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Reddit mentions of Curly Girl: The Handbook

Sentiment score: 27
Reddit mentions: 39

We found 39 Reddit mentions of Curly Girl: The Handbook. Here are the top ones.

Curly Girl: The Handbook
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    Features:
  • Workman publishing
  • Binding: paperback
  • Language: english
Specs:
Height8.5625 Inches
Length7.0625 Inches
Number of items1
Release dateJanuary 2011
Weight1 Pounds
Width0.4375 Inches

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Found 39 comments on Curly Girl: The Handbook:

u/xevilrobotx · 21 pointsr/tumblr

My wife is obsessed with this book: https://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Michele-Bender/dp/076115678X, I tried to get her to look at /r/curlyhair before but she's not a reddit person (Edit: looks this book is listed as the ultimate guide on the /r/curlyhair wiki)

Thanks to /u/mochacho for the fixed link

u/gfpumpkins · 10 pointsr/FancyFollicles

I think the single best suggestion I can give you is to read Curly Girl. Even if you don't use all her suggestions, it will go a long way in teaching you how to handle your hair. Like others here, my mom has straight hair while my dad's is curly. Needless to say, I never learned proper curly hair care growing up.

How I handle my hair: I do actually shampoo mine because of my work/allergies. I do that first in the shower. Then I wash my face. Then liberally apply conditioner comb it through, and put it up in a clip or hair tie for the rest of the shower. Then I do the rest of my shower stuff rinsing the conditioner at the end. I squeeze the water out of my hair as best I can when I'm done, and then put it back up. I NEVER wrap a towel around my hair. I didn't believe for a long time that it would make a difference, but I'm a convert now. When I'm done drying off, then I take my hair back down, comb back through it, and part it where I like it. I prefer to let my hair air dry before going to bed. That's honestly it. This is the least I've ever fussed with my hair and it's the healthiest it's ever looked.

u/[deleted] · 9 pointsr/SRSWomen

Basically, if you have curly hair, shampoo generally does more harm than good. It strips all the natural oils from your scalp, which then inspires your head to make even more oil, and it becomes a vicious cycle. Shampoo isn't actually necessary to clean your head. Conditioner will rinse dirt off just as well, without stripping out all of your natural oils. If you decide to go no-poo, there is an adjustment period where your hair looks pretty bad. Your scalp is still producing way too much oil, but you stop stripping it all out with shampoo, and it takes a bit for your head to figure out that it doesn't need to make so much oil anymore. I spent about a week wearing a lot of ponytails and hats, just about gave up, and then I decided I try conditioner only one more time before giving up, and that was the time when I got out of the shower and my hair was gorgeous. Soft, silky, shiny, no frizz, fantastic.

If you're interested in trying it, I use the method in The Curly Girl Handbook. It's great. I actually need to buy it again, because I keep giving my copies away to people who want to try it. Edit after I went to find the link: OMG there's a new edition. And the Kindle version has video. I'm so excited!

u/alicenwonderland13 · 9 pointsr/JUSTNOFAMILY

There’s a wonderful book you could give Lily about this. I HATED my curls as a girl, and untangling them was always a painful nightmare. My mom gave me the Curly Girl Handbook when I was thirteen and it entirely changed my relationship with my hair while also teaching me how to take care of it (and therefore care for myself). I love my hair now, and haven’t straightened it in years! It might be a helpful book for Lily.

u/dodoconundrum · 7 pointsr/curlyhair

It's a lot of info and can be very confusing. I highly suggest you read the Curly Girl Handbookbefore buying anything else. If you understand the foundations of why each rule exists, you'll waste a lot less time and money! The books is free if you have kindle. Also I linked to amazon but it's often available in public libraries - my library system lets you download library books for free using the app "libby", maybe yours does something similar. The book really breaks things down a lot more clearly than any website I've ever seen.

u/mochacho · 7 pointsr/tumblr

I was going to say it looks like they removed your product, but I'm assuming you didn't copy the relevant parts of the URL. There's usually an alphanumeric code that you need after a /dp/, something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Michele-Bender/dp/076115678X

