YES! This video needs millions of views. I began doing the CGM this past summer, even uploaded my own videos about it. While it has taught me how to care for my wavy hair, its demonization of ingredients only perpetuates this fearmongering, not seen in just hair care but skincare too. The concentration and how you use it matter. And I initially thought the CGM was inclusive to all hair textures, but the more I looked the more I saw how it excludes, and is disrespectful to, those with type 4 hair and the natural hair movement.
The only thing I care about in a hair product is if it is cruelty-free. I won't buy it if the company tests on animals even if the product will do wonders on my hair.
The drugstore where I get my hair products from has labels that say whether the product is cruelty free, vegan or both under the price of said product.
Unfortunately there is a lot of overlap between CF and the whole "natural is better" trend. I couldn't find a shampoo for about 3 years that worked for my hair when I switched to CF because they are all sulphate free these days. Had to go back just so my hair would look and feel clean. Becoming a bit more savvy on ingredients now which helps but sometimes it feels like you have to be a chemist to navigate beauty products and all of the jargon surrounding it.
@@littlereddragon Curlsmith is an amazing CF haircare line!! I highly recommend it! Now it is free of all silicones and sulfates but its great for all hairtypes and very light weight!
Omg the buildup terror around silicones is SO REAL! The most frequent question I get about my favorite curl cream (Cake) is “but won’t that build up on my hair?!” And...NOPE it won’t! Just cleanse!! The silicones do wonders for my fine high-po curls!
These two videos are the BOMB! You covered all my frustrations with where cgm deviates from science, and I learned a few new things too! As a chemical engineer, "chemical-free" drives me NUTS.
Chem engineering squad!!! In some lectures (I specialise in food/life science) we literally talk about how consumers fear ingredients for no reason. But that it‘s often easier and more profitable to just feed into that than bring out a product with „bad chemicals“ nobody will buy. Which, of course, reinforces those myths
Thank you so much for bringing up the Massey warning against oils. I agree with you I think this is insensitive and borderline racist swaying people away from black owned brands and creators (and to her brand?) that should be supported in the curly hair space. It seems to me that we owe so much to the black community for teaching use about working with curly/textured hair.
Yessss. As licensed hairstylist (since 1994), I’m baffled by the curly girl method. Most (if not all) of it goes against everything I’ve learned and observed. I’m not a chemist but I have practical knowledge of these non cg friendly products through decades of using them on myself and others. Nothing beats silicones when it comes to slip and manageability. I started my channel to fight the misinformation. While we’re at it, curl typing needs to go bye bye too. Too many stereotypes attached to it and not especially useful. Great video!
Yeah I know a lot of people are against the girl typing chart. The media may protray one type is better than the other, and obv causes so much harm in and out of the community. BUT I must admit I like looking at it, esp when looking for haircuts with layers and bangs, and hairstyles too, seeing my 3b hair is more realistic than random 3a or type 2 or 4.
UGH YES TO ALL OF THIS!! The Curl typing system is only useful to clarify expectations of how your hair can look while dry, and too many people tie their whole identity - and other people’s identities! - to their curl types! Texture and porosity are far more useful! And also I freakin love silicones 🙌🏻🤣
@@TheFitCurls agreed. Texture and porosity are indeed far better ways to determine what products to use. Scalp condition dictates shampoo type and frequency. I’m 47 with a full head of shiny, healthy hair all thanks to silicones and sulfates. DECADES of silicones and sulfates. I don’t obsess over ingredients beyond protein and moisture. I go by results. If it’s high quality and delivers the results, I’m all in. You would have to pry the silicones out of my cold dead fingers to get me to stop using them altogether. I have no problem trying products without them but I still use them somewhere in my routines or rotation of products (too many products but I’ll justify it by blaming it on being a licensed hairstylist 😂). By the way, I’m subscribed to your channel. Great content delivered with a bit of sass. Love it.
Yes finally someone is saying it, i was starting to go CG and found that a curl creme i liked and worked amazing for my hair was not approved! i asked my hairdresser and she said if it works and you like it keep using it!
This is really interesting. I've been experimenting with the curly girl method and it has helped my hair a lot but i think the big differences have been technique changes. Not brushing my hair when it's dry and sleeping with my hair up are what I suspect has my hair breaking waaay less rather than product changes. I also wasn't using anything with hold before and I think that has been a good change. I'm going to experiment with using up the products I have from before with what I have learned works for my hair technique wise. Thanks :)
You know what, i didn't years being angry at the gluten free and non GMO movement, i forgot to apply my skepticism to my hair care. Thanks for these two videos. Unfortunately i need to do further research for dyed curly hair (semi permanent dyes wash out easier and i don't want to waste money on bi monthly touch ups) but I'll take all this new info into account
Just wanted to comment. Preach it girl lol. I personally have worn my hair curly my whole life I am 45 now and let me tell you I did try the CGM a few yrs back for 2 years as an experiment. I went all those years using the so called baddies and let me tell you, my hair is still flawless 😍.
1. She might as well just say she never intended the cgm to be for black people or 3c+ hair 🤨 2. I hope loraine still isn’t trying to push deva curl products... if so I don’t trust anything she says 😂😂
I’m absolutely IN LOVE with this video!!!! I’m a cosmetologist 4 years out of school and only 4 months working in the industry and I can’t WAIT to educate my next client that mentions their fears of these ingredients! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for speaking up about all the myths around "chemical free" products. More people need to shout this from the rafters. I've had so many arguments with people trying to get them to understand that there is no such thing as chemical free products. There is so much misinformation and myths when it comes to personal care products. So frustrating.
Love this video and I honestly wish these bigger curly influencers would take note and stop making their viewers believe they’re doing harm to their hair by using products that aren’t CGM approved. I’ve always thought from the beginning that the CGM was just used as a way to sell more expensive products to people who have had issues with managing their curly hair for most of their life.
I started curly girl method last June so still learning lots. I think what you say makes sense and it is so important for people to do their own research and learning because, like you say "What works for one person may not work for another". I will stick to CGM for now as I continue to learn what my hair likes but I am always open to trying other things. Knowledge is power. Thanks for the info.😀👍
As a wavy I’ve found that the curly girl method has me over moisturizing my hair aka over conditioning. And it has made my hair less curly. These universal rules don’t work for everyone. So now I’m looking at going back to stronger shampoos and less conditioners.
I do this. I use strong shampoo to remove any product and oil from my workout. Condition. Throughly rinse out. Then gel. Been trying a curl cream before gel and been getting slightly better results but not crazy better.
What is your day job?? You are so eloquent when you speak and you’ve really done your research. Thank you for these videos, they’ve really opened my eyes.
I think the CGM is a good starting point if you've never worn your hair curly or if its super super damaged. I agree with all you've said, but starting with the strict cgm rules will definitely help your hair become healthy. The difference is that its not then required for the rest of your life. A silicone or sulfate here or there isn't going to destroy your hair.. as you said :)
cGM, while great for my 2C waves, gave me horrible scalp issues within a month. All that curling cream and gel never got properly washed off my scalp as I was using a sulphate free moisturising shampoo, so the products remained, causing intense itchiness and eventually folliculitis which was the most painful thing ever. Also my scalp developed this nasty smell along with the folliculitis and it was just awful. I'm on the road to recovery now, and I make sure to use sulphates every week along with ACV rince and my scalp is slowly healing. Never again
Considering all the new rules Lorainne Massey keeps adding following strict cgm rules is almost impossible. I wouldn't recommend sticking to it for anyone who doesn't want a life of frustration and label reading. For those starting out I would suggest searching instagram/youtube for curly haired content by creators with hair similar to yours and following them. To start with just focus on styling/washing techniques like "squish-to-condish" and using products with hold like gel. If your current shampoo/conditioner are working well for you, you don't need to buy new ones straight away, the techniques will still work. Things I look for in good curly content creators - they don't push overly strict rules or fear mongering of certain ingredients. - they recommend products with a variety of price points and not just ones they have a deal with (not saying they can't have ads/sponsorships, just not for every single item they recommend). - they recommend trying new techniques and ways of making a product work for you, over constantly buying new products. Technique is more important than the product 99% of the time. - they are aware that they are not the source of all hair knowledge 😂 That's really enough to be getting on with for anyone. No need to also spend hours/days finding products without silicones/butters/oils when it 's practically impossible and doesn't matter.
