If you haven’t heard of the Curly Girl Method, then this post might be confusing.
If you’re a devotee of the Curly Girl Method (known as CG) then you also might be confused about why I won’t follow it.
To say I was a little reticent to post this would be an understatement…
When we start talking about curly hair, it can become quite an emotional topic.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and I’m sure there’ll be some comments and conversation below. And I ask you to please be respectful. Everyone’s hair is individual and remember after all, it’s just hair.
What is the “Curly Girl” Method?
The “Curly Girl” method is based on the book “Curly Girl” by Lorraine Massey.
If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. You can find it here on Amazon.
To summarise the Curly Girl routine can be difficult. But in essence, Lorraine wants you to avoid:
- sulphates
- silicones and
- any drying alcohols in your hair.
She doesn’t advocate the use of any heat, though diffusing on low heat can sometimes be okay.
She also recommends using lots of deep conditioning treatments. On that point we definitely agree!
Why I don’t follow the Curly Girl routine?
Click here if you can’t see the video above
I ramble a bit, because I’m really trying to not offend anyone who is obsessed with this routine.
The Curly Girl Method is too restrictive
This method is not for me because I find it too restrictive.
I like to use what works for me and my hair loves silicones.
I’m all for reading the labels and understanding what you are putting on your hair, but I get really frustrated by the Curly Girl community. Many have never read the book but insist that they’re using “natural” products. Just because it doesn’t contain silicone, doesn’t make it natural.
The more you understand your own hair, the easier it is to find the products that are going to work for you.
And shampoo is not a dirty word.
My hair is anything but natural
I absolutely adore my curly hair but I think hair should be fun.
My hair is obviously not pink naturally, and neither is it blonde naturally anymore. I love to colour my hair and sticking to the Curly Girl routine isn’t going to work for me.
The Curly Girl routine is too complicated
You can have a simple curl routine but there’s but there’s still always going to be multiple steps.
I can’t see how it’s not easier just to blow dry my hair straight, especially when I’m travelling. Some days I need my hair to be predictable and heat styling come into that.
There’s not enough variety in the Curly Girl Method
The rules of the Curly Girl community are so strict! I’ve seen people kicked out for mentioning shampoo.
I’m not going to get mad if you want to use a serum or shampoo your hair.
You don’t need to suddenly throw all of your hair products away because they don’t fit with this Curly Girl Method. Instead, find a way to create your own version.
A final word
I think the Curly Girl book is fantastic and a must read for curlies like me. It really helps you understand your curls.
I choose not to follow the Curly Girl method because I love my hair and I like to do all sorts of different things with it. It’s okay to find your own way and to create your own routine.
Just have fun with your hair!
Do you follow the Curly Girl Method?
Tell me about your hair routine in the comments below, I really love to hear what works for your hair.
Hi Hair Romance, I have very thick blonde, foiled curly hair. As a teenager, my friends would often refer to my quality wool….ha ha!! 🙂 I have read the curly hair book and watched your videos and adapted some of the ideas. I swim 3 times a week, so I’m often needing to shampoo and style my hair. My routine involves a very quick shampoo, condition and comb through, quick rinse, then apply some treatment (which I don’t wash out), I squeeze out excess water, then apply some organ oil, then some form of curly creme/gel which has some holding property. This all takes about 10mins at the swimming pool, then on my way home I segment and twist whilst driving. After its dried naturally, I break up the curls a bit. I get loads of positive comments and people are always asking if its natural.
Over the years I’ve had some dreadful haircuts many involving tears…..the last one was only a couple of years ago by a deva trained stylist. It was a dry cut which left my hair very uneven and way shorter than I wanted 🙁
The stylist I have now, absolutely loves my curly hair and I always feel great after seeing her, rather than so many in the past that would suggest blow drys and permanent straightening etc. Sometimes I’ll straighten my hair, when its not too hot/humid and I can be bothered. My hair ends up so long, silky and smooth which is nice for a change. I rarely blow dry and don’t actually own a brush, just a wide tooth comb.
Its only taken me 40years to learn how to manage the curls but its easier to embrace them, then fight them…..and I’m also loving all the new products on the market, which I could have really used as a teenager.
thanks Simone, and I love hearing your routine – thank you for sharing! Dry cuts can be a real hit and miss for me too. I’m so glad you have a stylist you like now xx
Simone, I’d love to see a pic of your curls! I’m 39 and just found curly girl. I have wavy hair and I’m trying to find the best methods for my hair. I tried to air dry today, but I think the roots are too greasy looking even though I just washed it. I might have to stick to only diffusing. But it sounds like you’ve got a quick method that works well for your hair. I mean, 10 minutes?!?!? Thanks for sharing your method.