Or even just:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/076115678X

u/luminous_delusions · 6 pointsr/Indiemakeupandmore

There are variations of it, but it's all generally based on this book. Different people do different things depending on their hair but the most common themes are those with natural curls cutting out shampoo with sulfates and silicones in hair products in order to maintain the natural oils and maximize moisture in their hair as well as just not washing your hair every day to not strip out the oils as well. Since curls are naturally dry (in most cases), and shampoos strip out moisture while most silicones prevent hair from being properly hydrated over time due to build-up, the CG method eliminates those so curls can always be hydrated and properly nourished. For most people this means an improvement in the appearance of their curls.

For me, I wash with conditioner only, use 0 silicones aside from the 2-3 times a year when I straighten my hair and never ever use shampoo unless I'm removing said silicones those few times a year. It keeps my curls from being super frizzy and has drastically improved the appearance of my curls as a whole.

u/gazork_chumble_spuzz · 5 pointsr/femalehairadvice

A few suggestions:

  1. If you haven't tried a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, make the switch. Live Clean is my favourite.

  2. Change the way you shampoo your hair. Shampoo the roots only, not the ends. It ruffles up the cuticle of your hair, dries it out, and musses up the natural curl/wave pattern. Only wash your roots.

  3. Condition your hair every single time you wash it, if you don't already, and deep condition your entire head once a week (again, with an SLS-free product!).

  4. Don't ruffle your hair with a towel to dry it. Scrunch it gently with a towel instead.

  5. Don't brush your hair. Seriously. No brush! Use a comb in the shower when it's wet, and out of the shower stick to just a wide-toothed comb, again, so as not to mess up your hair's waves.

  6. Your hair appears to have some natural wave/curl going on. You should read this book and see if you find it helpful. I read it five or so years ago and it transformed my hair! I went from a frizzy, poofy, vaguely wavy head of hair to big waves and some loose curls. What a difference! It took a while though, so stick with it if you decide to give her method a try.

  7. Layers always help with thick wavy hair, but you might also want to consider having it thinned a bit. I had mine done last fall and my hair behaved much better after that. It took the volume down a few notches, but in a good way - my hair looked just as thick, but a lot less "out of control" than before.

  8. French braids cover a multitude of bad hair days. : )
u/thesoundsyouknow · 4 pointsr/curlyhair

I would definitely recommend this book (http://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Michele-Bender/dp/076115678X ...it's what all this "CG" stuff is based on) and I'm pretty confident it's fine for a 12 year old reading level too. I think just sending them into this sub might be a bit overwhelming esp. if she hasn't used reddit. The book has mostly the same info, and may be available at your public library (mine has it).

Also from right of the bat from what you've told us, I would say definitely to ditch brushing and instead try a wide tooth comb, and never use while dry.

u/transientavian · 4 pointsr/AskWomen

this is the book she got me. I also use Paul Mitchell Smoothing Gloss Drops to keep the frizz down. Two pumps works wonders. Other than that, it's just important to learn that an oily complex isn't always bad for curly hair, and how to handle your particular curl type.

u/thewidowaustero · 4 pointsr/curlyhair

As someone who has grown out curly hair from quite short, there's definitely an awkward phase. I highly recommend getting a few cute headbands or hats, they can help make you look a little more put together during the awkward in between lengths. Get the back trimmed every 6-8 weeks, the hair on the nape of the neck gets long fast and regular trims help to avoid a mullet look. Once the hair on the sides of your head reaches your chin (when it's dry and curled) you can have it cut so the longest part is even all around your head and then start styling it as a short bob, like this. I also like a slight inverted bob, which is where you have it cut so the front is longer than the back.

