One week after using Curly Girl Method.
Me: What do you think?
Gordon: It looks…
Me, thinking, cute, wavy, pretty…
Gordon: Unbrushed.
Men just don’t understand. đ
On Husbands and Curly Girls
ILONA ANDREWS
#1 New York Times Bestselling Author
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Oh man, that sounds just like my husband. Did you roll your eyes ? at him when he answered.
I like the curls.
I like the curls too!
I like the curls too but they need corralling. In the section for African American hair care they will have a moisturizer that will calm it down. They have some great ones Hair packs rock for this. Rinse it out and use a gel with a lot of hold in sensible amounts or aybe a curl constructor afterwards. Fructis Garnier has a good one. You should be able to scrunch it as it dries to make it stay curlier all over. VERY light finger combing after swooping back wings with either combs or pretty barrettes or pull back all the front stuff into either a pony tail near the top back of your head so it all cascades down your back or use one of those jeweled princess hair holders from a drug store to do the same thing. It can either replace a pony tail holder or be applied over it if hair tends to skither out of things. . That makes it easier to see your pretty face. Finger comb AFTER you have it secured. It helps to avoid the frizzies. You can also give it a spritz of one of the hair anti-frizz sprays that make it all shiny after its all done. They usually have a lot of silicone in them that makes it easier to comb later on too. There are also tiny clip-on sparkly flowers, fairies or butterflies available. if you are feeling whimsical. Good luck!
Because I’m an understanding man, I’ll say I like the curls too. When I was young, around 40 or so, I looked into my heart of hearts to find the most loving birthday for my wife. The gods shone their lights of genius on me and I bought my wife wrinkle cream for her 40th birthday. (I might point out that she is my ex-wife now…no, not because of the cream which was just one example of my ineptitude. I don’t think be hypomanic helped my decision-making process then or at other times ?). She still managed to stay with me for almost 20 more years. I don’t know why there are more women saints, maybe it’s because they do the miraculous on a day-to-day basis?
My hair is the same way. Very challenging, especially in a humid climate. I applaud your efforts to embrace the waves-they look good!
Like the curls!! Am 67now and hair started curling when I turned 60! Against science, curling from the ends not roots. My mom tortured me with permanents for years by the time I was 5 (Tonettes). Got perms done by daughter thru 80s and 90s (layered over half down my back –she still complains) . Took about 4 years to learn how to deal with Curl! Thought it was easier to deal with it curly from birth reassuring to find its not! Trying the curly girl stuff soon.
My hair started curling in my 50’s as well. Like we don’t have enough odd stuff going on as we age, we have to learn all new hair! So happy to hear it isn’t just me.
DITTO!
I think the curls are extremely pretty. Color is spot on. Note to self: Never ask a man that is not a hair dresser about my hair. LOL
Have you tried using the lighter products? You look like a wavy 2b. It looks like you might need more hold and moisture. Here’s a list of products for lighter weight, and low porosity products: https://www.curlsbot.com/cg-lite. It looks alright in the back, but just needs more hold in the front.
I think your hair looks great, I can really see the curls starting to take shape. My husband does the same thing. I spent forever on my makeup before a party and thought it turned out pretty darned well. My husband then walked in the room and asked why I looked weird. Men…
That last picture Makes you look really “BRAVE”, Princess Merida.
Seriously, it’s gorgeous. But I don’t know how you can stand the heat, living in
Texas. It’s too hot here in Florida, even in February, for more than a pixy.
But we rock the same color.
Your curls look great for only a week – honestly two to three weeks is about how long it takes for the hair to fully adjust. Also, if you live in a high humidity area, avoid glycerin products if you can- or use only ones that have glycerin way down on the ingredient list.
Glycerin is a substance that seeks homeostasis with the ambient atmosphere – which is why it used so much in lotions- so it will actually pull water into your hair, making it limp and frizzy at the same time.
Try a really good protein treatment like the Aphogee heat one you can get at Sally’s and see how more defined your curls look after. (The Aphogee stinks when you use it, but it works wonders and it doesn’t cost a fortune either, one or twice a month after you color should be great.)
