Why I quit the CG method

No. It's not clickbait. 

I really quit it...a long time ago.

A decade ago...hello 2020...I moved to the PNW, and the rainy weather forced me to start trying to embrace my naturally wavy hair. 

Enter the CG method. Also known as the Curly Girl Method.

At first, I was a die-hard. I cut out everything and basically barely even washed my hair. 

In fact, I did a post titled, "I haven't shampooed my hair in two months. Ask me about it". 

My hair did look curlier. But I feel like that had more to do with not blowing it out all the time or using my big barrel wand. Not necessarily just following the rules.

If you hang out with me on Instagram, then you know that with more curl retention comes LESS volume. (if you don't, come over and hang out)

So that was the first thing I didn't like about the method. I want big hair and am willing to sacrifice a little more curl to get it. 

The rebel in me ( literally scored highest in the rebel category of some serious psychologic quiz...lol) started wanting to ask what would happen if I broke these rules? 

I started doing a lot of experimenting.

What happens if I use heat? Blow out my hair? Flat iron for a day? Use Pantene? Shampoo with sulfates? 

Nothing. That's what happened.

I mean, yes, I did learn some things about my hair. For example, my specific hair density, texture, and patterns do not do well with a ton of butter or oils. It tends to weigh it down, making my waves flat and lifeless. 

Yet overall, breaking the rules didn't seem to affect the outcome of how my hair looked daily. 

I feel like this is the point in my writing where I start throwing out all the disclaimers, so I don't get a bunch of angry curly women sliding up in my DM's. Lol.

Of course, there are great things about the CG method, and I'm eternally grateful for the foundation it gave me. 

Had I not stumbled upon it, I probably wouldn't have pursued being a curl specialist. And I LOVE my career. 

I'm also totally respectful of all my clients who follow the method, and I try to keep most products in my studio "CG friendly." 

I'm not trying to sway you away from anything. Or tell you to run out and buy all the silicones...

Really, I want to share what I have learned along the way.

I don't even really like the title curl specialist anymore...I prefer to think of myself as a researcher. 

I almost always ask the client in my chair, "What are you using lately on your hair? What does your routine look like? What's working? What isn't? "

That's how I learn.

When a client with super hydrated, juicy, bouncy curls tells me she's using Kirkland brand shampoo and conditioner (which is loaded in silicones)...I have to be open to the reality that there are exceptions to every rule. 

I'm still experimenting and always have some new products that I'm testing. 

So yeah, if you peeked in my shower, you'd see some ingredients ending in cone or xane...

You'd see a wide-tooth comb... I gave up finger combing years ago, too, since I like to have a life.

I even have a curling iron that I may use in an upcoming video. It's ok enneagram 1's. It's all gonna be ok.

I want to hear from you...

In the comments below, tell me about your experience with the CG method.