This sub advocates the Curly Girl method, based on this book. It's sort of an alternative approach to hair care with curls in mind. The common way that most women take care of their hair is shampooing with a sulfate shampoo and then conditioning with a silicone containing conditioner every day. The CG method is based on removing those two ingredients (sulfates and silicones) from your routine and instead using only a light conditioner to cleanse the hair for each wash. There are a lot of variations and different techniques for this routine, poke around this sub and check out the resources in the sidebar for more info.

u/Dog_of_Flanders · 4 pointsr/curlyhair

The Curly Girl Handbook by Lorraine Massie has lots of suggestions for wavy hair.

http://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Michele-Bender/dp/076115678X

u/minniesnowtah · 4 pointsr/HaircareScience

The book you're looking for is Curly Girl: The Handbook by Lorraine Massey. Over at /r/curlyhair we follow that guide, but have also gone a little deeper with what we've collectively learned since the original book came out in 2001.

​

>What is the Curly Girl/Guy method (aka CG method)?
>
>The CG method is a haircare method that is specifically geared towards curls and waves.
>
>Curly hair tends to be super dry, thanks to sulfates, the harsh detergents in shampoo. So we remove sulfates from the routine.
>
>The problem is that only sulfates can wash away certain ingredients, like silicones, so we remove those too, leaving only ingredients that can be washed away with JUST water.
>
>The CG method mostly focuses around removing both sulfates and silicones and replacing them with gentler products, along with some techniques to help our curls form and stick together!
>
>Saying a product is CG then says that it follows these guidelines.

u/heliotropedit · 3 pointsr/curlyhair

If you look at any guide for curly hair, for example, the Curly Girl guide by Lorraine Massey, they tell you never to brush your hair when it is dry. The hair is too fragile.

u/MuppetManiac · 3 pointsr/AskWomen

I can't help with makeup. I don't wear any. At all. Unless I'm going on a job interview.

It took me about 15 years to figure out how to deal with hot, humid weather, and curly hair. Here are all my secrets.

  1. I don't wash my hair very often. Like, every three days. The natural oil in my hair helps hold the curl together and frizz less. I also use sulfate free shampoo to keep more of my natural oil in my hair when I do wash it. Your hair gets frizzy in the humidity because it's too dry.

  2. I plop my hair after I do wash it. You would be amazed how much difference it makes in keeping my curls tight, and together. I use a mousse or a cream in my dripping wet hair before I plop it.

  3. I have learned a half dozen up-do's from Lilith Moon for curly hair that make my hair look really "done" but seriously take 5 minutes. I'm actually wearing my hair in one right now. Long curly hair in Texas in 110 degree weather equals heatstroke. So I wear it up.

  4. I pick hairstyles that already look a bit messy on purpose, so that if a hair gets out of place here or there, it's not a big deal. It still looks "right."

    These secrets only work of course if you are willing to embrace your curly hair and work with it, instead of trying to attain perfectly flat-ironed hair that only exists in magazines and on people who naturally have absolutely no body in their hair. If you're trying to get straight hair in this weather and your hair naturally curls or waves, well, good luck with that. If you're still struggling with your curly girl identity, I suggest you read this book. It was the only thing that convinced me that curly hair is beautiful too.
u/nikils · 2 pointsr/amiugly

On that subject, have you read this? (Not a critique, cause I love your curls.) Just a recommendation, since that book taught me how to properly care for my hair.

I think you look nice. I second the makeup, though. Just for a level of polish. Most of us need it.

u/t3hm3l · 2 pointsr/FancyFollicles

EDIT: Whole point was to say, the better you take care of your curls the longer they will grow, and the better they will look. Better care = less split/broken ends = more perceived length. :D

Hey there! Newish to Reddit, forgive my inevitable mistakes. If you're ready to embrace you're curly side, be prepared. It'll take a while for your hair to get used to being natural again, especially depending on the type of curl. No straightening, no blow drying without a diffuser, heck you should even get a microfiber towel (or use a t-shirt/paper towel). That'll all help your hair transition smoothly into being curly again, and minimize the "poof" that comes with it. (Especially since depending on where you are, it's about to get pretty humid over the summer. Then again I'm in FL)

I found that my first step to embracing my curl was picking up this book Although Lorraine now runs her own line of curly-centric cutteries and produces her own hair products, the Devachan line, she gives a great breakdown of different types of curls and how best to treat each one.

