Di Dumbs It Down

Pregnancy is a magical period of time. Your body actually grows another human with their own DNA, personality and bright future. For nine months, you have two (or more, with multiples!) hearts beating in harmony within your body. Every action you make can impact this vulnerable creature. Your body changes drastically, which is both beautiful and challenging. Your hair grows thick and shiny. Your skin sometimes looks better than ever, but sometimes teenage-like acne makes an unwelcome return. Labour and delivery are the hardest physical activities you’ve ever dreamed of doing. The pain you endure, whether vaginally or by Caesarean, a re unrivaled. Your beautiful, perfect angel arrives in your arms and your heart is suddenly beating outside of your body. This extension of you becomes more important than your own comfort or your own life.  And you may not have noticed right away, but your hair starts to change again. It falls out, seemingly, in clumps. It’s dull, tangled and mat...

Ok, get George Costanza in the pool out of your head and bear with me. Shrinkage in the curly community is completely different! An in our case, it's a good thing. Shrinkage means that curls hair appears shorter when it's curly as opposed to when it's wet, or stretched out (like when you straighten it). Natrually curly hair looks shorter than it actually is when it's stretched out. Shrinkage = Healthy Hair When your hair absorbs water and dries, your hair will curl, or shrink, into its natural hair pattern. Wet hair appears stretched, because water weighs down the curls. When the water dries, the hair is lighter and bounces up or "shrinks," resulting in shorter looking hair. What Does it Look Like? Shrinkage can be an issue amongst curlies with kinky and/or coily hair (4A, 4B, 4C curls.) 4C natural hair is the most tightly coiled. Wavy hair can also experience shrinkage, though it is less noticeable. But it is a sure sign that your hair is healthy. ...

I have to admit that... this time, a couple of years ago, I had NO idea what a buff was. I had to Google so much to figure out what those crazy curlies of Instagram were yammering on about. But over time, I learned, so I hope this can be of use to you. Basically, a buff is a tube of cloth. What is a buff used for? You can protect curly hair at night (or when you're out and about) by placing your hair in this tube. Because it's tight and stretchy, a buff usually holds itself into place. Buffs are also popular among bikers and hikers to keep air and dirt out of their faces, or keep their necks warm, or to keep sweat out of their eyes. It really has so many uses and protecting hair at night is only one of them. Where can I buy a buff? Costco Amazon Any outdoor store (ie Mountain Equipment Co-op) The sport and outdoor department of most stores Dollar stores  How do I put it on?

It took me a long time to figure out that I need to clarify my hair every so often. But, what does that actually mean? Clarifying is a deep cleanse of your hair and scalp. When you clarify, you're removing or stripping away dirt, oil and product buildup. How do I know I need to clarify? Your products aren't working the way they used to Your hair feels weighed down Your scalp is dry, itchy and/or flaky Your hair is dull and filmy How does buildup happen? Gel, mousse, conditioner, and even shampoo gradually accumulate over time and leave buildup on your scalp Hard water Chlorine (hello, swimmers) Benefits to clarifying Hair is bouncy Hair is easier to style Hair grows faster Hair is thicker How often should I clarify? Use a clarifying shampoo no more than once or twice a month - otherwise, you risk drying out your hair. You may need to clarify more often if you swim frequently.  Always deep condition after clarifying. If you feel you need...

Itchy... What? These refer to preservatives, usually listed near the end of an ingredient list, that are long and start with the letter "M." The common ones are Methylchlorioisothiaolinone and Methylisothiazolinone. Basically... if it begins with Meth  and ends with One , it's an Itchy M. What do they do? They are preservatives that keep your products from going bad. They are anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, so they keep your conditioner and other bath products safe in a hot and humid climate. But, they can seriously irritate your skin . Many people get scalp itch, irritation and pain from using products with Itchy Ms. If you have skin allergies, it can be quite serious. So, what should I do? It's generally a good idea to avoid co-washing with Itchy M ingredients. I don't use them as a co-wash, as I have psoriasis. But, I do occasionally use them as a conditioner (Suave Essentials and Beauty & Planet, for example). If you use them as a condition...

