had wavy curly hair until I got a big haircut about 10 years ago! Funny thing. I look back at all the years of pics of me and see that if I haven't got itlroned it it is obviously wavy. No matter the length or color!!back in my 20s we all used hot rollers, so I never noticed them either.
*Pre-wash Oil* . I wash skeptical about pre-wash oil and there seem to be conflicting views about it. I've been using the JVN Pre-wash oil for about a year. I didn't have any scalp issues other than thinning. I can get and extra day from a wash day when I use the pre-wash vs. when I don't. I will also oil my ends if I am clarifying.
If you have any chemicals in your hair, avoid the clay!! It will make your hair fall out in patches. I had no idea. I used it and THREE WEEKS LATER, when I got my roots touched up, I got huge patches where my hair fell out. 4 years later, I'm still dealing with it.
Every year your her will change with your age and health. In other words it never stops! Blessings. Any thoughts about what you may do when your hair turns gray? I'm mostly gray/silver with my blond at the end. I was the dish water blond growing up, then about age 17 bleach and box blond . I stopped all of in late 2016 early 2017. Blessings
I feel you on the coloring of your hair I color the underneath of my hair I have been for a few yrs and the top of my hair is way more wavy then then bottom and it’s crazy because I probably do it 2 time a year and typically only bleached the regrowth and color it with obviously salon products so better than box dye right now it’s blue but unlike the top half of my hair has a way looser curl pattern but my hair has always had mind of its own when I was in elementary school I had curly wavy hair then I got lice my mom glued it with gel to my head in buns cause she didn’t know what else to do it was “ratty” and the lice loved it in middle school I just had a poofy frizzy mess even once got called a sheep dog and I tried to straighten it with one of those conaire blue straightens that came with the different plates you could slide on 😂😂 it didn’t look good but I was convinced it was better it wasn’t till 8th grade that I found the solution was moose it literally made my hair bouncy and beautiful then in college my hair had a freak out and wouldn’t curl so I went to curling it with a wand every day it wasn’t till I was 27 maybe 28 I refound the curly girl method and tried it but gave up I watch all of your vids and I’m thinking of trying again I just need to have the patience and I hate leaving my house not looking like I just rolled out of bed 😂😂 I know it’s a process it’s just so frustrating I’m definitely a person who needs instant gratification and it’s a habit I need to break
Courtney I have a question how do you keep your pillows on your bed I have silk pillow cases and they constantly slide off my bed while I’m asleep and I wake up because all of a sudden I have no pillow 😂😂
I wish I knew how addicting it was to trying new hair products! I have a whole mini store now lol You also dont have to style and diffuse every single washday. It's okay to take a break here and there. I also wish I knew it was okay to play around with different hairstyles and accessories! Braids have now become a go to especially with my waves which gives mermaid vibes
The thing I wish I knew was that hair curl patterns can change with age. This freaked me out! I turned 50 last year. My whole life I had straight, fine hair like my mom and my grandma, while my brother got our dad's curly hair. In my late 40's, something weird started to happen. I expected the white hair that started creeping in, even that the white hair might be totally different than my red hair...but I didn't expect my straight red hair to go curly! (2a/b to 3a/b) Same stuff, same routine, drastically different pattern. I have a genetic/hereditary autoimmune disease, so I started getting really concerned that something was wrong with me medically. I went to my doctor, scared I'd have to go through a whole bunch of tests to find out what was wrong with me, when my doctor came in and told me, with my age and health conditions, "...it happens." This took me a few minutes to process. Straight hair can suddenly become curly? So I changed up my whole routine, bought all new products, and now I'm in a "transitioning/transformation" phase. I've been going down the rabbit hole ever since on what to do with these new curls and I'm loving it! I mean, I also became lactose-intolerant at the same time, but it's better to focus on the positive. (lol)
I get it! I have had straight hair with a very faint wave my whole life. I called it straight with a kink. Easy, frizzless, wash and go. Perimenopause hit and then frizz came and my hair started waving more when air dried. Some sections almost curl. Still a 2a but much more intense. Figuring things out now! Hah.