My second step was a proper haircut. Thankfully I live pretty close to a Devachan certified gentleman and could shell out his price. If you don't, ask around at local salons and see who has experience in cutting curly hair. MAKE SURE they cut it dry. Curls react best when you cut by curl "family", or the groupings of hair that form each curl, and when they are dry. You've no doubt noticed that when your hair is wet it's longer and less springy, and it does unpredictable things when you dry it? Why get a haircut that way? Cutting it dry lets the stylist see each curl family and judge how to cut them accordingly.

My third step was finding products that worked for me. I'm caucasian and have very fine "s'wavy" hair according to Lorraine's terminology. This means it gets pretty darn curly depending on the humidity and product used, but doesn't have much spring to it (only 1-2 inches). So right now, I've switched to using "No-poo", which is a cleanser without all the nasty parabens, sulfates, etc which create a lather. Lathers may make you think they're cleansing your hair, but based on research I'm too lazy to find right now, actually start weakening it. With curly hair, this weakening means frizz and more frizz. :/ I do use the Deva line just because it's the only thing I've found, but I'm sure there are better cost-effective brands out there.

Drying technique is also a big deal. I used to ruffle my hair in a towel and comb through it just like my mom (straight hair) taught me. BAD. BAAAAD. That leads to frizz. For curly hair, it's best to use a less abrasive drying surface (microfiber, tshirt, paper towel, etc) and the following technique:

Flip your head upside down in the shower. Bring your curls to the front.
Scrunch upward with your preferred drying surface, holding for 3-5 seconds to get the moisture out while still preserving the shapes of your curls.
Tilt your head on one side, repeat, and then the other. Get the most moisture out of your hair as possible.

Then, styling product. Gels are claimed to be the best for curly hair. Again, I'm using Deva, but looking forward to trying other paraben, sulfate, etc. free brands like Ms. Jessie's. For my thin s'wavy hair I take half-a-palm-ful of gel and the same amount of leave in conditioner, and make that same upward-scrunching motion to spread the mix through my hair and saturate the curl.

Then I tip my head back and let air dry. You may choose to use a diffuser, I'm not much help there unfortunately. I've had good luck with a bowl diffuser with finger-tip protusions, set on low air/medium heat, and holding close to the scalp. Whatever you do you want to prevent frizz, so try not to get too hot/too much hair flow/too much movement of the diffuser.

Once your hair is dry you can gently scrunch upward with your hands again to "break" the gel cast, leaving you (theoretically) with soft, manageable curls. I haven't hit that stage yet with my routine, but I'm working on it. :)

PM me with any questions. Sorry about the novel. :/

TL;DR: Curly Girl!

u/purplenat · 2 pointsr/femalefashionadvice

Have you heard of the Curly Girl Method? Here's a breakdown of what it's about. Since I started this, I wash my hair about 3 times a week. I did the complete No-Poo route for about a year, but my hair is so much nicer now that I use conditioner.

u/beimiqi · 2 pointsr/curlyhair

What is your current CG routine like? I might have a few ideas but don't want to give unhelpful advice if you're already doing it!

I'm guessing that you aren't doing anything wrong but that the CG method(s) simply take a bit of time (AND trial and error!). I have the Curly Girl book and somewhere in there Lorraine Massey talks about how your hair routine, at some point, might need to become a matter of priority (going either direction: more or less precedence).

u/LittleHelperRobot · 2 pointsr/curlyhair

Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/076115678X/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/176-4480119-1278117

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

u/muffin_sangria · 2 pointsr/NoPoo

My only experience with "no poo" is the Curly Girl version. What the posters on naturallycurly.com would do is: rinse your hair with fresh water before swimming. Add a little conditioner and then put on your swim cap. (Assuming lap swimming, and not just casual swimming.) Then after you get out co-wash your hair as usual.

