It's about curls, and I don't have any. So not at the moment. Because my hair is only about 3 centimeters long. After about eight months of waxing, so with about 10 cm the waves slowly become visible again, before it's just too short. But I have gained a lot of experience with curls and stronger waves over the six years of my hair growth (until 2017). And also last year I experimented with short hair again with the Curly Girl method and many products. The currently missing curls are no reason not to share my experiences with you. :) Especially since this month, it's a topic in the Haarbande.
conditioner only and gentle cleaning washes
For waves, curls and dry hair, CO (the washing only with conditioner or conditioner instead of shampoo) is very suitable. I have reported it here and again and mostly it worked quite well (description here). A prerequisite is, however, a silicone- and if possible alcohol-free conditioner. But what I had to learn first: if you don't have really strong curls (3-4 hairs), then it is a good idea to wash with gentle shampoos every now and then to wash out the remains of leave-in and styling products (gel or curl foam). Otherwise straight waves and/or fine hair will be weighed down too much in the long run. Every 2 to 4 weeks you should, therefore, insert a kind of cleaning wash with mild (!) surfactants between the CO washes.
leave-in
Leave-ins are the be-all and end-all for dry hair and/or curls. Investing in a good product without dehydrating alcohol (unfortunately, this is rare!) is really worth it! If you can also save on the Condi, you shouldn't do it here, because the leave-in stays in the hair until the next wash and depending on that it looks the same. I have never left out leave-ins, even if it should go fast, even with long hair or if it wasn't about the curls, never. In the best case, they mean care, protection and curl bundling in one.
3rd gel
A year ago I also (again) experimented more intensively with gel. For the curl bundling and definition, it really brings a lot. But it is also a certain effort (I think) and you have to decide if it is worth it. According to the CG method, you apply leave-in and the gel over the (dripping) wet to damp hair - when it best suits your own hair type, everyone has to try it out for themselves. The application method can also be varied for different results. Then let it dry completely, then knead out the hard layer again (possibly with a towel, T-shirt or "buff") and hopefully "free" soft, defined curls. Up to this point you honestly look more like a watered poodle.
plops and diffuses
I have already reported here in detail about plopping and hair drying. From a certain hair length it is really worthwhile to "knead" the hair with a towel or T-shirt (at least as smooth as possible and no terrycloth) first in form and then to strengthen the curls by plop. With shorter hair I have also noticed that drying with a hairdryer and diffuser actually produces more beautiful, i.e. looser results than air drying (and yes, with the Dyson Supersonic it is much faster and with a good cold setting). But everyone has to find out for himself. Whatever you dry: don't touch it while it's drying, it will tatter the curls and make you frizz!
Skane
For the night, you have to think about curls so that you don't have a bird's nest on your head the next day. The first step is a pillowcase made of silk or satin, which generally protects the hair. You can also wear a buff at night so that the curls stand up. The "pineapple", a kind of ponytail on top of the head, is a popular night hairstyle for medium-length curls. And there are also the sexy sleeping hoods. And yes, sleeping with curls is and remains a problem.
refresh
If you have used a good gel after washing, the curls can be refreshed on day 2,3,4, etc. but also again. Either you use distilled water and spray the curls with it lightly or you add some leave-in and/or gel to the damp hair as needed. It can work, but sometimes it doesn't work, then you are disheveled again or the hair is weighted or glued by too many products. What you should not do, however, is combing or even brushing between washes, which only gives the "burst sofa cushion" look. Before washing you can comb/brush and untangle the hair again with Condi or Leave-In. Otherwise one should rather do without it
products
The most strenuous thing about the Curly Girl method is probably finding the right products. If you want to experiment first, just wash your hair with a silicone-free conditioner and try out homemade linseed gel. This gives moisture and some hold and some people may be surprised when they suddenly have waves. My favorites - in terms of effect - were all in all the rather expensive Bounce Curl products. Especially the gel is absolutely unique, but also the CO product, the shampoos, and the conditioner are really great! I can recommend all this to you with a clear conscience.
As leave-in Curls, Blueberry Bliss Leave-In Conditioner fits very well. And one of my insider tips is the Curlkeeper Original, which is applied between leave-in and gel and which could contain most of my frizz. The Kinky Curly products are also worth a look (especially the Knot Today as leave-in and the Curling Custard as gel). I also liked the cream and gel from Only Curls, I haven't tested the matching products yet. Yes, I really tried a lot, you can really make a lot of money and you can only pass on limited experiences with products... But testing and experimenting is also fun! :)
You have to understand: I don't give advertising, I just recommend what I've tried on myself.
Also look at the Haarbande, how curls are maintained or made there! Next month there will be "summer hairstyles" in the hairband, but then definitely without me. :)