Yes, a lot of the CG method is common sense- realizing that curly hair, especially fine hair, is delicate and doesn't get the natural scalp oils down the length of it as much as straight hair does, reducing heat and chemical processing, washing less often, and conditioning more. What I learned from my journey was about the protein/moisture balance and that my hair is actually coarse (coarse hair has more natural protein present than fine hair) so I could not get good results with products packed with protein ingredients meant for fine hair (which is 90% of products). I had to search around and find protein free products. Then I learned which ingredients are actually moisturizing, which ones are stripping, drying, which ones are silicones, which ones provide true heat and UV protection, which ones draw moisture to the hair and hold it there and what parts of the year that is ideal. I learned application methods that preserve clumps versus destroying them. There is really a lot to learn in order to make the most of curly hair. And there is a big push in the curly hair community to let go of societal standards of beauty (pin straight hair) and instead of longing for some other hair type, to embrace your own hair and love it no matter what. I honestly discovered that I love silicones because it is the only thing that makes my hair soft. So while the curly community and product manufacturers like Devacurl generally demonizes silicones, they actually serve an important function for those of us with hard water and coarse, gray, rough textured hair. So I use them and clarify every third wash or so.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
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I don't strictly follow the curly girl method either. Mainly just some tips like only washing once a week with curly girl approved shampoo and conditioner and not using a towel, not touching it while it dries, etc. It's way easier to me than flattening it all the time.I have a range of curls and waves from type 3b in the bottom lowest layers to 2a up on the crown and bangs area. For about 4 years I grew my curls out long and adhered strictly to the CG method, but eventually I gave up after not getting the results I'd hoped for. I have low to medium density, so really no matter what I do, I won't have the results I want. So now I keep it short length in a chin to shoulder length bob and layered. I might not always do strict CG approved silicone free products anymore, but I do try to keep other parts of the method like washing less often and reducing heat.
Yes same here. There was a time I felt completely imprisoned by the CG method in that I started to feel (irrationally) like products that didn't fall under the CG umbrella would destroy my hair. That is when I knew I was getting too wrapped up in it.
So I eventually gave up most of it and went back to my "normal" routine but certainly kept applying a few key concepts. I did go back to heat styling/flatironing, but I continue to use higher quality products, silk pillowcases, and I never go without a heat protectant.
Mine is mostly 3b curls. I stopped straightening mine when my daughter sent me a pic of my little hair twin granddaughter with her hair straightened and I just couldn't take it. LOL So I decided I wanted to teach her to love her curls and I've never looked back. My husband hated when I straightened it so he is very encouraging with the curls and with me growing out my greys. I definitely don't let myself be a slave to the method though it did help me learn how to properly care for my curls and not look like a mop lol
Red bags can be very tricky and it is easy to go too far with the rehab. I would try renapur or blackrocks but it might not change it too much - pretty bag!
I've finally finished the rehab of my $35 Camel Willis 9927 with Nickel Hardware that was made in Costa Rica in 1999 and expertly authenticated by @BeenBurned.
In general, I am pleased with the results but once again I have re-learned the hard lesson that I shouldn't attempt to rehab light-colored bags unless they are in very good condition. I can make them look better but some flaws just can't be hidden - but I keep buying them and trying to make them perfect so I guess there's no hope that I will stop trying!
The bag had ugly white circles on the bottom that I feared were mold but it turned out to be spue, a by-product of the leather-tanning process. The circles disappeared very quickly with just a little heat from my hair dryer. Now that the bag has been thoroughly washed (twice!) and heavily conditioned I hope that the spue is gone forever. Thank you to @Catbird9 and @Narnanz for educating me about spue!
The stitching on the top handle had ripped on one side and it was also missing the hangtag; here are the before pictures.
Auction picture of spue on the bottom of the bag:
In general, I am pleased with the results but once again I have re-learned the hard lesson that I shouldn't attempt to rehab light-colored bags unless they are in very good condition. I can make them look better but some flaws just can't be hidden - but I keep buying them and trying to make them perfect so I guess there's no hope that I will stop trying!
The bag had ugly white circles on the bottom that I feared were mold but it turned out to be spue, a by-product of the leather-tanning process. The circles disappeared very quickly with just a little heat from my hair dryer. Now that the bag has been thoroughly washed (twice!) and heavily conditioned I hope that the spue is gone forever. Thank you to @Catbird9 and @Narnanz for educating me about spue!
The stitching on the top handle had ripped on one side and it was also missing the hangtag; here are the before pictures.
Auction picture of spue on the bottom of the bag:
Below are the After pics of my $35 Camel and Nickel Willis 9927 that was made in Costa Rica in 1999 and originally sold for $268. When I bought the bag online I wasn't sure if it was British Tan or Camel or if the hardware was brass or nickel, but it is camel and nickel - thank you to @Catbird9 for posting the catalog page below from Fall 1999 describing the Camel and Nickel combination and showing the bag in Currant and Nickel.
