Hello my curly girls! I hope you’re having a wonderful hair day. When I first started the Curly Girl Method, I started following the simple routine in Curly Girl: The Handbook. I didn’t have a clue about the world of Instagram or Youtube curlies and all their tips and tricks! If you’re just starting out, you may feel a bit overwhelmed with all the information. Today, I’m going back to the basics and sharing how YOU can build a simple curly hair routine. I’ve laid out exactly what to do, what products you should buy, and what order to use them in.
Here is your ultimate guide to building a curly hair routine.
1. Final Wash
If you’ve been using “regular” shampoo and conditioner, your hair probably has some buildup of silicones and other nasty chemicals. Before you throw out your sulfate-containing shampoo, use it for one final wash. This will remove any buildup and allow you to start fresh.
Important Note:
If you live in an area with hard water, or you have low porosity hair, you should get a clarifying shampoo. This should contain a small amount of sulfates to remove buildup. You should use it about once a week, in place of your other shampoo. Because I have low porosity hair, I like to use the Live Clean Argan Oil Restorative Shampoo. Because it contains a little bit of sulfate, it’s not CG-approved, but it works well for me.
Pre-Shampoo Treatments
If your hair is especially thirsty, or you are working on hair growth, you may want to try a pre-shampoo treatment. This means that you apply a product to your hair, allow it to sit for 20-30 minutes, and then wash your hair.
Personally, I love to massage black castor oil into my scalp as a pre-shampoo treatment. I do this once about every 3 weeks. It always makes my hair curlier, and it helps reduce flaking. You can also use Argan oil, coconut oil, or olive oil as a pre-shampoo treatment.
To learn why you should do a pre-shampoo, read this post from Naturally Curly.
Product Suggestions if you’re in the USA:
Product Suggestions if you’re in Canada:
2. Cleanse
Next, you’ll need a Curly Girl approved cleanser. There are 2 basic types of cleanser: a co-wash (also known as no-poo) and a low-poo cleanser.
A co-wash (short for conditioner-wash) is a conditioner formulated to cleanse your hair. It provides lots of moisture while still removing buildup and dirt. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I love the As I Am Coconut Cowash. It’s lightweight and leaves my curls clean and happy. And it’s packed with lots of botanical ingredients that your hair will love…tangerine, castor oil, coconut oil, saw palmetto, and more. And one tub will last a few months!
A low-poo shampoo means that it doesn’t have any sulphates, but it does gently lather up. One of my favourite low-poos is the SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo. This shampoo leaves my hair soft, touchable, and full of bouncy curls. It provided gentle cleansing without removing all the natural oils. It’s definitely one of the best shampoos for curly hair I’ve tried.
Product suggestions if you’re in the USA:
Product suggestions if you’re in Canada:
3. Condition
After cleansing your curls, you’ll need a Curly Girl approved conditioner. I’ve included 3 categories of conditioners here: regular conditioners, leave-in conditioners, and deep conditioners. Regular conditioners should be used whenever you wash your hair (every 2-4 days). Leave-ins should be applied after rinsing out your regular conditioner. And deep conditioners should be applied either before or after shampooing (check the bottle for instructions).
Pro Tip: Instead of using a whole different leave-in conditioner, I just don’t rinse out my regular conditioner completely. I flip my head upside down, cup water in my palms upward, and squish it into my hair. This causes my hair to release any excess conditioner and keep the right amount to stay hydrated. And it saves time!
-Claudine
Regular Conditioners:
Hands down, my favourite conditioner is the Tresemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Conditioner. It’s affordable, well formulated, and gives me consistently great results. I do have low porosity, thirsty hair. So, if you have fine, wavy hair, it may be too heavy for you. I would recommend trying the DevaCurl One Condition Delight instead. This conditioner is lightweight and provides moisture without weighing down finer hair.
Also, I’ve been using the SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Conditioner for the past few months, and I would definitely recommend it as well. It’s packed with botanical ingredients, and my curls love it!
Product suggestions if you’re in the USA:
Product suggestions if you’re in Canada:
Leave-In Conditioners (Optional):
If you do rinse out your conditioner completely, you should always apply a leave-in conditioner for more hydration. Here are some of the leave-in conditioners that curly girls love. (I just purchased the Curls Blueberry Bliss Leave-In Conditioner and can’t wait to review it for the blog!)
Product suggestions if you’re in the USA:
Product suggestions if you’re in Canada:
Deep Conditioners:
The general rule of thumb is to use a deep conditioner once a week (or twice if you have damaged hair). A deep conditioner provides a little extra moisture and TLC for your curls. It’s especially helpful during the colder months! If you are on a tight budget, you can do a DIY deep conditioning treatment (read more in this post).
If your hair tends to be sensitive to protein, I recommend using the Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment. It’s protein free and provides lots of hydration. It will leave your curls soft, bouncy, and shiny! You can read my full review here.
