Committing to Curly Hair: Shaping, Regimen, Styling, and More

[Yvette 2.0]

Greetings!

I think I'm ready to wear my hair curly/kinky 80+% of the time. (I imagine I will straighten it on very special occasions, such as for weddings, Valentine's Day, etc.)

RosieCurlyCrown is my inspiration.

Has anyone else taken this step . . . moving from MAINLY wearing your natural hair straightened to committing to hardly ever flat ironing? (I will be wearing stretched styles such as twist outs, flexi rod sets, etc.)

What led you to make this choice?​

How is it going for you?​

Do you have tips to share?​

What do you like about this choice?​

What do you NOT like about this choice?​

Has the health of your hair improved? Has the length and/or density of your hair increased as a result?​

If you had to make this choice again, would you?​

If you had to make this choice again, what would you do differently?​

​

Would anyone like to join me? Is there a thread that already exists for this? If so, I'll mosey on over there once I learn of it.

Blessings all around, all!

 

[Yvette 2.0]

Recently I've been a straight-haired natural.
Loved it! It was EASY, mechanical damage from detangling was virtually non-existent, and my hair grew and grew and grew . . .

The mechanical damage thing was IMPORTANT. I have (well, had) dense hair that was VERY FINE. That combo resulted in hair that tangled TONS. Detangling fine hair without damaging it is challenging. I think I now have a technique down that is as minimally damaging as I can get it, without abandoning a detangling brush. (I will never be a finger-detangle-only natural: It is not thorough enough for me.)

​

As a straight-haired natural, for 6-8 weeks at a time, ALLLLLLL I would do with my hair was:

1. spend 10 minutes at night putting it up into 2 space buns​

2. spend 15 minutes in the morning releasing the space buns down into gorgeous spirally waves and spraying them with holding spray to lock in the style, and​

3. oil my scalp every now and then.​

​

Loved everything about this. However, over time it has been damaging: My hair is DEFINITELY SIGNIFICANTLY less dense, and I feel like I'm maxing out at bra-strap-length to mid-back-length as a straight-haired natural.1

I am inspired to try to get to shoulder-length curly hair. That would be EXTREMELY LONG HAIR, I'm thinking! (Depending on the area of my head, my chin-length curly hair is down to my shoulder blades or longer when flat-ironed.) I've watched Rosie handle detangling very long natural hair, and *fingers crossed* I think I can handle it. LOL.

This week I have an appointment with Haiya of HERcurls to get my curly/kinky hair CUT. I'm excited AND nervous. My goal is to be able to wash and GO, literally. Haiya cut singer HER's hair. I've been watching Haiya on Instagram for years. I'm finally ready to commit!

I'm torn between saying, "Please preserve as much length as you can" and saying "Do whatever it takes to give me a cut where I can truly wash and GO . . . and that will grow it into my dream shape."

I'll aim to post pics after the appointment.

 

[Angel of the North]

I've recently been wearing my hair in it's curly state, and have had a full WAG for the first time a few weeks ago. I do enjoy my curly hair, I find it easy to maintain, except for the frizz

I'm thinking about sticking with it till autumn when there's not as much humidity, at which point, I will rollerset till winter. I intend to bun through winter, and then go back to WAGs for spring.

 

[keranikki]

Wash and Go Thread

I hope I inserted the link correctly. The above thread may be of assistance to you.

 

[Angel of the North]

Wash and Go Thread

I hope I inserted the link correctly. The above thread may be of assistance to you.

Thank you

ETA: I see there are over 200 pages..... That will give me some bedtime reading for days

 

[Yvette 2.0]

Update

New Shape and Length


Cleansers, Treatments, Stylers, and Other Products I'll Use Up before Trialing the Stylist-recommended Products


The Appointment
I really enjoyed my appointment with Haiya of HERCurls on Friday. She really listens, and she knows a lot about hair.

It looks sooooo much better curly now.

I have layers now. I believe I went from bra-strap length to having longest layers that are just above armpit length. Some of my layers are chin length.

I will return for one more shaping in a few months, I'll return to get color (for the first time ever!) a bit after that, then I should be good for awhile (just typical trims every 3-4 months).

Goal Color



Products
Haiya does not recommend usage of products available in BSS or supermarkets. Because of their performance, she says, she is a proponent of Kevin Murphy hair shampoo, cowash, and conditioner and of Innersense I Create Hold.

I already use the Innersense gel. I don't mind trying the Kevin Murphy products, but first I will use up good products that I already have.

I don't foresee stopping using the 2 The Doux foams/mousse that I love unless there is a comparable high end one available. I wouldn't even know where to begin looking. The Innersense foam did very little for my hair.

Some Thoughts
I'm excited and inspired!

