What is the 'Curly Girl' method? All the steps and products to get beautiful hair without sulfates
BEAUTY
Although this hair routine has been created to take care of curly hair, it can also be adapted to straight hair.
Maria Sanchez SanchezThe peculiarities of curly hair make it necessary to use specific techniques and products to care for it and keep it beautiful. Aware of this, the American stylist Lorraine Massey wanted to create a guide that would allow her to achieve well-defined curls naturally. Massey detailed her experience in the 2011 book Curly Girl The Handbook and around it a community has been created that, today, brings together millions of people around the world. The method is more alive than ever on social networks, where through hashtags like #curlygirlmethod, its followers share tips and experiences to carry it out effectively.
What is the Curly Girl method
The Curly Girl Method or Curly Hair is a guide to take care of curly hair and get beautiful and voluminous curls. The method is based on hydration and the natural respect of the hair . To do this, in the weekly cleaning and care routine, it is proposed to space out the washes and nourish the hair well using specific products without sulfates, silicones, mineral oils or waxes.
In the case of curly hair, it is also advisable not to brush it dry and treat it when it is wet . It can be untangled and shaped with your hands or with a wide bristle comb. It is also not recommended to use any heat source on the hair, so hair dryers or curling irons would be discouraged. But this method is not only viable to achieve prettier curly hair, it can also be useful for those with dull, dry or brittle hair who want to give their hair a new lease of life.
How to start the Curly Girl Method
Before starting, it must be taken into account that, as it is a change of habits, the effects will not be immediate. The author of the method usually speaks of a margin of at least three weeks to start seeing the results , since the hair needs time to adapt.
The first step would be to replace traditional shampoos with low poo products , that is, those that do not include sulfates or silicones in their formulation . Before starting, it would also be advisable to clean the ends and think carefully about the specific needs of each type of hair, because based on that, we should focus on one part of the process or another. Those who have dry hair, for example, should bet especially on hydration and hair with little volume will need products to define and shape.
How to know if a product is suitable for the Curly Girl method
To know which products we should buy, we have to look at their labels and the ingredients that have been used in their formula. Massey discards all those that contain parabens, sulfates, silicones, alcohol or some of its derivatives. What it is about is finding moisturizing ingredients, such as glycerin, that help nourish the hair . Today there are many brands that have specialized in this type of product and offer shampoos, conditioners or masks based on oils (coconut, olive, argan, jojoba, etc.), butter or other natural ingredients such as aloe vera.
Curly method: steps to follow
The general idea is that the fewer laundry products used, the better. The frequency will depend on each type of hair, but washing it once or twice a week would be enough. The steps to follow in this beauty routine would be the following:
1st hair wash
Curl & Shine Shampoo, Shea Moisture
It is a product with silk proteins and rich in coconut oil and shea butter. It's perfect for reducing frizz and restoring the moisture needed for well-nourished hair. It is recommended to apply it to damp hair and massage gently before rinsing. It is a shampoo that has more than 7,000 reviews on Amazon and to which users have given an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5.
Buy for €19.70 on AmazonConditioner/hair cream, Cantu
One of the techniques proposed by the Curly method is co-washing, which consists of washing the hair from time to time with a conditioner instead of shampoo , as this achieves greater hydration. For this, for example, this cream based on pure shea butter is designed. It is applied to damp hair and allows to smooth, reduce frizz and improve the volume of natural curls.
Buy for €12.80 on Amazon2nd Hydration
Mask with shea butter, Cantu
Formulated without aggressive ingredients, this mask uses pure shea butter, coconut oil or glycerin as the main allies to restore the natural beauty of curly or wavy hair. With more than 10,000 reviews , it is one of the products in this line most in demand by Amazon customers.
Buy for €16.44 on Amazon3º Strengthen and define the curl
Olive oil based gel, Eco Styler
After hydrating, it's time to define the waves. This gel, for example, which does not contain alcohol and is indicated for all types of hair, offers a good result without weighing down the hair or leaving it sticky. It is advisable to apply it to each strand by hand and dry with soft touches but without rubbing. It is a gel that Amazon users have rated with an overall rating of 4.2 stars out of 5.
Buy for €8.19 on Amazon*All purchase prices included in this article are current as of January 11, 2022.
about the signature
Maria Sanchez SanchezEditor at Escaparate, where she uses her experience in digital journalism to recommend products and services that can be found on the internet. She has worked in media such as Cadena SER and other sections of EL PAÍS such as Verne or BuenaVida, as well as collaborating with S Moda. She has a degree in Journalism from the Complutense University.
Rules