Keep on rocking the curls!
Such a âhusbandâ comment. Mine does the same- he doesnât understand that the struggle is real. Your hair looks GREAT! You have volume AND definition! It takes many people months to look that good. Give it some time. This works well with your current âbe lazy and do nothingâ author endgame situation. Curly girl is all about, well, doing nothing. Thanks for the pic update!!
The correct question is ‘do you like the way your hair looks in the photos?’
My hair is fine and has a body wave that does this same thing with conditions of: humidity, fresh washed, allowed to dry on its own and then heaven forbid brushed, sweat.
I use Pantene moisture renewal shampoo and their similar conditioner.
But when my hair is the same length of yours I get it cut to jaw length and have it layered to lift the weight. My bangs are cut to eyebrow length at the center with the sides angled down to show my stud earrings and so they can be swept up, center parted and to the sides.
It takes a brushing in the morning and then I can forget about it for the day and it still looks good.
Its time for my quarterly sheering as my hair is now your length and for me is becoming irritating. I need to rediscover my bangs. Also I need to renew my Driver’s License and they want to take an updated photo. *sigh*
It looks amazing! Curly girl is the way to go & if you have someone in your area who does curly cuts, it is so worth it. They cut it after you have washed it and let it dry so they can see how the curls form. You don’t end up with those weird sproingy things or random long strands sticking out of the end of a curl. My hair & my daughters are swavy, my husband & son have serious ringlets. My son just does co-wash. I can’t do that as it is too heavy for my hair. Live in MN so right now it is pretty strait & frizzy in this deep freeze. Had pretty strait hair as a child. It grew in curlier with each baby & as I am getting gray. The curly girl method helped me figure out what to do as I was lost with this new curly hair. Love the color, too.
In his defense, it IS unbrushed. And to validate you, your hair being unbrushed it’s exactly why it looks cute, fantastic, awesome. Kudos for emarking on the curly girl method journey!
Love it! Your curls are already looking really defined, would love to see more progress pics if you don’t mind sharing ? the color suits you too!
I was on the cg routine for a few months but threw in the towel (3 kids five and under, so no me time right now) and got a pixie cut a few days ago. I regret it.. It really doesn’t suit my face shape. But at least I can say I tried, and it’ll grow back. My daughter’s hair, otoh, is looking pretty fab even though I skip most of the steps
My hair was unmanageable when I was a kid and teenager. I would spend half an hour brushing it and walk out to go somewhere only to have my dad yell at me to brush my hair, it looked terrible. Mom got upset if I suggested any drastic change in cut or color. And people wondered why it was in a ponytail 97% of the time!
My relationship with my hair is drastically improved these days.
Your hair looks beautiful and healthy, and if you like it, that’s what counts!
Your hair is beautiful but you absolutely cannot brush curly hair after it has dried! I will consult my curly haired niece who works in the beauty arena. Her hair always looks fabulous.
Your hair is lovely. The color is great and the look is just perfect. Don’t brush it, use a large tooth comb. It’s better for the hair and avoids breakage.
Okay, hereâs a recommendation: Living Proof, their humidity shield and their shine serum. Both are on Amazon.
Dear, sweet, Gordon…hold still while us curly girls chuck our wet combs at you.
Ilona, I think your curls are starting to show nicely…very pretty.
full of Sassitude – you rock it!
Look at the curls in the back â that is your future curls in the front. Persistance is the name of the game when correcting years of damage. Or you can get that trim someothers have mentioned.
Wow, looks great, the color too. Def recommend some sort of anti-drying out spray, as someone mentioned. When mine started curling I let it go long (after years of âpixieâ cuts) and friends seem to want to touch it all the time, like Iâm a teddy bear. From the mountain girl who road a motorcycle, grew up with guns, does traditional Kung Fu. So…not. Well until my kid started cuddling in it. Sigh, they get you in the end. ( Just for everyoneâs comfort, no Iâm not a survivalist living alone surrounded by weapons and wearing a red hat, but boots are still a must)
oh hagrid… :O
CGM takes time & patience, but I definitely see progress in your curls! Best tip I can give you is to deep condition at least once a week, itâs amazing how much of a difference it makes. Good luck ? (please feel free to email/dm if I can help. 2 years into CGM here)
HA! “doesn’t look brushed”. I love the photos: not brushed you say? I’ll show you not brushed! POOF!