#1
My hair is so easy to do now. I could LITERALLY wash and go. Also, I will be able to apply foam quickly and just walk out the door and air dry on the drive to work and in the morning.

#2 Rosie has me sooooooo inspired. Length retention and reduced weathering of my ends, here I come! I will straighten for a wedding in October, but otherwise, no direct heat and no ironing. I love Rosie's routine (though I will only layer that much on my ends).

I'm really glad I did this. I wore long(er) hair long enough and had a blast with it. I like the way I look in shaped, chin-length curly hair. I am soooooo excited about getting color in October. A successful salon visit! Praise God!

 

[Angel of the North]

Update

New Shape and Length
View attachment 505362

Cleansers, Treatments, Stylers, and Other Products I'll Use Up before Trialing the Stylist-recommended Products
View attachment 505354 View attachment 505356 View attachment 505358 View attachment 505360

The Appointment
I really enjoyed my appointment with Haiya of HERCurls on Friday. She really listens, and she knows a lot about hair.

It looks sooooo much better curly now.

I have layers now. I believe I went from bra-strap length to having longest layers that are just above armpit length. Some of my layers are chin length.

I will return for one more shaping in a few months, I'll return to get color (for the first time ever!) a bit after that, then I should be good for awhile (just typical trims every 3-4 months).

Goal Color

View attachment 505364

Products
Haiya does not recommend usage of products available in BSS or supermarkets. Because of their performance, she says, she is a proponent of Kevin Murphy hair shampoo, cowash, and conditioner and of Innersense I Create Hold.

I already use the Innersense gel. I don't mind trying the Kevin Murphy products, but first I will use up good products that I already have.

I don't foresee stopping using the 2 The Doux foams/mousse that I love unless there is a comparable high end one available. I wouldn't even know where to begin looking. The Innersense foam did very little for my hair.

Some Thoughts
I'm excited and inspired!

#1
My hair is so easy to do now. I could LITERALLY wash and go. Also, I will be able to apply foam quickly and just walk out the door and air dry on the drive to work and in the morning.

#2 Rosie has me sooooooo inspired. Length retention and reduced weathering of my ends, here I come! I will straighten for a wedding in October, but otherwise, no direct heat and no ironing. I love Rosie's routine (though I will only layer that much on my ends).

I'm really glad I did this. I wore long(er) hair long enough and had a blast with it. I like the way I look in shaped, chin-length curly hair. I am soooooo excited about getting color in October. A successful salon visit! Praise God!

I'm glad your appointment went well and you're loving your new hair cut I'd never heard of Kevin Murphy, I had a quick search, and it seems his products come highly recommended, are deemed to do what they're intended for and seems to be on the higher end.

They even have a trial pack for £1.99 I think that's quite amazing, you can try the range without breaking the bank, and you shoukd have a fair idea of whether or not it's worth purchasing full size product Unfortunately it's sold out. I've signed up for the stock alert when it comes back in.

I'm loving trial sizes at the moment, it's allowing me to try new products without having to commit. If I don't like it, I can move on to the next one.

How do you find the Innersense gel, does it give a good definition and hold, is it good for retaining moisture?

 

[Yvette 2.0]

Oooo! Great idea regarding the trial sizes. I'll look out for them.

I love the Innersense gel. It's awesome for me on damp hair.

 

[Angel of the North]

Oooo! Great idea regarding the trial sizes. I'll look out for them.

I love the Innersense gel. It's awesome for me on damp hair.

They also do some mini sized products too.

I used the Doux Mousse Def and Big Poppa on my WAG ponytail. I have the best definition, no frizz so far (still waiting for it to dry). I'm going to try this on a full head WAG next.

 

[GettingKinky]

I have been trying to get to a shoulder length wash n go for what feels like forever. I started wearing wash n gos in 2018 and I’m still not there. I attribute it to the following.

- an incredible amount of shrinkage
- my curly cuts/trims taking off too much hair (I switched to blow out trims in 2023)
- maybe damaging my hair when I detangle (I’ve been bunning since last October to see if I can get it longer faster.)

Ad a side effect of bunning everyday I think I may have permanently stretched out my curls a little. In October I’ll check to see how long my wash n go is.

 

[Yvette 2.0]

I have been trying to get to a shoulder length wash n go for what feels like forever. I started wearing wash n gos in 2018 and I’m still not there. I attribute it to the following.

- an incredible amount of shrinkage
- my curly cuts/trims taking off too much hair (I switched to blow out trims in 2023)
- maybe damaging my hair when I detangle (I’ve been bunning since last October to see if I can get it longer faster.)

Ad a side effect of bunning everyday I think I may have permanently stretched out my curls a little. In October I’ll check to see how long my wash n go is.

