Wavy and Curly hair seems like such a science to figure out how to style. Over the years I have tried so many products to perfect my hair. When I found the Curly Girl Method a few years ago, I was so excited to finally have a guide on how to care for my hair.
Okay, so I didn’t quit all aspects of the Curly Girl Method completely, but I did change my hair routine when the Curly Girl Method wasn’t working for my hair anymore. Let me explain…
My Hair Journey
I guess I should rewind and share a little bit about my hair journey. I have had curly/ wavy hair for my entire life. After years of straightening, curling and messy buns, I went “natural.” Even after years of embracing my hair, I still didn’t feel like I had it “right.” On good hair days, I loved my hair. But I had a lot of not so good hair days too where my hair looked flat, lifeless and frizzy. Then my hair after pregnancy was a whole new challenge. I felt like my hair changed to a weird mix of wavy on top, almost straight on the bottom with a few curls mixed in. I tried to make it work for a year and a half before I needed a refresh and cut 6 inches off my hair and started using heat again.
Do you follow any aspects of the Curly Girl Method?
Part of the Curly Girl Method is being mindful of the products you are using on your hair and avoiding ingredients like sulfates and silicones. Sulfates are found is some shampoos and are harsh on hair. They remove dirt and oil from hair, but they can also strip hair of natural oils, causing it to be dry. I still use a sulfate-free shampoo because it is more gentle, but still cleans the hair. Once a month I use a clarifying shampoo with sulfate in it to get rid of any build-up on my hair. I use the Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two Clarifying shampoo. Another good option on a budget is the Suave Daily Clarifying shampoo. (You can find it for a few dollars at Walmart)
Silicones are found in many hair products and are tricky because they make hair appear healthier, but they also stick to hair and are hard to wash out. This leads to buildup and can weigh hair down. Even if you are not following the CG Method, it is still good to avoid these ingredients.
Why I quit the Curly Girl Method
The Curly Girl Method seems like a lot of rules of what not to do. If something is working for my hair that isn’t Curly Girl approved, I’m going to do it. One rule of the Curl Girl Method is to not use any heat on my hair. Low heat to diffuse hair is sometimes okay, but other than that heat is frowned upon because it disrupts natural hair pattern and damages hair.
I have found that my hair doesn’t look good without curling some pieces and straightening the top to smooth my baby hairs. I have started to use heat daily on my hair, but since I have started using more heat, I want to make sure I am doing as much as I can to keep my hair healthy. These are some tips I try to follow.
- Allow hair to air dry whenever possible. If you need to blow dry your hair, try using a low heat setting with a diffuser. When you are almost done blow drying, use a cold heat setting to close your hair cuticle.
- When using heat, use the lowest heat setting that will straighten/ curl your hair. This may take some trial and error to find the best heat setting, but if you have fine or even medium hair, your heat setting shouldn’t be on high. Thicker hair will need higher heat.
- Use a deep conditioner on a weekly basis. This is an important part of the CG Method that I still follow to keep hair nice and moisturized. There are so many different masks to choose from, but I like to use Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque.
In my opinion, the Curly Girl Method was too restrictive and no longer met the needs of my hair. I was tired of feeling guilty for “breaking” CG rules. I made a choice to start using heat again and I am much happier with the way my hair looks now. And I am still taking steps to keep my hair as healthy as possible.
Do you follow the Curly Girl Method?