In CG, you use a silicone-free conditioner which are water soluble. Most conditioners with silicones are going to require shampoo to get out.

u/naturaldrpepper · 2 pointsr/curlyhair

No problem! :) Curly Girl originated with Lorraine Massey's book, and she never says anything about parabens - only sulfates and non-water soluble silicones.

One thing: there are no valid health concerns regarding parabens. Here are some links for you regarding their use, and how/when the 2004 study (that originally called into question their safety) was debunked as baloney. :)

SkinCareAddiction post, with lots of sources in the comments.

What the FDA has to say about parabens.

u/WeAreStarless · 2 pointsr/curlyhair

i suspect you're in the UK based on the noughty products, so r/CurlyHairUK will probably have good local recommendations!

as for a guide book, there is curly girl: the handbook, which is basically what kicked off the curly girl movement many many years ago. it's a bit outdated in my opinion, but it's still a really good starting point!

u/MyWifesBusty · 2 pointsr/TwoXChromosomes

I don't have much to offer except recommending the book Curly Girl: The Handbook.

It's a absolutely fantastic book on caring for curly hair.

u/kt_zee · 2 pointsr/curlyhair

One of my friends has extremely curly hair and she maintains it beautifully. She uses the curly girl method and swears by it. It can be overwhelming at first but she said she wishes she would’ve known how to care for her hair sooner. Also, when she gets a hair cut make sure you find a stylist who knows how to cut curly hair.

u/JessicaMaple · 2 pointsr/curlyhair

Yes, please get Curly Girl! It's a great book that breaks it down very simply!

If you hair is frizzy when it dries its usually because there isn't enough moisture in your hair. Leaving conditioner in after you shower will help boost moisture and protect your hair from the elements. You are not leaving conditioner on your scalp, so there is no itchiness/greasiness.

Some days I use gel, some days I just leave conditioner in my hair and let it dry that way. Both work well, the gel just gives my waves more hold. If I'm using gel, I'll rinse the conditioner out of my hair very gently, focusing more on rinsing it out of the top 1/3 of my head and letting the ends stay sorta slimy with conditioner, then I style as usual.

u/o0oo00oo · 2 pointsr/femalefashionadvice

Ah ok! So I def recommend checking out the Naturally Curly forums and perhaps r/curlyhair, but it can be really overwhelming. You can easily get sucked down the rabbit hole so lemme explain a few terms/concepts that you'll probably see --

First, the general "theory" around the Curly Girl Method (or CG for short) is that most curly hair is naturally dry and craves moisture, so it's best to avoid sulfates, which can very stripping and drying. However, if you use products that contain various silicones, you will need sulfates to remove the product from your hair, since the silicones aren't water-soluble. If you use silicones but don't use sulfates, you'll have a lot of build-up on your hair. Also, the term "Curly Girl" is coined from the book of the same name, which is credited with starting the modern movement. It's worth a read and I've been able to easily find it at the library.

So, what follows is that curly-folk should avoid sulfates and thus also avoid (most) silicones. When people say they are "CG", that means they avoid both sulfates and silicones. You'll also see terms like semi-CG or modified CG.

Unfortunately, most drugstore products marketed towards curly hair are chock-full of silicones. This is because silicones smooth the cuticle and make your hair shiny-looking (FYI -- this also applies to skincare. You'll often find silicones such as dimethicone in lotions and creams because they make the product feel slippery and you skin smooth). However, they also block moisture from entering your hair. So if your hair is dry and under-hydrated, silicones block moisture from entering and many of us find that this makes our hair frizzy and NOT shiny and smooth like the products promised.

Again, the forums can be super overwhelming and make you want to immediately go out and purchase a ton of expensive products so I recommend you spend a few weeks just researching and reading before you buy anything. Determine your hair type so you can narrow down your search to people with similar needs.

Popular/cheap silicone-free conditioners include the V05 line, the Suave Naturals line, and Tressemme Biotanique (but none of the other Tressemme conditioners).