@@emmao6578 I see your point. I shouldn't have used the word strict, I dont strictly follow it. But I dont use silicones and sulphates and it definitely wasn't impossible. It took me 2 or 3 months and now I have a selection of products for each purpose (I.e. Washing, styling, deep conditioner etc). My hair is SO much better for it. I guess my point was, if youre starting from scratch, following the cgm and then adapting it to your personal needs is a good method to learn about curly hair care.
@@stariehearts2366 that sounds horrible, sorry you had to go through that. I think it can often just depend on too much. Your hair type, the products you're using, the technique you use. Cgm has done wonders for my hair and I would recommend it for anyone who is new to curly hair care. But it definitely has to be adapted to each individual.
I just decided to go back to my favorite Lush shampoo bar made with sodium coco-sulfate because I hated how my "gentler" sulfate-free shampoo bar made my hair feel - it's so stripping that I've been able to use it better as body soap, yet it somehow simultaneously didn't lather enough in my hair. This is reassuring :) formulation matters!
So much respect for you and this post. As a scientist currently in the process of getting my PhD and recently on my curly journey this really solidified my confidence in what I already believed. You are wonderful for explaining marketing tactics and science. Keep it up!
Another fantastic video! I really appreciate the CG-adherent accounts I have been following on the journey of learning to love my curls. Without the knowledge of those who’ve gone before me, I’d still be flat-ironing and round-brush blowout-ing every day, and that clearly wasn’t healthy for my hair! However, I’ve been feeling like a liar and a “bad” curly girl because I can’t give up my favorite shampoo and conditioner. Both contain amodimethicone, and I refuse to feel bad about that because my hair loves it. In fact, when I fell for the lie that all silicones are bad and cut those faves out of my routine, my curl pattern was looser and I experienced a good deal of frizz. You’re 100% right; it all comes down to listening to your hair and figuring out its needs. I know there’s a lot of buzz around DMDM hydantoin right now, but I’m not giving up one of my go-to clarifying shampoos and two gels that I can’t live without. There’s so much sensationalism out there, and social media only serves to feed the frenzy. Thank goodness there are sensible people like you to counter the madness!
Thanku so much for the upload, I recently started CGM, but wasn't ready to throw away my regular shampoo and conditioner. I just use the CGM techniques not the products and achieve tremendous results, I though may be my waves would be more define if I start using the cgm approved products. But now, I'm not gonna spend tons of money on these products, very much satisfied with my current products. Thanks again ❤😊
Thank you for this. I’ve been silicone and sulfate free for a couple years because I was trying to repair my severely damaged hair. I think I honestly just needed more clarifying and less heat in my life and I would have been fine! This video makes me feel less anxious about products and I’m down to try some silicones to fight the SC humidity!
My issue with silicones as a wavy (2b, 2c) is that they feel like they weigh everything down. My hair is already long and heavy so I don't like the feeling of it being 'weighed' but if I had tigher curls I would prolly use them more
This is such an amazing video! I feel like even my hairstylists/ colorists have polarizing ideas and practices regarding hair care. It’s so confusing overwhelming and frustrating.I particularly liked how you talked about the creator of the Curly Girl- or really any product marketing has a goal and their own agenda-which is to get you to buy their stuff. Why would you pay more for a similar product? They have to tell you something to make you stop using a product your already familiar with. It makes total sense. I live in Florida- high humidity it is a real struggle I like what you said about silicones.
Wow! I just realized what the heck am I thinking following the advice of a group who decided how you should take care of curly hair?! There have been lot of products I've been wanting to try, but they have the "dreaded" ingredients in them. Thanks for snapping me out of it girlfriend! 🤗⚘
You've inspired me to finally try the verb ghost oil! I was always hesitant because of the silicones but I truly feel that a product like that is what I'm missing. WHY WAS I SCARED? Thank you for being so thorough, your channel should blow up 💓
I remember many years ago when the Curly Girl Method was starting to get popular, I kept asking around of forums why "build up" is such a bad thing. It seemed like an imaginary problem to me because people on these forums never seemed to be able to explain why it was a problem. As somebody with extremely porous hair, avoiding build up seemed contrary to everything I had been trying to do, which was to coat my hair strands to make them as smooth as possible (like those with low porosity hair). I tried to follow the CG method and just ignored the part about the silicones because it made no sense to me and because all my favourite products had silicones. I'm so glad more people are starting to realize that silicones are great now!
Say it louder for those in the back!! No such thing as chemical free!! It makes me crazy that people don't understand this. This applies to so much in the market now... just because its an essential oil or OTC herbal something also doesn't mean it's safe! I'm not knocking herbs and oils... but they have side effects too!
It's like everyone just forgot how common it is for people to have allergies/reactions to flowers, fruits, nuts and any possible thing that exists in the natural world. I wouldn't be surprised if half the people that believe in the superiority of natural ingredients experience hayfever.
I don’t have curly hair, but the cgm helped me get my hair to not break as much as it got longer. I know for me, my shampoo is amazing and cgmapproved(before the oils/butters addition…) but my conditioner, despite being cgm, is not moisturizing enough. I don’t like how most silicones(namely dimethicones) affect my hair personally, but i feel much better accepting some of of the other demonized ingredients. Thank you!
Love this, an acquaintance of mine was selling lime life, an mlm, was constantly fear mongering anti chemical. To the point she told people that using sunscreen that wasn’t lime life sun screen was worse then just not wearing any, and getting burned. 🤬 That being said I have extremely sensitive skin and since using the basic curly girl method my hair has gotten darker, healthier, and my face doesn’t burn from the shampoo I’m using in my hair. I think using the C G method as a guide and not law is the way to go for me. Thank you for posting this!
This video popped up in my recommended videos at just the right time! I've been slowly implementing some cgm practices but haven't jumped in fully because I can't use a large majority of the cgm approved products. Most of them have shea butter or argan oil, which are major allergens for me and probably a bunch of other sensitive-skinned, latex allergic people. I hate that the market was flooded with shea butter and argan oil products and now I have to read the labels on *everything*. Now I'll feel less "guilty" about picking products that might work for me but aren't cgm approved.
I find that there are a bunch of tips within the cgm that work well for many other people, but not everything works for everyone. My hair is wavy and low-medium porosity so It's quite prone to buildup, which is why I always have a sulfate shampoo athome. And that Shampoo feels less drying to my hair than some cgm approved shampoos that I tried🤷🏻♀️ Another thing I find problematic is the way cowash is handled. If cowash does not work for sb they are usually told they're doing it wrong, they have to massage more. Amd you can feel like you're a failure because of it. Also specific cowashes usually have cleansing ingredients just like lowpos. But many people use their regular conditioners especially when they're starting out. Some conditioners might work. But the thought of constantly putting something on my scalp that isn't meant for the scalp kinda freaks me out.
I love my amodimethicone leave-in during the winter. It’s the best thing I’ve found to prevent/minimize tangles at the nape of my neck, and I’ve been doing this for years. Even my very strict CHM stylist knows I use sulfates and silicones and he always comments on how healthy my hair is.
OMG THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO. Instead of focusing on what I don't want in my hair, I should focus on what works for my hair. Coating my hair with oil has been the only thing that has kept humidity at bay, but then it weighs on my hair and I cannot access to the products people have in other countries. So I will look on what silicones actually work best for my weather and my hair!!!!!
You most definitely taught me something- thank you, & you made me feel better. I felt guilty using silicone products. I know that Marc Anthony Strictly curls lotion worked on my hair, but it wasn’t approved, so I felt guilty. 😃 I am relieved now ~ ☺️
OMG, same here!! My hair LOVES the strictly curls curl cream, but I always feel guilty when I use it, so I tend to avoid it. I love when girls in the curly girl community make these videos 💖.
I have John Freida frizz ease products that have been on my shelf for years and I was a bit worried when I discovered that they contain silicones...but then I realised, sod it! I get good results with them 🤷🏽♀️
Parabens and phthalates are endocrine disruptors that can upset your natural hormonal balance, which you may want to avoid if you are TTC or dealing with other hormonal issues.
