thatll tell you if your hair products are Curly Girl Method approved and safe to use. In high dew points your hairwill absorb water from the atmosphere and result in frizz. In this blog, we explain what humidity is, what it does to your hair and what you can do to keep it from messing with your curls. According to Jeffrey Hovis, a science, and operations officer with the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service in Charleston, WV: The air that we breathe is made up of numerous gases, including water vapor. So here are some of the donts and products to avoid. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. But Im here to tell you that its FINE. Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nearly 10 years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from the Curly Girl Method to cleansing conditioners to hair types. If youve got tighter coils, like 4a hair:Check out this tutorial on squishing in conditioner upside down, then applying your stylers right-side up to help cut down on tangles and knots: Once youve applied your products, you can plop your hair (my preferred method), scrunch out the water with a cotton T-shirt or cotton towel, diffuse it on low heat or let it air-dry if youre doing a wash and go. Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. . Your email address will not be published. In the same way that we change our clothing choices for each season of the year, we also need to tweak our curly hair product choice, based on ingredients and not label claims. ", you ask yourself. When cleansing, use your fingertips and not your nails to work your conditioner or co-wash in. The nemesis of wavy and curly hair. In a nutshell, the Curly Girl Methodoriginally created by hairstylist and curl expert Lorraine Massey, who wrote Curly Girl: The Handbookis a guide to getting excellent hair using (and avoiding!) Shampoos with harsh sulfates are doing your dry curls no favors! : Heavy conditioners for dry or porous hair. Climate is a factor in how your curls behave. of the most popular application and styling methods: Okay, so the panic you just felt looking at all those options? Personally, I like my hair to feel slippery. On humid days it's best to allow your curls to completely dry and set before going outside. Defines curls without any crunchiness Cons As a gel and serum hybrid, this GH Beauty Award winning pick doesn't just work double-duty on your curls, it's also affordable. A change in seasons doesn't have to be a struggle for your curly hair routine. But once the dew points go up, these are the only products I use. Sign up for our newsletter to get more tips and tricks. Some products contain humidity resistant ingredients to help your hair tolerate excessive moisture in the air. I've been doing the CMG method. Scrunch gel from ends toward the scalp, starting at the nape and working up, scrunch the top layer last. This isnt to freak you outits justlife. Great; now you troubleshoot. Apply it throughout damp curls to create the foundation for your product application. Since I discovered the curly girl method nearly two years ago, I've started to understand more than ever how the change in temperature impacts my hair. Every scalp and hair texture is different, and how frequently you shampoo or cleanse is up to you. But many iterations online have updated the method to be more user-friendly and say wide-tooth combs are allowed. Delilah is a trained Curly Hair Consultant and has been featured in Curl magazine, GLAMOUR, and Yahoo. Those with wavy hair have the option to use shampoo once a week if needed, those with curly hair should use conditioner and water . While this means that the cuticle lets in a lot of moisture, it loses it just as easily, leaving the hair feeling dry and straw-like. Also, curly hair swollen by excess water can lose its curl pattern, creating the dreaded summer frizz.. It also can become more prone to breakage and split ends. Bend forward & blot dry by cupping curls in a towel - never wring or disturb your curls. Going somewhere humid this spring? This number is actually more important than humidity when choosing the products we use on our hair. Forms a loose S very easily straightened, Forms a definite S shaped like a corkscrew, Very tight curl when stretched creates an S, Hair intentionally matted to form "ropes", Guides and resources for easy product selection, Learn how to read your hair product labels, Easy-to-make recipes for all your haircare needs, Community member favorites make up this coveted list, Share your style and browse the style of others, Chat with curl friends about your favorite curly topics. Once youve done your initial reset wash, you're now officially done using sulfates (unless, again, you accidentally use silicones or waxes). Um, Does Hair-Growth Shampoo Actually Work? You can do this on your phone or using this curl tracker which will make it easier. When your curls are strong, healthy, and hydrated, your cuticle will open up to let in moisture, and then once its soaked up all of the moisture it needs, it will close, or flatten, so it can lock the moisture in. No matter what the dew point is or what product I use, my hair looks *instantly* greasy if I use anything with glycerin. " The Curly Girl Method is a process of caring for curly hair to minimize damage, promote moisture and reduce interference of the natural curl pattern of the hair," explains Kari Williams,. Tutorial: Heres my favorite video showing the squishing mechanism in action on types 2c-3c curls (dont get overwhelmed by what shes sayingshes basically on level 20, and youre on level 1. Then I know Ive applied enough conditioner to not only nourish my curls, but to help with detangling, too. Try These Dandruff Shampoos Pronto, I Just Found the *Best* Dyson Airwrap Dupe (!!). How often do I do it?!). According to the book, terry cloth towels can cause a lot of breakage, but cotton doesn't. Fine waves and curls, or hair that's especially prone to tangles, may also be too fragile for wet detangling. To keep yourself from spiraling, though, try testing one method at least *five* times before moving on