I asked Haiya if I could bun. She said, "Sure, but only once your hair is dry." Bunning wet hair risks damage. I never thought about that.

I can relate!! I have an incredible amount of shrinkage as well! Definitely much over 50% for some sections of my hair.

Mm! Very smart to switch to blowout trims.

I look forward to hearing about your length check!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[GettingKinky]

I’ve been bunning on damp hair daily for 9 months now. I use spin pins not an elastic to hold it in place, but I think the twisting of my hair into the Bantu bun is stretching the curls.

 

[Angel of the North]

I’ve been bunning on damp hair daily for 9 months now. I use spin pins not an elastic to hold it in place, but I think the twisting of my hair into the Bantu bun is stretching the curls.

Have you had any protein DC/treatments recently? It may just be that you need one, with the damp bunning, it might be affecting the elasticity of your hair, that may make your curls seem looser.

What are the product combinations you're using? Could it be a product that is elongating your curl pattern? I tried the doux mousse def yesterday under CRN curl love, it drastically changed my curl pattern, they went back to normal when I added the big poppa gel.

I have read a few pages from the WAG thread, have you managed to find products that you like for your WAGs? There are 4 gels I want to try, one is the Innersense I Create, I also want to try wetline and eco styler, I also have a VO5 gel I bought but am yet to try..

I had Aunt Jackie's don't shrink gel on my list, but I changed my mind after seeing that it had pvp in it, also thought it might drastically alter my curls.

 

[GettingKinky]

Have you had any protein DC/treatments recently? It may just be that you need one, with the damp bunning, it might be affecting the elasticity of your hair, that may make your curls seem looser.

What are the product combinations you're using? Could it be a product that is elongating your curl pattern? I tried the doux mousse def yesterday under CRN curl love, it drastically changed my curl pattern, they went back to normal when I added the big poppa gel.

I have read a few pages from the WAG thread, have you managed to find products that you like for your WAGs? There are 4 gels I want to try, one is the Innersense I Create, I also want to try wetline and eco styler, I also have a VO5 gel I bought but am yet to try..

I had Aunt Jackie's don't shrink gel on my list, but I changed my mind after seeing that it had pvp in it, also thought it might drastically alter my curls.

I do protein DCs regularly. My main one is Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Mask, but I also have the Cecred reconstructing mask

When I bun I use kinky curly knot today topped with uncle funky curly magic.

When I wear WAG I used the curly magic topped with Ecoslay jello shot.

I have also used the curly magic topped with the Innersense I Create Hold. I love that combo, but I wanted to used black owned products to I switched to Ecoslay.

I haven’t done a WAG in 9 months now I’m hoping I haven’t stretched out my curls too much. If I did it will just be the area around the base of the bun. I’ve been trying to twist it more lightly so that I don’t stretch the hair as much but I think a little stretching is probably inevitable.

I also used to use Wetline on top of KCKT it worked well, but at some point I was swayed to using “better” products. (I was following black girl curls for many years)

 

[Angel of the North]

I do protein DCs regularly. My main one is Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Mask, but I also have the Cecred reconstructing mask

When I bun I use kinky curly knot today topped with uncle funky curly magic.

When I wear WAG I used the curly magic topped with Ecoslay jello shot.

I have also used the curly magic topped with the Innersense I Create Hold. I love that combo, but I wanted to used black owned products to I switched to Ecoslay.

I haven’t done a WAG in 9 months now I’m hoping I haven’t stretched out my curls too much. If I did it will just be the area around the base of the bun. I’ve been trying to twist it more lightly so that I don’t stretch the hair as much but I think a little stretching is probably inevitable.

I also used to use Wetline on top of KCKT it worked well, but at some point I was swayed to using “better” products. (I was following black girl curls for many years)

So it can't be a lack of protein, I remember you saying you had breakage as well. I wonder if its the bunning with damp hair? Hopefully, not twisting your bun too tight might help.

@Yvette 2.0 said that her stylist told her not to bun with wet hair. Iused to bun with wet hair daily back in the day, it didn't cause me any issues. @Yvette 2.0 Did your stylist give a breakdown on why they didn't recommend wet bunning?

Hopefully, when you go back to WAGs, your curls return to their usual cur pattern. I'm glad you've found some products that work for you

I'm on that journey now. I struggle with shrinkage and frizz, hence my hunt for perfect combinations for my WAGs. I want to try the wetline and the eco styler mainly because I've never used them, and their prices are cheap. I am trying to find a cheap version of every product I use, and I'm hoping one of those will hit that mark.

At this stage, I don't mind too much about who owns the products, it's definitely now more about how well they work for me. It's so difficult to find what I need, I'm taking it as it comes.