This month, I added in a couple of co-washes, which is unusual for me. I’m actually toying with the idea of creating printables or editable calendars to track what you’ve tried on your hair, and how it worked. Basically, a free “Hair Diary” if you will. I basically used social media to track my results, as many wavies do, but this isn’t all in one place. Let me know in the comments if you think a tracker/diary would be beneficial. Anyways, I’ll get into my “normal” March Wavy Hair Routine, then include some other things I did intermittently. pppssssstt, my updated hair routine is here! Both routines are great though, so keep reading and finish that one after!
March Wavy Hair Routine
As a wise wavy once said, “It takes way longer to write out how I apply the products than it does to actually apply them.” Truth. Don’t be scared by how long this looks! I’m trying to give the most comprehensive information possible!
Low Poo: Not Your Mother’s Naturals Blue Sea Kale Shampoo
I LOVE this stuff so much! I was able to purchase at Walmart, but the only place I see an option to purchase online is Ulta. This is a low-poo that I’d classify as “medium strength,” meaning it will get your hair and scalp quite clean but won’t leave it stripped or squeaky. To read my full first impression click here. I LOVE this product and can’t wait to do an “empties” review on it in the future. I
How I Use: Basically, as a “normal” shampoo. That’s what I love about low-poos, they are very user friendly if you are just starting your natural hair journey. I use between a nickel and quarter size amount and lather into my scalp. Yes, this does have quite a bit of lather! I am careful not to pile my hair up but rather focus on cleansing my scalp. Avoid working this into the lengths of your hair to prevent dryness.
Rinse Out/Leave In Conditioner: Not Your Mother’s Naturals Blue Sea Kale Conditioner
To make this clear to any new readers, no this isn’t sponsored. I just decided to try this line all together and have loved the results.
How I Use: First things first I will use a little of this conditioner to detangle my hair and rinse completely. I detangle all the way up to my roots, and this part of conditioning takes me less than a minute. This must be rinsed out quickly or the hair gets weighed down. The I do the “real” conditioning. I use the “squish to condish” method, and I’m not sure exactly who to credit this technique to (if anyone knows please tell us below and I will edit this). But basically, you flip your head over and “squish” your conditioner into your hair by scrunching it into soaking wet hair. I then let this sit on my hair while I do all the rest of my non-hair shower stuff. Then, to rinse out, I switch my water to room temperature/cool, change my water setting to a less agressive water pressure, flip my head over, and rinse out while detangling/scrunching… I actually change my water settings so that a little bit of the conditioner stays in the lengths of my hair. Approximately 95%-98% of the conditioner is removed. I use this step either in place or or in conjunction with a curl cream.
Curl Cream/Enchancer: Devacurl Wavemaker
If you have read my Devacurl Wavy Hair line review (click here to read), this might come as a surprise to you. It surprised me too because really I didn’t like Wavemaker when my hair was long. Now that my hair is medium length, my hair enjoys a bit of wavemaker. Thank goodness because I was also gifted some!
How I use: In the shower with my head flipped over, I use a pea size amount or less, and scrunch into my soaking hair. I do not put it within the top few inches of my hair or it looks dirty. While Devacurl seems to try to market Wave Maker as an “all-in-one” product, I do not find that the case at all. The product gives very little definintion, but does an okay job of curl enhancing. Note: if this is out of your budget, try making flax seed gel! Click here for a really easy recipe that is super cheap and easy to make.
Root Gel: Devacurl B’Leave In
What the heck is a root gel? Well it’s what I’m callling a lighter gel applied primarily at the roots to encourage definition without adding in weight. I received a huge size of B’Leave in for my birthday last October and was stumped with how to use it. the bottle went untouched for at least a month. But now that I’ve used it consistently for a few months, I’m in love with it. Seriously, if anyone knows a dupe for this product, comment below or email info@allwavyhair.com …as mentioned, I use this as a “root gel.” Why a root gel? Because it gives just enough definintion without weighing down my hair. Hard hold gels don’t always allow for the best definition at the roots. Root gels may not be a thing yet, but I think they should be!
How I use: Immediately after adding in my curl enhancer, I use the “praying hands” method to apply my root gel and scrunch sideways (instead of up towards my scalp, I basically grab chunks and squeeze). I use about a nickel size total for this, but work with smaller amounts for each section.