Great post. I have not read the book, but it is on my to read list 🙂
I don’t follow the method, but am planning on avoiding sulfates and silicone when I next need to buy shampoo and conditioner. I want to see if it makes a difference. But the community seemed very strict when I last looked into it. I so agree that everyone’s hair is different and might need to adapt the method.
Hi Katja, definitely read it and let me know how you go with the new products. I think there’s a lot to gain from caring for your curls, but don’t be pressured by the groups to buy everything xx
I much prefer the Curly Crew group on FB to the Curly Girl group. It includes men and you CAN discuss shampoo. I am looking for ways to help my stepdaughter find her path in the curly hair world. Mine is wavy and the CG method brings out ALL the waves. I had no idea how wavy my hair is naturally and I love it. But I do prefer the Curly Crew 😉
My hair loves silicone too – it bunches up like a spring without it and forms into soft, pretty waves with it.
As for variety, I’ve had comments deleted for mentioning sometimes straightening my hair.
I’m a pharmacist and I’ve studied formulation. I understand the ingredients, what they are, what they do, and how they wash out – and some CG products are no more “natural” than non CG.
It’s been interesting learning how to deep condition but that’s it for me. I’ve gone back to my old routine and much better hair.
It’s like a cult. So glad you posted this.
thank you Jezzy! Sometimes I thought it was just me, but I couldn’t get into the cult. I get that it works well for some, but it’s all about doing what works for you, no judgement xx
I bought the book, tried the Curly Girl method and products. I, like you, found it didn’t work for me. I like to straighten my hair sometimes and I always color my hair. I’ve had a few Deva cuts and found for me they didn’t give me the results I was looking for. I do continue to use a couple of the Deva products, especially the curl cream, but I’ve found other products I prefer. Honestly Christina I didn’t embrace my curly hair until I stumbled on your site. I have tweaked certain things to suit my hair but I think that’s how we make it easy for us. Thank you for helping me love my curls… after 50 years!!!
thank you so much, Laurie! It’s so lovely of you to comment. All I wanted to do when I started hair romance was to help one person, and I’m so happy to hear that I’ve done that xxx
I have read and used the curly girl method for about 7 years now and I’ve found that for my thin, loose curls, the strict method doesn’t work 100% for me. My skin and scalp are super sensitive and I get buildup really really easy, so when I don’t use shampoo it can get ugly fast! I used to straighten my hair more than I wore it curly until I moved to a humid climate, and I love how the CG method really gave me a handle on my curls and how to get the curls I want with less effort. My hair and scalp tend to dry out super fast so I use much more conditioner than I used to. I’ve found that because my hair is thin and fine and my curls are loose, I can get away with either dry or wet cuts. The biggest frustration is finding someone who cuts my hair the way I want it. I’ve gone to CG stylists and come back super unhappy and so sometimes just trim my own curls! I haven’t formally joined the CG groups because I agree that the method is pretty restrictive. That’s why I LOVE your website and emails!! I love all of your advise and tutorials on cute styles and recommendations for curly hair!
I have read the book and would have to say I kind of follow the CG method. I have found that by not shampooing (most of the time, let’s face it there are just times that you need the suds to get rid of all the build up) and not brushing my hair (just finger comb and sometimes a wide tooth comb in the shower) my hair has formed better curls, shines more, and is less frizzy. At this point I am using Diva hair products but always trying new products when I see or hear about them. I co-wash, condition in the shower, finger combing the conditioner through, then I apply my product to my wet,not just damp hair, while still in the shower.I use a Deva towel to dry my hair, and twist my hair to form more conformed curls, separate them when they are done air drying. I pineapple my hair before bed, usually leaving the ends tucked into the bottom of the scrunchy because I find otherwise the ends get flattened still while I sleep. Usually the next day I just take it of the scrunchy and am good to go but sometimes have to spray a little refresher on it.After the second or third day I use one of your fabulous up styles. I try to make it through my four day work week without having to rewet/wash it all over again.
Ha! Sometimes it does seem like a cult- and it I feel guilty when I blow dry my hair, even though that’s what works best for me. And yes, I froze my head off trying to plop my hair in the middle of winter! And yes, I had a greasy scalp for 10 months, waiting for my hair to “acclimate” to not using shampoo. Ugh! I am so glad you posted your opinion. I am sure there are as many of us who hated the cg method (or at least some of it) as those who love it. Rock on! I think I am going to go flat iron my hair (because now I know I won’t burn in hell if I do). LOL.