My experience was almost the same. I have baby fine hair. I need to diffuse it to get any body and it actually helps form my curls better. The only other lesson i have learned is that finding the right products can be expensive and frustrating. Every time i find a cheap product that works I can't get it any more, so starts the hunt and expense of finding a more affordable option. Lesson is this, if the 30.00 bottle works, stick with it.
I wish I knew I’d have to be adventurous about trying new products. And I wish I knew that I’d need even more styling products than I used before. I didn’t know that it’ll take me 3 hours to fully air dry and style my wavy hair instead of 15 minutes blow dry it into perfection as it was before. 😅 I have purchased diffuser and now my hair wash schedule has become more flexible. I actually waited more than a year until investing into good hair diffuser, because I didn’t really know if I want to keep wavy/curly routine (I was skeptical if my waves are worthy of it). However, I invested into silk pillowcase as soon as I started to care about my hair’s health. Honestly, when I decided to invest into silk pillowcase, I didn’t really care about curls as much, I wanted to prevent after-sleep wrinkles and split hair ends. I love that my hair is much healthier now, and I love my waves. I think I will keep exploring wavy routine. I like that I can actually gently blow dry my hair and get that volumized blow dry look, and at the same time I can choose to keep my natural waves and be wavy/curly without having to fry my hair. And the chance to proudly answer that it is my natural hair!.. priceless.
Hello! I also fell into these traps :+< I still struggle, as I seem to be straight out barely wavy. But, My hair is healthy! I recently found a new plopping towel, two new s/c/stylers and do use silk to sleep on. I find that the amount of time products are on my hair is important!! I have to give them a chance to perform. I use a shower cap in the conditioning step, very helpful. If you are just starting, Courtmey is so spot on. It will be frustrating... try to look at the change as a puzzle; you will find all the pieces will fit, eventually. The number one thing I did and wish I had done before I started was.... have my hair professionally analized (Strands). This will assist in reducing the buy/try/return a bizillion products. You can look for the ingredients they recommend and find the products you love. Hope this helps another Wavy Girl.
The top of my hair seems to have more trouble curling than the bottom layer. Somehow, I seem to have put in too much gel at the top yet not getting a cast at the same time. Any tips? Thanks!
I use bridgeo scalp revival micro exfoliating shampoo once a week. Is this considered clarifying? I follow up once a week with bridgeo deep conditioning mask.
One year of styling, loving my hair and having perfected my styling routine...... .....then having to switch to upright styling because pregnant. 😅 It's only been a couple weeks since I finally had to make the switch and there has been some trial and error to get similar results. This last time went better but I am definitely back to predictability being out the window!
My goodness, I feel like my current state is where you used to be! I’m desperate to break the cycle. My hair is damaged enough that the only way to make it presentable is to keep doing the same habits which brought me to where I am now. 😔 To embrace my new found wavy hair makes it look thin and stringy. So I end up blowing it out and flat ironing it… How does a person break this nasty cycle and still have decent looking hair? Help!!!
when i was a kid i thought that curly hair would always stay intact and you didn’t have to style and it would just behave on its own,boy was i wrong as i didn’t have waves until that lovely early teens mark Lol
*Pre-wash Oil* . I wash skeptical about pre-wash oil and there seem to be conflicting views about it. I've been using the JVN Pre-wash oil for about a year. I didn't have any scalp issues other than thinning. I can get and extra day from a wash day when I use the pre-wash vs. when I don't. I will also oil my ends if I am clarifying.
Hair accessories can make a bad wash day great, especially when you are transitioning! Scarves, scrunchies, gentle updos and braids, claw clips, etc. Learn to style your hair with them so when the inevitable hair freak out happens, you can still look great!
It's also very useful if you want to give your hair a break from products once in a while.
I've been wearing my wavy/curly hair natural for about 3 decades now and I still regularly go minimal on stylers and rely on accessories to get me through it gracefully. Oil, shampoo, deep conditioner, hover diffuse on low heat and that's it. No stylers. Yes, my hair gets floofy, but nothing a few accessories can't handle, and my hair always comes back better than ever at the next wash day.
