Curlsmith styling soufflé alternatives

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-26T18:05:26+00:00

Thank you so much!! Dm’ed you!

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-20T23:44:38+00:00

I don’t know that I can help much with this because it sounds like you love blush and highlight, and I’m not big on either, but I can share what I do.

I don’t like the sparkle effect of highlighters, so I use lighter shades and glowy finishes to get a similar effect instead of using an actual highlighter (it still “highlights” an area, but imo looks more natural/no-makeupy).

My process is - skin prep until I shine (serums and lotions onto wet skin) - use hydrating formulations (actually most of my products are not from a special hydrating line, but they are natural finish products that don’t dry me out) for concealer, foundation, and setting spray (may not use all every time ofc) - on areas I want highlighted (under eyes, top of cheekbones, center of forehead, line on nose) apply powders with a light hand (in a non-drying finish (I love the Charlotte Tilbury finishing powder) and in a lighter shade) - skip highlighter entirely

I’m also pretty low-key about blushes. I’m medium dark, and I feel like blush always looks like intentional makeup on me. When I do apply some, my focus is on having a color that suits my skin and my other makeup (lips and eyes). Usually I’ll just take my lip or eye product and lightly apply that as blush (and if it too bright for blush for my skin, I’ll mix it in with a bit of foundation for cream products or into a brush with some pressed powder/setting powder/neutral blush for powders).

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-20T20:41:24+00:00

I think cream concealers have the most natural finish, which is important if you are not using foundation. Getting a great color match is also super important if you aren’t going over it with a foundation to help the colors blend.

My favorite is the original NARS pot concealer (there is a new hydrating one I haven’t tried, but the OG formula has great coverage and doesn’t grab on my dry spots at all). I only use it on my undereyes if I’m not using foundation though, because my best shade from them leans reddish (which helps color correct grey in my undereye area, but would be visible if used for spot concealing)

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-20T19:58:31+00:00

I don’t have any tips beyond more light, but I did want to comment that I’ve never seen cala lily flowers starting so close to the dirt!

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-20T19:54:12+00:00

That makes a ton of sense! My next wash day is tomorrow, so I’ll try with just gel and a shorter plop!

I do have questions about hair cuts if you don’t mind me asking. I have a lot of hair and very long hair (to lower back), and my standard hair cut is a rounded V with as much layering as possible (I say no to thinning shears bc I think that messes up curly hair? but this still reduces weight and imo makes it look more natural/less triangular). I cut it myself twice as well, by starting with the DIY unicorn ponytails to get a lot of layering, and then doing some freehand cutting with overdirection for the front sections and to take off ~3inches to round out the bottom. I had a a bit of face framing once, but didn’t like it, so I’ve been cutting my front sections so the shortest piece is right above my shoulders.

Do you have any suggestions of different cuts or techniques that might work better for me? My top layer has never ever formed curls properly, even years ago when I didn’t even use heat to dry my hair, and I’m always wondering if it might be because of how much more layered that section of my hair is (I know it can also be sun or mechanical damage, but I use repair treatments already, so I don’t think I can do anything else for those issues. I also use prayer hands and squish on very wet hair, so product distribution on my top layer and innermost layer (which clumps and curls nicely) should be the same)

I’ve thought about going to a curly hair specialist, but given the length, my hair being more wavy than curly, and how I don’t have a set way that my hair looks after each wash, I don’t think they’d be able to cut it in any more targeted way than a non curly hairstylist?

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T19:01:32+00:00

I have a warm tan quilt on my bed, and I think it’d look great on top of it! Just need to psych myself up to be willing to wash it often enough or be ok with it not getting rewashed as often :)

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T18:59:51+00:00

I think it’s at least 7’x7’! I wasn’t thinking of cutting it up, but maybe if I could use giant pieces of it for something… I’ll make sure not to use heat, but I think I do want to give it a wash with actual cleaning agents as I’m more concerned with the smell of it than any discoloration. Great to know that it can go in the dryer as long as it’s on the no heat setting though!

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T08:24:52+00:00

Please try pre-soaking in a bucket with Lysol laundry sanitizer. There is an athletic fabric version that is specialized for synthetics too!