LOVE this video! For so long at the start of my curly journey I refused to use things like sulfates and silicones even though in the back of my mind I’d think about how my best wash days used to have silicones in. I think not properly cleansing your hair due to fear of dry hair is also causing so many problems in the curly community. As long as you use a conditioner after shampoo, you’re not going to have major problems. CGM goes on about pre-poo, co-wash, conditioner, deep conditioner, butter based stylers and oils being ok all together and yet a little bit of silicone is going to cause buildup?! It doesn’t make sense. Like you said as long as you clarify when needed you won’t have a problem with product buildup. I really love listening to @iamblackgirlcurls on Instagram. It’s more for coily textures rather than my looser curls but the principles are still the same and their motto is “Just wash your damn hair” which is great. Now my wash days include a gentle but effective shampoo every wash day, an amazing moisturising conditioner (with parabens) and a serum with silicones in the first five ingredients and my curls have never looked better!
i learn SO much from you! i love that you always back up your claims with research. thank you for putting in the work for the rest of us - it doesn't go unnoticed.
These videos were AWESOME and very informative, thank you!!! I have always been skeptical and never knew where to find this information, most curly hair sites say the same thing about these "toxic" ingredients that will make your hair melt LOL. This is a big help, and I agree! We have to do what works for our hairs health. I quit CGM recently and my hair has never looked better!
I follow the curly girl method and it works pretty well for my hair, but I agree with you on what you said about sulfates, there are some sulfate shampoos that actually aren't harsh, like for example, Balea. But silicones might not be suitable for everyone, I know that some curly girls use them, but I found out that they do horrible things to my hair, because I have naturally fine hair and silicones weigh them down
No longer a curly girl (I've had relaxed hair for 2 years now) but the same principles really apply to so many parts of the hair and beauty community. The best thing you can do for your hair is listen to it and actually do your research.
Can you make a video about pH levels? Like the product pH levels and the best levels for our hair. I noticed when I used hair products with high pH levels my hair doesn't look as good or my wash day doesn't last as long or look as shiny compared to when I used products with lower pH levels. Great video as always and much appreciated.
I wish I saw this video before I dove head first into CGM. Not that it’s at fault for how my hair is reacting (I blame my lack of knowledge), but my hair is a disaster right now and needs quite a large chop in order to get it back to healthy. I used to have the CURLIEST hair, and over time, they’ve nearly disappeared and I’m disappointed and nervous that they’re gone for good and that this is just my hair now. Your channel has given me a new motivation to make it better and not worry so much about the “restricted” products! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
I completely agree with you. I’m Italian and I follow the “Italian Curly Girl community”. This community doesn’t follow in a strict way the CGM created by Lorraine Massey but a modified version (With sulfates, “drying” alcohol, oils and butters). Recently Lorrain Mossey’s team said to the Italian community that they cannot talk anymore about the CGM because what they are doing is not CGM. She is partially right but she said in a horrible way. Also, the community I follow always specifies that they use a modified version of the CGM. I think she did only because we don’t buy her products (they are hard to find in Italy).
I would love to know that also. I understand some people can have problems with synthetic fragrance from simple skin contact allergies to headaches and migraines. And as someone who scents natural and synthetic can trigger headaches and migraines but for the most part I am fine I still use products with fragrance but others say they are irritating and should never be used even if they themselves have no sensitivities to any fragrance.
@@jenniferprice9971 i personally really would love to see a video on shampoos for people with sensitive scalps, since most shampoos that are for sensitive scalps, aren't so nice to my frizzy frizz ):
@@princessmanitari4993 I wouldn’t mind seeing it as I have some sensitivity to products but mostly for my face not my scalp particularly and I have had some shampoos irritate along my hairline. I am mainly curious about fragrance as many people say you can’t be sensitive to fragrance ingredients while others even without their own sensitivity refuse to get products with fragrance as an ingredient either because it can be irritating or they don’t like the lack of disclosure of all ingredients. So I like seeing what people who look into the science of cosmetics think or even just people who have tried a lot of different products. Especially as fragrance seems to be a divisive topic.
Thanks for this evidence based approach to curl care. The problem with experimenting on your own hair is 1) the expense! 2) tracking which combination of products plus techniques produced the best results. And 3) knowing if product + technique was the major/ only contributor to your good hair day. Maybe there were other factors and the next time it won’t work.
I'm not going to lie.. Before I knew about the CGM, my hair was amazing. After a while I started following the CGM and ok whatever. Then I was looking at pics when I didn't know about it and I noticed how healthy my hair was looking ans even more full. Thank you so much for this info! Then I'd wanted to switch and id watch youtubers curly hair videos and I'd almost feel guilty for switching
Good for you to go back. If I had done this sooner maybe I'd not have lost 60% of my hair over the 7 years I used cg products. Bbutters and oils were the cause of my hair disaster.
It's important to differentiate between "chemical panic" and understanding of how ingredients will affect hair and hair types. If you have fine curly hair, maybe a conditioner with high percentage of silicones in combination with certain other ingredients makes it difficult for you to maintain the curl pattern and shape you're going for. Similarly, maybe you use shampoos that help effectively wash your scalp in combination with silicones to a great effect, and find that they help get the hair shape and curl pattern you want. This, frankly, has always been my understanding of cgm, especially when combined with techniques like S2C, SOTC, plopping, praying hands vs raking, etc etc. It's interesting to see that others have gotten different things out of the "movement!" I think besides techniques and better understanding of what ingredients may benefit or hurt my hair (because I'm paying more attention to ingredients lists and background info on ingredients), cgm kind of opened my eyes to marketing in drug stores - it's funny now to notice when products marketed towards certain problems have the same general formulas (toothpaste is an especially interesting one here, where I've found toothpastes marketed towards different issues all have the same active ingredient to the same percent, and little to no other ingredient changes, which makes me question how effective they are at targeting different issues - that said, I'm not a chemist) It is valuable to talk about how certain ingredient guidelines aren't an end all be all though, certainly - eg, the most drying shampoo I ever used was a sulfate free shampoo, but I do find that a lot of the common shampoos I used ot use with a high concentration of sulfates were drying for my hair. That said, there are some sulfate included shampoos that are the goldilocks version for me. I appreciate cgm for opening my eyes to looking at ingredients as a balance, or understanding which ingredients in certain places on a list may cause them to not work for me. I think it all comes down to a combination of paying attention to ingredients and, exactly what you say, "pay attention to how your hair feels," and lots of "personal experimentation." I wish that there were a percentage included in ingredients lists. I guess companies are afraid of having their formulas stolen if they were more specific, but also... meh, that would give me so much trust in a brand. Not like I'm going to combine PEG-8 + ("natural fragrances and dyes")+(etc etc) in my kitchen/bathroom myself.
Brilliant, and excellent, evidence-based information. I have healthy, curly hair and have NEVER followed the CG Method. As my PhD Analytical Chemist husband always says, "Science doesn't care about your opinion." Thank you for helping to dispel so many myths that surround hair products and their use.
I didn't know what a paraben was or why it was bad and couldn't really be bothered to look it up on my own, so thank you for explaining that for me lol
I just want to say thank you. I got taken in my EWG & Think Dirty. I have several auto-immune disease &bother chronic illnesses. And I was told I needed to go clean & I'd feel better. I haven't. Now I can back my anecdotal experiences with science.
Was looking into doing the CGM. But was going to follow my own way. I'm glad someone is questioning everything. I think the best thing is, to stop using heat on my hair.
Just came across your first video and then jumped over here. I love this information. I mostly buy sulfate free shampoos because I don't like how stripped my hair feels when using sulfates. However, once in a while if I need to remove too much accumulated product in my hair, then I will use it. I will continue to follow your channel. TFS
For a moment, I got in the CGM train. But than I noticed silicones were really good for my hair. But I also noticed harsh sulfates shampoo doesn' work well in my dyed hair, so I avoid them. I still avoid oils with paraffin, mainly bc I don't like to use harsh sulfates shampoo. Really enjoyed you video!!
Thank you so much for this video!! The whole "Curly Girl Method Approved Product" feels elitist and that always bothered me. I'm glad you talked about the "forbidden ingredients", it made it a lot easier for me to pick out products for my hair care routine. Instant sub. 💗
Omg, thank you so much for this video. I cannot make it any more clear to people who tell me that chemical free products are better.....I always ask them to read the ingredients and research them. No such thing! Great work!