I think it likes the mini holiday! 😁
Plus I get a true feel of how my hair is doing so I can course correct (more protein? more moisture? all's good?) going forward.
I had very long hair for years and I began this journey bracing myself for several months of transition. And after 2 years, it felt like I had made no progress. I really was convinced by that point that I actually did have bad hair. I ended up doing a big chop because something just had to give. And it ended up being the magic missing piece for me! Suddenly I was able to get wash day results that I was happy with! Absolutely life changing! I wish I had known that the right haircut could sometimes make such a huge difference!
I wish I knew I'd need a bigger bathroom cabinet for all the new products!
I need an addition on the house.
😂🤣@@graveart1105
You're not kidding!
Yup. I am sketching a pattern for a tote to take some products when I travel.
Same. Products have taken over the room. 😂
I wish i knew that water = clumps. I have worn my hair wavy whirly for a couple of decades with no problems, but when i stopped coloring it and let my gray grow out, everything changed lol. I started my RUclips search a few years ago and thankfully found you! More water has been the best thing you taught me. Thank you!
Fortunately there are channels related to the "curly girl method". After ill-treating my hair now for about 3 years, I finally found my way back to my something between 2c - 3c curls. And for this new mindset I needed to turn over 50 years now. Ok, still coloring my grey hair, but due to all the treatments I bought now, learning how to use them, investing 269 Euros into a Shark 5 in 1 hair dreyer, I see every day better results. And my journey just began a couple of weeks ago. I am SO thankful for all your videos, Courtney. Even when I have sometimes to use my dictionary, because I do not understand every single word you say (I am from Germany), I think I still got the message. So please never stop with your videos, I learned and still learn so much. Thanks again and best from Duesseldorf, Germany😘👍🥳🥂🍾💃🏽
I totally understand how your hair journey is helping you feel more confident! I was teased ao much for my frizzy hair that I combed with a fluffy 80s brush that made it look so big and fluffy frizzy. I've always hated that my hair was so different.
I just started the CG method this week, and it’s brining up some of these old feelings of self judgement and rejection.
But, my hope is to get past that and embrace my hair and myself even more. I've been straightening my hair for almost 20 years. This will be interesting!
Oh my goodness Courtney, you have named everything I wish I’d known too! I’ve been doing this curly wavy hair process for about 9 months now but one of the most helpful thing has been watching your videos. My hair is just about tolerable on day 2 now so 🙌 to that! Thank you so very much for the time, effort and enthusiasm you put in to making your videos. They have been invaluable!
I am one year into my curly hair journey. It took 9 months for me to go through transition. My hair has never been this soft! I wish I had known that using an oil before shampooing was going to be the key for me. I love your content.
I like what you shared about self acceptance!
You are so right about needing different products for different seasons. Actually, I find it works best for me to switch off products depending on how my hair feels on the day and the weather.
It can be kind of frustrating once you get a routine dialed in and all of a sudden the weather changes and your go to routine quits working for you. But understanding that you need to make simple switches based on the weather is so helpful sometimes!
Guys, I just found products I love. I will have to figure out what I need later .. later 😂
I agree 100% with using a diffuser is the key! I get much better waves and curl pattern with diffusing and air drying takes way too long. A cheap tool that is key!
Thank you again Courtney. I wasnt using a diffuser the first 6 months of this journey. And also used nothing with sulfates! If not for you ...And I been terrified to try and oil, but now you've given me the courage. I have used a silk pillowcase for years. For my skin then, but also for my hair now too!
Would love to hear you discuss how we ask hairdressers to cut our hair. Is it layers or thinning out?! Layers have been disastrous for me in the past. Do we leave it blunt? Is there a trick for wavy curly hair?
You are spot on Courtney. It’s a journey to transition to healthy hair. Thanks for the advice
Ingredients - protein in particular - is something I wish I understood earlier. I was using my old shampoo and some gel and my hair was just a mess.
