If you’ve read any articles about curly hair, you’ve probably heard the term “Curly Girl Method.” And you probably wondered, “What is that? Is that some kind of secret code word for girls who have finally FIGURED OUT the secret to amazing hair?” For curly girls, the answer is a resounding yes! In this post, I want to answer the question…

What is the Curly Girl Method?

The story of the Curly Girl Method starts in a factory town in Leicester, England. A little girl named Lorraine was born with a head of corkscrew curls. When she stood beside her six straight-haired brothers and sisters, she was sure that she had been sent home with the wrong family.

As a curly girl, she faced both the taunts of classmates and the societal pressure that said, “Straight was beautiful, curly was ugly.” Lorraine spent hours straightening her hair and wore giant rollers to bed.

After graduating from high school, she became a hairdresser. She kept her curls short, hoping to fly under the radar. But one day, after someone insulted her curls, she decided to stop fighting her curly hair. 

Instead, Lorraine let her curls grow out. She cut out drying shampoos, blowdryers, and harsh chemicals. And her curls blossomed into a gorgeous mass of ringlets.

Over time, she discovered a remarkably simple way of caring for curly hair. It wasn’t complicated, expensive, or time-consuming. And it made her curls looked gorgeous, defined, and hydrated. She called it the Curly Girl Method, and, in 2000, she published a book entitled Curly Girl: The Handbook. It’s become a beloved classic among curly girls everywhere.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will change your curls forever.

Curly Girl Method No-No’s

The Curly Girl Method has some very simple rules to follow. It may take you a week or two to adjust, but you’ll soon see the benefits.

No Blow-Drying or Heat Tools

To avoid damaging your delicate curls, you cannot use any heat tools on your hair. Ditch the straightener, curling wand, and blowdryer! The one exception is that you can use a blowdryer on the cool setting with a diffuser attachment. But, in the early stages, I would recommend cutting out blowdryers completely to see better progress.     

No Sulfate-Containing Shampoos

This may come as a shock to you, but traditional shampoo is not actually good for curly hair.  These shampoos contain harsh detergents, including sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and ammonium laureth sulfate. Sulfates strip away natural oils from curly hair and dry out your scalp. To compensate, your scalp will over-produce oil, and cause greasy hair! No wonder some people struggle so much with greasy roots (I used to be one of them!)

Instead of using traditional shampoo, curly girls either use a sulfate-free shampoo or a co-wash conditioner, which is a moisturizing cleanser. Also, this method teaches you to shampoo every few days instead of every day. This allows your hair time to rest and produces much better results.

No Dry Brushing or Combing

I stopped brushing my hair when I started the Curly Girl Method, and it’s never looked better. Brushes and combs used on dry hair will break up your curl pattern. They also cause damage and unnecessary frizz. Some curly girls use a wet brush or a wide-toothed comb in the shower to detangle their hair after applying conditioner. 

Bottom line: If you use a brush or comb, only use it on WET hair with product or conditioner in it. This will minimize potential damage.

No Towel Drying

Regular towels cause frizz and take away too much moisture from your curls. Instead, use an old t-shirt or a microfibre towel to dry your curls. This will help them stay smooth and polished.

Curly Girl Do’s

Space Out Your Wash Days

To keep your curls hydrated and happy, you won’t need to wash them every day. I wash my hair every 3rd or 4th day. Depending on your curl type, you may need to wash every other day or just once or twice a week. The key principle is to wash your hair when it needs more moisture- not every day.

Do Use A Sulfate-Free Cleanser or Co-wash

Yes, curly hair still needs to get clean. You’ll need to find a sulfate-free shampoo without any harsh detergents. If you have very thick, curly hair, I recommend that you also try a co-wash. This is basically a cleansing conditioner that provides extra moisture. My favourite is the As I Am Coconut Cowash.

Do Use Lots of Conditioner

Curls need lots of moisture to look their best. Like most curly girls, I use way more conditioner than shampoo. You’ll want to purchase a conditioner with lots of botanical ingredients. Avoid anything that contains silicone, as this will seal your cuticle and prevent moisture from penetrating it. It can also weigh your hair down.

Do Style Your Hair with a Curly Girl Approved Gel

To preserve your curls’ natural shape and volume, you’ll style your hair with a gel. Gels can have a light hold, medium hold, or strong hold. I have several reviews of Curly Girl approved gels on my blog, including:

$$   Jessicurl Spiralicious Gel

$     Aussie Instant Freeze Gel 

$ EcoStyler Olive Oil Gel

Do A Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment

Most curly girl experts recommend that you deep condition your curly hair once a week. This provides extra moisture and helps repair any environmental damage or stress on your hair. My favourite deep conditioner right now is the Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment.

What other products do I need for the Curly Girl Method?

Although some curly girls use tons of different products, it’s best to start off simply. You just need three things:

-A sulfate-free, curly girl approved shampoo

-A botanical, Curly Girl approved conditioner

-An alcohol-free, paraben-free gel

After rinsing out conditioner, you flip your head upside down, squeeze most of the water out of your hair with an old t-shirt, and apply gel by scrunching it upwards toward your roots.

Next, you can either air-dry your hair or blow-dry it with a diffuser attachment. After your hair is completely dry, squeeze your curls upward to release the gel cast.

Stay tuned for more curly girl posts! And don’t forget to pick up a copy of Curly Girl: The Handbook. It’s super helpful + inspiring!

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Want to learn more?

Purchase a copy of my new ebook, Embrace Your Curls: A Manual for Curly Girls. It has 120+ pages of information, techniques, and methods to help you have the hair of your dreams! Check it out here.

Let’s Chat:

Have you ever tried the Curly Girl Method? If so, what did you think? Curly girls, what is your best advice for beginners?

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