{"id":5271,"date":"2019-07-18T07:00:06","date_gmt":"2019-07-18T06:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tilibeauty.co.uk\/?p=5271"},"modified":"2020-02-13T17:17:43","modified_gmt":"2020-02-13T17:17:43","slug":"the-curly-girl-method-how-do-you-follow-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/beauty\/josie-e\/the-curly-girl-method-how-do-you-follow-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Curly Girl Method, and how do you follow it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Curly Girl Method is an approach to haircare that\u2019s been devised with curly hair in mind. In short, it\u2019s a gentler method that aims to lessen cuticle damage and keep hair moisturised, since curly hair is often more prone to dryness. The end goal is to emphasise, rather than interfere, with the hair\u2019s natural curl pattern. And while it\u2019s obviously suitable for curly haired folk, those with frizzy or wavy hair can also have success using it.<\/p>\n

So for all our curly and wavy-haired guys and girls, these are the dos and don’ts to stick to (as much as you can!).<\/p>\n

Do:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Avoid sulphates and silicones <\/strong><\/p>\n

We asked Claire Lendon, The Curl Consultant<\/a> whose been in the industry for 20 years and trained with Lorraine Massey, for her advice on products. \u201cThe best tip is to cut out all sulphates and silicones. A silicone can be many names, but is pretty much anything the ends in ‘cone\u2019 e.g. dimethicone,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Co-wash <\/strong><\/p>\n

Instead of scrubbing your hair clean with a harsh shampoo, you\u2019ll be using a conditioner to gently cleanse it. Use your finger pads in circular motions to get your hair clean. If you suffer from build-up try a physical exfoliation with brown sugar, it works wonders (and smells delicious).<\/p>\n

Deep condition<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hair feeling dry? Treat it to a Curly Girl-approved deep conditioner<\/a> or mask. Massage in and leave for around 15 minutes before washing out.<\/p>\n

Use styling products <\/strong><\/p>\n

To coax your curls out, you\u2019ll want to use styling products. The Curly Girl community leans towards gel as it creates a cast as it dries, preserving the curl. Once dry you can \u2018scrunch out the crunch\u2019, revealing bouncy curls.<\/p>\n

Plop<\/strong><\/p>\n

To encourage curl formation, you may like to \u2018plop\u2019 your hair by wrapping it on top of your head in a t-shirt to set for around 30 minutes. Afterwards let it air-dry or experiment with diffusing<\/p>\n

Be patient <\/strong><\/p>\n

We also spoke with Matt Surplice\u00a0from Spring<\/a>; he’s worked exclusively with curls since 2009, trained with Lorraine Massey and in 2016 opened up the first curl-only salon in the UK. His advice? Be patient. \u201cYou have to give your hair time to recover from silicone build up as well as any straightening damage you might have and cutting techniques that are not great on curly hair. It might not be a one cut fix or a one-week miracle transformation – this is the start of the journey,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Keep it simple<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matt also advises keeping your approach as simple as possible. \u201cMost new people to the curly routine try to over complicate it and do everything at once. They watch so many videos on YouTube and read so many blogs that it becomes overwhelming. They\u2019ll try one product that\u2019s been recommended somewhere, try it once; then decide it hasn\u2019t worked and try another that\u2019s been recommended to them by some other influencer. If you try a product, try it for a while. Try it with different amounts, leave your hair soaking wet one time, dry it slightly the next,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do a final wash<\/strong><\/p>\n

A final wash is one last cleanse with a sulphate-based shampoo to get rid of any build-up. But Claire says this is not necessary. \u201cThe existing hair will eventually remove the products in the end. This will take time, persistence is key,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Brush your hair<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brushing your hair – wet or dry – can mess with your curl pattern. Instead detangle with your fingers or a wide tooth comb. And don\u2019t forget to load up on the conditioner (this Tara Smith one<\/a> is ideal for giving hair that soft manageability) which creates \u2018slip\u2019 and makes detangling a doddle.<\/p>\n

Dry with a towel<\/strong><\/p>\n

A towel is too rough for curly hair and will create frizz. Instead use an old t-shirt or buy a microfibre towel.<\/p>\n

Want to know more?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some of our favourite resources for learning more:<\/p>\n