Everyone have different hair; there are many different types of oils/butters of different properties that can work for certain types of hair, you just need to know which. I have low-porosity hair with tight cuticles which means they're smooth, glossy and resilient but moisture repellent, quick to go greasy and hard to style at the same time. Rich oils/butters in conditioners just sit on the surface without being absorbed, proteins coat the hair making them look dull. Too much silicone is also not good, it makes my hair look greasy and clogs my scalp so it's better used in target areas. I stick to light oils (such as linseed or argan) for hot oiling my hair an hour prior to washing them with gentle moisturising shampoo. Then I use thin moisturising conditioner on 1/2 length of my hair. To towel dried hair I apply moisturising mist and tiny drop of silicone based treatment just to the tips of my hair to seal moisture in and protect it from further damage. It's really worth knowing your hair and identifying their needs; before that I was buying into marketing campaigns and trends and was wasting a lot of money on products that simply didn't work for me.
This is great refreshing info! I started a curly group on facebook because I was a member of a group that did product shaming! I was new to the CGM and it was horrifying!! I decided right then and there that my little group was not going to do that - and although the CGM teaches certain products are a no-no - I have buttoned my lip (in comments) and refrained from being a know it all and too "preachy" As a result I have begun learning things too - like not all unapproved products are bad etc. It is a big learning curve! I know this is true because not all CGM approved products work for my hair - in fact I hate them. So I was glad to stumble upon your 2 part video on this subject and will be contributing to your instagram #unrestrictedcurls
Despite always wearing my hair curly, a couple years ago I gave CGM a try, and it was NOT for me. I did learn from it, and have incorporated that knowledge along the way. But for one thing, my hair LOVES amodimethicone. I also use sulfates, though not as often. Some people get great results using it, but I bet a lot of the "greatness" comes from being more aware of what all the hot tools were doing, and experimenting with loads of new techniques & products, and not so much cuz they cut out their once favorite conditioner due to a single cone being somewhere on the ingredient list😊
I think using a one-size-fits-all method is dangerous. Not every hair is going to react the same way. It also depends on humidity, where you live, how your hair is styled etc. I think what works is understanding your hair and what ingredients work for your hair. For example, my limp, fine hair loves panthenol and aloe water. Also, I don't use butters or lots of oil. Instead, I apply a dollop of oil for my whole head of hair on damp hair and that works for me.
I bought a new shampoo recently based on what I'd heard about CGM. My hair was suddenly healthy & my curls didn't need products to make them hold anymore. Watching this I realized my mistake. This was a gentler shampoo than my old one, plus it came with a conditioner I've been using. My hair was always dry before. Adding the moisture was what actually made the difference! I'm gonna probably keep using this as long as it works for me, only because it works for me, & I'm telling my friend not to try CGM like I suggested awhile back.
I have a very sensitive and dry scalp and I have always had to use Nizoral paired with a CGM shampoo for my skin. It works great for my 2b/2c hair. Sulfates and silicones can be great, it just depends on who u are and what ur hair/scalp needs! Thank you for making this video!!!
thank you so much fot this video!!! all this information made me realize many things about my hair!! The curly hair method helped me a lot... but now that I watch your video I think I ready for some changes
I stopped the CGM 10 years ago since its so hard to find sulfate free and silicone free hair care products in my country....its also hot and humid here and it can feel disgusting and itchy when the hair isn't cleaned everyday. Smelling like yesterday's sweat is also not appealing
My hair is actually softer when I use sulfates. I find sulfate-free shampoos to be extremely drying because they don’t remove gunk. Plus, there are levels of sulfates. One of the most moisturizing shampoos I have contains Disodium laureth sulfate. This shampoo has keratin protein and is super gentle! And clarifying! PS water has chemicals, as does air, so that company is safe!
I'm glad I found your videos. I started trying CGM a month ago and started using only CGM approved (expensive) products, and ended up with an itchy scalp I never had before. >:( Ironic for high quality, "clean" products! I didn't go full CGM, I still wash my hair nearly everyday like I always have, yet...itchy scalp that I just desperately want to stop.
As a person who battles with seborreic dermatitis had to abandon curly girl method, since instead of silicones, products had waxes , that are worse. I had to use highly sulfate product to clarify. Was a Battle but then I went to a dermatologist and was the salvation.
Hi! I'm starting the Modified CGM soon bcz my hair is dry, frizzy and very difficult to manage. On recommendations from my friends, I'm planning to use a sulfate shampoo to clarify/ clean my hair every 10 days or one in 2 weeks. Definitely going to keep an open mind and see what works best for my hair! Thanks for the insight
I absolutely loved and learned a lot from this video. You just gained a subscriber. You're so informative and serene. Everything about this video just worked for me. Thanks a lot for the work put into it! 👍🏽🤗
Amazing video! Makes me feel a lot less anxious about what to do with my transitioning hair. I was wondering what you do with products that didn't work for you?
As a vegan and general greenie who doesn't think we were created to run on synthetic stuff (even if one has the faith to believe in evolution, that still doesn't stack up!), I prefer the more 'natural' option, but I still use my fair share of synthetics. ;) Something I do think needs to stop is the expression 'Curly Girl approved'. The CGM isn't an approving body, like Cruelty Free International with Leaping Bunny, or the Vegan Society with their sunflower symbol (in the UK). There's absolutely no such thing as 'Curly Girl approved'. 'Curly Girl Method compatible or friendly, yes, approved, no.
There are also different types of sulphates and some are a lot stronger than others. It also makes a big difference where they are in the ingredients list (top, middle or bottom). Just putting in my two cents 😊
Sarah Ingle explained also about PH level. Since that can rough up the hair cuticle. I used a sulfate shampoo but very low ph and felt a difference very quickly. I have very fine hair.
Thanks for the video... it's so hard to know what is good for your hair or not, but listening to it seems to be the thing to do! What are your favorite products?
I do follow it. I love it. But, I'm not following it strictly. I even did not know 'butters' are "bad". I'm just not using it (much) because it can weigh my hair down easily. I do use PEG's, because I already knew it was water soluable(?). I also use heat on my hair, I diffuse on high heat and medium speed by using Manes By Mell's hover diffusing method. If I would follow this method perfectly, I think I would go crazy😬
I was happy to find your video as I’m searching for new products and found it refreshing. Everyone talks about silicones, sulfates & parabens but no one mentions chemicals like DMDM Hydantoin or other formaldehydes. How do you feel about those? They are found in so many CGM approved products.
@@brittcurls thanks! May I ask - what is your porosity? I’m finding that is important to know so we use appropriate products. I think I am low...but most products are heavy for my hair.
you just reestablished for me the fact that you have to experiment. I started with the Curly girl method almost 30 years ago. it was almost a religious experience. I FINALLY realized what the heck I was fighting against with my hair. I learned to love my hair. BUT my hair changes in the diferent environments I'm in. Sound familiar? I have to play with different products. I've tried MANY brands from Deva Curl to Controled Chaos and found that a product may work for awhile but then it won't work as well. Ya gotta try diferent products because no one has the exact same hair. Thanks!!
EVERYTHING. IS. A. CHEMICAL. Thank you so much.
As a food chemist I am loving this statement. 🥰
As a chemical engineer, I also love this statement
"You're a chemical Karen!"
Fr I learnt this in 6th grade since 💀 water is a chemical we are chemicals
Literally, water is a chemical
YES! This video needs millions of views. I began doing the CGM this past summer, even uploaded my own videos about it. While it has taught me how to care for my wavy hair, its demonization of ingredients only perpetuates this fearmongering, not seen in just hair care but skincare too. The concentration and how you use it matter. And I initially thought the CGM was inclusive to all hair textures, but the more I looked the more I saw how it excludes, and is disrespectful to, those with type 4 hair and the natural hair movement.
YUP
The only thing I care about in a hair product is if it is cruelty-free. I won't buy it if the company tests on animals even if the product will do wonders on my hair.
Same! 💗🐰
The drugstore where I get my hair products from has labels that say whether the product is cruelty free, vegan or both under the price of said product.
Unfortunately there is a lot of overlap between CF and the whole "natural is better" trend. I couldn't find a shampoo for about 3 years that worked for my hair when I switched to CF because they are all sulphate free these days. Had to go back just so my hair would look and feel clean. Becoming a bit more savvy on ingredients now which helps but sometimes it feels like you have to be a chemist to navigate beauty products and all of the jargon surrounding it.
