How to Revitalize Your Curls with the Curly Girl Method

You’re pretty sure you have curly hair, but no matter how hard you try you just can’t seem to achieve those coveted ringlets. Enter the Curly Girl method, a regiment of products and hair-care methods designed to foster and enhance the curls that are hiding somewhere in that frizzy nest. But how do you do the Curly Girl method? What products do you use? The web is riddled with complex and confusing Curly Girl guides, so we’re here to straighten things out (while also curling things up) with our simple guide to starting, following, and maintaining a Curly Hair lifestyle. Let’s turn that mop into a luscious mane.

Things You Should Know

Reset your hair with a clarifying shampoo one last time, and stock up on silicone and sulfate-free shampoo, conditioner, and styling products.
Follow the Curly Girl method by washing your scalp once a week with sulfate-free shampoo, and conditioning 2-3 times a week with silicone-free conditioner.
Detangle your hair in the shower, then step out and apply Curly Girl-friendly styling products like gels or mousses. Then, dry your hair with a microfiber towel.
Give your hair 3-4 weeks to adjust to the new routine, and have it trimmed every 3-4 months to maintain your new, voluminous curls.

Section 1 of 3:

What is the Curly Girl Method?

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The CGM is a product regimen and washing schedule for curly hair. It was originally conceived by hair stylist Lorraine Massey (and adapted from many hair care methods used by Black stylists) to help struggling people with curly hair achieve their best ‘do, and to keep their curls healthy, full, and glamorous.^{[1]
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Research source} Since then, it’s been adopted, practiced, and customized by many people who want healthier curly hair.
- The CGM cuts damaging hair products in favor of curl-friendly products. Products that include gentler ingredients like oils, butters, and minerals are used instead.^{[2]
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- The CGM utilizes special hair care and styling methods. The products you use are only half of the method. The other half involves particular guidelines for detangling, drying, and styling.
- The CGM also stresses the importance of avoiding heating tools, like heated curlers, blow dryers, or even hot water, all of which can dry out your hair and interfere with your curls.

Section 2 of 3:

The Curly Girl Routine

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1
Reset your hair with a clarifying shampoo. Moving forward, you’ll ditch your sulfate-based shampoo, but go ahead and wash your scalp one last time with a clarifying shampoo—probably whichever shampoo is in your shower right now. This will scrub out any lingering oils, dirt, and styling products clinging to your hair and give you a fresh canvas to work with.^{[3]
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- After you’ve done that last wash with that sulfate-based shampoo, toss it! You had a good run together, but you won’t be needing it on your Curly Girl journey.
2
Wash your scalp with a cleansing conditioner or sulfate-free shampoo. Begin your routine by wetting your hair in the shower. Then squeeze out a dollop of your Curly Girl cleanser of choice and work it into your scalp with your fingertips. Then, thoroughly rinse it out of your hair with cool water.^{[4]
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- We’ll link you to some of our favorite products, but there’s a whole world of possibilities. Check your products with a database like CurlScan to see if they’re Curly Girl-approved.
- Recommended brands:
- Note that some products, while not necessarily silicone or sulfate-free, are still made with curly hair in mind, and have ingredients that will treat your hair right, regardless.
3
Distribute conditioner throughout all of your hair. This is the cornerstone of the Curly Girl method: condition! Squeeze out a generous dollop of silicone-free conditioner, then squeeze out a little more. Now, look down at the floor so that your hair hangs in front of your face, and work the conditioner into your hair by squishing and scrunching it upward into your hair.^{[5]
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Research source} Keep applying conditioner until your hair is slick and slippery, then let it rest for 5 minutes.
- This upward squishing motion encourages your hair to form coils, kickstarting the curling process in the shower.
4
Detangle with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb. While your hair is still slick with conditioner, start detangling at the ends and work upward to gently undo any clumps or knots in your hair.^{[6]
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Research source} It may take a while, but the time and effort will be worth it!
- It’s important to detangle in the shower with conditioner in your hair. Detangling while your hair is dry will only break up your coils and encourage frizz.
- Avoid traditional hair brushes, which tend to undo your natural curl pattern. That said, wet brushes or curl-styling brushes are fair game, so long as you use them while your hair is still wet.
Cold water seals the hair’s cuticles and locks in moisture, which in turn decreases frizz and adds shine. Leave some conditioner in your hair, or reapply a small amount before stepping out of the shower, especially in dry sections like the ends. A small amount of leftover conditioner will give your next styling products a boost, or even act as a final moisturizing step if you choose to do without styling products.^{[7]
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6
Apply styling products to your hair. Curly hair dries out much more easily than straight hair, so it’s best to add curl-friendly, moisturizing products after you shower, but while your hair is still wet. We recommend using either a curly hair gel, or even just more conditioner. Put a generous dollop of product in your hands and rub them together to emulsify. Then, smooth or rake the product upwards into your hair.^{[8]
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- Use moisturizing hair products, such as lotion-like creams and alcohol-free gels.^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Bianca Cox
  Professional Hair Stylist
  
