Family Encyclopedia >> Beauty & Style

Discover everything about the Curly Girl method

Since last year I have been working on the Curly Girl method, abbreviated as the CG method. For this I use organic products that are good for my hair. Curious what it is and whether it is something for you? Discover everything about the Curly Girl method with natural products.

What is the Curly Girl method?

Curly Girl is often abbreviated with CG method. Many people think because of the word curly that it is only for people with curls, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it is a method where you take care of your hair with products that are free of alcohol, silicones, sulfates and minor oils. These are bad ingredients that dry out your hair instead of taking care of it and therefore suitable for people with and without curls.

Discover everything about the Curly Girl method

Now, when you read the above, you may think that it must be natural products anyway, since so many ingredients have been deleted. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. The Curly Girl method has grown in popularity so much that manufacturers have all jumped on it. Suddenly all brands have CG products in their range. That is where things often go wrong, because upon closer inspection the products appear to be either not natural or not as CG proof as they make out.

For myself, I decided from the start to use only natural products. I basically do that across the board. I use natural shower gel and bath foam, use natural toothpaste and care products. So I wanted to continue this line for myself anyway. I have already worn out and tested some products. The last products come from CG products. They have a wide range of delicious natural CG products.

These products are indispensable for Curly Girls

If you really want to go for the CG method to make your curls into real eye-catchers (or to take care of your hair in a healthy way), you will have to purchase the following products:

  • Microfiber towel (or a cotton T-shirt)
  • Satin pillow (optional, but prevents pilling)
  • Scrunchie (to sleep with your hair in a pineapple) can also be replaced with a satin nightcap
  • Denman brush (there are different versions, for that it is important to know your curl type!)
  • Diffuser (optional, I bought a cheap one from Action, that will do just fine)
  • Mist atomizer (plant sprayer)

How do you start with the CG method?

Do you have curls or a twist in your hair? Or just want to switch to a healthy hair routine? Below you will find the steps you need to follow to get started with the CG method. Another small note:some people think they have straight hair, start with the Curly Girl method and suddenly find that they have a curl or even curls.

  1. Start with the final wash:for this you need to wash your hair with a shampoo that contains sulfates, but no silicones. This is meant to strip your hair of all silicone residue
  2. After that you use a deep conditioner (mask) for your hair
  3. Wash your hair with lukewarm to cold water, because this closes the scales of your hair. This is better for your hair anyway, regardless of whether you have curls or not
  4. Take the test to determine your hair properties for the right products
  5. Purchase a microfibre towel to dry your hair

Determining your hair characteristics for the right products

  • Before you start ordering all kinds of products at random, you need to determine the properties of your hair. You start by determining your curl type
  • If you know your curl type, you can proceed with determining the hair properties (hair type, porosity, elasticity, density and thickness/structure)
  • Once you've checked everything out, the last thing you should look at is your own hair:do you have colored hair? Then you should, for example, add products with protein, even if the test has not indicated this before
  • You can select products based on the results

How to use CG products

There are several ways to use the products. Some people never use a shampoo again once they make the switch, others use a (final wash) shampoo every now and then to remove all the build up in the hair. There are also plenty of women who swear by using conditioner alone (you call that co-washing). It is important not to wash your hair every day, but preferably once a week.

After washing, comb the hair with a special brush or comb (I can recommend the Denman brush!). After that, your hair is no longer combed and certainly not when your hair is dry. By drying your hair you not only remove the curls, but you also ensure frizzy hair.

From this point there are several options. Many women will pop their hair and start the routine after half an hour. For the routine it is important to see which products suit you. That can be a big search in the beginning, because what works for one person may not work for another.

I do the following myself:

  • Plop (about 15 – 30 minutes)
  • Applying leave in conditioner
  • Applying gel
  • Plop (or Diffuse)
  • Scrunching (squeezing your curls so that they become soft and no longer stiff from the gel)

It is important   not to touch your hair too much, because that creates fluff and you want to prevent that. You knead the styling products into your hair (from bottom to top) or you apply them with the so-called praying hands, where you stroke your hair).

Sleeping with curly hair

Sleeping with curly hair is an experience in itself. You have no influence on your hair at night and before you know it you have frizzy hair or your curls have disappeared and instead you have a head full of tangles. Here too it is important to see what works best for you. I myself use a satin pillowcase and throw my hair in a pineapple bun. Sometimes I use a microfibre turban from the Action.

Refresh your curls

Unfortunately, despite all precautions, your curls often do not stay in shape after a night of sleep. It may help to wet your hair again using a mist sprayer. With this you make your hair slightly moist, after which you can knead your curls (hanging upside down) in it again. Optionally, after a day or two, you can wet your hair completely (don't wash!) and reapply styling products into the hair.

Re-test your hair properties from time to time

Once you have found a nice routine with suitable products, it can unfortunately happen that your hair is suddenly much less curly. That may be the case if your hair characteristics have changed. For example, you just dyed your hair (your hair needs a lot of protein) or it's winter (or summer). Hormones, your environment and even temperature can affect your curls. So test your hair properties every now and then and see if anything has changed. If that is the case, you will have to adjust your products and routine.

Discover everything about the Curly Girl method

In short, the CG method comes down to this:

  • Healthy products and routing for your hair (whether you have curls or not)
  • Start with a final wash
  • Wash your hair with cold water
  • See which products are suitable for your hair
  • Define a routine that you feel comfortable with
  • Re-test your hair properties every now and then
  • A bad hair day is unfortunately just part of it and there is little you can do about it

Are you already familiar with the CG method?