After a number of attempts with different products, different Curly Girl (CG) techniques over the last 3 years...here is a set of steps and products that work for me! If you're wondering what the
Curly Girl method is, here's a Wiki refresher.
I've been consistently following this technique for over a year with fairly consistent results. Remember though, everyone's hair is different and the same products/techniques that worked for me may not work for you! There is a fair amount of trial and error you have to do to get the results you like. There is tons of content floating around, lots of influencers on Insta & YouTube with a large variety of tips...so it takes a lil bit if digging around to find what works for you.
The products you use should be Curly Girl approved. Check list
here. It's important to use these products for a variety of reasons, primarily because they are free of sulfates, silicones, alcohol which is super important for maintaining Curly hair without frizz.
Here are the products I use for my technique:
My Technique
Step 1: Shampoo hair
I first use the clarifying shampoo to remove product build up (which is required for lighter, bouncier curls) and then use the regular shampoo. This step is pretty mundane, same old old!
Step 2: Apply Conditioner
I apply the intense hydration masque in sections and comb my hair as I'm applying. That allows for the product to get evenly distributed. I leave it on for 5 minutes. You can leave it on for 15 minutes if you have time and cover with a shower cap for better results.
Step 3: Wash off conditioner in cold water
Now here's where the fun starts. Get ready for your neck to pain 😀
Turn water to cold (or lukewarm but not hot). Flop your hair over - bend your head under the shower and let your hair fall over your face. Now start squishing your hair with your palms, also popularly called as 'Squish to Condish'. Here's a
video of how to do it, starting around 2:51 minutes. This also shows how to plop over your hair. I do all this while inside the shower. You will start seeing your curl patterns forming now.
Step 4: Apply Curling cream
After you wash off the conditioner, keep your hair plopped over and apply curling cream to sopping wet hair. Take the product into your palms and apply to your hair while it's plopped over, from scalp to the bottom. Put both your palms together to apply the product, a.k.a
"Praying hands" technique. After applying, squish your hair (like you did in Step 3 while washing off the conditioner). This squishing helps reinforce your curl pattern and gets product all over your curls that are wet and soppy at this point.
Step 5: Apply Curling Gel
Keep your hair plopped over! Yes! You can do it...one more step to go! Put both your palms together to apply the product, again using the Praying hands method. After applying, squish your hair again. You can plop over hair to the left and squish, plop over your hair to the right and squish. You get the point...Squish, squish, squish!! This gets the gel all applied all over and further reinforces your curl pattern. And the curl pattern you see now is eventually how your hair will dry.
Step 6: Wrap hair in microfiber towel
With your hair still plopped over, use a microfiber towel and wrap it up. Do not use a cotton towel, do not disturb curl pattern at this time. Simply wrap it up and let it be while you finish up the rest of your shower!
Step 7: Air Dry
I leave the microfiber on for 15-20 minutes, that gets most of the water out. Then I open it up and let my hair fall loose. At this point I prefer to air dry my hair. It takes about 4-5 hours for my hair to fully dry up. At this point your hair gets 'crunchy' due to the gel drying out. Plop your hair over again, and squish your dry hair, also called "Scrunch the Crunch". Just do it the same way you scrunch your hair while it was wet, just that your hair is dry now. You can also apply oil to your hair in this step so the hair doesn't get too frizzy (see Step 8).
(Alternate method) If I don't have time to air dry, or if it doesn't dry in winter, I use a Diffuser attachment with my hair dryer. I have a
Revlon Diffuser and I got it in Target.
Step 8: Apply Oil
You just went through all the trouble to wash your hair....so apply oil now? Yeah! Counter-intuitive but super important. Curl defining oil will give you hair shine and keep any flyaway frizz under control. After hair is fully dry, I gently apply Curl defining oil all over. I use the word gently, because you should be careful with not disrupting the curl pattern. Scrunch again for oil to get applied all over.
Don't apply too much please 😊
You're done! Let your curls bounce!!
This is the way I wash my hair on the 'wash day'. The curls stay for about 3-4 days for me. After 4 days, my curls start becoming flat but I don't really care at this point because it's almost the weekend and another wash day is close by!!
A few tips
- I do apply oil on my hair once in a few weeks. Good old Parachute coconut oil. You can apply as much oil as you want! Hydration is key for curly hair.
- If you are interested in finding your curl pattern, identify your Curl Pattern. I used this as a guide to help me find relevant content for my hair type.
- Do not comb your hair, please! ever! This is the worst thing you could do to your curls! As soon a comb goes through your curly hair, it disrupts your curl pattern and makes it frizzy.
- Do not run your fingers through your hair, this will disrupt your curls and your hair will become frizzy!
- Use products generously at least till you figure out a routine that works for you.
- Use both curling cream and gel. Otherwise you will not get desired results.
- Use products on wet hair and style (preferably while in the shower). Wet hair allows for the product to get soaked into your hair through the pores.
- Do not use a hair dryer without a diffuser.
- Curls will not look the same two times, so get ready for that!!