Thanks Joye! You are a trooper for trying the method for so long! I hope you’ve found a version of the routine that works for your hair now. And enjoy your smooth hair whenever you want! They can pry the heat styling tools out of our dead hands LOL xx
I would say that people must read books about hair. There is a good variety. If the person wants good hair ou has problems about it, the person must understand it. I read “The Curly Girl” and “Live Curly, Live Free”. I want to read another I don’t remember the name now.
A nother thing to pay attention on is to know what type/brand of products you have around you. I live in Brazil and in the last few years many brands whitout silicone, petrol, sulfates, paraffin etc. have come out, so, I really can banish them from my life because I have much better options, but it isn’t this way all over the world. It’s necessary to find a balance.
It’s not useful to have a good brand if you don’t know how to use it. Learn about it and start from what you have.
To be whithout some ingredients doesn’t mean it’s botanical. There are many classes, like vegan, fito, botanical etc.
And, last thing, hair must be funny, relaxing and, sometimes, give a message, not a thing to be stressed about.
thanks Juliana, and I really agree. It’s about balance and it shouldn’t be stressful x
I saw your Instagram post and was on holidays, so I haven’t watched the video until today. I have joined the Aussie CG group on Facebook but I am yet to read any of the information. Your video brought up a lot of valid points for me as I too dye my hair blonde and don’t intend on stopping, I also currently have a semi in Pink through parts of my hair, plus I have many white/silver hairs and I am going through the big M which is changing the way my hair behaves. I also like to blow dry and heat style my hair for specific looks. Thanks for the information and I look forward to the new videos where you will be talking about the most important points from the CG method.
Thanks Mish! The groups can be useful but they can also be overwhelming so don’t be afraid to mix and match to what suits your hair. Just don’t mention that you use shampoo 😉 x
I did the CG method for 3 years. Followed all the rules. Never straightened my hair. But after 3 years my hair was dull and I just wasn’t happy with it.
I went back to my current routine and fell in love with my curls again! I shower in the morning (shampoo & condition… but leave a little conditioner in), press out the excess water and put in my gel (Miss Jessie’s Jelly Soft Curls) or mousse (herbal essences totally twisted) and scrunch. I believe both products are CG approved but the shampoo and conditioner definitely are not. I then diffuse upside down with low air and medium heat.
I get compliments on my hair all the time! Strangers stop me almost every day.
thanks so much for sharing your routine, Monica! It sounds really simple too, does your hair take long to dry?
Great post, Christina! Understanding curly hair is a major struggle, specially when its sprung on you at puberty, I was lucky enough to be handed that lot in life too. I love talking with other curlies about what products and methods they use, it’s a great opportunity to learn something new.
I haven’t read the CG book, but have read some online posts based on it. I’ve tried all the combinations no-poo/co-wash, sulphate free, no silicones, and no alcohol but not at the same time, it felt like too much work and I’m ultimately very lazy. I’ll employ them as part of my routine every once in a while depending on what my hair needs, generally a good clean and loads of moisture. Curl creams don’t work for my hair since the amount of product I need to get the hold and reduce frizz turns my head into a grease bomb which results in skin breakouts. The routine I’ve settled on over time is low/no sulphate shampoo followed by tons of conditioner. Comb through my hair right out of the shower and put in Moroccan oil style cream and oil, followed by tresseme curly mousse. I’ll then plop it while I get ready and let it air dry when it’s warm and use a diffuser before stepping outside (I don’t want haircicles) in winter. I’ll refresh with water and Curl Keeper Tweek when needed throughout the week. I tend to wash and style my hair about once a week unless needed sooner. I’ll straighten during the winter when humidity isn’t a problem and love coloring my hair.
I’m not afraid to try something new and different but in the end I want a relatively simple process that gets the results I’m looking for and is repeatable. It’s sometimes hard enough learning to love our curls, there shouldn’t be judgement for doing what’s best for your hair and life. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and helping others embrace what makes them unique and beautiful.