@@littlereddragon Curlsmith is an amazing CF haircare line!! I highly recommend it! Now it is free of all silicones and sulfates but its great for all hairtypes and very light weight!
@@littlereddragon a ton of lush's products still have sulfates and stuff and also tends to be CF + vegan :)
I don't even have curly hair, but I love a good bashing of fearmongers.
THIS
Omg the buildup terror around silicones is SO REAL! The most frequent question I get about my favorite curl cream (Cake) is “but won’t that build up on my hair?!” And...NOPE it won’t! Just cleanse!! The silicones do wonders for my fine high-po curls!
I’ve been wanting to try more drugstore creams so def gonna look into this one! 🤩
These two videos are the BOMB! You covered all my frustrations with where cgm deviates from science, and I learned a few new things too! As a chemical engineer, "chemical-free" drives me NUTS.
Chem engineering squad!!!
In some lectures (I specialise in food/life science) we literally talk about how consumers fear ingredients for no reason. But that it‘s often easier and more profitable to just feed into that than bring out a product with „bad chemicals“ nobody will buy. Which, of course, reinforces those myths
Thank you so much for bringing up the Massey warning against oils. I agree with you I think this is insensitive and borderline racist swaying people away from black owned brands and creators (and to her brand?) that should be supported in the curly hair space. It seems to me that we owe so much to the black community for teaching use about working with curly/textured hair.
Yessss. As licensed hairstylist (since 1994), I’m baffled by the curly girl method. Most (if not all) of it goes against everything I’ve learned and observed. I’m not a chemist but I have practical knowledge of these non cg friendly products through decades of using them on myself and others. Nothing beats silicones when it comes to slip and manageability. I started my channel to fight the misinformation. While we’re at it, curl typing needs to go bye bye too. Too many stereotypes attached to it and not especially useful. Great video!
Subscribing!
@@Gii7077 thank you!
Yeah I know a lot of people are against the girl typing chart. The media may protray one type is better than the other, and obv causes so much harm in and out of the community. BUT I must admit I like looking at it, esp when looking for haircuts with layers and bangs, and hairstyles too, seeing my 3b hair is more realistic than random 3a or type 2 or 4.
UGH YES TO ALL OF THIS!! The Curl typing system is only useful to clarify expectations of how your hair can look while dry, and too many people tie their whole identity - and other people’s identities! - to their curl types! Texture and porosity are far more useful! And also I freakin love silicones 🙌🏻🤣
@@TheFitCurls agreed. Texture and porosity are indeed far better ways to determine what products to use. Scalp condition dictates shampoo type and frequency. I’m 47 with a full head of shiny, healthy hair all thanks to silicones and sulfates. DECADES of silicones and sulfates. I don’t obsess over ingredients beyond protein and moisture. I go by results. If it’s high quality and delivers the results, I’m all in. You would have to pry the silicones out of my cold dead fingers to get me to stop using them altogether. I have no problem trying products without them but I still use them somewhere in my routines or rotation of products (too many products but I’ll justify it by blaming it on being a licensed hairstylist 😂). By the way, I’m subscribed to your channel. Great content delivered with a bit of sass. Love it.
Yes finally someone is saying it, i was starting to go CG and found that a curl creme i liked and worked amazing for my hair was not approved! i asked my hairdresser and she said if it works and you like it keep using it!
This is really interesting. I've been experimenting with the curly girl method and it has helped my hair a lot but i think the big differences have been technique changes. Not brushing my hair when it's dry and sleeping with my hair up are what I suspect has my hair breaking waaay less rather than product changes. I also wasn't using anything with hold before and I think that has been a good change. I'm going to experiment with using up the products I have from before with what I have learned works for my hair technique wise. Thanks :)
You know what, i didn't years being angry at the gluten free and non GMO movement, i forgot to apply my skepticism to my hair care. Thanks for these two videos. Unfortunately i need to do further research for dyed curly hair (semi permanent dyes wash out easier and i don't want to waste money on bi monthly touch ups) but I'll take all this new info into account
Just wanted to comment. Preach it girl lol. I personally have worn my hair curly my whole life I am 45 now and let me tell you I did try the CGM a few yrs back for 2 years as an experiment. I went all those years using the so called baddies and let me tell you, my hair is still flawless 😍.
Sooo I think that means I can use up my ”old” products that I really loved before CGM without been scared it would ruin my progress? 💕
1. She might as well just say she never intended the cgm to be for black people or 3c+ hair 🤨
2. I hope loraine still isn’t trying to push deva curl products... if so I don’t trust anything she says 😂😂
She’s pushing her own brand now which doesn’t help the situation lol
I’m absolutely IN LOVE with this video!!!! I’m a cosmetologist 4 years out of school and only 4 months working in the industry and I can’t WAIT to educate my next client that mentions their fears of these ingredients! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for speaking up about all the myths around "chemical free" products. More people need to shout this from the rafters. I've had so many arguments with people trying to get them to understand that there is no such thing as chemical free products. There is so much misinformation and myths when it comes to personal care products. So frustrating.
Love this video and I honestly wish these bigger curly influencers would take note and stop making their viewers believe they’re doing harm to their hair by using products that aren’t CGM approved. I’ve always thought from the beginning that the CGM was just used as a way to sell more expensive products to people who have had issues with managing their curly hair for most of their life.
I started curly girl method last June so still learning lots. I think what you say makes sense and it is so important for people to do their own research and learning because, like you say "What works for one person may not work for another". I will stick to CGM for now as I continue to learn what my hair likes but I am always open to trying other things. Knowledge is power. Thanks for the info.😀👍
As a wavy I’ve found that the curly girl method has me over moisturizing my hair aka over conditioning. And it has made my hair less curly. These universal rules don’t work for everyone. So now I’m looking at going back to stronger shampoos and less conditioners.
Same girl!!!
I do this. I use strong shampoo to remove any product and oil from my workout. Condition. Throughly rinse out. Then gel. Been trying a curl cream before gel and been getting slightly better results but not crazy better.
When you say Strong shampoo are you referring to a clarify shampoo??
What is your day job?? You are so eloquent when you speak and you’ve really done your research. Thank you for these videos, they’ve really opened my eyes.
I think the CGM is a good starting point if you've never worn your hair curly or if its super super damaged.
I agree with all you've said, but starting with the strict cgm rules will definitely help your hair become healthy. The difference is that its not then required for the rest of your life. A silicone or sulfate here or there isn't going to destroy your hair.. as you said :)
cGM, while great for my 2C waves, gave me horrible scalp issues within a month. All that curling cream and gel never got properly washed off my scalp as I was using a sulphate free moisturising shampoo, so the products remained, causing intense itchiness and eventually folliculitis which was the most painful thing ever. Also my scalp developed this nasty smell along with the folliculitis and it was just awful. I'm on the road to recovery now, and I make sure to use sulphates every week along with ACV rince and my scalp is slowly healing. Never again
Considering all the new rules Lorainne Massey keeps adding following strict cgm rules is almost impossible. I wouldn't recommend sticking to it for anyone who doesn't want a life of frustration and label reading.
For those starting out I would suggest searching instagram/youtube for curly haired content by creators with hair similar to yours and following them. To start with just focus on styling/washing techniques like "squish-to-condish" and using products with hold like gel. If your current shampoo/conditioner are working well for you, you don't need to buy new ones straight away, the techniques will still work.
Things I look for in good curly content creators
- they don't push overly strict rules or fear mongering of certain ingredients.
- they recommend products with a variety of price points and not just ones they have a deal with (not saying they can't have ads/sponsorships, just not for every single item they recommend).
- they recommend trying new techniques and ways of making a product work for you, over constantly buying new products. Technique is more important than the product 99% of the time.
- they are aware that they are not the source of all hair knowledge 😂
That's really enough to be getting on with for anyone. No need to also spend hours/days finding products without silicones/butters/oils when it 's practically impossible and doesn't matter.
@@emmao6578 I see your point. I shouldn't have used the word strict, I dont strictly follow it.
But I dont use silicones and sulphates and it definitely wasn't impossible. It took me 2 or 3 months and now I have a selection of products for each purpose (I.e. Washing, styling, deep conditioner etc). My hair is SO much better for it.
I guess my point was, if youre starting from scratch, following the cgm and then adapting it to your personal needs is a good method to learn about curly hair care.
