Post by allego on Nov 11, 2009 7:24:35 GMT -5
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF CURLY HAIR : I already wrote it for someone who asked, so I post it here for everyone.
Having some really curly hair, with tight-hard-core curls, I know how difficult it is to take care of it, and how terrible it can look when you don't know what to do. Before, my hairs were so dry and I was doing so wrong with them that it was looking like hairs of a Sonia Rykiel model : exactly like this actually (I'm deadly serious). Then, I started trying hundreds products, and the hairs were less voluminous, with a little more definied curls, but it felt and look fake and dry.
So I looked for a solution on the internet, and found over and over again the same, simple method, said to be incredible and costing nothing.
And it changed my life. Gosh, I'm not jocking. And you, curly heads, you know how serious it can be : I promise you, it changed my life. My frizzy, dry and messy curles turned in a few months into soft, incredibly structured curls
It's the Lorraine Massey method (also called "no-poo" but you use shampoo, don't worry ). You just have to follow some simple rules, and the important thing is that you get ride of all your hair products and only keep a gentle shampoo (no label, no "shampoo for curly/frizzy/whatever hairs", just a eggs or almond shampoo, the most simple one) and a conditioner.
Here is the method (you'll see, it's really simple) :
1. The shampoo : Most shampoos contain harsh, drying sulfates that are extremely damaging for curly hair. Even (especially) the shampoo made for curly hairs. Just use a eggs or almond shampoo, the most simple one (or one "extra-soft", still without label, or a baby shampoo).
The best is to use shampoo only once a week (and I promise you, you're hair stay clean) and only on the top of your head to scrub your scalp.
Do not put your hair on the top of your head to wash it ! Do your shampoo like I described it and rinse.
The original method say that you should use absolutly no poo, but if you can't get it as me, you may use it only once a week with the condition I gave you.
2. No brush : use a wide-toothed comb. It is easiest to damage hair with a brush whether wet or dry. Instead of a brush, switch to a wide-toothed comb, or even better, just use your fingers.
DO NOT COMB YOUR HAIR WHEN IT'S DRY ! Do it only when you're in the shower or when you just get out of it and it's still really wet.
So when you get into the shower, wet your hair (or shampoo it if it's the time of the week when you do it), then comb it a little and carfully (don't be arsh, do it as if it was strings of silk and don't comb it more than necessary).
3. The conditioner : put it on all your hair, first on the sides, then behind, and finally on the top. Put it by combing your hairs with your fingers. You need to put enough of it for your hair to feel like wet seaweeds. Comb one last time.
For the conditioner, I personnaly use Pantene Pro-V Conditioner Smooth & Sleek, but you can try another. The thing is that you don't feel it anymore after your hairs are dry (some conditioners have products that stay and makes hair feel fake, like with hair mousse, which is not what we want).
Wash your body and then, wash the conditioner with cool or cold water. (no combing, and cold water because it will decrease frizz and add shine). You can wash it totally or not. Personally, I wash it totally, but it depends of your hairs.
4. The drying : DO NOT PUT YOUR HAIR UP YOUR HEAD IN THE TOWEL ! It destroy the curl even before they shaped.
You just need to put the towel in your hand and press (don't rub) your hair between your towel-covered hands gently, still keeping your hairs down, well combed as it was.
When your hair are not dripping with water anymore, you can comb it lightly with your fingers. The goal is to keep big locks (really big).
And let it air dry. No blow-dryer (it makes the hair frizz terribly). If you must blow dry your hair use a diffuser to avoid frizz.
5. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR HAIR WHEN IT'S DRYING.
Don't wash your hair more than once every three days. And don't get any blow-dry, it destroy curly hairs.
I promise you, it's incredible ! You will need a few weeks trying the method before findind the good rythm/conditioner-quantity/ect, but it worth it.
Now my hair are so soft and the curls are so well structured. It doesn't feel fake or dry and don't looks oily like when you put hundred products. I never believed it would be possible, but there it is !
And the hair are so healthy that when you fasten it (when it's dry) and release it after a few hours, it's stay soft and structured. The only thing is that the curls are less tight, bigger. I love to do that.
PS: Don't forget that you won't have resuts the first time. Mine where so dry that the first time I tryed, it was terrible and I had to fasten it when it was still wet.
But do it. Keep courage and do it. Try again and again untill it works. Wash your hairs during the afternoon so you can let your hair dry without having to fasten it if it's still too bad, because it's this way it get better. You need to not touch your hair when it's drying.
And never brush or comb (even with your fingers) when it's dry.
For me, it took two month to work that well, but it can be longer or work the second time. I'm soooo happy about this discovery that I feel like screaming to everyone how wonderfull it is. When I think about it, it makes me want to cry with joy (silly me).