Flax seed gel is a DIY, homemade and CHEAP hair gel. It is all natural and organic. You can add extra ingredients to it for extra hair care. It has a bit of a snotty consistency, so be prepared for that. Benefits Gives good hold Hair is shiny, soft and moisturized Doesn't dry out or damage hair Defines curls and clumps Cheap! (it costs pennies per batch) Healthy! It contains Omega 3, Vitamin E, copper, magnesium, folate, B6, zinc, potassium, and protein... which the hair loves! This maybe $2 from Bulk Barn? And it will last forever. How to make it Boil two cups of water Add 1/4 cup of whole flax seeds (can be golden or brown) Boil for a few minutes Once foam thickens at the surface, immediately remove from heat Strain into a bowl (through clean pantyhose, cheesecloth or a metal strainer) Keep refrigerated (because it's all natural and has no preservatives, it will only last a few days on the counter and one to two weeks in the fridge). ...

The difference between wet plopping and regular plopping is with wet plopping, you plop your wet hair on top of your head in a shower cap instead of a cotton t-shirt, leggings, or micro fiber towel. Why wet plop? It encourages hair hydration It defines curls It reduces frizz ... and more. How do I do it? After you wash and condition, apply your leave in, curl cream and/or stylers to soaking wet hair with praying hands and rope each clump Squish out excess water with your hands Dip your clumps into a shower cap Wrap a towel around your head and the shower cap to keep water from dripping all over you, OR just keep a towel around your shoulders, OR wrap a headband around the shower cap Plop for 10-20 minutes Remove the shower cap, remove excess moisture by squishing with your hands, a microfiber towel or a cotton tshirt (some prefer to regular plop at this stage) I learned about this method from @powerdomi on Instagram - she is the queen of hydration for wavy hair,...

Praying hands is a good way to apply product to your hair. You know what it looks like when you pray and your palms touch each other? Now, put your hair between those hands! Apply your conditioner (and afterwards, styler) into one palm, rub your hands together and hang your hair over your head, or to each side. Now, place your hands together with your hair between them, and rub the product on, from the root to the tip. Then you can finger come to detangle, STC, etc. Why praying hands? It helps apply product more evenly across your entire hair, it smooths your hair and reduces frizz. VIDEO HERE.

Did you know that curly hair is drier than straight hair? Regular conditioner coats and sits on the hair, so every now and then, us curlies need something more intense to penetrate the hair shaft. Regular deep conditioning is a necessity for curly hair. It nourishes, strengthens and moisturizes curly hair. It also improves the texture, reduces breakage and improves the hair's health. It also helps improve the hair's elasticity, which means it is more flexible and can stretch more before it breaks. Deep conditioners can be specially formulated, a boosted regular conditioner or a DIY concoction. How long? How often? If your hair is extremely dry or damaged, you should condition twice a week. To maintain good hair health, once a week or every two weeks may suffice. Leave the deep conditioner in anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour (20-30 minutes seems to be the consensus as some curly bloggers are saying that it won't work anymore after 20 minutes) before rinsing. ...

A pineapple isn't just a fruit. It's a way to keep your hair tied up on top of your head, so that your curls don't break, frizz, tangle, mat, etc. while you sleep. Your hair will be more manageable the next morning if you pineapple at night. You also put it in clips, use a buff or satin bonnet to keep your hair out of your face while you pineapple. I also sleep on a satin pillowcase to keep my hair from breaking and frizzing while I sleep. How to Pineapple Tilt your head over your face. Secure it at the top of your head with a scrunchie, invisibobble, tele-band or other safe hair elastic. Sleep! If you follow me on Instagram (I'm @curly.girl.di), I posted a video a few months back of me putting my hair into a pineapple. I think I deleted it from my phone, though, so bear with me while re-record another pineapple video for this blog. Here's a direct link to my IG post.  