@@stariehearts2366 that sounds horrible, sorry you had to go through that.
I think it can often just depend on too much. Your hair type, the products you're using, the technique you use.
Cgm has done wonders for my hair and I would recommend it for anyone who is new to curly hair care. But it definitely has to be adapted to each individual.
As someone who studied biotechnology, thank you 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I just decided to go back to my favorite Lush shampoo bar made with sodium coco-sulfate because I hated how my "gentler" sulfate-free shampoo bar made my hair feel - it's so stripping that I've been able to use it better as body soap, yet it somehow simultaneously didn't lather enough in my hair. This is reassuring :) formulation matters!
So much respect for you and this post. As a scientist currently in the process of getting my PhD and recently on my curly journey this really solidified my confidence in what I already believed. You are wonderful for explaining marketing tactics and science. Keep it up!
Another fantastic video! I really appreciate the CG-adherent accounts I have been following on the journey of learning to love my curls. Without the knowledge of those who’ve gone before me, I’d still be flat-ironing and round-brush blowout-ing every day, and that clearly wasn’t healthy for my hair! However, I’ve been feeling like a liar and a “bad” curly girl because I can’t give up my favorite shampoo and conditioner. Both contain amodimethicone, and I refuse to feel bad about that because my hair loves it. In fact, when I fell for the lie that all silicones are bad and cut those faves out of my routine, my curl pattern was looser and I experienced a good deal of frizz. You’re 100% right; it all comes down to listening to your hair and figuring out its needs. I know there’s a lot of buzz around DMDM hydantoin right now, but I’m not giving up one of my go-to clarifying shampoos and two gels that I can’t live without. There’s so much sensationalism out there, and social media only serves to feed the frenzy. Thank goodness there are sensible people like you to counter the madness!
The banana example was very effective for me. I would have seen that list and ran.
Great video! As a beauty brand founder, I want to say, "THANK YOU" for clearing up the "chemical" and "toxic" ingredient myths!
Thanku so much for the upload, I recently started CGM, but wasn't ready to throw away my regular shampoo and conditioner. I just use the CGM techniques not the products and achieve tremendous results, I though may be my waves would be more define if I start using the cgm approved products. But now, I'm not gonna spend tons of money on these products, very much satisfied with my current products.
Thanks again ❤😊
Thank you for this. I’ve been silicone and sulfate free for a couple years because I was trying to repair my severely damaged hair. I think I honestly just needed more clarifying and less heat in my life and I would have been fine! This video makes me feel less anxious about products and I’m down to try some silicones to fight the SC humidity!
My issue with silicones as a wavy (2b, 2c) is that they feel like they weigh everything down. My hair is already long and heavy so I don't like the feeling of it being 'weighed' but if I had tigher curls I would prolly use them more
This is such an amazing video! I feel like even my hairstylists/ colorists have polarizing ideas and practices regarding hair care. It’s so confusing overwhelming and frustrating.I particularly liked how you talked about the creator of the Curly Girl- or really any product marketing has a goal and their own agenda-which is to get you to buy their stuff. Why would you pay more for a similar product? They have to tell you something to make you stop using a product your already familiar with. It makes total sense.
I live in Florida- high humidity it is a real struggle I like what you said about silicones.
As a chemist, thank you so much for this video! Everything is a chemical!
Wow! I just realized what the heck am I thinking following the advice of a group who decided how you should take care of curly hair?! There have been lot of products I've been wanting to try, but they have the "dreaded" ingredients in them. Thanks for snapping me out of it girlfriend! 🤗⚘
You've inspired me to finally try the verb ghost oil! I was always hesitant because of the silicones but I truly feel that a product like that is what I'm missing. WHY WAS I SCARED?
Thank you for being so thorough, your channel should blow up 💓
I remember many years ago when the Curly Girl Method was starting to get popular, I kept asking around of forums why "build up" is such a bad thing. It seemed like an imaginary problem to me because people on these forums never seemed to be able to explain why it was a problem. As somebody with extremely porous hair, avoiding build up seemed contrary to everything I had been trying to do, which was to coat my hair strands to make them as smooth as possible (like those with low porosity hair). I tried to follow the CG method and just ignored the part about the silicones because it made no sense to me and because all my favourite products had silicones. I'm so glad more people are starting to realize that silicones are great now!
Say it louder for those in the back!! No such thing as chemical free!! It makes me crazy that people don't understand this. This applies to so much in the market now... just because its an essential oil or OTC herbal something also doesn't mean it's safe! I'm not knocking herbs and oils... but they have side effects too!
It's like everyone just forgot how common it is for people to have allergies/reactions to flowers, fruits, nuts and any possible thing that exists in the natural world. I wouldn't be surprised if half the people that believe in the superiority of natural ingredients experience hayfever.
I wondered when the skincare formulations conversation would hit haircare.
I don’t have curly hair, but the cgm helped me get my hair to not break as much as it got longer. I know for me, my shampoo is amazing and cgmapproved(before the oils/butters addition…) but my conditioner, despite being cgm, is not moisturizing enough. I don’t like how most silicones(namely dimethicones) affect my hair personally, but i feel much better accepting some of of the other demonized ingredients. Thank you!
“no butters”
me, with all my shea butter products: false
Love this, an acquaintance of mine was selling lime life, an mlm, was constantly fear mongering anti chemical. To the point she told people that using sunscreen that wasn’t lime life sun screen was worse then just not wearing any, and getting burned. 🤬
That being said I have extremely sensitive skin and since using the basic curly girl method my hair has gotten darker, healthier, and my face doesn’t burn from the shampoo I’m using in my hair. I think using the C G method as a guide and not law is the way to go for me. Thank you for posting this!
Finally somebody that is saying logical and we'll thought out things. Thank you ☺️
Thank you! Saw a reviewer stating they're so glad they finally found a "chemical-free" product! 🤦♀️
Love your videos!
This video popped up in my recommended videos at just the right time! I've been slowly implementing some cgm practices but haven't jumped in fully because I can't use a large majority of the cgm approved products. Most of them have shea butter or argan oil, which are major allergens for me and probably a bunch of other sensitive-skinned, latex allergic people. I hate that the market was flooded with shea butter and argan oil products and now I have to read the labels on *everything*. Now I'll feel less "guilty" about picking products that might work for me but aren't cgm approved.
I find that there are a bunch of tips within the cgm that work well for many other people, but not everything works for everyone. My hair is wavy and low-medium porosity so It's quite prone to buildup, which is why I always have a sulfate shampoo athome. And that
Shampoo feels less drying to my hair than some cgm approved shampoos that I tried🤷🏻♀️
Another thing I find problematic is the way cowash is handled. If cowash does not work for sb they are usually told they're doing it wrong, they have to massage more. Amd you can feel like you're a failure because of it.
Also specific cowashes usually have cleansing ingredients just like lowpos.
But many people use their regular conditioners especially when they're starting out. Some conditioners might work. But the thought of constantly putting something on my scalp that isn't meant for the scalp kinda freaks me out.
I love my amodimethicone leave-in during the winter. It’s the best thing I’ve found to prevent/minimize tangles at the nape of my neck, and I’ve been doing this for years. Even my very strict CHM stylist knows I use sulfates and silicones and he always comments on how healthy my hair is.
Which one 👀 always looking for new products to try!
OMG THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO. Instead of focusing on what I don't want in my hair, I should focus on what works for my hair. Coating my hair with oil has been the only thing that has kept humidity at bay, but then it weighs on my hair and I cannot access to the products people have in other countries. So I will look on what silicones actually work best for my weather and my hair!!!!!
You most definitely taught me something- thank you, & you made me feel better. I felt guilty using silicone products. I know that Marc Anthony Strictly curls lotion worked on my hair, but it wasn’t approved, so I felt guilty. 😃 I am relieved now ~ ☺️
OMG, same here!! My hair LOVES the strictly curls curl cream, but I always feel guilty when I use it, so I tend to avoid it. I love when girls in the curly girl community make these videos 💖.
I have John Freida frizz ease products that have been on my shelf for years and I was a bit worried when I discovered that they contain silicones...but then I realised, sod it! I get good results with them 🤷🏽♀️
I'm definitely going to look into that parabens article. I've always been confused by them saying no parabens and no phthalate and not explaining why
Parabens and phthalates are endocrine disruptors that can upset your natural hormonal balance, which you may want to avoid if you are TTC or dealing with other hormonal issues.