Having some really curly hair, with tight-hard-core curls, I know how difficult it is to take care of it, and how terrible it can look when you don't know what to do. Before, my hairs were so dry and I was doing so wrong with them that it was looking like hairs of a Sonia Rykiel model : exactly like this actually (I'm deadly serious). Then, I started trying hundreds products, and the hairs were less voluminous, with a little more definied curls, but it felt and look fake and dry.
So I looked for a solution on the internet, and found over and over again the same, simple method, said to be incredible and costing nothing.
And it changed my life. Gosh, I'm not jocking. And you, curly heads, you know how serious it can be : I promise you, it changed my life. My frizzy, dry and messy curles turned in a few months into soft, incredibly structured curls
It's the Lorraine Massey method (also called "no-poo" but you use shampoo, don't worry ). You just have to follow some simple rules, and the important thing is that you get ride of all your hair products and only keep a gentle shampoo (no label, no "shampoo for curly/frizzy/whatever hairs", just a eggs or almond shampoo, the most simple one) and a conditioner.
Here is the method (you'll see, it's really simple) :
1. The shampoo : Most shampoos contain harsh, drying sulfates that are extremely damaging for curly hair. Even (especially) the shampoo made for curly hairs. Just use a eggs or almond shampoo, the most simple one (or one "extra-soft", still without label, or a baby shampoo).
The best is to use shampoo only once a week (and I promise you, you're hair stay clean) and only on the top of your head to scrub your scalp.
Do not put your hair on the top of your head to wash it ! Do your shampoo like I described it and rinse.
The original method say that you should use absolutly no poo, but if you can't get it as me, you may use it only once a week with the condition I gave you.
2. No brush : use a wide-toothed comb. It is easiest to damage hair with a brush whether wet or dry. Instead of a brush, switch to a wide-toothed comb, or even better, just use your fingers.
DO NOT COMB YOUR HAIR WHEN IT'S DRY ! Do it only when you're in the shower or when you just get out of it and it's still really wet.
So when you get into the shower, wet your hair (or shampoo it if it's the time of the week when you do it), then comb it a little and carfully (don't be arsh, do it as if it was strings of silk and don't comb it more than necessary).
3. The conditioner : put it on all your hair, first on the sides, then behind, and finally on the top. Put it by combing your hairs with your fingers. You need to put enough of it for your hair to feel like wet seaweeds. Comb one last time.
For the conditioner, I personnaly use Pantene Pro-V Conditioner Smooth & Sleek, but you can try another. The thing is that you don't feel it anymore after your hairs are dry (some conditioners have products that stay and makes hair feel fake, like with hair mousse, which is not what we want).
Wash your body and then, wash the conditioner with cool or cold water. (no combing, and cold water because it will decrease frizz and add shine). You can wash it totally or not. Personally, I wash it totally, but it depends of your hairs.
4. The drying : DO NOT PUT YOUR HAIR UP YOUR HEAD IN THE TOWEL ! It destroy the curl even before they shaped.
You just need to put the towel in your hand and press (don't rub) your hair between your towel-covered hands gently, still keeping your hairs down, well combed as it was.
When your hair are not dripping with water anymore, you can comb it lightly with your fingers. The goal is to keep big locks (really big).
And let it air dry. No blow-dryer (it makes the hair frizz terribly). If you must blow dry your hair use a diffuser to avoid frizz.
5. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR HAIR WHEN IT'S DRYING.
Don't wash your hair more than once every three days. And don't get any blow-dry, it destroy curly hairs.
I promise you, it's incredible ! You will need a few weeks trying the method before findind the good rythm/conditioner-quantity/ect, but it worth it.
Now my hair are so soft and the curls are so well structured. It doesn't feel fake or dry and don't looks oily like when you put hundred products. I never believed it would be possible, but there it is !
And the hair are so healthy that when you fasten it (when it's dry) and release it after a few hours, it's stay soft and structured. The only thing is that the curls are less tight, bigger. I love to do that.
PS: Don't forget that you won't have resuts the first time. Mine where so dry that the first time I tryed, it was terrible and I had to fasten it when it was still wet.
But do it. Keep courage and do it. Try again and again untill it works. Wash your hairs during the afternoon so you can let your hair dry without having to fasten it if it's still too bad, because it's this way it get better. You need to not touch your hair when it's drying.
And never brush or comb (even with your fingers) when it's dry.
For me, it took two month to work that well, but it can be longer or work the second time. I'm soooo happy about this discovery that I feel like screaming to everyone how wonderfull it is. When I think about it, it makes me want to cry with joy (silly me).