Curly Girl Method

[soblessed]

This thread is for all of you gals out there who are interested in following or are who currently do follow the Curly Girl Method.

"How To Follow The Curly Girl Method"

1. Understand what the curly girl or no-poo method is. "Say no to shampoo unplug the dryer, and find your inner curl!" (LM). The curly girl method is based off a book. It involves not using a brush to avoid frizz and breakage. "No-poo" alludes to not using a sulfate shampoo because it strips the hair of its natural oils. Many curllies decide to be modified CG and toe outside of the guidelines (e.g. using light silicones, straightening hair with a flat iron) clarifying with a sulfate free shampoo, etc.) because it works for them.


2. Clarify with a sulfate shampoo before beginning. This will cleanse your hair of any silicones-ingredients in some hair products that are not water soluble.

3. Have your hair trimmed. This will get rid of any damage of split ends.

4. Stop using a brush. Use a wide-toothed comb instead, or even better, use your fingers. If it is difficult to untangle your hair this way, add more conditioner to your hair or trim unruly ends.

5. Stop shampooing. Most shampoos contain harsh, drying sulfates that are extremely damaging for curly hair (ammonium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium, laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, etc.). They make curly hair frizzy and uncooperative. Using conditioner in place of shampoo will cleanse the hair effectively without stipping it of moisture. Gentle shamppos that contain mild (i.e.cocamidopropyl betaine or coco betaine) can be used occasionally.

6. Give your hair time to adjust. It takes 2-4 weeks for your hair to adjust to the no shampoo. It may even look worse at first. Hair is a long-term project and it may take a couple of weeks for it to regain its health after being stripped of moisture for years by shampoo.

7. Wash your scalp with conditioner. Begin your routine by wetting your hari in the shower. Distribute conditioner on your entire scalp and massage your scalp with the tips of your fingers (not your fingernails). This will cleanse the scalp of any dirt and get rid of dandruff. Thoroughly rinse your scalp.

8. Distribute conditioner throughout all of your hair and untangle gently. Use your hands or a wide-toothed comb. Start by untangling bottom selections of your hair and then gradually move upwards. Let the conditioner sit in your hair for five minutes or so for extra moisture. You may also want to part your hair at this point with a comb. Part your hair to the side to prevent "triange-shaped hair".

9. Do the final rinse of your hair with cool or cold water. This will increase frizz and add shine. Leave some conditoner in your hair, especially in dry sections like the ends. It is fine to run your fingers through your hair gently, but do not comb your hair after this point.

10. Apply products to your hair. Do it while it is soaking wet if your have curlier hair, but wait five minutes or so if you have medium to wavy curly hair. Put product in your hands and rub them together. Smooth or rake product into your hair by sections. Begin with a leave-in cream or conditioner to decrease frizz and follow that with a gel for hold and definition. Finger shape the curls by scrunching them or twisting individual curls around a finger.

11. Gently scrunch your hair with a t-shirt, paper towels, or a micro-fiber towel to remove excess moisture. A generic terry-cloth towel will make your hair frizzy. Then wait ten minutes so the hair can permanently assuem its current shape.

12. Decrease the drying time of your hair by plopping. Spread an old t-shirt or micro-fiber towel onto a flat surface (such as the toilet with seat down). Bend over at the waist and position your hair in the middle of the cloth. With your head touching the cloth, drape the back section of cloth over your head. Twist the sides until they form "sausage rolls" and clip or tie them at the base of your neck. After 15-30 minutes remove the cloth. If your hair is frizzy after plopping lightly graze the hair with gel.

13. Dry your hair. Air drying is the easiest and gentlest way to dry your hair. If you must blow-dry your hair use a bowl diffuser with fingers to avoid frizz and enhance clumping-curls sticking togehther instead of going eery which way. Place a section of hair in the bowl and press the bowl to your head. Then turn on the "warm" setting of your blow dryer. Press the cool shot if your head gets too hot. Only dry your hair partially (about 70% dry) and air-dry the rest of the way. Do not touch your hair while it is drying or it will get messed up and frizz.

14. Find an experienced hairstylist. Ask he/she in advance if they are experienced in cutting curly hair and what products they are going to use on your hair. Unplanned haircuts can be disastrous for curly hair. If their products contain silicones insist on bringing your own. If your hairstylist uses a razor to thin out your hair. It will make your ends ratty and prone to split ends. Remember, it takes a skilled hairdresser to successfully cut layers or other haircuts in curly hair.

15. Have your hair trimmed every four to six months. A 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch trim is usually enough to get rid of split ends. Long, rounded layers are more suited to curly hair-short layers stick up and look funny. Curly hair usually consists of a combination of textures, with the crown being the curliest part. For this reason its hard to tell what curly hair looks like when wet-consider having your hair cut dry. Also, take into account that curly hair is much shorter when dry than wet. You may lose only two inches while wet, but four or five while dry!

16. Consult the book. Curly Girl-The Handbook A Celebration of Curls: How to cut them, care for them, love them, and set them free by Lorraine Massey.

17. Show off your glamourous, beautiful curls!