Hi! I wanted to thank you for this post and it is just what i needed to hear!! I followed the CG method for almost two years. I was exclusively using the Deva Curl products and getting Deva cuts. I gave up real shampoo and was using Deva’s no poo and co-washing. My hair did look better and I got many compliments about my curls. However, at almost my two year mark of CG, I was starting to loose a lot of hair and my hair was very scraggly. The CG method was definitely not working any more. I don’t know if my hair lose it was the products or maybe from not using a real shampoo. I started using more conventional shampoo and conditioner and went back to using other non-cg hair products. I have to say, there was a BIG transition period for me going back to more conventional products. But now my hair is at a manageable point. I don’t feel like my curls are as curly as they were when I was CG but I am happy with them. However, there are always times, esp after looking at some of the Instagram CG pages, where I think that going back to CG would be helpful and improve my hair, so I will try the deva products for a few days and i end up just hating what they do to my hair. So I have a constant struggle of whether I should do the CG method because of all the “benefits” or stick with what is working . But your video has put it all in perspective. The CG method is one method and it might not work for everyone, including me and my hair type. I do use some of the CG tecnniques, like using gel, I now use Ouidad heat and humidity, I wash my hair every other day with a sulfate free shampoo, and on the non-shampoo days I co-wash with a conditioner. Thank you again!! You have provided me with clarity on whether I should be doing the CG method or not and my answer is NO!!
i think it’s important to understand everyone’s hair responds differently to different products, and that the curly girl method is just one tool in the armament of all tools available. i like it because even though in the short term my hair looked great after silicones have been applied, it wouldn’t grow past a certain length, and with brushing, i had so much breakage and hair loss. if your hair reacts positively to silicones and laughs off sulfates, i envy you. but i certainly wouldn’t condemn you any more than i would if you had naturally blonde hair (sigh). the curly girl method just made me think before i brushed the knots out of my hair, or dried it with intense heat over and over. we all have our beauty strengths and achilies heels ( i can use any product on my face with no negative reaction: not so much my hair) and we should celebrate our differences, not shame each other. take what you will that works, and love your curly hair, whether its straightened, braided, colored , gray, or wild as dandilion fluff!
*thank you* so much for this, it makes me feel so much better to know it’s not just me! The CG forums and articles have definitely been the first step to me getting interested in experimenting with different techniques and hair products – and I’ve learnt a few good tips like scrunching or using an old t-shirt to squeeze water out of my hair. But the whole thing felt so stressful to me, just as you said! And you’re so right that there’s something weirdly stressful too about expecting my hair to come out exactly like a particular person’s if I follow their routine; it never works and it kills some of the fun of figuring out what works for mine.
My big thing though is that most CG people I’ve seen are all about having glossy curls and absolutely zero frizz. And while I want my hair to feel healthy, I love having a bit of frizz! And slightly messy curls to add life to my hair!
I say, to each his own!! I tried to follow the CG method for about 4-5 years. My main problems with it:
1) I have a lot of dead skin cell build up on my scalp. Combine with oils on your scalp, it forms a paste, and it absolutely cannot be removed with Conditoner alone. I tried every version, i added vinegar to the conditioner, I added lemon juice…i was just a nasty, flaky mess for years. Now I use a gentle shampoo bar for cleanser and my scalp is much happier.
2) The whole business about never combing through your hair and only finger combing it….ha. hahahaha. I tried this for months and months, and what would happen, is the day after washing my hair, my hair would “birth” these giant knotted hair balls. It was really tacky looking and embarrassing. I finally gave up and went back to my wide-toothed comb after the hair balls caught enough people’s attention.
3) i totally agree that the whole process in the shower, is extremely time consuming. I was also very conscious of how much water i was wasting, and too big of a woos to shut the shower off in our cold house. 3 months ago, I cut my hair into a pixie. Much of the curl has gone away, just enough wave is left to give it some interesting body and shape. I miss my ringlets, but i do not miss the long curly hair routine at all, but espcially not the CG routine!
I do follow CG partly….such as no sulfates, parabens, sulfates, phtalates because they are bad for skin/scalp. I have naturally frizzy i.e. wavy hair and I am still trying to work with it. My hair is fine, but I have a lot of it. My daughter is fine, lots of hair and curly and a swimmer.
A few years back she wanted it straight or to cut it all off and that is how I found the CG method. Since then she loves her hair but she does not put a lot of product on it. Shampoos and is done. The best thing I found for her hair is the Hask charcoal purifying shampoo and conditioner. We tried Paul Mitchell shampoo number three, Shea Moisture African wild mint, Fairy tales Lifeguard shampoo and they were ok, but my goodness the Hask was amazing. After one use her hair was soft and the flakes that she has had for years are now not as big and are going away.
For me I have recently discovered the curling wand and I really like what it does for my hair…more defined waves for days. I do not blow dry or straighten my hair first-let it air dry one day and then the next day curling wand and my hair has more control and less halo frizz. For deep conditioner I like Not Your Mother’s beach babe butter masque. Used it once and not only is my hair soft but after rinsing it out in the shower, I did not need to comb it out. I did because I could not believe I did not have those hurtful, small annoying knots, sometimes called fairy knots hiding in my hair but that masque got them all out. I got tired of only using my fingers to go through wet hair-got tired of all the hair tangled around my fingers that is a struggle to get off. My daughter found the same thing-she uses a wet brush, I use a wide tooth comb and we are less aggravated .