I LOVE the “curly girl” method… I may have modified it some by now, it’s been a few years. No sulphites, shampoo ~ 1 x per week/when truly dirty, the rest: conditioner plus rinse, then conditioner no rinse, finger comb, gel cast, go. No bleach, no heat, no brush, no frizz (ok, significantly less frizz). đ
That is exactly what my husband says when I go the CG route!! Frustrating as _ell!! But, he also added one time that he loved how it looked!!! What the?! Why couldnât he say that, instead of or along with his comments that it looked like I hadnât brushed it or done anything to it?!! I would have taken that as success, if he had said that from the beginning of my trying CG!! My hair looks almost identical to yours, except for the gorgeous color. I LOVE your color!! Looks amazing on you! I am hesitant to go with that much red, so am still doing an ash brown. My hair naturally has a lot of red in it, which comes out when coloring, so I usually go with an âashâ to try to control some of the red. Red still comes through, just not as strong as it does if I donât use an ash coloring.
Your hair really does look awesome – color and curl!! If Gordon is anything like my husband, he was probably thinking to himself and not bothering to say out loud, how much he liked it!! I commented earlier how my husband calls my make up âunnecessary paint and spakelingâ, which drives me crazy!! What I forgot to add was there are times when I do all of the getting ready when he isnât around, and he sees me without seeing me going through everything, and he usually makes some kind of comment about how good I look!! ?? Must be something about watching everything I do to âget readyâ that spoils how he sees the result!! Sigh! Seems like I just canât win!
Your hair looks amazing, and if YOU like it, then homerun!! Gordon probably likes it too, just forgot to add that part! ?
You are Merida!!!!!
The colour fits you pretty well.
It looks quite good. I get around the âunbrushedâ look by brushing mine when its wet. Also, itâs your hair. You take care of it. The rest of the obvious statement Iâll leave out.
Your hair is lovely. I really like the curls. My daughter has very curly hair which she hates, and she keeps having it straightened. I keep buying her various curl products. I love her curls but she isn’t ready to live the curly life. It’s good to see you embrace your curls!
Was there smirking going on? I bet there was smirking. I think it looks very lovely!
I don’t normally comment but have to today on this topic. I’m known for my “big” hair and never knew what to do with it until my hair person suggested the Peter Coppola keratin treatment. First time had it done in hair salon and then have been doing the treatments myself since. You can buy the Peter Coppola Keratin complex treatment on Amazon or Ebay, then look for directions on Youtube. If you use the shampoo and conditioner to go along with it, your hair will be nice and smooth for 4-6 months.
To ordinarily tame your hair, under NO circumstances should you ever use a brush. Just use your fingers. Shampoo, use a good conditioner, and let your hair dry naturally. Use a leave in conditioner too. But don’t put anything with silicone or alcohol in your hair as they just make your hair more dry.
Your hair is gorgeous looking by the way!
I donât have curly hair mine is super thick & straight, but I do have one of the BEST towels for when you just want to towel dry your hair. I saw an ad today for the manufacturer, I havenât seen these in a store since I bought my three towels over 20 years ago. When my hair was longer than clipper length I would just wrap it up in the towel while I was getting dressed then bend over and reverse the towel to pat/grip out sections to finish the drying. Then it was ready for product & combing because it was just damp, with how thick my hair is that was huge.
https://aquis.com/collections/your-dream-hair-awaits/products/rapid-dry-hair-towel
From a fellow curly girl, I think your hair looks great. My big problem is my hair is fine, so if I use a lot of the products they make today, my hair is flat. I donât like frizzball but I donât like flat either. I used to use LâOrĂ©al Gelling Curls /Lasting Curls (it had many names over the years) and my hair looked fabulous. They quit making it though and Iâve never found a good substitute.