LOVE this video! For so long at the start of my curly journey I refused to use things like sulfates and silicones even though in the back of my mind I’d think about how my best wash days used to have silicones in. I think not properly cleansing your hair due to fear of dry hair is also causing so many problems in the curly community. As long as you use a conditioner after shampoo, you’re not going to have major problems. CGM goes on about pre-poo, co-wash, conditioner, deep conditioner, butter based stylers and oils being ok all together and yet a little bit of silicone is going to cause buildup?! It doesn’t make sense. Like you said as long as you clarify when needed you won’t have a problem with product buildup. I really love listening to @iamblackgirlcurls on Instagram. It’s more for coily textures rather than my looser curls but the principles are still the same and their motto is “Just wash your damn hair” which is great. Now my wash days include a gentle but effective shampoo every wash day, an amazing moisturising conditioner (with parabens) and a serum with silicones in the first five ingredients and my curls have never looked better!
i learn SO much from you! i love that you always back up your claims with research. thank you for putting in the work for the rest of us - it doesn't go unnoticed.
YES YES YES to the Labmuffin articles!
Everything is a chemical 💕
These videos were AWESOME and very informative, thank you!!! I have always been skeptical and never knew where to find this information, most curly hair sites say the same thing about these "toxic" ingredients that will make your hair melt LOL. This is a big help, and I agree! We have to do what works for our hairs health. I quit CGM recently and my hair has never looked better!
I follow the curly girl method and it works pretty well for my hair, but I agree with you on what you said about sulfates, there are some sulfate shampoos that actually aren't harsh, like for example, Balea. But silicones might not be suitable for everyone, I know that some curly girls use them, but I found out that they do horrible things to my hair, because I have naturally fine hair and silicones weigh them down
No longer a curly girl (I've had relaxed hair for 2 years now) but the same principles really apply to so many parts of the hair and beauty community. The best thing you can do for your hair is listen to it and actually do your research.
Can you make a video about pH levels? Like the product pH levels and the best levels for our hair. I noticed when I used hair products with high pH levels my hair doesn't look as good or my wash day doesn't last as long or look as shiny compared to when I used products with lower pH levels. Great video as always and much appreciated.
I wish I saw this video before I dove head first into CGM. Not that it’s at fault for how my hair is reacting (I blame my lack of knowledge), but my hair is a disaster right now and needs quite a large chop in order to get it back to healthy. I used to have the CURLIEST hair, and over time, they’ve nearly disappeared and I’m disappointed and nervous that they’re gone for good and that this is just my hair now. Your channel has given me a new motivation to make it better and not worry so much about the “restricted” products! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
MAJOR lightbulbs going off here. THANK YOU!!!!
I completely agree with you. I’m Italian and I follow the “Italian Curly Girl community”. This community doesn’t follow in a strict way the CGM created by Lorraine Massey but a modified version (With sulfates, “drying” alcohol, oils and butters). Recently Lorrain Mossey’s team said to the Italian community that they cannot talk anymore about the CGM because what they are doing is not CGM. She is partially right but she said in a horrible way. Also, the community I follow always specifies that they use a modified version of the CGM. I think she did only because we don’t buy her products (they are hard to find in Italy).
I might take a look at that community! I love how every European country has a different approach to the cgm 🤣
Non sapevo avessimo una versione italiana del CGM! molto interessante, grazie!
Non è una versione italiana. È la versione modificata che si trova in tante community :)
So glad I found you! Excellent info. What are your thoughts on “fragrance?” thanks for the info!
I would love to know that also. I understand some people can have problems with synthetic fragrance from simple skin contact allergies to headaches and migraines. And as someone who scents natural and synthetic can trigger headaches and migraines but for the most part I am fine I still use products with fragrance but others say they are irritating and should never be used even if they themselves have no sensitivities to any fragrance.
Dermatologists say they're often allergenic
@@jenniferprice9971 i personally really would love to see a video on shampoos for people with sensitive scalps, since most shampoos that are for sensitive scalps, aren't so nice to my frizzy frizz ):
@@princessmanitari4993 I wouldn’t mind seeing it as I have some sensitivity to products but mostly for my face not my scalp particularly and I have had some shampoos irritate along my hairline. I am mainly curious about fragrance as many people say you can’t be sensitive to fragrance ingredients while others even without their own sensitivity refuse to get products with fragrance as an ingredient either because it can be irritating or they don’t like the lack of disclosure of all ingredients. So I like seeing what people who look into the science of cosmetics think or even just people who have tried a lot of different products. Especially as fragrance seems to be a divisive topic.
I hate all the “natural” smelling products. I don’t want to smell like a diffuser!!
Thanks for this evidence based approach to curl care. The problem with experimenting on your own hair is 1) the expense! 2) tracking which combination of products plus techniques produced the best results. And 3) knowing if product + technique was the major/ only contributor to your good hair day. Maybe there were other factors and the next time it won’t work.
I'm not going to lie.. Before I knew about the CGM, my hair was amazing. After a while I started following the CGM and ok whatever. Then I was looking at pics when I didn't know about it and I noticed how healthy my hair was looking ans even more full. Thank you so much for this info! Then I'd wanted to switch and id watch youtubers curly hair videos and I'd almost feel guilty for switching
Good for you to go back. If I had done this sooner maybe I'd not have lost 60% of my hair over the 7 years I used cg products. Bbutters and oils were the cause of my hair disaster.
It's important to differentiate between "chemical panic" and understanding of how ingredients will affect hair and hair types. If you have fine curly hair, maybe a conditioner with high percentage of silicones in combination with certain other ingredients makes it difficult for you to maintain the curl pattern and shape you're going for. Similarly, maybe you use shampoos that help effectively wash your scalp in combination with silicones to a great effect, and find that they help get the hair shape and curl pattern you want.
This, frankly, has always been my understanding of cgm, especially when combined with techniques like S2C, SOTC, plopping, praying hands vs raking, etc etc. It's interesting to see that others have gotten different things out of the "movement!" I think besides techniques and better understanding of what ingredients may benefit or hurt my hair (because I'm paying more attention to ingredients lists and background info on ingredients), cgm kind of opened my eyes to marketing in drug stores - it's funny now to notice when products marketed towards certain problems have the same general formulas (toothpaste is an especially interesting one here, where I've found toothpastes marketed towards different issues all have the same active ingredient to the same percent, and little to no other ingredient changes, which makes me question how effective they are at targeting different issues - that said, I'm not a chemist)
It is valuable to talk about how certain ingredient guidelines aren't an end all be all though, certainly - eg, the most drying shampoo I ever used was a sulfate free shampoo, but I do find that a lot of the common shampoos I used ot use with a high concentration of sulfates were drying for my hair. That said, there are some sulfate included shampoos that are the goldilocks version for me. I appreciate cgm for opening my eyes to looking at ingredients as a balance, or understanding which ingredients in certain places on a list may cause them to not work for me.
I think it all comes down to a combination of paying attention to ingredients and, exactly what you say,
"pay attention to how your hair feels," and lots of "personal experimentation."
I wish that there were a percentage included in ingredients lists. I guess companies are afraid of having their formulas stolen if they were more specific, but also... meh, that would give me so much trust in a brand. Not like I'm going to combine PEG-8 + ("natural fragrances and dyes")+(etc etc) in my kitchen/bathroom myself.
Brilliant, and excellent, evidence-based information. I have healthy, curly hair and have NEVER followed the CG Method. As my PhD Analytical Chemist husband always says, "Science doesn't care about your opinion." Thank you for helping to dispel so many myths that surround hair products and their use.
I didn't know what a paraben was or why it was bad and couldn't really be bothered to look it up on my own, so thank you for explaining that for me lol
I just want to say thank you. I got taken in my EWG & Think Dirty. I have several auto-immune disease &bother chronic illnesses. And I was told I needed to go clean & I'd feel better. I haven't. Now I can back my anecdotal experiences with science.
Was looking into doing the CGM. But was going to follow my own way. I'm glad someone is questioning everything. I think the best thing is, to stop using heat on my hair.