Oh, the elusive Curl Type... so complicated, as there are so many ways of explaining. It's truly confusing, but we do our best. And in the end, it does not matter which curl type you have. Just keep them healthy, no matter the texture. Warning This can be very confusing to learn about, as there seem to be discrepancies between the curly experts and the websites. Basically Curls are divided into three families: Wavy - Type 2 Curly - Type 3 Kinky-Curly - Type 4 Straight hair (with no hope for a curl) is Type 1. Still looking for the original source Each curl family is divided into three categories: A, B and C. A is always on the looser end, and C is on the curlier end.  So, we have: Wavy: 2A, 2B,2C Curly: 3A, 3B, 3C Kinky-Curly: 4A, 4B, 4C Credit: Adunni Organics This doesn't mean that Wavy isn't curly! "Wavy" just distinguishes one type of curl from another on the curl spectrum. Wavy curls resemble an S rather than a coi...

I wish I could tell teenage Di back in the '90s that she didn't need to walk around with rock hard hait. I wish I could tell her that some simple scrunching after her hair dried would create beautiful, bouncy curls. SOTC = Scrunch Out The Crunch After washing and styling, you may notice your hair harden as it dries. This is known as the "cast," or the "crunch." DO NOT TOUCH YOUR HAIR UNTIL IT IS 100% DRY Benefits Your curls are actually setting under the cast. The cast protects your hair from frizz, and helps your curls last longer. How to SOTC To break the cast, you can use your hands (dry, with lube - yep, that's a thing! Or with an approved oil. I recently discovered Righteous Roots Oil and it's amazing for SOTC), or a cotton t-shirt. Flip your hair, hold your curls and squeeze them in your hands. Squeeze and scrunch from the tips up to the roots, or smooth with praying hands from the roots to the tips - or combine! The goal is to bre...

One powerful technique to optimize your curls is the Bowl Method. Discovered by @powerdomi on Instagram (follow her NOW if you aren't already), it takes Squish to Condish/STC to the next level. The Bowl Method is Squish to Condish's Sister After you wash and condition, add your leave-in conditioner (either one that is marketed as a leave-in, or a dollop of your favourite regular conditioner) to soaking wet hair. But this time, keep a large bowl handy. Apply the conditioner with praying hands, then squish it in. Catch all of the water and conditioner into the bowl.  Dip your clumps into the water and squish the water back into your hair. Add your styling products with praying hands and squish the excess water, conditioner and product back into the bowl.  Redip and resquish.  Benefits A fantastic way to create hydrated, juicy clumps No product is wasted, as you're reusing your products Saves water Adds product evenly Who to follow for more informati...

You may have seen the acronym "STC" floating around the curly community, and not have any idea what it means. It stands for Squish to Condish . It is a MUST for helping your curls retain water - thus, moisture and hydration. So what does it mean? Squish your hair as you rinse out your conditioner, so the conditioner seeps into, soaks and saturates your hair. Why should I STC? We tend to rely on our conditioner to hydrate our hair and our curls. But, you can use an entire bottle and get poor results if you don't use water effectively. You want to get as much conditioner as you want / your hair needs into your hair, so that it stays hydrated and you get luscious clumps. Water is what hydrates our hair! Conditioner is the tool to lock it in. When do you STC? After you wash and condition your hair. Steps 1. Wash your hair. Rinse. 2. Condition and detangle. Rinse. 3. Keep your head down so that your soaking wet hair hangs upside down. 4. Apply more conditi...

A clump happens when your individual hairs and curls form and flow together into one big curl. They look like thick, juicy ropes. There are many benefits to creating clumps, especially for Type 2 (Wavy) and Type 3 (Curly) curls. Clumps give you thicker curls, and less frizz. Clumped curls look healthier and shinier. Plus, it stays more still while drying. Unclumpped curls can look stringy or frizzy. Think angel hair pasta versus fusili. How to Create Clumps After you have washed and conditioned your hair, keep it flipped over your head. Make sure it's soaking wet. Use your fingers, a wide toothed comb, a Curl Keeper Flexy Brush or a Denman Brush to separate your hair into sections (I aim for 5-10) While your hair is still wet, put your product (gel/cream/mousse) in the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together and coat each clump from root to tip. Kind of like milking a cow. Squeeze and squish each clump (we will talk about these techniques in future ...