I switched to a shampoo and conditioner with protein and gentle moisturizers (by accident at first), and it made a huge difference in the structure and feel of my waves.
#12 is so true! Made my eyes tear up! ❤
It's so true. #12 is a fact for me!!!
That makes me so so happy!!!
For wavy people who struggle with not-so-great wash day results: in the beginning of my own journey no-heat overnight curling methods saved me from a lot of stress. If done properly, it does no damage to your hair, and also helps to get good hair styling results even in the beginning of your wavy/curly journey.
What methods of overnight curling did you use? Thank you!!!
I like a bun on top of my hair with a silk scrunchy. I also like loose french braids. Not regular braids or i am flat on top and poofy on the bottom.@tiffanyhatch4174
I used to wash my hair every day and blow dry it out with a round brush. I thought the back was just wavy and the front was straight. Last year the hairstylist burned my hair all over giving me highlights and gave me the worst cut ever! So, I was literally not able to style and decided to just wash it and let it go until it all grew out and cut it. During that time of not straightening it every day, I noticed that the back of my hair was somewhere on that stupid chart of 3a or 3b and the front was wavy and curly. So, I decided to just wash twice a week, condition, put gel in and scrunch and I have been doing that ever since. I knew my hair was curly when I was a child, but I thought I straightened it over the years LOL. I'm now glad that I did not. I do wish I had the same curl pattern all over my head though.
Thanks!! Your videos rock. Very new to this. Most interesting thing in this video to me is hearing pros of diffusing and that stylers make hair air-dry way slower (though that has me curious to try sleeping in styled, non-diffused hair with strong gel cast on it overnight).
My hair journey in case it interests anyone reading and just felt like sharing it here:
Starting one step at a time: watching videos. Didn't buy any new products yet. Washed and conditioned with the new different techniques such as first time ever holding head upside-down in shower and very thorough scalp shampoo and raking in and squishing/pulsing in conditioner, etc.. That alone just one day of that has given me more volume, less tangles, no longer itchy scalp, cleaner and more cared for feel, tiny bit softer, and a bit wavier! Though can sense even just those 2 steps can improve such as adding in a brush for shower and conditioning roots. So focusing on just the shampoo and condition steps to see how that changes hair before any stylers and will try stylers one at a time before combining any so I can see one at a time each new step make changes. Tried wrapping in t shirt though now I hear micro-plopping better than plopping.
Have not yet tried any stylers, diffuser, clarifier, deep conditioner - or better shampoo and conditioner. For years have done nothing to hair except underwash it, barely ever conditioner, air dry, never blow dry, zero dye, very rare chlorinated swims, at times much sun with never hats, at times too harsh of hairbands/styles but mostly now gentler ones or often air-drying in loose high bun in clip (that alone helps bring out wave). Some so-called natural techniques I think damaged it like baking soda, acv, Dr Bronners as shampoo - plus just buying whatever shampoos and conditioners are cheapest travel-size bottles I saw (and all those seemed too toxic).
It is definitely over tangly and frizzy and I would guess overly dry. I lose too much hair in shower. Longest by far it has been in MANY years and so much gray in it now it has become thicker and finally more fully realized it is not straight but wavy with I sense more hidden wave definitely eager to come out - which is all so fun and somehow has me feel more ME the more the length and texture and non-dye are welcomed.
But definitely need a haircut. Been starting to try long layers for first time ever. Need to find even better hairdresser; I want one who really understands encouraging wave. No hairstylist ever has really acknowledged or encouraged the wave cause it is easy to confuse with straight hair.
I finally did the CGM correctly (minus the diffuser) and my hair is actually curly 😮 not just frizzy wavy. Mind blown.
Oh Cortney. Everything you do is great. Great vids , great new logo. AND..... great shade of lipstick. Really complimentary to your shades. Xxxx🎉
Hi Courtney, I love your content. I have wavy slightly curly hair. I’d love to get on this bandwagon, but my life might not allow it. I shoe horses for a living so I shower and wash my hair nightly during the week. I also keep it in a ponytail every day at work.
