Ask any curly woman on the street the place she began her pure hair journey and I guarantee thought-about one in every of their earliest steps involved the Curly Girl Methodology. I discovered the multi-step routine practically a decade up to now; after years of letting my hair do regardless of, I was lastly capable of take this whole haircare issue considerably. My evaluation led me, naturally, to the r/CurlyGirl subreddit. I rapidly turned an educated in all points curl haircare—the weather to stay away from, the producers to perception, and the seemingly infinite itemizing of merchandise and devices I fully needed in my arsenal.
In any case nonetheless draining my checking account at Ulta, I launched into my journey with the Curly Girl Methodology. Now, years later, I’m proper right here to interrupt down each factor I do know regarding the methodology, along with whether or not or not or not I imagine curly girls must adjust to it.
Taylor Vickers, Curly Hair Stylist
Taylor Vickers is a licensed Junior Stylist at Infinite Salon in Portland, OR. She has been working with curly buyers since she began her apprenticeship in 2021.
What is the Curly Girl Methodology?
Curly hair educated and stylist Lorraine Massey developed the Curly Girl Methodology in 1999. In short, the CGM is a three-step routine designed with the one actual purpose of defending and enhancing curly hair of each form. The target is healthful, frizz-free curls.
It sounds simple adequate, nonetheless as rapidly as you dig just a bit deeper into the routine—notably the weather portion—it may become overwhelming pretty quickly. At its core, though, the routine entails three merchandise: a cleanser, a conditioner, and a styler. The exact merchandise used rely absolutely on curl form. As an example, the merchandise I benefit from on my tightly wound coils most probably aren’t probably the greatest match for someone with looser waves. Choosing the merchandise and styling methods finest for you is the place points get troublesome. To make it just a bit less complicated, I requested Taylor Vickers, a Portland-based curly hair stylist to demystify the complete course of.
The Curly Girl Methodology routine
The CGM routine consists of three easy steps: cleansing, conditioning, and styling. But it surely absolutely’s just a bit further subtle than it sounds. What’s the right methodology to cleanse? How are you going to get in all probability essentially the most out of your conditioner? Is there a correct methodology to trend my curls? Relying in your texture, Vickers recommends a number of fully totally different strategies.
Cleanse
Start by completely saturating your hair. Primarily based on Vickers, this will likely take a couple of minutes, nonetheless it permits the “exterior layers of the hair strand to open,” making certain your cleanser can do its job efficiently. Then, seize your favorite cleanser, and lather, rinse, and repeat. Vickers says to make sure your cleanser suds up. If it doesn’t, it’s a sign your cleanser isn’t getting the complete product buildup out of your hair.
Scenario
In my experience, an excellent scenario is important to an excellent wash day. Vickers says conditioning helps ship moisture to your curls and help your hair retain it. The result is juicy, bouncy curls. That’s moreover the step throughout the routine the place your methodology might look just a bit fully totally different from totally different curly girls. After making use of your conditioner and detangling (each alongside along with your fingers, wide-tooth comb, or moist brush), you should have a few selections:
- Scrunch the conditioner into your hair (you would possibly want seen this often called “squish to condish” on TikTok) by gathering sections of your hair into your palms, scrunching it as a lot because the scalp, and squeezing a few events, completely saturating your curls. While you try this alongside along with your hair flipped forward, it may assist in creating amount.
- Rope squeeze the lengths of your hair. Vickers recommends this methodology to those with coarse, textured hair and anyone prioritizing definition over amount (me!). Separate your hair into a few fully totally different rope-like sections and squeeze until the conditioner is completely labored into your hair.
- I moreover steadily use the last word methodology, the rake and shake. Rake your fingers by your curls and shake them out in case you get to the ends. Primarily based on Vickers, that may be a easy, quick methodology to encourage definition.
Trend
The styling merchandise you choose depends upon absolutely in your hair texture and targets. For further outlined curls, Vickers recommends gel, nonetheless for hair that desires further hydration, she recommends cream. For amount, chances are you’ll each use clips on the foundation of your hair or mousse to promote carry. No matter which styling merchandise you make the most of, Vickers recommends styling throughout the bathe whereas your hair stays to be soaking moist. I don’t adjust to this rule and wish to trend outside of the bathe in entrance of my mirror. As soon as I do though, I benefit from a misting spray bottle to make sure my hair stays dripping moist whereas I trend. While you apply your styler, comb it by your hair to make sure every strand has product then adjust to one in every of many an identical methods used to scenario your hair to trend it further.
Dry
After styling, Vickers recommends using a microfiber towel to blot further moisture out of your hair or to plop your hair proper right into a microfiber hair wrap. Then dry by each air drying or diffusing—whichever you prefer. I always diffuse with my Dyson Air Dryer to struggle frizz; if I let my hair air dry, I’m always decrease than pleased with the outcomes.
Finish
While you uncover your hair has a tricky, crunchy finish (often called a cast), use your palms to scrunch it out—this may break the gel cast and go away you with tender, bouncy curls. While you uncover your hair needs just a bit further encouragement, I rub a lightweight oil into my palms sooner than scrunching (jojoba is my favorite). Don’t be afraid to truly get into your hair, I promise scrunching and fluffing gained’t destroy your trend; reasonably, it’ll give you way more bounce and amount.
Cleansed and styled
Dry with gel cast
Completely dry and fluffed
In a position to go!
Substances to stay away from
Arguably essential rule of the Curly Girl Methodology—and as well as in all probability essentially the most controversial—is the commandment to stay away from all merchandise that embody silicones and sulfates. Most curly-approved merchandise itemizing correct on the doorway of the bottle that they’re silicone- and sulfate-free. This suggestion is an excellent place to start out out. Silicones contribute to build-up and forestall the rest of your merchandise from penetrating your hair, whereas sulfates can strip the hair, making it troublesome to hold onto moisture—a significant component of any curly hairstyle. In all probability not a profitable combination for curly girls.
Whereas researching merchandise, copy and paste the ingredient itemizing into CurlsBot to search out out whether or not or not or not it’s CGM-approved. Think about, though, that the outcomes aren’t always decrease and dry. You would possibly uncover some merchandise have components not fully actually useful, nonetheless are nonetheless considered protected to utilize, whereas others are full no-gos. Most importantly, remember that tips are made to be broken. While you uncover your hair thrives with silicones and sulfates (it happens!) don’t be afraid to return to them.
Curly Girl Methodology-approved merchandise
Don’t actually really feel pressured into spending an arm and a leg on salon-quality merchandise. Many curly girls swear by drugstore producers, and one step of my routine entails a product I high off on after I’m going to the grocery retailer. Beneath you’ll uncover a assortment of merchandise I’ve tried and appreciated, along with ideas from Vickers.
Does the Curly Girl Methodology work?
Taylor recommends the Curly Girl Methodology to many curly girls, nonetheless whether or not or not or not it actually works depends upon plenty of components. Your life-style, hair density and texture, and desired outcomes can all impression whether or not or not or not the CGM is finest for you. While you uncover parts of it don’t work, you’re not married to the technique; experiment with fully totally different merchandise and strategies until you land on what works biggest for you. For buyers who’re merely starting their curly journeys out, Taylor suggests using the routine as a foundation, with the understanding that it will require some trial and error from there.
As soon as I first started using the Curly Girl Methodology, I was in truth shocked on the outcomes. After years of straightening my hair, I assumed I would not at all see my pure hair texture as soon as extra. Nonetheless inside just a few weeks of using the CGM, my hair acquired stronger and my texture bounced once more. Inside a few months, my stubborn chin-length decrease (the outcomes of an unlimited chop to cast off all that hurt) began to develop out. Inside a 12 months or so, I had the prolonged, gorgeous curls I had always dreamed of.
What’s further, the Curly Girl Methodology allowed me to know my hair for the first time in my life. By means of months of trial and error, I turned an educated in my very personal hair and will now resolve what it needs—a deep scenario, oil remedy, bonding decision, or one thing in between—practically as rapidly as a result of it needs it. That’s the true power of the Curly Girl Methodology; it provides the flexibility once more to curly girls who grew up hating their hair.
So, should you be following the Curly Girl Methodology?
The Curly Girl Methodology is the right place to start out out for anyone with curly hair who’s fed up and overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite sea of information. If that’s you, take into consideration this your permission to close TikTok, head to the store, and resolve up the merchandise it’s advisable attempt the routine to your self. From there, don’t be afraid to experiment—this whole journey is about understanding your hair, instead of stopping in direction of it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Garri Chaverst, Senior Managing Editor
As Senior Managing Editor of The Everygirl, Garri oversees the pitching, planning, and creation of all content material materials. You may additionally uncover her determine pop up as a contributor all via the positioning, though she largely works behind the scenes, foremost the workers of their creative efforts and guaranteeing they’ve each factor they need to create top-quality content material materials for our viewers.