Warning! I am going to sound the first negative note in the chorus of praise for Renapur conditioner in regards to this rehab! Don't get me wrong, I think Renapur is a fine product, I used it on the recent rehab of a blue Kira bag and I liked it a lot. I am glad to have it in my rehabbing cabinet but I don't think it was the best choice for this light-colored, vintage camel bag.
Here is my rehab process. First I used a hair dryer to make the spue circles disappear and I replaced the hangtag. I used a small, flat-head screwdriver to remove the short handle and I repaired the stitching with needle and thread before replacing the handle. Then I gave the bag a sink bath in Dawn suds and thoroughly scrubbed it inside and out, then I drained and stuffed it and shaped it to dry. I started applying Leather CPR after it began drying.
After it was conditioned and dried I applied Renapur and I loved the way it restored the color of the bag and the condition of the piping BUT it seemed to make the flaws more obvious instead of helping to blend them in a bit. I let it dry and cure for 3 days and I buffed the bag well but I still didn't like the way it looked after the Renapur application. Finally I took it back to the bath to start all over. I again used Leather CPR but I used Blackrocks to finish the surface after the second bath. I am still not totally pleased with the results but I am generally happier with the way it looks after the Blackrocks conditioning and buffing.
I used acrylic paint to touch up the edging and I tried using acrylic to mask the flaws but it didn't help much so I gave up. The nickel hardware just needed a little light buffing; here are the After Rehab pics:
Warning! I am going to sound the first negative note in the chorus of praise for Renapur conditioner in regards to this rehab! Don't get me wrong, I think Renapur is a fine product, I used it on the recent rehab of a blue Kira bag and I liked it a lot. I am glad to have it in my rehabbing cabinet but I don't think it was the best choice for this light-colored, vintage camel bag.
Here is my rehab process. First I used a hair dryer to make the spue circles disappear and I replaced the hangtag. I used a small, flat-head screwdriver to remove the short handle and I repaired the stitching with needle and thread before replacing the handle. Then I gave the bag a sink bath in Dawn suds and thoroughly scrubbed it inside and out, then I drained and stuffed it and shaped it to dry. I started applying Leather CPR after it began drying.
After it was conditioned and dried I applied Renapur and I loved the way it restored the color of the bag and the condition of the piping BUT it seemed to make the flaws more obvious instead of helping to blend them in a bit. I let it dry and cure for 3 days and I buffed the bag well but I still didn't like the way it looked after the Renapur application. Finally I took it back to the bath to start all over. I again used Leather CPR but I used Blackrocks to finish the surface after the second bath. I am still not totally pleased with the results but I am generally happier with the way it looks after the Blackrocks conditioning and buffing.
I used acrylic paint to touch up the edging and I tried using acrylic to mask the flaws but it didn't help much so I gave up. The nickel hardware just needed a little light buffing; here are the After Rehab pics:
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This is interesting. My bags have gotten a little stiff, too. According to the map we have very hard water, yet I know our water is snow melt from the mountains. Also, it’s illegal for us to collect rainwater. It never rains here anyway.
You're a bag fixing maven. I'd love to see your "complete" pile some day. As well as your to-do pile!
Thank you! I have bags stashed all over the house, both completed and to-do! I have been planning to start selling them for years but have never done it; but now that I am recently retired I really am going to have to try listing, selling, and shipping bags!
I was wondering what you for with them all, haha! I've only just started my Coach journey and already I had to reorganize to have a place to put them.
That's not a bad idea to try selling now that you have more time! Of course, anyone going to the authenticate thread for your items will be happy with what they find
How do you acquire all your bags? Thrift stores/online/mix of both?
I’ll be for sure keeping my eyes peeled for those bags when you do list them!
My cat, Laptop is trying to help with my current project:
I was wondering what you for with them all, haha! I've only just started my Coach journey and already I had to reorganize to have a place to put them.
That's not a bad idea to try selling now that you have more time! Of course, anyone going to the authenticate thread for your items will be happy with what they find
How do you acquire all your bags? Thrift stores/online/mix of both?
I prefer Thrift stores and garage sales because I can see the bags myself which may give me a better feel about authenticity and condition and I don't have to pay shipping, but I have found some great bags online. I really appreciate our wonderful Authenticators because I have made mistakes in the past and I would hate to waste time, money, products, and efforts on a fake!
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Same here. The authenticators are indeed wonderful! I've yet to buy a bag online (though I'm currently considering a couple) so I'm only thrift stores so far. It's really fun to know how to keep an eye out for things and finding treasures. My only problem is sometimes wanting to buy too many things. Definitely love the fact that sometimes I get an "it's fine" or "it's fake" while I'm still in the store!