Is there any way I can do this with nightly washing? (I get very sweaty, covered in dust and dirt and sometimes horse poo 😬, and lots of smoke smell) Thanks for any advice you have. Thank you!!
If I were you I'd do the cgm without the gel. Save the gel for days off or special occasions. I also have a very active lifestyle. That's what I do. I have 2b, 2c waves. 😊👍👍
I had no idea I had curly hair, which is funny because I am a hair dresser. My hair was stick straight, or so I was told over and over, and I did not understand the frizzy mess I had to deal with my whole life. At the ripe age of 58, A friend asked if your hair is really Wavey or curly? I laughed and said no way, I would have known. Nope I was dead wrong, Cosmetology school does not teach you about curly hair and what to do with it. I had so much fun finding the right shampoos and conditioners, then using gel and mousse. Always go to the ethic aisle, no matter what kind of hair you have. Its the best place, and you don't have to spend an arm and a leg.
Agreed!!! I did hair for 15 years, had no clue I had wavy/curly hair. For years I thought it was just because of all the colors and excessive heat tools I used on it. Assumed it would go away once my hair healed someday. 6 years of no tools and no color, and still a frizzy mess. So starting the wavy journey. I’m really disappointed how little we were taught about curly and wavy hair for styling, assessing, etc.
This may be a silly question, but I just started my cgm journey and I like to wear my hair with a middle part. My question is at which point in the cgm process do I part my hair? When I try to part my hair after my hair is dry, I end up inevitably breaking some curls and creating frizz, but when I try parting it just before putting stylers in, it dries a little stranger and flatter at my roots. Any suggestions would be SO greatly appreciated 😊
Same here 😢
True!!
So true about zero predictability on wash days and clarifying! My goal was 3B curls too. I'm 2C with some 3A patterns, but that's how it will always be lol
1 year in, I still mostly look like a Scarecrow 😂
Prepoo with oil is great! When I clarify I deep condition in shower for a few minutes & rinse out. My hair is baby fine & wispy so heat & time do not work for me. I also wide tooth comb after it dries to break cast. These all work for me for my waves. Do what works & let the rest go! Love your channel.
I wish I would have found you sooner!
Yes!! Almost everything you experienced has been yhe same for me. My wavy hair journey has been with me for about 3 years now and im just now really learning how my hair works lol. I started with the curly girl method and i could not have been more wrong!! Im still learning how to work with seasonal changes and different products 😬
3-4 years in and I'm still in the stringy/ugly phase. It's healthier, but I've never really had curl clumps, and I've tried everyone's techniques. It takes 45 minutes to diffuse my hair, never mind the other steps involved.
Love the new logo! I would love to see you try brush styling with a round brush, or styling with only hairspray. If anything I always loved the look of curls! When I was learning how to do my hair I would try countless ways to get it to curl, including two failed perms. I think there was only a handful of times I touched a straightening iron.
Now I so relate to the "it gets worse before it gets better" aspect. I really wish I would've been told that over two years ago.
I'd say dare to experiment! With products, with combos, with the amount of water while styling, with styling techniques. Don't get stuck with a combination that worked once. It's a learning curve, so try and test and play with it! It's supposed to be fun 😊
Maybe it's dumb, but I don't want a silk pillowcase because it won't match the rest of the bedding.
That is not dumb at all! I can totally understand that sentiment.
I was forty-one when I finally figured out that my hair wasn't frizzy-straight, as I'd believed it was for decades.
Like most teen girls in the late-1980's to early-1990's, I got my hair permed. I absolutely _hated_ the nasty, sticky, crunchy, stinky, loud (the memory of the sound of my stringy, glue-strands moving against each other all day still gives me the heebie-jeebies), hard hair that resulted from saturating my hair with the big bottle of liquid "styler" from Costco. Between that and the ubiquitous Aqua Net, I developed a deep dislike of having _any_ products in my hair. My aversion was strong enough that after a visit to the stylist, the first thing I always did was go straight to the shower and wash out any products they'd put in my hair.
