What is The Curly Girl Method?

Ever heard of the phrase “curly girl method”? If you are part of the curly hair community, chances are you have heard of this. And much more, you are even doing this. But for others who are new to this method, let us introduce you to the curly girl method. So, what is the curly girl method? This is an approach to hair care that was started by Lorraine Massey for naturally curly hair. The aim of this method is to treat damaged curls, keep the hair moisturized and healthy and accentuate the natural curls of the hair. In short, the curly hair method gives us healthier and bouncier curls.  

Here’s how to do it: Beginners guide

Final “reset” wash

The first step to having healthy hair is to remove any dirt and product build-up from your scalp. “Reset” shampooing will allow us to have a clean start to the curly girl method. When shampooing your hair, use a shampoo that contains sulfate to remove all the gunk on your hair. But remember, “reset” wash is done once a week or when you feel your hair needs intense cleansing.

Co-wash/cleanse

Co-wash is another term coined by the curly girl method movement. This means conditioner-washing or using a cleansing conditioner instead of shampoo to wash your hair. Cleanse your hair with a sulfate-free hair cleanser instead of your normal shampoo. Avoid shampoo that contains chemicals that dry out the hair.

Condition

Of course, after cleansing, the next step is conditioning. Apply a handful of conditioner to your wet hair until all the strands are fully covered. Run your fingers or your wide-tooth comb to your hair. Rinse out the conditioner. But this is the tricky part. For wavy hair, you might want to leave a little conditioner on your hair. For curly hair, you can do a quick rinse leaving some conditioner to your hair. For coily hair, we highly recommend doing a deep conditioning treatment to lock in moisture.

 

Style

Now that we have completed the cleansing and conditioning part of the curly girl method steps, we go to styling. When styling your hair, avoid using a comb. Use your fingers to comb your hair instead. This way, we can avoid hair breakage. You can use curl cream, hair gel or leave-on conditioner to enhance the shape of your natural curls.

Dry

You have 2 options to dry your hair. One is to let your hair air dry and the second is to blow dry your hair. Don’t forget to use a diffuser attachment while blowing your hair with minimum heat. Diffuser attachments help the curls keep their natural shape. But if you ask us, we highly recommend air drying your hair to avoid the heat from a blow dryer.

Now that I already let my curly hair secrets a.k.a the curly girl method, you might ask “is this for me?”. And the answer is a big YES! Yes if you have naturally curly hair. Yes if you want healthier and bouncier curls. And yes if you just want to take care of your natural curls. There may be different variations of this method but a lot of men and women can attest to the effectiveness of this method. And oh yes… the curly girl method is for men too!

Frequently Asked Question