Does this situation sound familiar: After washing your hair, your lengths hang straight down. But when you let them air dry, they start to wave, and in the end, they are neither curly nor straight? Then you might be using the wrong products. You could be a true curly-haired person whose potential is not being exploited. It's a good thing the Curly Girl Method exists. Read more about it here!
The Curly Girl Method: A Definition
If you spend a lot of time online or are interested in new beauty routines, you may have already heard of this method. It was developed by Lorraine Massey. Her successful concept promises healthier and more defined hair by avoiding conventional care products and using specific styling techniques.
There are five fundamental rules:
- Not every shampoo works. Opt for shampoo without sulfates (Low-Poo/No-Poo).
- Parabens, alcohol, and wax should also not be included, as these dry out or weigh down hair.
- Avoid damaging brushes and instead comb your hair – ideally with your fingers.
- Scrunch your curls with activating creams or gels.
- Don't wrap your hair in a conventional towel to dry, but in a cotton T-shirt. This process is called plopping.
The Curly Girl Method might seem a bit overwhelming at first glance, and getting started without instructions isn't the easiest. But it's worth it, because often we damage our hair with heat, stress, chemical substances, or the wrong brushes. We'll therefore provide you with the most important information below. This way, you're sure to succeed.
Who is the Curly Girl Method suitable for?
The Curly Girl Method is primarily suitable for people with natural curls. But you can also give your wavy hair more shine and bounce with it. It is important that you are aware of the individual characteristics of your hair to adapt the products accordingly. This includes hair type, thickness, and porosity.
The former is divided into wavy, curly, and coily. To determine the latter, take a single strand of hair between your thumb and index finger and pull it through. Did you feel nothing or hardly anything? Then you have thin hair. If you feel it very clearly or it feels like a thread, your hair is thick.
| Hair Porosity Test | ||
Dip a clean, product-free strand into a glass of water and observe how it behaves after two minutes.
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| high | normal | low |
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The Curly Girl Method: Step-by-step to luscious curls
Now let's move on to the actual curly hair care using the Curly Girl Method. We'll show you exactly how to proceed. However, be patient. The first results usually appear after about three weeks. That's how long your hair needs to get used to the sulfate-free routine.
Step 1: Unconventional Washing
For your hair to absorb products well, you first need to clean it thoroughly. To do this, wash it with a deep-cleansing shampoo. This should contain surfactants to properly remove residue, oil, and dead skin cells.
Then you reach for a cleansing conditioner, which you apply to your entire head, but less to the lengths. This may be a bit unusual at first, but it is also common practice in Korean hair care, for example. Massage it in for about a minute and then rinse thoroughly. Gently squeeze out excess water with your hands.
If you don't get along with co-washing (washing with conditioner) at all, you can, according to the creator of the Curly Girl Method, also opt for the low-poo variant. This is usually suitable for very fine hair, weak curls, or a scalp that gets greasy quickly. In this case, you use a mild shampoo that must be completely free of water-soluble silicones.
Step 2: Combing with Conditioner
Once your hair is clean, you then pamper it with a nourishing, silicone and sulfate-free conditioner. This is where the porosity test from above comes into play. So take your time and look for a product that suits your hair type exactly. Then apply it to all your hair and work it in thoroughly.
Now is also the time to detangle your lengths. Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb for this. Proceed carefully, as water makes your hair structurally delicate. Let your conditioner sit for another two minutes, then rinse it out. The most important rule of the Curly Girl Method is never to comb your hair dry or with a brush.
Step 3: Intensive Care
Once you've finished cleaning and detangling your hair, it's time for intensive curly hair care. Make sure your lengths are prepared for styling products, meaning you find no more knots. If you feel that your preliminary work with your fingers wasn't enough, use a comb as well.
Then take a leave-in conditioner or curl cream and knead it from the scalp to the ends into your still wet hair. This helps to define your curls and moisturize them until the next wash. You can tilt your head to the side or work the product in completely upside down to also create more volume. To ensure it holds, finally apply a curl gel, which you also massage in.
Step 4: No Towel Needed
After showering, we usually automatically reach for a towel to wrap our hair in. Not with the Curly Girl Method – here it's actually an absolute no-go, unless it's made of cotton or microfiber. Why? The terry cloth, from which common household towels are usually made, is coarse and roughens the surface of the hair. This causes frizz and strips your curls of moisture.
Instead, it's better to use an old cotton t-shirt. If there's still a lot of water left in your lengths after care, you can gently squeeze it out beforehand, but your hair should feel hydrated. Then spread out your chosen piece of clothing and let your hair fall forward into it. Press it firmly against your head and tie it together at your forehead. If it has long sleeves, you can wrap them around once beforehand. This method is also called "plopping".
Step 5: Proper Drying
For all your work to bear fruit, the correct execution of the last step is essential. Because if you simply reach for the hairdryer, you will almost certainly not get the desired result. Therefore, leave your T-shirt turban on your head for as long as possible and only take it off to style your hair.
If you don't have much time, according to the Curly Girl Method, you should at most use a diffuser hairdryer on a low setting. This is because too much heat stresses your hair too much. It is also important not to comb your hair again after drying. If possible, only run your fingers through it.
Why isn't the Curly Girl Method working for me?
The answer to this question can be multifaceted. Perhaps your hair hasn't gotten used to it yet, and you need to continue to be patient. However, it could also be that one of the products isn't quite right for you. In this case, recheck the porosity or carefully examine the ingredients of your shampoos, conditioners, etc. You might also try using shampoo bars!
It is equally important that you leave your curls alone and touch them as little as possible in everyday life. Don't forget to trim your ends regularly. The motto is: take your time and learn one thing above all with the Curly Girl Method – to love your curls, no matter which way they turn or how springy they are.
Further Links
www.treatwell.at/.../was-ist-die-curly-girl-methode-in-nur-4-schritten-zu-perfekten-naturlocken/
www.utopia.de/.../curly-girl-methode-so-funktioniert-sie/