Even once I came to the conclusion that my hair wasn't actually straight, the thought of putting any product into it to encourage the curl stopped me from doing anything about it.
It helped that I wasn't starting from the same place that most people do when they realize their hair isn't straight and unmanageable. I'd been formulating my own shampoo and conditioner for years, and had already stopped using ingredients on the curly "forbidden" list, since my hair clearly doesn't like them. I'd been exclusively using a wide-tooth comb since college, when a stylist convinced me to switch from using a brush to minimize damage. I'd even gotten to the point of only washing my hair once or twice a week. But, even though I put a lot of effort into making sure my hair was healthy--I've been donating my hair for the last fifteen-ish years, and want the recipients to have the best I can give them--that wasn't going to make my hair magically start holding its own curls. It took me almost a year to accept that I needed the help of leave-in products.
Finally, I started researching which products to use and how to use them. My goal was to get my curls to look like India Baston's. I wanted to use almost no product in it, continue bleaching it platinum to dye it fun colors (currently royal purple and hot pink), grow it out to donate it, _and_ maintain as much health as possible. Sigh.
To further complicate everything, I developed psoriasis. Of course, it's just my luck that it's worst on my scalp. So, I had to add in medications and non-prescription treatments to my experimentation.
Fortunately, I started out with stylers that left my hair feeling soft and healthy. They were nothing like what I used on my permed hair as a kid. That helped me become more open to experimenting with layering products. My background as a scientist helped with this, as I automatically documented everything, and changed one variable at a time.
I think first I found you on Instagram, then came here for more information. Your example helped me adjust my goals to be much more realistic. If I saw a technique I wanted to try--the bowl method, for example--I came to your channel to see your procedure and results.
You taught me well. The pictures I've shared of my curly hair have gotten my cousin interested in starting to experiment with encouraging the curl in her daughter's hair. I'm back on your channel to curate a playlist of videos for them, so they can learn from you, too. I'm hoping that my little cousin's hair likes the same things mine does, so they can use my experience to dial in her products without having to spend so much time and money trying things that don't work for her.
Thank you for sharing your trials and errors! You're helping multiple generations of curly girls in my family. 💙
This may be a novice question, but do you brush your hair on non-wash days? I've been struggling with this one because if I brush it, it will turn fluffy. But if I don't brush it i'm afraid I'll start developing dreads 😆
I never realized I had wavy curly hair until I got a big haircut about 10 years ago! Funny thing. I look back at all the years of pics of me and see that if I haven't got itlroned it it is obviously wavy. No matter the length or color!!back in my 20s we all used hot rollers, so I never noticed them either.
*Pre-wash Oil* . I wash skeptical about pre-wash oil and there seem to be conflicting views about it. I've been using the JVN Pre-wash oil for about a year. I didn't have any scalp issues other than thinning. I can get and extra day from a wash day when I use the pre-wash vs. when I don't. I will also oil my ends if I am clarifying.
If you have any chemicals in your hair, avoid the clay!! It will make your hair fall out in patches. I had no idea. I used it and THREE WEEKS LATER, when I got my roots touched up, I got huge patches where my hair fell out. 4 years later, I'm still dealing with it.
