Di Dumbs It Down

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.

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

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)

Do you have curly here? Stop right there! Hi! I've been following the Curly Girl Method, or CGM, for more than two years now. When I first started, I did not have a clue what the many acronyms, terms and overall jargon the other curlies were going on about in blogs, on Instagram, or in the Facebook groups I joined.  With this blog, I'm hoping to: Simplify the terms and concepts and help anyone new on their journey Convince anyone on the fence about starting to, you know, start it Shine a light on this to my friends and family who must think I'm craz Each post will answer a simple question about the CGM or taking your curly hair back. Please feel free to ask me any questions on concepts that may have been confusing you, or if you need me to clarify my posts. After all, I want to be there for you to help you through this confusing hair journey!  Buckle up! We're in for a wavy, curly, kinky coily ride!