CG also seems to use a lot of products on the hair and I want to use less products and ones not so expensive, like I listed here. I listed them in case other people are having trouble and have not tried those yet. Hask charcoal is not just for swimmers…anyone can use it as a clarifier. So good to hear you give permission to not go all CG.
Wow, I loved this post – thank you so much for posting.
I am currently following the curly girl method, and have been on and off for years (off because I chemically straightened my hair for about 4 years). I have just got my hair back into great condition using the curly girl method, and my curls are pretty happy with life right now.
HOWEVER. I’m so bored with it! I LOVE my curls, don’t get me wrong.. but you know what I love more? Versatility! My hair is an extension of me, of my mood, of my style. Some days I want sleek, smooth, straight hair I can run my fingers through. Other days I want wild, high volume curls, and others, I want curling tong loose waves. I Love changing my hair up, and since I committed to CG I have lost that. To the point where I feel guilty if I ever consider straightening my hair (due to the pressure and guilt of these CG groups). I’ve wanted to post before in the group about how can I occasionally straighten and still look after my curls and no damage them too much… but I’m too nervous too because I’ll probably get kicked out.
Plus I’ve found using a sulfate free shampoo about once a week really cleanses my curls and makes them behave much better.
I would love to hear your alternate CG method! especially the why’s behind the products and techniques you use.
My current routine:
Marc Jacobs sulphate free shampoo approx once a week or as needed,
Treseme Undone conditioner for co-washing and leave in.
syling products – I Loooove Jessie curl styling potion and rocking ringlets which I apply in the shower when my hair is soaking wet.
Jessie curl is pretty expensive though when you use the amount of product i need. So my cheap, easily sourced alternatives are taft gel, and a CG friendly mousse from chemist warehouse
I then plop for about 10 mins (any more and my curls start getting squished)
then I diffuse (on high because I’m time poor) upside down using my orchid diffuser (best diffuser for curls)
I’ve been having trouble with volume and my curls looking flat… so to cheat I’ve been spraying hairspray at my roots and diffusing a bit more, and I get all day volume thats amazing! My hair spray isn’t CG though, which is a no no… or is it?!? haha. After your post.. maybe I should just relax on it a bit.
Hi, I’m from the Netherlands and I have fine, porous, colour treated hair, type 2c-3a. It’s very much like your hair in the video ‘why I don’t follow the cg method’ 🙂 I did follow the CG-method for a little less than 2 years and I learned a lot of good things, especially about the routines (what worked for me) and to be aware of the ingrediënt-lists of products. But ‘be aware of’ isn’t the same as ‘just skip all the ‘wrong’ ingrediënts .
Example: it’s not ‘wrong’ to use silicones, it might even be better in some cases (esp,fine, damaged hair): used after a good hairwash , followed by a treatment/masque or fine leave-in, it can give the hair just the protection that’s needed…and it keeps the good ingrediënts from the earlier used products in the hair. This could be better for the hair than overly wet- and conditioning the hair…day after day; in that case the hair doesn’t get it’s rest because half of the time it’s wet.
For me, I discovered that my fine poreus hair doesn’t like deep treatments…if I do, my hair becomes too soft and limp. That’s also the case with conditioners of a heavier type. And did I mention ‘oils’ ? I know they could be great…but not on my hair. However I have shampoo’s with and without sulfates: every other week I wash my hair with a sulfate shampoo… and always followd by a hydrating masque or leave-in. (I wash my hair twice a week, so after 3 or 4 times using nó sulfates, I use a sulfate the next wash) In that way my curl pattern stays the way I like it….without the sulfates now and then my curls become more heavy and also the clumps don’t stay togehter nicely because of the build-up in combination with my fine poreus hair.
At this moment my hair LOVES two (caring) products of the brand “Kis Kappers’ : the ‘Kerashield leave-in’ and the ‘Keramoist treatment’ I don’t think it’s available in the States, but I recommand you to look after it and it’s ingrediënts on the internet. This is really doing something good to the hair: even in the humid and cold climate in northern Europe I did NOT have any frizz during the wintertime. The nicest part is that’s affordable and a little goes a very long way.