  Expert Interview. 1 April 2020.} Look for products that are specifically designed for your curl type (e.g., wavy, tightly curled, or kinky).
- Many people begin with a leave-in cream or conditioner to decrease frizz, then follow with a gel or mousse for hold and definition.
- After the leave-in conditioner but before the gel or curl cream is applied, it’s also common to apply a light oil on the hair. This is known as the LOC method (“leave-in, oil, cream”), and doesn't have to be used in this specific order.
7
Remove excess moisture with a microfiber towel. Scrunch your hair with a microfiber towel or spare T-shirt to wick away excess moisture. Just as you did in the shower, use upward-squishing motions to encourage coils. Don’t use a standard terrycloth towel—that’ll only sap the moisture from your hair and undo all your hard work.^{[10]
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- At this point, you might finger-shape your curls by wrapping strands of hair around your pointer finger and keeping it there for 5-10 seconds, to encourage coils.
8
Dry your hair with a diffuser or by plopping. Here’s where so many people go wrong: they introduce heat, which dries and frizzes out your hair. Instead, dry your curls by plopping (doing up your hair in a microfiber wrap). Alternatively (or additionally), blow dry your hair with a diffuser attachment on a cold-air setting.^{[11]
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- To plop, lay a T-shirt or microfiber towel onto a low, flat surface. Then, turn your head upside-down and lower your hair onto the towel. Gather the corners of the towel, and tie them around the base of your neck to create a headwrap. Wear the wrap as long as you can, or until your hair is dry.
- To cold-diffuse, blow dry your hair with a diffuser attachment, with the blow dryer on a cold setting. Turn your head upside down and dangle your hair over the attachment, and bring the diffuser upward into sections of your hair until it’s dry.

Section 3 of 3:

How often do I wash my hair using the Curly Girl Method?

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1
Condition every 2-3 days. Be generous with your conditioner, and use it as a co-wash for your daily hair treatment (though you’ll probably want to only go through the motions every couple days, to save time). This is your go-to way to cleanse, detangle, and moisturize your hair while doing the Curly Girl Method. Conditioner is hugely important for curlies, since it adds and locks in moisture needed to maintain curls.^{[12]
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- Use your additional styling products any time you condition, or just as you see fit. Some days, just conditioner co-wash will do. Other days, your hair may be a bit dry or frizzed-out, and you may decide you want an extra boost.
Many people opt to co-wash, which is washing your hair with a conditioner only (sometimes with a specially formulated cleaning conditioner), but many do still shampoo every so often. Go ahead and clean your scalp with a sulfate-free shampoo if your head is feeling overly greasy or itchy.^{[13]
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Jen Atkin, Celebrity Hairstylist

Don't wash your hair too frequently. "I like to go at least three days between hair washes. Some people need to wash every other day, but I don’t recommend washing every day. It’s good to let your hair get its natural oils and brush that through with a boar bristle brush to distribute the oil."
It takes 2 to 6 weeks for your hair to adjust to the Curly Girl method, and it may even look a little worse at first as it learns to embrace the added oils and moisture.^{[14]
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Research source} Curly hair is a long-term project, so keep at it while your hair recovers from years of harmful shampoos and other damaging products. If a certain shampoo/conditioner combo doesn’t give you the results you want after a few weeks, try different products—everyone’s hair is different, and reacts differently to product.

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How should I fix my curly hair if it's been damaged by heat?

Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist
Jenny Tran is a Hair Stylist and the Founder of JT Hair Lab by Jenny Tran based in the Dallas, Texas metro area. With over seven years of professional hair styling experience, Jenny specializes in hair coloring, haircutting, and hair extensions. JT Hair Lab is an authorized carrier of R+Co and of Milbon and is committed to using products with quality ingredients.

Jenny Tran

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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What ingredients are bad for curly hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Harsh surfactants such as sulfites are bad for curly hair because they cause dryness and frizz. You also want to avoid silicones and other ingredients that repel moisture.

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What does CG mean for curly hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

CG stands for "Curly Girl" and it is a book and a method of caring for curly hair. The curly girl method involves minimizing shampooing, combing, and other things that dry or disrupt your curl pattern.

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Tips

Try sleeping on a satin pillowcase to prevent breakage and frizz. A satin or silk headscarf will work, too.

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To save time in the mornings, shower and wash your hair the night before and then plop while you sleep. When you wake up, spray a little watered-down gel, refreshing spray, or water on your curls, scrunch, and you're good to go.

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Curly hair has different needs during different seasons. In the summer, use more liquid-like products so as not to suffocate the hair. It's also helpful to leave less conditioner or leave-in cream in your hair to prevent frizzing and increase definition. It's the opposite in winter—use heavier, creamier products and more conditioner or leave-in to combat dry, wintry air.

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Warnings

The Curly Girl method won’t make curly hair out of hair that’s normally straight—it only enhances and cultivates hair that’s already prone to curls.

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If you normally straighten your curly hair and then switch to the CG method, it may seem like you are losing a lot of hair when untangling in the shower. Don't panic! It is normal to lose up to 40 to 100 hairs a day through shedding. If you are wearing your hair straight or straighten your hair, it will fall out naturally and you probably won't even notice. If you wear your hair curly, the hair comes out when you untangle; this is why it feels like you are losing more hair.

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