Curls on a Budget: Shopping List

The Basics:

1. Silicone Free Conditioner

• Tresemme Naturals Conditioner
• Price: $7 – $12 (Chemist Warehouse and Coles are the cheapest)
• Types (3): Nourishing Moisture (aloe vera extract and avocado oil), Radiant Volume (natural sweet orange and lemongrass extracts) and Vibrantly Smooth (coconut oil and jojoba leaf extract)
• Nb. I do not suggest using their shampoo in this range as it still contains sulfates.
• Also the conditioners contain alcohol but I still find it effective
• PS. Coles have a special every 2 months are so where the Tresemme range is a mere $5 –
  I bulk buy then.

  2. Alcohol Free Styling Gel

• La Bella Styling Gel 1.1 kg (!) Extra Value Pack
• Price: $5 (My Chemist)
• Nb. not available online but was stocked at Doncaster Shopping-town
• If you cant buy this, don’t be afraid to touch the men’s brands – its cheaper!

3. Wide Toothed Comb

• if you need one, or you can just finger comb
• Best One: look for the ones that have a ‘hook’ on the end so it hangs in the shower
  (Models Prefer and Lady Jane available at…)
• Price: $3 – $4 (Priceline)

4. Synthetic Microfibre Towel

• any synthetic microfibre towel
  (this will extract the water more effectively than cotton/terrycloth)
• Price: you can find it anywhere but the cheapest I have found is at Daiso for $2.80
• If you’ve got abit more money: Curls Like Us Cloths

5. Satin Pillowcase

• Any smooth polyester (satin) pillowcase which will not wreck your hair. Not available at Myer or Target, and hard to find at Big W. Cheapest is those at Manchester places in the shopping center.
• Price: $2.50 (Manchester and More)

Extras:

8. Diffuser

• sold separately and sold in the packs
• Prices: (Separate) $15 – $10
• Cheapest with a Hairdryer: $30 – $35 (Big W)
  Nb. recently VS Sasson have also had a special pink pack on sale for $35

7. Haircutting Scissors

• for trimming at home when you don’t have the money for a haircut.
• the cheapest scissors will do as you will not use them often
  (every ~4-6 weeks if you want to maintain your current length)
• two hairdressers have told me they have had this pair for 3 years+
• Price: $20-25 (Hairwarehouse); $15 (Chemist Warehouse)

8. Hair Clips for Drying

• sold separately and in packs in some hair and beauty stores
• Price: 30c – 50c each
• Pack of 4 in Daiso for $2.80

Curly Resources

** = essential sources

 

Websites:

** DevaCurl (Curly Girl Method)

•  products, tutorials by the author who created the book

** Naturally Curly

• Social media platform for the textured hair influencer in the world of curls, coils and waves.
• Facebook Page

 

Youtube:

** Waterlily716

• leading vlogger on type 3b hair – she taught me everything I know
• Facebook Page

Veronica Meza

• type 3b

Puertoricanbeauty22

• type 3, not as many vids

Deva Curl

• same author as the Curly Girl Book
• Facebook page

Naturally Curly

• not as useful as i thought, as it is more about US product reviews and type 4 hair

 

Shopping:

CurlMart

• US based, I suggest checking out product reviews first on NaturallyCurly before buying online

 

Mobile Apps:

1. Curls on the Go, CurlTalk

https://www.facebook.com/naturallycurly?fref=ts

Why Should I Even Bother?

Straight hair is everywhere. Conforming to straight hair is easy for those who have it naturally. But what about the rest of us? Are you like me? Does it take you an hour or more to straighten your hair?

The fact is that curly-haired people do not have the time to pretend that they’re like everyone else. And why would you want to when you have an unlocked asset: your bouncy booty-ful curls?

This blog is about how I have adapted the Curly Girl Method, as found in this book, to my hair. This blog will be useful for you if you:

– have curly hair, especially if you identify as having type 3b hair / Botticelli Hair
[take the test if you’re not sure]

– live in Australia, especially Melbourne as I will review/list products that are locally available

 

My Hair to date:

 

Nb. Curly Girl handbook that is linked is available in following Melbourne Libraries:
Eastern Regional, Frankston and Kingston.

Note you can still borrow it if you are a member of any Melbourne Library using the following site, but there will likely be a fee (mine was $2.75):
Library Link Victoria.