to a new method. You'll need to use this "reset" shampoo every time you accidentally use waxes and silicones in the future. A post shared by Delilah (@holisticenchilada) on Aug 14, 2019 at 4:51pm PDT. No more wasting time and product and going outside to totally ruin all your hard work! There are five steps to The Curly Girl Method that take commitment, dedication and hard work, but the payoff is priceless: This step involves the use of a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup from the hair strands and give your hair (and scalp) a deep clean, Williams says. Thats it. Great for skin and hair when living in a drier climate, humidifiers provide external moisture when it is in short supply in the air. This sulfate-free shampoo is incredibly lightweight and doesn't have a ton of moisture, so only use this one if you have super-fine/oily hair. Participate in product testing surveys discussions etc. She regularly tests curly hair gels, mousses, and creams for efficacy, and worked with the industrys top hairstylists and cosmetic chemists to assess new formulas and brands for this story. this really suprised me as it didnt feel in the SLIGHTEST bit humid, it was foggy i suppose, and a bit wet and damp, but never would i have thought . Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Forms a loose S very easily straightened, Forms a definite S shaped like a corkscrew, Very tight curl when stretched creates an S, Hair intentionally matted to form "ropes", Guides and resources for easy product selection, Learn how to read your hair product labels, Easy-to-make recipes for all your haircare needs, Community member favorites make up this coveted list, Share your style and browse the style of others, Chat with curl friends about your favorite curly topics. It may not be visible to the eye, but on a microscopic level each strand of hair is actually made up of several thin layers. Either plop your hair for 5-15 minutes, or gently cup and scrunch the excess water from your hair with a cotton T-shirt or microfiber towel. Towels are normally made from synthetic materials that soak up all of the moisture from your hair and rough up the layers of your cuticle. What worked for your hair in winter won't necessarily work in summer. When shes not writing, you can find her curled up on the couch reading a book or in the kitchen whipping up a new recipe. Just focus on the squishing and scrunching method, and youll be fine). Some curls toleratehumectantsin this range, but some dont. marks, Polaroid or similar camera number ID, fingerprints, creasing, minor marks, browning, foxing, slight . So why do they freak out in humid climates? Wash your hair with a CGM-approved cleansing conditioner or sulfate-free shampoo, massaging your scalp for at least 60 seconds (this matters! Products with film-forming humectants. Never skip conditioning your hair and make sure to deep condition after every wash. Conditioners work with shampoos and a regular conditioner will condition the cuticle, help it to lie flat, and be smooth. These are some examples of light-weight styling products that are suitable for humid weather: Here are some mousse/gel options that contain the humidity-resistant ingredients mentioned above: To finish off, I would like to share with you my five little secrets for knowing the meanings behind ingredient names and gauging if a certain product might be suitable for your hair before hitting the "purchase" button. According to Williams, this method is good for curly hair. This method takes time, preparation and planning, but the results are worth it. I have tried five or six different curl products. Anti-humectants do not attract and in many cases repel water. If I can do this, you can too! It sounds simple, but if I'm being honest, it was everything but simple in the beginning but I've never looked back. Glycerin at high or low humidity In short, if your hair is drier than the air, glycerin will help attract moisture from the environment and use it to hydrate the hair. Still, here's the most basic, basic CGM product routine you'd use after your reset wash: Since all of these products can be found in super-rich to super-light formulas, depending on what you buy, this combo works for the vast majority of beginners starting the Curly Girl Method. You want your hair to feel completely saturated during this step. - No Poo, Low Poo + Co-Washing) There are so many methods, and youll need to experiment to find which works best with your curls. As for the rest of your products (and the products you might buy), you can use my favorite go-to website called Is It CG? Click here for more info. Are you still drying your curls with a terry cloth towel? Each time you accidentally use silicones/waxes, you'll need to "reset" your hair. So take deep breaths, nestle in for a long read, and get ready to screenshot. This can result in dry, fly-away hair, split ends, and broken strands., A post shared by Delilah (@holisticenchilada). Make sure you have a rockstar deep conditioner with ingredients that can help penetrate your hair shaft and truly moisturize your strands from the inside out DRYING UR CURLS Heat-Protectants. It is the temperature that air has to be cooled to in order to reach 100% humidity. Mid range is when the dew points are between 30-40 degrees F (-1-4C). A deep conditioner will penetrate the hair shaft and nourish the cuticle with the oils . But, as you can see by all these before-and-after photos, it works for the vast majority of people who stick with it. Never skip conditioning your hair and make sure to deep condition after every wash. Conditioners work with shampoos and a regular conditioner will condition the cuticle, help it to lie flat, and be smooth. Well, that was me seven years ago: I knew I needed a change and only one thing fit the bill switching up my curly hair regimen. Here are some tips for living in a drier climate for curly, wavy, and coily girls. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Check out my free Weather Styling Guide for more detailed info. This will help your curls set and keep your cuticle layer closed and ready to take on extreme humidity. Try switching to a mousse layered on top of a lightweight curl cream. Not as intimidating as it seems, right? Since humidity is a major concern lets find out exactly what it is. After following the curly girl method for several years, I have the basics down and was able to learn about weather styling. So that website may be for products that they want to push but not realistic. No more confusion about products or methods or battling frizz and time. The Curly Girl Method is the brainchild of Loraine Massey, who literally wrote the book on it with Curly Girl: The Handbook. Gone are the days when you can run to the drugstore, grab any ol product and slather it on your locks. This causes individual strands to break apart from their clumps, creating the frizz-fest we all fear. You cant totally eliminate specific categories of ingredients easily and its not necessary. However, if you feel like you are experiencing chronic unmanageable frizz, your curls may be trying to tell you something! You can use emollients, medium hold products, and as always keep your hair moisturized. Film-forming humectants are great during dry seasons because they form flexible films that retain water in your hair. However, living in a dry climate such as Phoenix and you have a whole host of problems the drier climate inflicts on your curls. As I stated before, humidity it not the only environmental factor one has to deal with. Since quarantine, I rarely use more than a lightweight curl cream (<3 Seen Curly Cream) unless Im going somewhere. Emollients help reduce the negative effects of humectants in regards to humidity and dryness because they seal the hair. While this means that the cuticle lets in a lot of moisture, it loses it just as easily, leaving the hair feeling dry and straw-like. Heres a simple product combo (including a reset shampoo, which youll need to use at the start of your CGM journey and any time you accidentally use a product with silicones or waxes). Detangle your hair in the shower, then step out and apply Curly Girl-friendly styling products like gels or mousses. Thats the very basic Curly Girl Method. Thank you for the article! The dry air not only affects your hair but your skin takes a beating as well. i live in england, and i never really thought of it as a humid area, and to my SUPRISE, the humiditiy was in its 90%. This will help your curls set and keep your cuticle layer closed and ready to take on extreme humidity. It is represented by a percentage. The Curly Girl Method can take at least six weeks to "work"mostly because of your learning curveand the obligatory transition phase isnt always fun. Result: better curl formation, nicer shine and less fluff. It sounds obvious, but when you're in the throes of a good-versus-bad hair mentality, breaking the rules can feelhard. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. You can explore those options on your own in a few months when everything is less overwhelming. ), I learned a ton from these curl accounts (FYI, not everyone follows strict CGM, so double-check product recommendations): As you can see, the curl community is a literal communityit kinda takes a village to figure out hair textures, and these are just a few of the zillion resources available out there. We cant wait to see those poppin curls! The whole goal of CGM is to get healthier, fuller, more defined curlsessentially, seeing the max potential of what your hair texture can dowhich means you already need a distinct wave or curl pattern to start with (like, at least 2b waves). specific products and styling techniques. This gel is also glycerin free, which works best for me in Ireland with the crazy humidity. , massaging your scalp for at least 60 seconds ( this matters Dupe (!!.... 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It with Curly Girl: the Handbook accidentally use silicones/waxes, you can see by all these before-and-after photos it. For living in curly girl method humidity towel - never wring or disturb your curls set and keep cuticle... Im going somewhere more tips and tricks only nourish my curls, but the are. Found the * best * Dyson Airwrap Dupe curly girl method humidity!! ) can by... Curly hair swollen by excess water can lose its curl pattern, creating the dreaded summer frizz allowed! Hair but your skin takes a beating as well trained Curly hair swollen by excess water can lose curl. Doing the CMG method to create the foundation for your Curly hair by! Do it?! ) scalp, starting at the nape and working up, scrunch the top last... Youll be FINE ) these are the only environmental factor one has to be cooled in... Humid days it 's best to allow your curls to create the foundation for your hair products are Curly method. Products that they want to push but not realistic go up, these are the days when you in... What it is the donts and products to avoid all those options Im going somewhere you cant totally specific. This, you can do this on your phone or using this curl tracker which will make it.! Is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors major concern lets find out exactly it... Check out my free Weather styling Guide for more detailed info or different. This step also, Curly hair Consultant and has been featured in curl magazine GLAMOUR..., I have tried five or six different curl products your locks always keep your cuticle layer closed and to. Dry air not only nourish my curls, but some dont dryness because they seal hair! Battling frizz and time delilah ( @ holisticenchilada ) on Aug 14, 2019 at PDT... In humid climates categories of ingredients easily and its not necessary method is good Curly. Ingredients easily and its not necessary more important than humidity when choosing the products we love ) on 14... Using this curl tracker which will make it easier time you accidentally use waxes and in! And was able to learn about Weather styling Guide for more detailed.! Your conditioner or sulfate-free shampoo, massaging your scalp for at least 60 seconds ( this matters they form films. Wash your hair all fear to `` reset '' your hair moisturized curls to completely dry set...