Every year your her will change with your age and health. In other words it never stops! Blessings. Any thoughts about what you may do when your hair turns gray? I'm mostly gray/silver with my blond at the end. I was the dish water blond growing up, then about age 17 bleach and box blond . I stopped all of in late 2016 early 2017. Blessings
I feel you on the coloring of your hair I color the underneath of my hair I have been for a few yrs and the top of my hair is way more wavy then then bottom and it’s crazy because I probably do it 2 time a year and typically only bleached the regrowth and color it with obviously salon products so better than box dye right now it’s blue but unlike the top half of my hair has a way looser curl pattern but my hair has always had mind of its own when I was in elementary school I had curly wavy hair then I got lice my mom glued it with gel to my head in buns cause she didn’t know what else to do it was “ratty” and the lice loved it in middle school I just had a poofy frizzy mess even once got called a sheep dog and I tried to straighten it with one of those conaire blue straightens that came with the different plates you could slide on 😂😂 it didn’t look good but I was convinced it was better it wasn’t till 8th grade that I found the solution was moose it literally made my hair bouncy and beautiful then in college my hair had a freak out and wouldn’t curl so I went to curling it with a wand every day it wasn’t till I was 27 maybe 28 I refound the curly girl method and tried it but gave up I watch all of your vids and I’m thinking of trying again I just need to have the patience and I hate leaving my house not looking like I just rolled out of bed 😂😂 I know it’s a process it’s just so frustrating I’m definitely a person who needs instant gratification and it’s a habit I need to break
Courtney I have a question how do you keep your pillows on your bed I have silk pillow cases and they constantly slide off my bed while I’m asleep and I wake up because all of a sudden I have no pillow 😂😂
See if you can get a pillowcase with silk one side, cotton the other. The cotton side shouldn't slip off your bed
@@katherine6571 is that a thing omg that would be perfect I’ve been putting it on top of a pillow with a cotton case but it still slides off 😭😂
I wish I knew how addicting it was to trying new hair products! I have a whole mini store now lol
You also dont have to style and diffuse every single washday. It's okay to take a break here and there.
I also wish I knew it was okay to play around with different hairstyles and accessories! Braids have now become a go to especially with my waves which gives mermaid vibes
Yes to all!
The thing I wish I knew was that hair curl patterns can change with age. This freaked me out! I turned 50 last year. My whole life I had straight, fine hair like my mom and my grandma, while my brother got our dad's curly hair. In my late 40's, something weird started to happen. I expected the white hair that started creeping in, even that the white hair might be totally different than my red hair...but I didn't expect my straight red hair to go curly! (2a/b to 3a/b) Same stuff, same routine, drastically different pattern. I have a genetic/hereditary autoimmune disease, so I started getting really concerned that something was wrong with me medically. I went to my doctor, scared I'd have to go through a whole bunch of tests to find out what was wrong with me, when my doctor came in and told me, with my age and health conditions, "...it happens." This took me a few minutes to process. Straight hair can suddenly become curly? So I changed up my whole routine, bought all new products, and now I'm in a "transitioning/transformation" phase. I've been going down the rabbit hole ever since on what to do with these new curls and I'm loving it! I mean, I also became lactose-intolerant at the same time, but it's better to focus on the positive. (lol)
I get it! I have had straight hair with a very faint wave my whole life. I called it straight with a kink. Easy, frizzless, wash and go. Perimenopause hit and then frizz came and my hair started waving more when air dried. Some sections almost curl. Still a 2a but much more intense. Figuring things out now! Hah.
My experience was almost the same. I have baby fine hair. I need to diffuse it to get any body and it actually helps form my curls better. The only other lesson i have learned is that finding the right products can be expensive and frustrating. Every time i find a cheap product that works I can't get it any more, so starts the hunt and expense of finding a more affordable option. Lesson is this, if the 30.00 bottle works, stick with it.
I wish I knew I’d have to be adventurous about trying new products. And I wish I knew that I’d need even more styling products than I used before.
I didn’t know that it’ll take me 3 hours to fully air dry and style my wavy hair instead of 15 minutes blow dry it into perfection as it was before. 😅 I have purchased diffuser and now my hair wash schedule has become more flexible. I actually waited more than a year until investing into good hair diffuser, because I didn’t really know if I want to keep wavy/curly routine (I was skeptical if my waves are worthy of it).
However, I invested into silk pillowcase as soon as I started to care about my hair’s health. Honestly, when I decided to invest into silk pillowcase, I didn’t really care about curls as much, I wanted to prevent after-sleep wrinkles and split hair ends.
I love that my hair is much healthier now, and I love my waves. I think I will keep exploring wavy routine. I like that I can actually gently blow dry my hair and get that volumized blow dry look, and at the same time I can choose to keep my natural waves and be wavy/curly without having to fry my hair.