For a styler my hair at this moment loves the J Beverly Hills Gel me Maximum. It gives bouncy curls, with clumps that lasts. Just a wet hand on a not-washing day will put fly away hair in the morning in place again…it’s so easy… that’s why this gel is my nr.1.
Earlier I used the Spiralicous gel, which is also nice, however it’s not a ‘typical gel we all know’ and that’s why we have to get used to it…it’s so slippery and quiet thin. (don’t overdose!)
In contrast to may others, my hair doesn’t like the Devacurl gels.
At last… to return to the CG method: I think the tips given by CG are good but not necesseraly all good for all of us, but it certainly makes people become more aware of what they (‘we’) are using. I also think that the more thick, course, kinky or coily the hair is, the more the CG method is suitable in it’s entirety.
We have to discover ourselves what is working good on our hair, and when we know ( in a certain way) the ingrediënts and how they react/work, we just can in a simple way take the best of all ‘best advices’ just by knowing when and how to use products.
(I dye my hair and I use a diffuser, which are no-go’s for real cg’s…but on the other hand I use for 90% products which are cg-proof and I take care of my hair. No irritations, no confusions..)
I can relate to this – after 2 1/2 years of CG (both lo-poo and co-wash only variations) I am done.
It is in better condition, but it is an embarrassing stringy frizzball. 2 1/2 years of bu after all that work! LOL
I believe there are some hair types that don’t suit CG. I’m happy to go back to silicon leave ins, and if that doesn’t work, admit defeat and get a keratin. Better straight than looking homeless!!
I have 2c hair and tried the curly girl method using deva products. I went to get a deva cut and the stylist said you have too much build up from deva and consitioning products. She gave me other products to try that actually caused a scalp reaction. So I gave it all up for awhile and went back to straightening my hair. I just missed my curls too much. I ended up back at your site. Of which I was a fan like 6 years. Thank you. My hair is gorgeously curly and the curls last days on end doing it the way you suggest.
The Curl Girl method did not work for my fine, 2C curls. It left my hair greasy and undefined. I gave it my best shot, but I hated my hair for the weeks I tried it. My hair needs a good cleanse with shampoo.
I just recently heard about the CG method, joined a group on FB, and honestly I was not impressed. I’m a hair stylist, and am pretty knowledgeable on products, especially curly hair products because of my own curls.
I just don’t seem to understand the concept. I’ve used strictly non silicone products before, and still had product build up. The thought of not being able to shampoo properly kind of made me cringe, and on top of that, the group was recommending some of the worst products you could ever use on your hair (dish soap, is an example). I’m not judging people who choose this method, it may work for some. However, as a stylist, I wish people would at least research products, and use ones that aren’t going to be even more damaging to your hair. Personally, I think I’m gonna continue to pamper my curls with the non CG approved products that make my hair and curls feel and look amazing.
I’m glad I came across your YouTube video. I’ve been following the CG method on and off for 3 years. Yes, at times I noticed a huge difference in my curls but I think that’s because it encouraged me to learn about my curls type and accepts my curls. So obviously my curls were going to look better.
I do believe that it can get a bit cultish. I say that as someone who’s spend hundreds of pounds on products that promised to improve my curls and now have a sore, itchy and scabby scalp.
As an individual I think you should use what you feel works on your hair but always be mindful of anything that could damage it.
I would also say be wary of curly deva cuts. They’re expensive and inconsistent. My hair hairdresser is amazing at cutting curly hair and she’s not a deva certified stylist. She’s just a talented hairdresser who does an amazing job for £35.
Life is too short. Just be you.
I was introduced to Curly Girl by a stylist back in 2009. I thought it was ridiculous. I’ve lived with my hair for decades and have my own ways of working with it and the way I like it. The style of cutting my hair was just downright silly – a snip here and a snip there “that’ll be fifty bucks.” Good grief, on any given day, my curly hair – and it’s in the corkscrew curly category – any particular set of strands is going to stick out beyond another. There’s no way a haircut like that would be even or organized. So, just snipping a strand that is sticking out on that given day at the stylist makes no sense. A good regular haircut makes sense because then you know the lengths of the strands have an order and shape about them. The curls will take it from there. As for curly haired girls in general, they know how they like their hair…what they feel comfortable with and the look they are going for. As for products, I think that, by a certain age and certainly in this day and age, most curlies know that sulphates are damaging. That’s not big news. Heck, sulphates aren’t good for most hair anyway. But going a week to ten days without washing my hair is unhygienic and does not result in better hair. Every day isn’t necessary but some kind of styling is. That means water and some kind of GOOD moisturizing product. What annoyed me the most about the pushy attitude of Curly Girl was the disregard for the individual whose hair they are directing. “Don’t touch your hair” – guess what? Ima touch my hair! I’ll deal with it. If Curly Girl could take an approach of: “Here’s a variety of ideas for a variety of curly girl personalities” – that would be a better approach. As for how I like to wear my hair or any curly likes to wear her hair, that may vary from day to day or from circumstance to circumstance or mood to mood. I am not going to wear my curly hair as a helmet of curls tight against my head and how I determine how I want to style it is my prerogative and I don’t care what someone else’s opinion is about it as long as I feel good about the health of my hair. It’s an ever-changing sculpture, never know what I’m gonna get from day to day and I love it.
