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Everything you need to know about the Curly Girl Method so you can get started today ♥ Including Curly Girl Method approved hair products for your curls!
Maybe you've heard of it: the Curly Girl Method. In the curl world, this method is extremely popular, and more and more people swear by it to optimally care for their natural curls.
This method was developed by Lorraine Massey, who herself struggled with her curls for years and created a care routine that fights frizz and gives curls definition and hydration. Thanks to her method, many people have relearned to embrace their natural curls.
Do you have curls and want to better understand and care for them? Then the Curly Girl Method is a good start. In this blog, we share useful tips and tricks to help you get started with this method. If you want to go deeper, you can read Curly Girl: The Handbook by Lorraine Massey for all the ins and outs.
The basis of the Curly Girl Method is actually very simple: you use hair products with natural ingredients and avoid harmful substances and techniques that can dry out or damage your curls. Below we explain the main principles.
With these basic principles, you lay a strong foundation for healthy, resilient curls according to the Curly Girl Method!
To keep it clear, we have compiled a list of ingredients and tools you better avoid if you want to keep your curls healthy:
Why avoid only oil-based silicones? These create a layer on your hair that you can only wash out with sulfates, which dries out your curls. Water-based silicones, on the other hand, rinse out easily without harsh shampoo. These are sometimes used by people who still blow-dry or style but in the safest way possible.
Now that you know what to avoid, here is a list of ingredients that are actually good for your curls:
Note: humectants are water-attracting ingredients that also retain water. Glycerin prevents hair breakage for those who still want to brush their curls. However, it is not suitable for every curl. Among others, glycerin depends on humidity. This can cause your curls to become over-moisturized, and low humidity can cause frizz. So it is really important to understand your curls and know what they need :)
Not all oils are bad for your curls—on the contrary, some oils provide protection and strengthen your hair. Oils rich in linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid form a protective layer around your hair and help prevent breakage.
In addition, some oils act as a natural heat protectant. For example, avocado oil has a SPF from 4 to 10, which protects your hair against UV radiation and heat.
Before you start with the Curly Girl Method, it is important to get to know your hair well. Follow this step-by-step plan:
No, you don’t have to stop shampoo immediately. You can gradually reduce shampoo use. When switching to the Curly Girl Method, it is important to do a final wash with a sulfate shampoo without silicones, mineral oils, and waxes. This is called the Final Wash.
This wash removes build-up from old hair products and prepares your hair for the CG routine. After that, you switch to co-washing or a mild, sulfate-free shampoo (low-poo).
Some people with fine or wavy hair find that completely stopping shampoo doesn’t work well. In that case, a low-poo shampoo is a good alternative. The longer you follow the method, the better your hair and scalp will balance.
Besides the right products, techniques play an important role in the Curly Girl Method. Here are a few key methods:
There are many more methods, but this is a good foundation to start with.
No, not all types of alcohol are harmful. Some alcohols, such as fatty alcohols, are actually beneficial because they hydrate and soften your hair.
Avoid these drying alcohols:
Good alcohols you don’t need to avoid:
Note: Prolonged use of alcohol can still affect your curls. Lorraine Massey therefore recommends always paying close attention to how your hair reacts and making adjustments where necessary.
How often you wash your curls depends on your hair type. However, for all curl types, it applies that you rinse out with cold water to close the hair cuticles. This promotes shine and helps to reduce frizz.
Note: listen to your hair
Everyone reacts differently. Some people notice their curls respond better when washing every 3 days, while others rarely wash their hair. The Curly Girl Method is a good starting point, but experiment and discover what works best for your hair!
Using conditioner is an essential part of the Curly Girl Method, but how you apply it depends on your curl type. Some hair types benefit from leaving conditioner in, while others do better rinsing it out to prevent curls from falling flat.
When applying conditioner, it’s helpful to use a comb or your fingers to distribute it evenly and detangle any knots. This ensures all your curls are well hydrated.
Before drying your curls, apply a leave-in conditioner to soaking wet hair without squeezing it out first. The leave-in helps to retain moisture in your curls. Then apply a styling product, such as gel or mousse, and continue with the drying process.
Drying curls according to the Curly Girl Method:
The best way to dry your curls is preferably with a microfiber towel, hydrophilic cloth, or if you don’t have that, a cotton T-shirt. This removes excess moisture without damaging your curls. You do this by hanging upside down and gently scrunching the curls. Whether you do this with or without hair products depends on your curl type.
The least damaging way to dry your curls is air drying. If you choose this, don’t touch your hair while it dries, let it be so the curls keep their natural shape.
Styling per curl type:
Experiment and discover what works:
Everyone needs a different routine. Maybe it works better for you to only use a leave-in conditioner, then plop your hair with a T-shirt, and only after that apply a styling product. Try different methods and discover what suits your curls best!
The way you sleep is an important part of the Curly Girl Method. By protecting your curls well while sleeping, you prevent damage and ensure you spend less time re-styling in the morning. Your curls stay better in shape, so on days you don’t wash, you have less to do.
Commonly used methods are:
The better you keep your curls intact while sleeping, the less work you have on refresh days.
The Curly Girl Method is not only about the right products but also about how you care for your curls on days you don’t wash them. These are the so-called refresh days, where you refresh your curls without a full wash. There are countless ways to do this, but here we share the most common and effective techniques.
You can refresh your curls in two ways: dry or wet.
Let your curls after refreshing air dry or use a diffuser for extra volume. Experiment with different techniques to discover what works best for your hair!
If you ask this question, you get the answer 9 out of 10 times that it defines your curls, and that is true. But you don't use it only for that. You also use a gel or cream to lock moisture in your curls; it creates a kind of 'cast' around your curl. This way, your curls can dry well, moisture stays in your curl, and your curl keeps its shape. Once your curls are finally dry, you can apply the SOTC method, also known as Scrunch Out The Crunch. You knead the hard layer of the gel out of your curls, leaving you with a beautiful curl!
A mousse is mainly used for ladies and gentlemen with waves, also called "slag." This is a light product that does not weigh your hair down. Mousse is often used after "plopping." However, there are also ladies with curl types 3A/3C who use a mousse as the very last product in their routine.
Treatments, hair masks, Deep Conditioner—enough options, but when do you use what?
In short, you use treatments on average once a month. Check if your curls are limp or extremely dry. Rice water or an Olaplex nm.3 is ideal if you have limp curls; this treatment helps to revive your overly soft curls.
You use a Deep Conditioner to restore the moisture of your curls.
Don't use treatments too much; once you find your way with the right products, the protein/moisture balance is ideal. You would then rarely need to use a treatment. A treatment is a kind of last rescue to restore the huge imbalance.
For more Curly Girl Method Proof products check our page here!
After reading the above blog and the other blogs we refer to, do you still have a burning question? Ask your question to our team and we will help you further in your CG lifestyle! Send your question to info@haarspullen.nl or call our team during office hours!
Disclaimer: we use CG friendly and proof interchangeably, this can be a bit confusing. CG friendly means that there are ingredients that work very well for one person and not so well for another. The Curly Girl Method is an adventure you embark on with your curls, which makes it so much fun! What works well for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another (with the same hair characteristics)… It remains a journey and a matter of a lot of experimenting!
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