And the chance to proudly answer that it is my natural hair!.. priceless.
My hair had been same length as yours with waves and coils underneath. I got a rezo cut last week and now it’s all coily
Interesting!
Hello! I also fell into these traps :+< I still struggle, as I seem to be straight out barely wavy. But, My hair is healthy! I recently found a new plopping towel, two new s/c/stylers and do use silk to sleep on. I find that the amount of time products are on my hair is important!! I have to give them a chance to perform. I use a shower cap in the conditioning step, very helpful. If you are just starting, Courtmey is so spot on. It will be frustrating... try to look at the change as a puzzle; you will find all the pieces will fit, eventually. The number one thing I did and wish I had done before I started was.... have my hair professionally analized (Strands). This will assist in reducing the buy/try/return a bizillion products. You can look for the ingredients they recommend and find the products you love. Hope this helps another Wavy Girl.
The top of my hair seems to have more trouble curling than the bottom layer. Somehow, I seem to have put in too much gel at the top yet not getting a cast at the same time. Any tips? Thanks!
I use bridgeo scalp revival micro exfoliating shampoo once a week. Is this considered clarifying? I follow up once a week with bridgeo deep conditioning mask.
One year of styling, loving my hair and having perfected my styling routine......
.....then having to switch to upright styling because pregnant. 😅
It's only been a couple weeks since I finally had to make the switch and there has been some trial and error to get similar results. This last time went better but I am definitely back to predictability being out the window!
Ah yes! Been there!
Have you reviewed the bounce curl defining brush on your texture? I really want to know if it helps wavy hair
I sure have!
ruclips.net/user/shortsmuuQYPRv250?feature=share
hey,courtney i came across some of your older videos when you had longer hair.ami crazy or was your hair curlier?
Oh my goodness, it has always taken me forever to get ready and people don't get it.
What is the best clarify shampoo I have wavy, curly and thick course I color my own hair
As a general rule most shampoos that are clarifying are not color safe. That being said I really like the Pantene volume shampoo for clarifying.
Thanks
I love the new logo Courtney ❤
Yay! I'm glad to hear it!
Yes! I love the new logo too Courtney!
My goodness, I feel like my current state is where you used to be! I’m desperate to break the cycle. My hair is damaged enough that the only way to make it presentable is to keep doing the same habits which brought me to where I am now. 😔 To embrace my new found wavy hair makes it look thin and stringy. So I end up blowing it out and flat ironing it… How does a person break this nasty cycle and still have decent looking hair? Help!!!
I wish I knew that my hair texture would completely change in my mid-forties and I’d have to re-learn to “walk” again
I didn't know I had textured hair (2b,2c) until I was in my 50s! 😅
The type 2 struggle is real! 😂 I was a teenager when I realized I had wavy hair, but at 39 I'm still watching RUclips videos to learn how to style it
when i was a kid i thought that curly hair would always stay intact and you didn’t have to style and it would just behave on its own,boy was i wrong as i didn’t have waves until that lovely early teens mark Lol
I too feel most wavies need sulfates. The CGM did so much damage to my hair.
1:52 the styled version looks so flat, dark and oily. I get the same result, as a beginner. :(
I wish I knew that someone with my ancestry (East Asian) could have wavy-curly hair.
I am in the transformation phase right now, it is so awkward 😂
Your hair is full and fabulous just air dried, not styled--looks like you have double the hair.
I liked the logo but as a suggestion, I think the "curly" would better in black on the part where the white background pops up. Great video!
I know what you mean! I can try and make that happen. 😂😬
Courtney, can you try boucleme please? I keep seeing ads everywhere! (Also maybe alberto giannini). Thanks!
*Pre-wash Oil* . I wash skeptical about pre-wash oil and there seem to be conflicting views about it. I've been using the JVN Pre-wash oil for about a year. I didn't have any scalp issues other than thinning. I can get and extra day from a wash day when I use the pre-wash vs. when I don't. I will also oil my ends if I am clarifying.