Well said! I totally agree. I understand the main goal of the curly girl method, but I think some of the demands from stylists that specialize in this method is just super unrealistic. I think people should do research on their own, and ultimately decide which methods/products work best for them.
I’m 35 and a new curly. Had significant hair loss due to undiagnosed anemia, started back on birth control to keep it from happening again, and all the new hair is curly. My dream come true! I’ve wanted it all my life. I’m exploring all the methods and recommendations I can find so I can build the routine that works for me. I’ve had the same stylist for 20 years and I won’t be looking for anyone else. I trust her completely.
The emphasis on natural stuff in the CG method actually gives me pause. I have scent sensitivities that are heading into the extreme and allergic category, and essential oils are the worst offenders. I love my Garnier Fructis shampoo and products partly because they don’t set off those reactions. All the natural stuff I’ve sniffed is instant headache. I’m not going to live with a massive headache and itchy throat in order to follow a method. Coconut, rosemary, and tea tree oil are also on my NO WAY list. And I have sensitive skin that doesn’t like natural products.
I’m also trying out the using a t-shirt or microfiber towel to wring water out and scrunch. Scrunching is a must for me, or nothing happens.
I will try out the conditioning recommendation next wash, though. I live in a year round humid climate and frizz is becoming a problem.
Hi, thank you for your video. This is exactly what I needed to hear. I’ve been doing the CG method for around 6mths and loving my curls and the results I am getting BUT I am very much missing mixing up my style and wearing my hair differently. Thanks for giving me the confidence to do what’s best for me. Just one question, would you recommend a Brisbane based hairdresser for a great cut? Thanks again.
Val at Vogue Nationale salon in Brisbane is fantastic – she totally gets curls xx
I’m so glad to read this. I feel vindicated! I tried the curly girl method, and I stuck it out for three months, but my hair looked like a frizzy, stringy mop the entire time. It never felt clean or got soft. It just got more and more rough and dry. It was also way more work to maintain! I was amazed at how much time and how many products it took to make my “natural”, air-dried hair look decent. Travel was a nightmare. When I went on some of the CG blogs to ask for advice, it was all the same things I was already doing. I could not figure out what was “wrong” with my hair because it didn’t seem to like any of these “natural” silicone-free products. But I also didn’t want to go back to silicones, so I started checking ingredients in more depth, trying all sorts of products, and keeping a hair diary that included methods, and weather conditions. After much trial and error, I started figuring out what works for ME, and three of those things are shampoo, a blow dryer, and a curling iron! Thank you for your blog, Christina, and for setting me on the right path! One tip for all the wavy/curly girls out there like me who live in a DRY climate” if you’ve tried the CG method and you can’t get soft silky hair but you don’t want to go back to silicones, try giving up products with glycerin or propylene glycop and see if that helps you. Those ingredients are in almost all the CG-friendly products for dry hair, and they spell disaster for those of us who live in dry climates. Avoiding those has been a game-changer for me. For the first time since I was a little girl, my hair is soft and shiny.
Plz would you recommend some glycerin and propylene glycop free products?
I believe you are right for several reasons first it is just hair and supposed to be fun not strict , second the belief of using natural ingredients is a little bit funny , natural ingredients means it is not factory processed! simple as that , so all shampoos conditioner creams are not natural may be it just have less harmful ingredients not natural ! Third my mom told me to use what is good for your , if my hair doesn’t look good what is the point of following any method
I started the CG method 4 months ago and it looks like s***e I used to love my serum I’m seriously thinking about going back as I’m fed up with not having good hair days at all and always putting it up in a frizzy up do:( x
Oh my god, i’m so happy to hear that your hair loves silicones too! I did the GC method religiously for 18 months and although my hair was super healthy, it looked awful…super frizzy. No amount of CG friendly gel, creams or oils diminished the frizz. I have spent a small fortune on hair products over the last 18 months. (My curl pattern is almost identical to yours Christina, except I have some tighter curls around my hairline). I recently went to see Shaun at Stevie English (he gave me a kick ass 20’s inspired curly bob) and he used products with silicone in my hair. The frizz was gone immediately.