Just came across your first video and then jumped over here. I love this information. I mostly buy sulfate free shampoos because I don't like how stripped my hair feels when using sulfates. However, once in a while if I need to remove too much accumulated product in my hair, then I will use it. I will continue to follow your channel. TFS
For a moment, I got in the CGM train. But than I noticed silicones were really good for my hair. But I also noticed harsh sulfates shampoo doesn' work well in my dyed hair, so I avoid them. I still avoid oils with paraffin, mainly bc I don't like to use harsh sulfates shampoo. Really enjoyed you video!!
Thank you so much for this video!! The whole "Curly Girl Method Approved Product" feels elitist and that always bothered me. I'm glad you talked about the "forbidden ingredients", it made it a lot easier for me to pick out products for my hair care routine. Instant sub. 💗
Omg, thank you so much for this video. I cannot make it any more clear to people who tell me that chemical free products are better.....I always ask them to read the ingredients and research them. No such thing! Great work!
Everyone have different hair; there are many different types of oils/butters of different properties that can work for certain types of hair, you just need to know which.
I have low-porosity hair with tight cuticles which means they're smooth, glossy and resilient but moisture repellent, quick to go greasy and hard to style at the same time. Rich oils/butters in conditioners just sit on the surface without being absorbed, proteins coat the hair making them look dull. Too much silicone is also not good, it makes my hair look greasy and clogs my scalp so it's better used in target areas. I stick to light oils (such as linseed or argan) for hot oiling my hair an hour prior to washing them with gentle moisturising shampoo. Then I use thin moisturising conditioner on 1/2 length of my hair. To towel dried hair I apply moisturising mist and tiny drop of silicone based treatment just to the tips of my hair to seal moisture in and protect it from further damage.
It's really worth knowing your hair and identifying their needs; before that I was buying into marketing campaigns and trends and was wasting a lot of money on products that simply didn't work for me.
This is great refreshing info! I started a curly group on facebook because I was a member of a group that did product shaming! I was new to the CGM and it was horrifying!! I decided right then and there that my little group was not going to do that - and although the CGM teaches certain products are a no-no - I have buttoned my lip (in comments) and refrained from being a know it all and too "preachy" As a result I have begun learning things too - like not all unapproved products are bad etc. It is a big learning curve! I know this is true because not all CGM approved products work for my hair - in fact I hate them. So I was glad to stumble upon your 2 part video on this subject and will be contributing to your instagram #unrestrictedcurls
Despite always wearing my hair curly, a couple years ago I gave CGM a try, and it was NOT for me. I did learn from it, and have incorporated that knowledge along the way. But for one thing, my hair LOVES amodimethicone. I also use sulfates, though not as often. Some people get great results using it, but I bet a lot of the "greatness" comes from being more aware of what all the hot tools were doing, and experimenting with loads of new techniques & products, and not so much cuz they cut out their once favorite conditioner due to a single cone being somewhere on the ingredient list😊
Amodimethicone is SO good!
I think using a one-size-fits-all method is dangerous. Not every hair is going to react the same way. It also depends on humidity, where you live, how your hair is styled etc. I think what works is understanding your hair and what ingredients work for your hair. For example, my limp, fine hair loves panthenol and aloe water. Also, I don't use butters or lots of oil. Instead, I apply a dollop of oil for my whole head of hair on damp hair and that works for me.
What a relief to find your sensible video.
So ironic there was a HAIR straightener AD before this video haha, nooo!! Been there done that
I bought a new shampoo recently based on what I'd heard about CGM. My hair was suddenly healthy & my curls didn't need products to make them hold anymore. Watching this I realized my mistake. This was a gentler shampoo than my old one, plus it came with a conditioner I've been using. My hair was always dry before. Adding the moisture was what actually made the difference! I'm gonna probably keep using this as long as it works for me, only because it works for me, & I'm telling my friend not to try CGM like I suggested awhile back.
Great follow up to yesterday’s video thank you.
I have a very sensitive and dry scalp and I have always had to use Nizoral paired with a CGM shampoo for my skin. It works great for my 2b/2c hair. Sulfates and silicones can be great, it just depends on who u are and what ur hair/scalp needs! Thank you for making this video!!!
thank you so much fot this video!!! all this information made me realize many things about my hair!! The curly hair method helped me a lot... but now that I watch your video I think I ready for some changes
I stopped the CGM 10 years ago since its so hard to find sulfate free and silicone free hair care products in my country....its also hot and humid here and it can feel disgusting and itchy when the hair isn't cleaned everyday. Smelling like yesterday's sweat is also not appealing
My hair is actually softer when I use sulfates. I find sulfate-free shampoos to be extremely drying because they don’t remove gunk. Plus, there are levels of sulfates. One of the most moisturizing shampoos I have contains Disodium laureth sulfate. This shampoo has keratin protein and is super gentle! And clarifying! PS water has chemicals, as does air, so that company is safe!
I'm glad I found your videos. I started trying CGM a month ago and started using only CGM approved (expensive) products, and ended up with an itchy scalp I never had before. >:( Ironic for high quality, "clean" products! I didn't go full CGM, I still wash my hair nearly everyday like I always have, yet...itchy scalp that I just desperately want to stop.
As a person who battles with seborreic dermatitis had to abandon curly girl method, since instead of silicones, products had waxes , that are worse. I had to use highly sulfate product to clarify. Was a Battle but then I went to a dermatologist and was the salvation.
Hi! I'm starting the Modified CGM soon bcz my hair is dry, frizzy and very difficult to manage. On recommendations from my friends, I'm planning to use a sulfate shampoo to clarify/ clean my hair every 10 days or one in 2 weeks. Definitely going to keep an open mind and see what works best for my hair! Thanks for the insight
I just saw this and really appreciate your education! Thank you!!! Your recommendations for products would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you! I’m so happy I found your channel.
I absolutely loved and learned a lot from this video. You just gained a subscriber. You're so informative and serene. Everything about this video just worked for me. Thanks a lot for the work put into it! 👍🏽🤗
Amazing video! Makes me feel a lot less anxious about what to do with my transitioning hair. I was wondering what you do with products that didn't work for you?
So enlightening! I really needed this. Thank you 🙏🏻
As a vegan and general greenie who doesn't think we were created to run on synthetic stuff (even if one has the faith to believe in evolution, that still doesn't stack up!), I prefer the more 'natural' option, but I still use my fair share of synthetics. ;)
Something I do think needs to stop is the expression 'Curly Girl approved'. The CGM isn't an approving body, like Cruelty Free International with Leaping Bunny, or the Vegan Society with their sunflower symbol (in the UK). There's absolutely no such thing as 'Curly Girl approved'. 'Curly Girl Method compatible or friendly, yes, approved, no.
There are also different types of sulphates and some are a lot stronger than others. It also makes a big difference where they are in the ingredients list (top, middle or bottom). Just putting in my two cents 😊
Fantastic part 2!
Sarah Ingle explained also about PH level. Since that can rough up the hair cuticle. I used a sulfate shampoo but very low ph and felt a difference very quickly. I have very fine hair.
Thanks for the video... it's so hard to know what is good for your hair or not, but listening to it seems to be the thing to do! What are your favorite products?
I do follow it. I love it. But, I'm not following it strictly. I even did not know 'butters' are "bad". I'm just not using it (much) because it can weigh my hair down easily. I do use PEG's, because I already knew it was water soluable(?). I also use heat on my hair, I diffuse on high heat and medium speed by using Manes By Mell's hover diffusing method. If I would follow this method perfectly, I think I would go crazy😬
I was happy to find your video as I’m searching for new products and found it refreshing. Everyone talks about silicones, sulfates & parabens but no one mentions chemicals like DMDM Hydantoin or other formaldehydes. How do you feel about those? They are found in so many CGM approved products.
No issue with them whatsoever!
@@brittcurls thanks! May I ask - what is your porosity? I’m finding that is important to know so we use appropriate products. I think I am low...but most products are heavy for my hair.
Your eye makeup is a-maz-ing!!
you just reestablished for me the fact that you have to experiment. I started with the Curly girl method almost 30 years ago. it was almost a religious experience. I FINALLY realized what the heck I was fighting against with my hair. I learned to love my hair. BUT my hair changes in the diferent environments I'm in. Sound familiar? I have to play with different products. I've tried MANY brands from Deva Curl to Controled Chaos and found that a product may work for awhile but then it won't work as well. Ya gotta try diferent products because no one has the exact same hair. Thanks!!