What are you struggling with?

Frizz has multiple causes. The most common for CGM beginners:

• Apply styling products to soaking wet hair
• Use more gel than you think
• Don't touch your hair while it dries
• Sleep on a silk/satin pillowcase or pineapple
• If in a hard water area, use a chelating shampoo monthly

Nighttime: Pineapple, satin bonnet, or satin pillowcase.

Day 2 refresh:

1. Shake hair out gently
2. Mist flat sections with water
3. Scrunch in a tiny amount of gel or leave-in
4. Diffuse briefly or air dry

For fine/wavy hair: less water is more.

Usually means protein overload or severe dryness. Do the strand test:

• Snaps immediately = protein overload
• Stretches endlessly = moisture overload
• Stretches and springs back = balanced

• Too much product: Start with a tiny amount
• Products too heavy: Wavies need lightweight gels/mousses
• Not clarifying enough: Every 2-4 weeks
• Co-washing when you need shampoo

Your scalp may need more cleansing. Scalp health comes first.

• Clarify every 1-2 weeks
• Use medicated shampoo if needed
• Try a scalp scrub or brush

CGM takes 4-8 weeks minimum.

• Week 1-2: Adjustment period
• Week 3-4: First signs of curl pattern
• Month 2-3: Noticeable improvement
• Month 6+: New undamaged growth visible

1. Apply conditioner in the shower
2. Cup a handful of water and press it into your hair
3. You should hear a squelching sound
4. Repeat until hair feels slippery
5. Don't rinse fully

Best for: Medium to high porosity hair.

1. Lay a T-shirt flat
2. Flip your head forward onto the centre
3. Wrap and tie at the back
4. Leave for 10-30 minutes

• Low heat, medium speed
• Flip head upside down for volume
• Cup sections, hold for 20-30 seconds
• Don't move the diffuser around
• Stop when 80% dry

For wavies: Diffusing is often essential.

Gel forms a hard "cast". Once 100% dry, scrunch to break it. Soft, defined curls remain.

• Wait until completely dry
• Add a tiny drop of oil first for extra shine
• Scrunch from the bottom up

1. Cleanse: Gentle sulphate-free shampoo on scalp
2. Condition: Mid-lengths to ends, squish to condish
3. Style: Gel on soaking wet hair, scrunch upward
4. Dry: Plop, then air dry or diffuse
5. SOTC: Scrunch out the gel cast when 100% dry

Use our Ingredient Scanner.

• Avoid "-cone", "-conol", "-xane" (silicones) unless PEG-
• Avoid sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate
• OK: Fatty alcohols are moisturising
• OK: Behentrimonium methosulfate is NOT a sulphate

Wavy: Gel or mousse. Curly: Gel. Coily: Cream + gel combo.

Yes. One sulphate wash strips silicone buildup. Any cheap sulphate shampoo works.

• Clarifying: Removes product buildup
• Chelating: Removes mineral deposits from hard water

Good: Cetyl, cetearyl, stearyl, lauryl, myristyl alcohol.

Bad: Isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, SD alcohol, alcohol denat, propanol.

First determine porosity, thickness, and density. Then match products. Buy travel sizes first.

Take our Hair Quiz for personalised recs.

Solutions (cheapest first):

1. Apple cider vinegar rinse (~£2)
2. Chelating shampoo (~£7-15)
3. Shower filter (~£20-40)
4. Shower head water softener (~£30-60)

London, South East, East Anglia, Midlands = hard. Scotland, Wales, North West = soft.

Budget: Boots, Superdrug, Poundland/Savers, supermarkets.

Mid-range: Boots/Superdrug (Shea Moisture, Cantu), Pak's, TK Maxx.

Specialist: Only Curls, Curlsmith, Boucleme, Kiyo Beauty.

Accessories are great value. Hair products, check with our Scanner first.

Yes. Key modifications:

• Co-washing usually doesn't work
• Clarify more often
• Lightweight products only
• Less product overall
• Plopping may flatten waves
• Diffusing often essential

Most wavies do better with a gentle shampoo. Co-washing can leave wavy hair limp and greasy.

• Reset wash to remove buildup
• Use only gel on soaking wet hair
• Scrunch thoroughly
• Diffuse rather than air dry
• Less conditioner, rinsed more thoroughly

• 2A: Slight S-bend, fine, easily weighed down
• 2B: More defined S-waves, some frizz
• 2C: Well-defined waves from root, loose ringlets at ends

This is the "transition period" (2-6 weeks). Wash every 2-3 days, focus shampoo on scalp only.

Products are only one piece. What matters more: application to wet hair, amount, drying method, water type, porosity, consistency.

CGM says don't brush dry hair. Still detangle in the shower with conditioner.

No. Keep one sulphate shampoo for clarifying. Start with a conditioner and one gel.

No. Three products: cleanser, conditioner, one styler.

More important than curl type for choosing products.

• Low: Cuticle tight, water beads up, use lightweight products
• Medium: Balanced, most products work
• High: Cuticle open, absorbs fast, needs heavier products + protein

Protein overload: Rough, stiff, brittle. Moisture overload: Mushy, limp, won't hold shape.

Humectants attract water. Works well in moderate UK weather, but switch to glycerin-free in muggy summers or cold winters.

Non-water-soluble (dimethicone) = buildup. Water-soluble (PEG-modified) = fine with gentle cleansers.

Less useful than porosity, strand width, density, and elasticity for choosing products.

• Winter: Central heating dries air
• Spring/Autumn: Best curl weather
• Summer: Higher humidity
• Rain: Soft water, often good for curls

Yes. Colour-treated hair needs more moisture and protein.

• Wavy: Every 2-3 days
• Curly: Every 3-5 days
• Coily: Every 5-10 days

A dry cut makes a huge difference. UK: Search Curly Hair Artistry directory. Budget: Ask any hairdresser to cut dry.

Sleeping technique: gather hair loosely at the very top of your head with a silk scrunchie.

Fix: More gel, applied to wetter hair, dried with a diffuser.

No. Switch to microfibre towel (Primark £3-4) or old cotton T-shirt. Never rub.

Completely normal. Most people have 2-3 different patterns. Treat sections differently if needed.

Parts are, parts aren't. Best used as a starting framework, then adapted.

Scalp health comes first. Use medicated shampoo on scalp, CGM conditioner on lengths.

Dip hair sections into a bowl of water after applying styler. Encourages clumping and distributes product. Best for: People wanting maximum definition.