If your hair needs more protein, you should try the Hairfinity Strengthening Amino Mask. Made with horsetail, collagen, and amino acids, it will strengthen your curls and reduce breakage and split ends. It will also provide lots of moisture for thirsty curls.
Product Suggestions if you’re in the USA:
Product Suggestions if you’re in Canada:
The Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment is protein free, while the Hairfinity Strengthening Amino Mask does contain protein.
4. Style
After conditioning your hair, the next step is to apply products that enhance your natural curls. This is an extra step which isn’t included in the original Curly Girl routine. But, if you want more defined curls, you can definitely use enhancing products. These products include smoothies, creams, and butters.
Recently, I’ve been using the SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. And my curls seem to be shinier and better defined when I use it! It’s a fantastic product.
If you have type 3 or type 4 hair, I recommend trying the Cantu Shea Butter Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream. It’s packed with shea butter, and your curls will love it!
Another great styling product is the Pantene Defined Curls Mousse. It gives you lots of volume and helps define your curls.
Pro Tip: Always apply curl enhancers before gel. If you apply them after gel, they won’t be able to sink in and provide moisture. Gel seals your curls and should be the last thing you apply.
-Claudine
Product suggestions if you’re in the USA:
Product suggestions if you’re in Canada:
5. Define
After adding all that moisture to your curls, you’ll lock it in with a gel. Curly Girl approved gels can have a light hold (meaning that the curls are more loose and wavy), a medium hold, or a strong hold (meaning that curls are well defined and tight). I personally prefer a strong hold gel, and two of my favourites are the Jessicurl Spiralicious Gel and the Aussie Instant Freeze Gel.
The Jessicurl Spiralicious gel is a strong hold gel with a creamy consistency. It provides both moisture and excellent definition, and it’s definitely one of my favourites.
I also really like the Aussie Instant Freeze Gel. It’s budget-friendly and has excellent hold and definition.
If you prefer a looser, wavy look, the Curl Keeper Original gel is an excellent choice. It gives you softer, bouncy waves and curls. It’s said to be very good for reducing frizz in high humidity, so I look forward to trying it in the summer.
Product suggestions if you’re in the USA:
Product suggestions if you’re in Canada:
Sample Curly Hair Routine #1
DevaCurl One Condition Delight
Sample Curly Hair Routine #2
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner (double it as a leave-in)
Tips for Building Your Own Curly Hair Routine:
The more you know about curly hair, the easier it will be to get awesome results every washday. Here are some key tips for knowing how to mix and match curly hair products.
- Pair heavy products with lighter products. If you’re using a co-wash (which tends to be richer), pair it with a lightweight conditioner that’s not as heavy. This will help you avoid overloading your curls with moisture.
- Pair protein-free products with ones that contain protein. To stay healthy, curls need the right balance of protein and moisture. If you use only products that contain a lot of protein, they can go into protein overload. But, if you don’t use any products with protein, they can become mushy and over-hydrated. Keep it balanced by using some products with protein, and some without protein.
- Learn about hair porosity. This will help you choose products that are best for your hair type. I’ve got a whole post on this here.
- Only try one new product at a time. Once you’ve got a basic curly hair routine in place, and you want to try something new, limit yourself to one new thing per washday. That way, you can better evaluate if it worked for you or not.
- Don’t give up on a product on the first washday. Try it for at least 2 weeks before deciding that it’s a no-go.
- Sign up for my 7 Day Curly Girl Challenge ebook for more tips!
Let’s Chat:
What does your curly hair routine include? And what are the Curly Girl products you can’t live without? Please comment and share your routine so we can all learn from you!
p.s. Some of the items in this post are affiliate links. I only post about products that I love + think you’ll probably love, too! As an Amazon Associate or affiliate for other programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase through my link, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you SO much for your support!
My sister doesn’t know if she has curly hair or not – it definitely has a natural wave to it. She’s had a lot of trouble washing her hair. (It gets all tangled up if she uses shampoo.) Do you know how I can help her find out the best hair care routine? Should I have her try what you talk about in this post?
I’m sure she has beautiful hair! I would recommend trying the Curly Girl Method, yes. Get her to read the other posts under the tab Curly Girl basics, especially the one called “What is the Curly Girl Method?” She should try it for a few weeks and see what happens. 🙂 Hope this helps!
Thanks, Claudine! I’ll have her do it. 🙂
Awesome! I’d love to hear how it goes!
I am thrilled I was able to find the products you mentionned in Canada (and Quebec)!! Thank you so much.
Not only have I decided to stop straightening my hair, I also no longer have any dye/bleach in it. I am completely white/silver (ok, some black underneath)!!
My white curls DO NOT behave like my black ones did!!!
So, I’m going to start using your method … thanks for making it simple and affordable!
I am delighted to hear that, Giovanna! Did you hear of Love Thy Hair Nails & Skin, a Quebec boutique? You should check them out! Yay for you! I’m sure your curls are gorgeous. Thanks again for your sweet comment! 💕 Claudine