Hard Hold Gel: Aussie Instant Freeze
Always a classic, aussie instant freeze is my favorite affordable hard hold gel. That said, it’s the only one I’ve used since using the “curly girl” method on my wavy hair. The reason is I’ve always found it at a great sale price and have gotten good results in all weather types. For the sake of reviews, once I’m out of this bottle I’ll try a different one 🙂
How I use: I take a dime sized amount and scrunch into my hair lenghts. This is using the traditional scrunch method, where you scrunch towards the scalp.
Then I either plop and air dry, or plop and diffuse five minutes and finish with air drying. I’ll go through my air dry/diffusing thoughts on another post.
note: packaging has changed on Aussie products, so these might look strange but it’s the same good stuff!
That’s the end of my wash day routine, but make sure to check out the updated routine, and my 2 minute refreshing method.
Other things I threw into my hair routine during the month of March.
Let me know if you’d like a post on any of these specifics.
- Clarifying Every 4-5 Washes With SheaMoisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water Weightless Shampoo – this is a low poo that I found far too harsh to use every wash, but it makes an excellent clarifying wash!
- One Deep Treatment – Used the Devacurl Matcha Butter Mask this was a gift and I’ll post a review. Overall I think it’s a bit heavy.
- a co-wash – it’s rare for me to co-wash, but my scalp was dirty and my hair needd moisture so I threw this in there. I use the Vo5 Extra Body and Bounce Conditioner. I bought this at Walmart for $0.78, so it’s a great budget odften. I rarely co-wash though because it weighs down my hair a lot.
- One Apple Cider Vinegar rinse – My hair needed this the wash after I co-washed. Between the co-wash heaviness and the hard water at my house I do an ACV rinse about once a month. Remember to use raw apple cider vinegar (the kind with “the mother” in the contianer).
- A hairpsray! – Many would argue this isn’t curly girl because it contains a form of alcohol, but I tried usign this to maintain frizz and liked the results. More on this later.
What is a product YOU tried this month and loved?
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Do you use the leave curl enhancer, root gel and hard hold gel all at the same time?
At this point last spring, I would layer them, not mix them together. But YES all at the same time. Small amounts though. My routine has changed for winter though! Update to come shortly. -Rachel
I’m really looking forward to hearing your update! I have very loose 2A waves that completely frizz and flatten if I don’t use curly girl techniques but also so many products are waaaay too heavy. I’m excited to discover this site and super appreciate your dedication to “lazy-wavy” routines!
Yay! Working on it Liz 🙂
I haven’t started the CGM yet as i’m still doing my research, and i’m not sure if my hair has enough wave in it to be considered even a 2a wave. However, your blog has helped me reconsider trying it! my biggest concern is greasy roots. I only wash my hair twice a week as it is and only blow dry to extend the length between having to wash it. Anyway, did you find you had greasy roots with all this product?
Hi there! Thank you 🙂 My hair is usually greasy by day 4. I do keep my conditioner from my roots directly and same with any product. That really makes a difference! I think since you are only washing 2x a week you should be alright. Your hair might have adjustment time when you begin and that’s totally normal! Good luck on this process 🙂
and Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a post!
-Rachel
Hi there! Thank you 🙂 My hair is usually greasy by day 4. I do keep my conditioner from my roots directly and same with any product. That really makes a difference! I think since you are only washing 2x a week you should be alright. Your hair might have adjustment time when you begin and that’s totally normal! Good luck on this process 🙂
and Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a post!
-Rachel
Hi, nice blog! I have 2c/3a hair that is SUPER tangly. I need to detangle in the shower with a wet brush and a ton of conditioner, in sections, on as wet of hair as possible (and I still end up standing in a cold shower by the time I’m done).
I’ve been experimenting with a different conditioners for a while, and I noticed you’ve tried a few different lines from NYMN. I love the dark blue mousse and the pink curl cream, but I have somewhat mixed feelings the teal colored high moisture conditioner (this one – https://nymbrands.com/coconut-milk-naturals-set/). It gets decent slip and leaves my hair feeling nice, so I want to love it, or at least I want to love SOMETHING from this brand. If you’ve tried multiple conditioners from NYMN, do you have a favorite that has a lot of slip?
Hi there! I’ve tried a few and my top faves are the whole dark blue line. I think that conditioner has my far the most slip! You can find it https://here! Hope that helps! -Rachel