#tightly curly method

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Hello Beautiful, good to see you again. I’m back :)

[afrobservation-blog]

4 Conditioners Down...

So in my first hair routine post. I mentioned how I had at least 5 conditioners I wanted to use up. I’ve used up:

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration

Herbal Essences Tealightfully Clean Conditioner 

Organix Nourishing + Coconut Milk Conditioner (which I admit I bought another one of. I’ll explain in a bit)

Aussie Moist Conditioner

All that’s left are my Aveeno Nourish + Moisturize and Giovanni Direct Leave-In. I have a few shampoos, but honestly. I’m thinking of dumping them along with the Direct Leave-In. 

Right before I restarted the Tightly Curly Method, I had somehow concluded that I should try to stick to a line of products. I chose Organix because I had fellow natural friend of mine tell me how much she liked their products a long while ago and I knew I needed a bit more protein in my life. I’m not sure how much of a difference it truly makes, but having a consistent line of products for cleansing and conditioning has truly given me some positive results... and picking up products at the store is a no-brainer now. It honestly could have been any product line I chose (I almost went with Aussie for shampoo and rinse condish)- but in the end what I needed most was protein from my shampoos and rinses and a *combing* conditioner with good slip. Organix seems to be hear to stay, but my Aveeno (I bought a bunch on sale) has me wanting a little more. And I know Giovanni Direct is so light that I’d use what’s left on 1/4 of my hair.  

So in the course of writing this I’ve decided that after this last bottle of Aveeno I’ll be done with any excess shampoos and conditioners. Now I just need to find an appropriate combing conditioner! While I love my Organix it is NOT fit as a leave in for me. I may jump back on to my Aussie Moist bandwagon or I’ll check out Terri’s website and see what she recommends again. I’ll post about it again soon.

[iamspialelo]

Conditioner only wash n’ go...Update

Could it be, that my hair doesn't like too many products on it? It came out great! There is definitely shrinkage, but my tiny coils look cute and my hair feels soft. Not sure if I could get 2nd day hair but the process was quicker than my usual wash n’ gos with gel, so I don’t mind repeating it. I’m definitely going to continue to experiment with the conditioner as my styling agent for my wash n’ gos, and possibly during the colder season with my twist outs.  Conditioner used: TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner

[iamspialelo]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTvo5CX1g9k)

[fineasscurls]

Tightly Curly Method on short natural hair. 

[futurehalfer-blog]

Tightly Curly Method: I decided to experiment with the Tightly Curly Method that I saw from AuCurls Naturelle on YouTube. She got it from Teri LaFlesh (not sure about spelling) and her book Curly Like Me. I also visited her website tightlycurly.com. This is what I came up with. Basically, the TC method is a way to define your curls using only conditioner. I used Tresemme Naturals conditioner two nights ago to start the method. I refresh by using a little conditioner and water and smoothing it over my hair. Not sure how I like it yet, but I want to keep it for at least five more days maybe.

[prettyboibinx]

The Tightly Curly Girl Method?

Step 1. Co-wash with Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner, doctored with Tea Tree Oil, every 3-4 days (I add a scoop of sugar scrub to the conditioner at least once a week), or shampoo with Shea Moisture Moisture Retention Shampoo (I only do this step once a month).

Step 2. Deep condition with either Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque or homemade mix of Greek yogurt, honey, tea tree oil, and the previously mentioned masque for 40 minutes once a week and about 20 minutes every time I co-wash my hair. Detangle with my fingers before slapping on a plastic cap and letting it soak in for a while.

Step 3. Rinse the DC out with cool to cold water.

Step 4.  Mix Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner with Curl & Style Milk (also by Shea Moisture) and apply to soaking wet hair.

Step 5.  Apply a rosemary-infused olive and tea tree oil blend to my ends as a sealant.

Step 6.  Smooth each individual curl with my fingers.  This step takes less time than coiling does and gives better definition.  (Hair wet as shown with product applied and curls smoothed)

Step 7. Air dry and rock with cute earrings and bows oh my!

     Just kidding about the bows, but for those of you who aren't familiar with the two methods, allow me to break it down.  The CG method basically involves washing your hair with conditioner or non or low sulfate shampoos, use of alcohol-free gels, and avoidance of silicones.  The TC method allows you to shampoo regularly (you can wash again with conditioner if you wish,  apply a ton of moisturizing conditioner with plenty of slip, detangle gently with a Denman D3 brush,and either smooth or doodle your curls.  Make sense now?  I borrowed the co-washing and silicone avoidance from the CG method and the conditioner packing and curl smoothing from the TC method.  Both methods use air drying primarily.  I like the TC method because it gives me moisture for days without touch ups needed.  I like the CG method because it allows me to gently clean my hair while moisturizing it and the lack of silicones helps my hair absorb all the moisture it can stand, while allowing me to re-moisturize as necessary (which isn't often I might add).  Both methods have their benefits but they work best when customized to your individual curls and curl pattern.  My hair loves moisture but is low porosity, which makes getting the moisture in a priority.  Keeping said moisture in is a bit easier and natural, silicone-free oils help me avoid build up.  Anyway, I hope this post inspired someone :) I leave you with photos of the finished (read dry) product. Enjoy!

[blurryeyes]

Its been a while...but now it's all about ME!

I'm cutting out the drama. Life has been pretty good! I lost some people that I will miss greatly, but as far as my stress levels...they have been very low this year.

I miss my dear brother, but I'm positive he is doing alright and will be home soon, and I am slowly getting back cool with my dad. It's a work in progress. As for my wonderful bf, he's doing great. I really enjoy him and love the time we have together.

My hair has been flourishing nicely...Its been 2 and a half long years. I say long because it really has been that long since I embarked on this journey back to my long hair. I was relaxed at the tender age of 13. I never really had to take care of my own hair because my mom was a master of beautiful braids that I wore through most of my childhood. So from 13 to 23 I relaxed my long locks until I went through an emotional time that caused my hair to break off terribly so after looking through some old pics of my mom and me...I made the decision to NEVER RELAX AGAIN!

It was so hard at first. I went through times where I had the cutest little doo and then there were times where I wore hats. I even shed tears a time or two when I just did not like my hair style. There were days where I spent hours and hours working on my hair and at the end of the day I was exhausted, defeated, and I wasn't satisfied. My awesomewa bf even told me a few times how much he hated my hair. I spent months were I felt like I wasn't attractive enough for him. I think it wasn't until a year ago that he took a look at me and said "I like your hair."

I usually liked my hair back in the beginning, but if no one else liked it I was the most important person I need to impress. I am very picky, but I think that I love my hair now more than ever because I love long hair. So I'm patiently waiting for it to grow even longer, but I have to take better care of it. Although I spend a lot of time on it...Its so hard to be patient for another 2 years. *le sigh*

So I've been doing the tightly curly method for about a week now. I'm gonna try and do it for another 6 weeks and see how it goes...I think I'll try to do more updos so that my hair isn't rubbing on my clothes in the back damaging my ends. So far it has been great...I'm still trying to decide on which combing conditioner is the best for me. The top and front of my hair is dryer than the back so I may have to use another kind of conditioner for the front all together. Its a work in progress. I think I will have some time to do it over either tonight or tomorrow afternoon. I'll post a pic.