It's time to trade your bad habits in for a healthy hair regime!
Today we're talking about what Instagram has gone mental over.. the Curly Girl Method.
For those who don't yet know, the curly girl method is a set of do’s, don’ts and ingredients to avoid and embrace to enhance and encourage the natural curl pattern in your hair.
So, what's the point of it all?
The Curly Girl Method was designed to help women achieve and maintain healthy curly hair without the use of nasty products, harsh heat styling and damaging colouring. It's about maintaining a beautiful natural curling pattern, and embracing it!
Many people who have wavy hair, start their curly hair journey only to discover they actually have really curly hair!
What You Shouldn't Do
Don’t wash your hair too much – aim for two or three times a week
Don’t use anything containing sulfates, usually found in shampoo
Don’t use non-soluble silicones, usually found in conditioners and styling products
Don’t use heat, it severely damages the hair. The higher the heat, the greater the damage
Don’t brush or comb your hair as this pulls out the hair’s natural curl pattern. Now, many curly girls use some kind of large tooth comb to work the conditioner through their hair in the shower
Don’t use towels, they rough up the hair cuticle and cause lots of frizz – no matter how gentle you are
Don’t use drying alcohols, they dry out the hair, but not all alcohols are drying
Don’t colour your hair. Natural is best for your hair, and it’s the whole ethos behind the curly girl method. Colouring your hair often involves using ingredients that are on the “avoid” list, so it’s not advised. But many people do it and still maintain healthy curls
What You Should Do
Co-wash. This is a cleansing conditioner, or you can use a CG-approved conditioner instead of shampoo, to wash your hair. Personally I use an actual co-wash (aka cleansing conditioner) which is lighter than a regular conditioner. It has all the cleansing benefits of a shampoo, without all the harsh, drying, stripping ingredients; and all the benefits of a conditioner without being too heavy
If you think a co-wash may be too heavy for your hair, use a CG-approved shampoo, or “low poo” instead. Whatever you choose, make sure they don’t have any of the ingredients listed above in the “Don’t” section
Use your fingers or a shampoo/scalp brush to gently scrub your scalp to lift any build up, oils or residue
Use natural emollients such as coconut oil and shea (especially for afro hair), and lighter oils such as jojoba, olive and grapeseed (especially for curly hair)
Use proteins such as egg and avocado, silk, wheat and soy proteins
Humectants such as honey and glycerin
Moisturisers such as aloe vera and flax seed
Scrunch products into your hair to encourage curl pattern rather than brushing products through your hair which will pull the curl out
Use a microfibre towel, a cotton towel, or a cotton t-shirt instead
Find Our Your Curl Type
Finding out what curl type you are is huge, if not vital, when it comes to finding the best products for your hair. Curl types are explained in the Curly Girl: The Handbook.
Generally Type 2 (a, b and c) is wavy. Many European, Caucasian people have this hair type if they have any curl to their hair at all. Type 3 (a, b and c) is what most people understand as curly. Type 4 (a, b and c) is coily, textured curls or afro hair.
Breaking Down the Curl Types
2A
If you have hair that has a slight bend, but still lays pretty close to the head, you’d identify as 2A.
This type of wave can be easily manipulated to straight or given more wave with the proper product. Many people with type 2A may not even know they have wavy hair as the slight bump is often weighed down.
2B
Similar to 2A strands, this curl pattern lays closely to the head, but this time you’ll see a consistent S-shaped pattern throughout the hair.
2C
This hair type is the waviest in the category and the S-shaped pattern is very apparent and may start closer to the scalp.
Women with 2C strands may also find that the large waves can appear as ringlets throughout their head, too.
3A
This curl type looks wavy when wet, but springs into curls as it dries. Your curls can get weighed down if you use heavy products, so we suggest avoiding anything that has butter in the name.
3B
Tighter than 3A curls, but still relatively large ringlets, 3B curls tend to get dry quickly and often need a hold product to stay in place in-between washes.
3C
3C curls are often referred to as corkscrews and they are the size of a pencil. For this curl type, using more cream than gel when styling and refreshing with conditioner and water as needed.
4A
Similar to 3C, this curl pattern looks like a corkscrew, but it's about the size of a chopstick. Think super tight coil. You’ll want to focus on hydration and fighting frizz with this curl type!
4B
4B strands are so tight that they can sometimes be hard to see curl definition.
4C
This is the tightest of all curls which makes the pattern difficult to see. This coil doesn’t easily retain moisture or absorb product so applying too much can leave a white, gritty film.
Don't have standout curly hair, but just looking for a hair detox?
The Curly Girl Method will give your hair a damage-free lifestyle that will work to repair, enhance your natural style and nourish your hair.
Keep in mind one of the most important aspects of the curly girl method is not only in the care steps but in the styling. You want to use as little heat as possible by either air-drying hair and/or wet setting with styling cream and conditioner. This is essential for damaged hair.
The less heat you use, the faster your hair will recover and start looking healthy again.
Need additional support with getting your hair back to a strong and healthy state? Talk to us in the salon at your next appointment!