Good luck!

u/Sandwichamacallit · 2 pointsr/curlyhair

Stick your head under the faucet. If you don't have enough time for that you could try a lavender spray.
This recipe is from Curly Girl The Handbook: Simmer 1/2 a gallon of water and 5 drops if lavender essential oil for an hour. Let it cool and put it into some spray bottles.

u/_Darica_ · 2 pointsr/asktransgender

I highly recommend the Curly Girl Handbook (https://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Michele-Bender/dp/076115678X). I used to hate my curls, but now I love them and get compliments all the time.

Here's my basic routine: shampoo and condition every 3-4 days, leave-in conditioner every day. (You'll read about a few simple techniques that I'll name next and you pretty much need to do these.) I squish to condish, run my fingers through my hair to get rid of any tangles and define curls, add gel, squish dry with a t-shirt, plop for 10-15 minutes and then remove the t-shirt. Then I wait for my hair to dry--it will be crunchy at this point. Squeeze the curls to break the gel crust and enjoy my bouncy, soft, super-defined curls all day!

Feel free to ask any questions. Product-wise, this method avoids silicones and sulfates, and while you can spend lots of money here, you can also find these at the drugstore.

u/Hiwhatsupdoc · 1 pointr/curlyhair

We could help if you had specific questions, but you don't have specific questions.

If you want an overview and can't use the Internet then buy : the Curly Girl: The Handbook.

Link for your phone: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/076115678X/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/176-4480119-1278117

u/xenejiano · 1 pointr/AskWomen

I found [this book] (http://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Michele-Bender/dp/076115678X) to be helpful. I have very curly hair myself. I follow most of the advice from this book (and have a hairdresser who really knows what she's doing), and my hair usually looks pretty good. I get compliments all the time.

u/Melisma · 1 pointr/TwoXChromosomes

Or, even better, you should buy the "Curly hair: The handbook" and learn all you need to know about curls! Do it now and you'll get a great offer and a cute kitten to look at!


Just kidding, I seriously recommend this book to all of the curly haired people in Earth. It helps you to identify your curl type, learn the best routine for it, and to know how to trim it.


It also has lots of information about the No-Poo method, because the author is the co-creator of the DevaCurl system.

u/sharenbooks · 1 pointr/FancyFollicles

I wanted to give all of you helpful ladies an update on what I've been doing. For the past week, I have started weaning myself into the hair care method Lorraine Massey outlines in Curly Girl.

http://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Lorraine-Massey/dp/076115678X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330717279&sr=8-1

I have always thought my hair is bone straight and to my delight, I have discovered I actually have waves! I haven't touched a blow dryer or a hot iron in a week (this is HUGE for me), and it's made such a difference. I am slowly weaning myself from using shampoo every day, and I've noticed on the days that I don't use it my hair looks BETTER (whoa, who would have thought?) At first, I was scared to try it and didn't think my hair would be wavy enough, but after a week there is noticeably more curl in my hair. I've received compliments from co-workers and my husband loves my new look. I know I will sound dramatic when I say it's changed my life, but it really has! I know I'm not a full Curly Girl yet, but this past week has been an eye-opening challenge for me to realize the full potential of how great my hair can look without the constant maintenance of blow-drying and straightening.
THANK YOU TO ALL FOR YOUR ADVICE!

u/Libbysmom · 1 pointr/AskWomen

Check out the curly girl line of products they really helped me and there is a book http://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Michele-Bender/dp/076115678X that actually teaches you how to wash and style your hair to bring out the best side of your curls.

u/30152010 · 1 pointr/curlyhair

Curly Girl: The Handbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/076115678X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sibkDbBSTJKZP

This is the woman who founded the cgm. This book is a great place to start and understand the method.

u/k9centipede · 0 pointsr/TrollXChromosomes

http://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Handbook-Michele-Bender/dp/076115678X I THINK this is the book, but I know I've heard of a book that many people with curly hair rave about as explaining how to care for it and style it and such and helped them out since mainstream really only teaches you how to take care of straight hair, and curly hair just isn't the same.