At its most basic, beginner level, the Curly Girl Method involves cutting out things that hurt your curls (like anything drying or harsh), and then adding in things that heal, hydrate, and enhance (like moisturizers, proteins, and gentle cleansers).
Not only do you have to clean up your go-to products, you may have to find new ones that actually work for your hair. So in most cases, it may take you anywhere between one and four months to commit to the method and find your curly cocktail that works. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, patience is key.
Among other things, it calls for the use of a cleansing conditioner in place of shampoo (also called "conditioner washing" or "co-washing"), no silicones (used in many commercial conditioners and styling products), the use of a diffuser when blowdrying, and no combs, brushes, or terrycloth towels.
If you choose to use both products, you should always start with the mousse before the gel. This is because the gel will harden up after application, so it's easier to start with the light mousse first and then add a little bit of gel afterward depending on where you want firm hold and definition..
Sustainability concerns: One of the major cons of the Curly Girl Method is its impact on sustainability. The method involves using a lot of products, most are contained in plastic packaging, contributing to environmental waste. All plastic that exists will continue to exist in our lifespan.
Yes, you can wet natural hair everyday, and it is actually advised to do so to maintain moisture. Let's be clear though: by wetting your hair, we don't mean washing it. We simply mean rinsing natural hair either in the shower or spritzing water over your hair.
Our top pick is the Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Shampoo because it works on all curly hair types and delivers bouncy, nourished, frizz-free curls. It's formulated with replenishing ingredients that cleanse but don't strip your strands.
A big rule of the Curly Girl Method is to finger detangle and to avoid brushes at all costs. The reason behind is the rule is due to hair fallout that occurs from using a brush. Every time you brush your hair, strands fall out and end up on the brush.
To determine if you have curly or wavy hair, observe your hair's natural state when it is air-dried without using any styling products. If your hair forms loose, flowing "S" shapes, it's wavy. If it forms spirals or ringlets, it's curly. You can also check the tightness and volume of the waves or curls.
For hair care products to be considered as Curly Girl-friendly is their ingredients to avoid in the INCI list of the hair care products. A Curly Girl-friendly hair care product must not contain sulfates, silicone, drying alcohol, parabens, and certain waxes and mineral oils.
Curly hair is naturally more prone to breakage, as these oils struggle to get past all of your kinks and curls, leaving curls in constant danger of drying out. If you're adding heat styling to this inherently dry hair type, you're even more susceptible to dehydrated hair, and vulnerable to breakage and frizz.
It works by layering 3 different gels, a light, medium and strong hold. I prepped my hair for styling with the weightless air dry cream then applied three gels from lightest to strongest hold. After diffusing I used the shine oil to break up the gel cast to reveal soft and defined curls that'll last days!
Highly Damaged or Dry Curls: For those with particularly parched or damaged tresses, daily application can offer much-needed moisture and restoration. Healthy Curls: If your curls are relatively damage-free and well-hydrated, using the cream after every wash or every other day might suffice.