I mean that literally.
Just wow.
I went back 4 weeks later after suffering with that frizz and bought those products. My hair has never looked better. I’ll still do a deep conditioning treatment once a week after using a sulfate shampoo to get that moisture into my hair, but i’ll also keep using silicone products.
So thank you for doing this post! I almost feel there’s a need for someone to create a ‘Post CG Method Support Group’? I.e. How to best apply silicone products to your hair and not feel guilty!
I’ve fought my curls most of my life. I’m 51 now. I started wearing my hair curly about 3 months ago. 3 weeks ago, I decided to do the CG method. My curls have never looked worse. I’m super discouraged and came across your site. I used to use biolage shampoo and conditioner and Ouidad curl shaping mousse. They are not CG approved so I stopped using them and now, using CG approved products, my hair is dry, dull and my curls are losing their shape. I just want to grab my flat iron but don’t want to feel like a quiter. I can’t get use to HOW MUCH PRODUCT the CG method uses.
I use the curly girl method. I haven’t used shampoo at home in about 5 years, but more for my SKIN than my HAIR. I have super sensitive skin, and it is difficult to find products that I don’t react to. When I find something that works, I don’t change. If the company changes the formula to something that I am sensitive to, the process of finding something new is expensive and time consuming.
I had a routine that worked for my hair (fine, spiral curls), and the brand I had been using since high school changed fragrance. I couldn’t use it anymore. So I took the plunge. I use lemon juice to cleanse after hiking and working out, I use a brown sugar scrub to exfoliate when I need to, and there is a sea salt spray that works well for me.
I have had good and bad hair cuts from both dry and wet techniques, mostly because stylists almost always underestimate how much my hair shrinks once cut.
Your point is a good one. I found what works for me. Hair care should not be a point of judgement or division. You do you, and embrace the variety.
I really dislike the “cultish” feel of the CG Group. Although I have found my curls are starting to be more springy, the roots look super greasy sometimes. Why kick someone out? Why care so much that this one thing doesn’t work for me or whatnot? Weird. I used to hate my curls, I just recently kind of started embracing them, and loving them.
I dislike sulfates, and alcohols. My hair gets really frizzed up when I use them. I realllllyyy like the Redken Curvaceous line. The no foam shampoo, and conditioner create a dance with my curls that I love. I do use deva curl cream, I haven’t found one I like more.
But, If, I want to straighten, or clarify, or curl so it’s more structured, I do… It’s my hair… I do what I want =)
I really enjoy blogs and articles like this. I hated my curls for so long because my mom used to brush them… then I was left with a half cotton ball, have weird kinked straight frizz of a mess. I love them now, and want to take care of them,… but need help knowing how!
Thank you very much for writing this Christina.
I’ve been reading about this method for several days and was about to go all in. I’m all for natural/cruelty-free products and aside from coloring, I don’t do much with my hair. That includes styling. Aside from the occasional diffusing, I “wash-and-go”. Yet I’m apprehensive about the fact that none of the “types” seem to fit my hair. That may be on me since I don’t use fb and can’t really see the community in full?
I’ve looked and looked where I can, but I can’t find examples of what to use as a basic white woman with very short (think pixie cut) hair that’s grown enough so my curls can be shaped. I have curls and waves, but my hair is also very fine. The products listed all seem too…heavy. When I use too much product and or over-condition, my hair looks/feels greasy and flat. yet not enough product and it’s thin and limp.
If any of my fellow curly/wavy-haired, pixie-cut women out there, who have thin/fine hair, have found products that work, I’d love to hear about them!
Again, many thanks.
I don’t follow the curly girl method. I love dying my hair . It’s currently metallic blue mercury, which I know is a cardinal sin to CG devotees. I use Cantu products and honestly my curls love it! Hair is suppose to be fun and you’re suppose to enjoy it. It’s suppose to be a part of your person and personality.
Hi! I’m 21 and have had wavy hair since it got too heavy for the ringlets I had as a young girl. I just tried as much of your method as I could since finding the video yesterday and it’s crazy! Suddenly I have curly hair again! I have no idea how to style it or anything but I’m so glad for your website here and for all the advice and comments from the community, I feel as though I’m in the best hands. I’m just starting to discover what works for my hair and get it to a good condition that I love. Super excited to begin my curly journey!
thanks Sarah! So happy to help you on your curly journey 🙂 xx