Let’s face it, maintaining curly hair is not an easy task. Even with the best products for curly hair, the road to perfecting those gorgeous ringlets can occasionally feel uphill. I can still clearly recall my own struggle seven years ago, when I encountered a barrier in my pursuit of picture-perfect curls. I searched the internet for answers out of frustration and found the Curly Girl Method, which changed everything.
For people with curls seeking to realize the full potential of their hair, The Curly Girl Method is more than just a hair care regimen. Even if it seems easy, let’s be real: starting out may be anything but simple. But I did it, and I haven’t looked back since. The Curly Girl Method will be discussed in detail in this post, along with what it comprises, how even novices can use it, and why it’s a blessing for all sorts of curly hair.
Exposing the Curly Girl Approach
The Curly Girl Method, created by acclaimed author Lorraine Massey of “Curly Girl: The Handbook,” is a comprehensive strategy for taking care of curly hair. In order to achieve those sought #HairGoals, this strategy essentially entails adopting some hair care products while saying goodbye to others. The main goal of the Curly Girl Method, according to Kari Williams, Ph.D., a renowned celebrity hairstylist and trichologist based in Los Angeles, is to reduce hair damage, improve moisture retention, and maintain your hair’s natural curl pattern. In the end, the goal is to enhance your natural curl pattern in order to grow a full head of defined, bouncy, shiny, and healthy curls.
The Curly Girl Method’s Five Fundamental Steps
The Curly Girl Method requires a significant commitment. It calls for commitment, tenacity, and a little hard work. The work is worthwhile because of the outcome. The Curly Girl Method is comprised of the following five crucial steps:
1. Replace Your Hair
Resetting starts the adventure. You can thoroughly clean your scalp and get rid of accumulated buildup in your hair by using a clarifying shampoo. Sulfates are surprisingly allowed in this phase because they are designed to remove tenacious oils and product residue. This stage is very important for you if you love products. It’s like hitting the reset button for your hair, getting rid of any residue or pollutants that were left over from earlier hair care regimens. Notably, you only need to complete this step once when you first start using the Curly Girl Method.
2. Soft Cleaning
Sulfates should be bid a fond farewell as this procedure no longer uses them. Choose a sulfate-free shampoo or a cleansing conditioner instead. It’s important to gently massage your scalp during this phase with your fingertips—not your nails—for at least a minute before rinsing.
3-Intensive Conditioning
You’ll treat yourself to some well-earned conditioning following two rounds of cleansing. Apply your favourite hair conditioner liberally, making sure your hair is well covered. For me, I strive for a slippery feeling to ensure that enough conditioner is applied, both to nourish my curls and to make detangling easier.
After the conditioner has been applied to your hair, it’s time to say goodbye to knots and tangles, which are curly hair’s second worst enemy after humidity. I concur with the original Curly Girl Method’s recommendation to avoid using combs and brushes based on personal experience. Wide-tooth combs can be used with some more approachable variants that are offered online. If you want to stick with the original Curly Girl Method, use your fingers. A pro trick I firmly believe in is to rinse out 90% of the conditioner after detangling, leaving a small amount to serve as a primer for your styling tools.
4. Accept Styling
Apply your selected curl-enhancing product to damp hair, working it in from the roots to the tips. Curly hair gel is recommended by Williams for this phase, and it’s best to use more of it than you might think required. In addition to improving curl definition, this also eliminates frizz, resulting in a gel cast that at first may seem hard but will eventually “break.” This action will become your go-to method for applying styling products and will enhance the definition of your curls. Rake the product through your hair and twist the ends upwards.
5. Soft Drying
The Curly Girl Method strictly forbids using a bath towel to blot your hair dry, so put that idea to rest. Instead, use a soft t-shirt or a microfiber towel to gently blot away extra product and water from your hair. After that, let your hair dry naturally in the air. Once dried, gently twist it to remove the gel cast and reveal beautiful, picture-perfect curls.
Adopting the Curly Girl Way of Life
Prepare to repeat steps 2 through 5 each time you wash and style your hair if you want to truly commit to the Curly Girl Method. Unless you depart from the process and use a restricted product (more on that below), there’s usually no need for a second reset.