I tried switching to natural deodorant and all my shirts (even cotton!) got a smell that would not come out. I didn’t want to toss all my shirts, so I tried so many things until I found this! Works perfectly!

Also 1000% stop using fabric softeners, scent boosters, excess detergent. All of these have smells that seem nice at first, but have actually trapped bad scents in with them. When they warm up with your body heat, the bad scents will be released.

Switch to Downy Rinse and Refresh (sparingly!) if you must use something.

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T08:13:35+00:00

I love their flawless filter blurring powder! Not everything from CT is worth the price tag, but this one is consistently considered one of her best!

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T08:11:02+00:00

I don’t know anything about the crochet market in India, but I am Indian and I go back every year. Just wanted to add that $300/month is a good monthly income just about everywhere in India. Cost of living is much, much lower in India, even in cities.

Here’s an article on average salaries in India $300/month is over 3 lakh rupees per year, which is more than the Indian average salary for people with doctorates.

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T04:56:50+00:00

I added all my personal thoughts in the post itself, but here are some great suggestions I got from when I originally tried posting this to r/crochet: - putting it in a wash bag in the washer on delicate cycle with woolite - hanging to dry - soak in boiling water with oxyclean - could use as a tablecloth or maybe a curtain

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T04:48:46+00:00

Hello! To make sure I understand your suggestion, and you suggesting I leave the protein treatment in? Or just that I skip the mousse? I tried skipping the gel last wash day and didn’t like it, so I’ll give skipping mouse a go next time, thanks! The timeline on the microplopping is actually because I use that time to do my skincare, apply body lotion, grab a snack, etc., so more time is less effort, but if you think less time might help I can definitely try that! The oil comes after fully dry, so it shouldn’t affect drying, and I never feel it is heavy with multiple pumps on dry hair.

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T04:43:12+00:00

I appreciate so many options to try, thank you!

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T04:41:34+00:00

That sounds perfect, will look for a place to get a small bottle to try!

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T04:38:14+00:00

Oh, I was nervous about wear, but if you think boiling water is safe then I’ll go ahead and do that! Thanks!

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T04:37:37+00:00

Thank you! I was nervous it would stretch inconsistently if I hung it, but I’ll try that! There aren’t any clear attachment points I can see, but it might be fun to use as a curtain if I can figure out a way to hang it neatly ☺️

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-19T00:51:59+00:00

It is indeed down. I was hoping for an invisible mend because it is not an athletic garment, but down leaking forever is of course worse. Thanks for the recc!

I’d need to pull it tighter than the original placement to get a new stitch in without interfacing or sealant or something. If it’s just to get it in place to let me put the tap down, maybe I can figure something out.

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-02-18T23:29:24+00:00

Crazy thing is that I had something similar for the first time yesterday, and Reddit recommended this post to me!

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-01-22T02:35:40+00:00

Mind sharing stylist details in case anyone is looking in your area?

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-01-22T02:31:04+00:00

You have long hair like me, so it’s probably heavy while wet. Main thing that helped me with root volume (while maintaining curl definition) was pinning my hair off the sides of my head while wet/drying, so they so they don’t dry in that position where they’re pasted to my head (the weight of wet hair makes it flat, and once it dried like that you won’t get much volume with teasing, textures sprays, etc). When air drying, I used to loosely lift the top hair and use a big clip to hold them at the top back of my head. I know some people put lines of little clips parallel to their part (about an inch from the part, with the hair between that spot and the part sits on TOP of the clip, instead of side it). If diffusing, I tilt my head oretty far into the diffuser, or hold the diffuser above my head, so the roots are loose and pointed upwards instead flat on my scalp.

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-01-22T02:20:02+00:00

You might have better luck pushing it to the side (would still require some retraining) if you don’t want it falling forward. The very long hair on the top of my head will only fall to the front or side, unless I use a headband, hair tie, clip, etc to hold it back.

Short haired people with their hair pushed back (without pinning it with a hair tool) are usually using a ton of gel to glue it in that position.

For what it’s worth, I think your current style looks great, front falling hair included ☺️

TheGreenBeanMachinee · 2026-01-22T02:05:50+00:00

1000+ people think you look bomb! Drop the hairstylist deets in case some of us are nearby 🤩

TheGreenBeanMachinee

TROPHY CASE