Plopping is just a gross term for an effective way to get excess moisture out of your hair. We don't use traditional terry cloth towels (you know, the only ones you really see out there) when we follow the Curly Girl Method. Did you know that towels can break your hair, causing frizz? So, instead we "plop" our hair by wrapping it on top of our heads with a cotton tshirt, cotton leggings or a microfiber towel. How to Plop in a Cotton Tshirt 1. Do this after you wash your hair. you may squeeze out excess water first. You may add product first, or after your plop. Try each way to see what works best for you. \2. Lay tshirt onto your bed. 3. Flip your hair upside down. 4. Lower your hair onto the shirt. 5. Roll the bottom of the shirt up toward your forehead. Then wrap it around the nape of your neck. 6. Wrap the top part of the tshirt around the top of your head and hold both sleeves. 7. Stand up, wrap sleeves around your head and tie them together. ...

Feeling greasy? Sulfate is silicone's partner in crime. Many shampoos have it, which makes cowashing/using a low-poo an easy choice for me. So, silicone has coated your hair, preventing moisture from getting it. Sulfate removes silicone, but... What else does sulfate remove? Your scalp's natural oils. Then, your scalp works on overdrive to replace the oils - often, overproducing! This is why you may feel you need to wash your hair every day ( grease) It's a vicious cycle. Shampoo to beat the grease... when shampooing creates  the grease. Other than your final wash, steer clear of sulfates. Avoid SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) like the plague for a healthy scalp! Conditioners have cleansing ingredients. Sulfate-free shampoos exist too (known as low-poos)

Silicone is an ingredient found in many conditioners and hair products to coat your hair shaft. Giving it shine, smoothing frizz and providing a protective barrier from heat (hair dryers, curling and flat irons, etc). So, why is it bad? Because silicone forms a barrier on your hair, it actually locks moisture out. Your thirsty hair is trapped in the silicone barrier, and the only way to wash it out is with sulfate. Curly hair needs hydration. Silicone prevents hydration.  I can't stress enough that curlies need to kick silicone to the curb. Silicone is a substance that coats your hair and protects it from heat styling. It also gives a false impression of healthy, shiny hair. But the hair trapped under the silicone barrier is thirsty and dehydrated. Once you remove the silicone, you can bring hydration back to your hair and optimize your curls. Avoid ingredients that look like this: methicone, phenyltrimethicone, dimethicone, cyclomethicone, dimethiconol.... and an...

The Final Wash is NOT the last time you'll ever wash your hair. It's the last time you'll wash your hair with sulfates . Sulfates (particularly Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / SLS) is a nasty bugger - which I'll talk about in a future post. But, you will need it for your final wash before you start the CGM. This will clear your hair of any particle sticking to it so you can bring hydration and health back to your thirsty curly locks. Why do we do this? The products that you've been using until now are loaded with silicones, waxes and other nasties. And once you go Curly Girl (CG), the cleansers you will use will not be strong enough to remove them. So, a strong sulfate wash will strip them all away! Here are some popular ones: Suave Essentials Strawberry Shampoo Herbal Essences Naked Volume Shampoo Tressmé Perfectly Undone Weightless Shampoo Dish soap (I used Blue Dawn) Look for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) in the ingredients. And give yourself a go...

Cowashing is short for Conditioner Washing Which means... washing your hair with conditioner! That's right. You can use a Curly Girl (CG) approved conditioner (no sulfates or silicones!) to wash you scalp and hair. Why is that? There are cleaning agents in your conditioner. Really! But even though conditioner has cleansing agents in it, you can't just suds it up with a few quick rubs as you would with a sulfate-rich shampoo. To clean your hair, you gotta work! The cleansing ingredients, plus your manual labour, work in tandem to clean your hair without stripping your scalp of its natural oils. Step One Apply a generous amount of conditioner to your scalp Step Two Rub and scrub every square inch of your scalp. Rub your fingers in circles all over your scalp for at least two minutes - ideally, five. Rub your scalp until your arms hurt! Run your down your hair as well. Step Three Rinse completely and continue to rub your scalp and your hair as you rinse. This gets i...