r/curlyhair’s Ultimate Guide to the Curly Girl Method for Curly Hair
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- CG Method
- Overview of the Basics
- How Often to Wash
- Beginner Routine
- Wash Day
- Infographic
- Detailed Version
- CLEANSE: Clarifying Shampoo
- 1. CLEANSE: Co-wash
- Application
- Visual
- Important time stamps
- 2. CONDITION: Rinse-out Conditioner
- Application
- Detangle
- Rinse
- 3. STYLE: Gel
- Application
- Air Dry
- Scrunch Out the Crunch (SOTC)
- Visual
- Suggested Adjustments
- Product/Ingredient Checker/Search Apps
- USA Holy Grail List
- International Holy Grail List
- Modifications to CG
- Basics
- Adjusting for YOUR Hair Characteristics
- Summary
- How to Read an Ingredient Label
- Top 5 Ingredients
- Why It Matters
- Light Ingredients
- Examples
- Light Product
- In-between Product
- Heavy Product
- Sulfates and Silicones
- Dry Brushing
- Best Candidates for Dry Brushing
- Chelating
- Style: Stylers
- Leave-in
- Curl Cream/Curl Enhancer/Custard
- Mousse/Foam
- Gel
- Oil
- Hairspray
- Style: Drying
- Standard Plopping
- Should I Plop My Hair?
- Reverse Plopping
- Micro-Plopping
- Diffusing
- Diffusing Tips
- How do I find a good diffuser and/or blow-dryer?
- Drying for Volume
- Night Routine
- Refresh: Day 2 and Beyond
- Re-Do
- Spray Bottle
- Wet Hands
- Curl-by-Curl
- Steam
- Refresh Sprays
- Dry Refresh
- Embrace the Frizz!
- Optional Treatments
- Pre-Poo
- Deep Conditioner
- Protein Treatment
- Bond Builder
- Science! (1, 2, 3)
- What is hair?
- Components of the Hair Shaft
- What makes curly hair curly?
- How does hair grow?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I make my hair grow faster?
- Why is my hair texture different from what it was before? Will it revert?
- What causes abnormal/premature/increased hair loss?
- Individual Hair Characteristics
- Density
- Why It Matters
- Identifying Your Density
- Characteristics
- Low Density
- Medium Density
- High Density
- Recommendations Based on Density
- Low Density Recs
- High Density Recs
- Texture
- Porosity (1,2)
- Identifying Your Porosity
- Characteristics
- Low Porosity
- High Porosity
- Frequently Asked Questions
- I feel like I’m BOTH low and high porosity, which is it?
- I feel like I’m NEITHER low or high porosity, what am I?
- Why does it seem to depend on which area of my head I am looking at?
- Recommendations Based on Porosity
- Low Porosity (1)
- High Porosity
- Methods
- Wet Styling VS Damp Styling
- Upside Down Styling
- Visual
- Leave-in, Oil, Cream (LOC, 1)
- Smasters
- Techniques
- Scrunching
- Squish to Condish (S2C)
- Roping
- Glazing/Praying Hands
- Accordion
- Rake/Shingle
- Rake & Shake
- Finger Coiling
- Finger Rolling
- Brush Styling
- Bowl Method
- CommonConcerns
- Top 10 Most FAQ
- Do I have curly hair?
- Hard Water
- Climate Tips (1,2,3)
- Relative Humidity
- Relative Humidity Breakpoints
- Dew Point
- Dew Point Breakpoints
- Styling for the Weather
- Humectants
- Film Forming Humectants
- Emollients
- Humidity Resistant Ingredients
- Swimming Tips
- Scalp Conditions
- Kids’ Curls
- Transitioning from Damaged Hair
- DIY Haircuts
- Wearing Hair Up for Work
- Working Out
- Coloring/Dyeing
- More Information
- Content Creators
- Additional Subreddits
- Modifications to CG
- [Chapters on Porosity, Texture, Density] {#porosity-density-texture}
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Introduction
reddit.com/r/curlyhair All of this information was collected over several years of moderating the active and helpful /r/curlyhair community. Citations, video links, and credit to contributors is given where possible. Many scientific sources of information have also been added. This guidebook is meant to be a reference, something you sit down to answer a specific question ("What even is porosity?"), not something you sit down and read through all in one sitting. