How Do I Start the Curly Girl Method?

These are the steps you follow when you follow the CGM....

Step One: Final Wash

This step is very important! Your hair may be full of silicones, waxes and other nasty fellows that don't allow moisture to penetrate into your hair. We want to get rid of them so we can rehydrate your very thirsty hair. For this, we need to use a shampoo with sulfate in it (sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS is the main one).

Check the ingredients of your current shampoo. If it has SLS and is silicone-free, go for it. Many baby shampoos also work well. Once again, check the ingredients list for sulfate if you're not sure.

* Controversial * Dish soap is easy as you already have it at home. Dilute it with water as it's super harsh. Dish soap (I used Blue Dawn) is a contentious issue in the hair community.

Whatever you use, RINSE!

Step Two: Condition the Heck Out of Your Hair

You know how the label on the conditioner bottle always says, "use a small amount?" Forget that. Apply a palmful all over your hair. Detangle with your fingers. Add more conditioner if this is tough, or use a wide tooth comb.

RINSE!

Step Three: Apply Products

Your styling products - cream, gel, mousse, whatever you use, must be silicone free. Apply and air dry or diffuse on low heat.

No more brushes, hair dryers or flat irons!

Moving Forward

For your next wash, you're ready to go CGM! Use your CG approved conditioner or low-poo and scrub your scalp really well. For a few minutes, at least.

You are still cleaning your hair. But instead of chemically stripping your hair (sulfate strips your scalp's natural oils, too!), we are manually scrubbing.

Scrub, scrub!

Comments

What is Wet Plopping?

The difference between wet plopping and regular plopping is with wet plopping, you plop your wet hair on top of your head in a shower cap instead of a cotton t-shirt, leggings, or micro fiber towel. Why wet plop? It encourages hair hydration It defines curls It reduces frizz ... and more. How do I do it? After you wash and condition, apply your leave in, curl cream and/or stylers to soaking wet hair with praying hands and rope each clump Squish out excess water with your hands Dip your clumps into a shower cap Wrap a towel around your head and the shower cap to keep water from dripping all over you, OR just keep a towel around your shoulders, OR wrap a headband around the shower cap Plop for 10-20 minutes Remove the shower cap, remove excess moisture by squishing with your hands, a microfiber towel or a cotton tshirt (some prefer to regular plop at this stage) I learned about this method from @powerdomi on Instagram - she is the queen of hydration for wavy hair,

What is Shrinkage?

Ok, get George Costanza in the pool out of your head and bear with me. Shrinkage in the curly community is completely different! An in our case, it's a good thing. Shrinkage means that curls hair appears shorter when it's curly as opposed to when it's wet, or stretched out (like when you straighten it). Natrually curly hair looks shorter than it actually is when it's stretched out. Shrinkage = Healthy Hair When your hair absorbs water and dries, your hair will curl, or shrink, into its natural hair pattern. Wet hair appears stretched, because water weighs down the curls. When the water dries, the hair is lighter and bounces up or "shrinks," resulting in shorter looking hair. What Does it Look Like? Shrinkage can be an issue amongst curlies with kinky and/or coily hair (4A, 4B, 4C curls.) 4C natural hair is the most tightly coiled. Wavy hair can also experience shrinkage, though it is less noticeable. But it is a sure sign that your hair is healthy.

What is a Buff?

I have to admit that... this time, a couple of years ago, I had NO idea what a buff was. I had to Google so much to figure out what those crazy curlies of Instagram were yammering on about. But over time, I learned, so I hope this can be of use to you. Basically, a buff is a tube of cloth. What is a buff used for? You can protect curly hair at night (or when you're out and about) by placing your hair in this tube. Because it's tight and stretchy, a buff usually holds itself into place. Buffs are also popular among bikers and hikers to keep air and dirt out of their faces, or keep their necks warm, or to keep sweat out of their eyes. It really has so many uses and protecting hair at night is only one of them. Where can I buy a buff? Costco Amazon Any outdoor store (ie Mountain Equipment Co-op) The sport and outdoor department of most stores Dollar stores How do I put it on?

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