Everything you need to know about the 'curly girl method'
If you are the owner of a halo of beautiful curls - lucky you! While the rest of us spend our lives trying in vain to achieve waves and twirls with meticulous heat-styling, you’ve been naturally blessed with a bountiful supply of your own.
There are so many gorgeous types of curls too - from soft waves to full ringlets to kinky curls, every type is gorgeous and inspires millions of women to try and cheat the same look every day.
But of course, curly hair, like every hair type, isn’t without its problems. Its delicate nature and sometimes-unpredictable texture can make everyday styling of curly hair a little trickier than you’d like. Frizz, flyaways, tangles and lacklustre, lank texture can all contribute to a hair ‘mare that can be seriously frustrating, when you’re longing for defined, glossy kinks, curls and waves.
Step forward, the ‘curly girl method’ - a hairdresser-approved system to help you care for and curate your curls so that they look and feel great, every single day.
Created by Loraine Massey and written about in her book Curly Girl: The Handbook, the curly girl method has become a life-saver for curly-haired ladies across the world, and is a system designed to help individuals discover their hair’s true texture, making it easier to maximise your natural volume and curls without excessive styling or damage to the hair.
There are millions of fans of the method worldwide, including dedicated forums and Facebook groups where members exclusively share tips and tricks - so they’re well worth joining if you are ready to dedicate yourself to a whole new way of haircare.
Here’s what you need to know about following the curly girl method yourself….
The Do’s
Learn what type of curls you have - this is very important to the success of the method. Naturally Curly has a widely-accepted glossary of curls to help you understand what you’re working with, which will inform your choice of products and styling methods.
Wean your hair off of shampoo gradually - start with a sulphate-free shampoo and gradually reduce your usage until your hair can do without it completely. According to the method, wavy hair can be washed once a week with shampoo as long as you condition before and after, whilst curly hair should be washed once a week just using conditioner or a ‘co-wash’ product. For coiled hair types, it’s recommended to cleanse as little as possible to protect the hair.
Find conditioners and co-washes that contain gentle cleansing ingredients, or are specifically recommended for curly hair - Shea Moisture offers a wide range of products that are especially designed for curly hair types, and the brand is regularly raved about in forums among women with all types of curls, kinks and waves.
Choose products that are rich in natural moisturisers, such as shea butter, and proteins, to help condition and restore your hair follicles and allow for that gorgeous, glossy shine.
Stock on styling gel to help bring some bounce to your curls!
Air-dry your hair - one fan favourite method for drying and styling your hair can be viewed in this Instagram video by blogger Milly Naomi, where she applies gel to her wet hair, waits for it to dry and then scrunches it out, creating beautifully bouncy, glossy curls.
The Don’ts
Once you’ve weaned your hair off of shampoo, don’t use it anymore - at all.
Don’t use heat styling tools. That means no straighteners, no curling irons, and try not to dry your hair with a hairdryer - air-drying your curls is best.
Don’t use any products which contain sulphates - check the labels on your products before you buy and do your research if you’re unsure. Sulphates will undo all of your hard work on the curly girl method!
Similarly, don’t use any products which contain silicones, alcohol or fragrance, which will all dry out or damage your hair.
And skip non-water soluble formulas too whilst you’re at it - they are heavy and will drag down your bouncy curls.
Don’t use combs and brushes on your hair, which will create breakages and tangles.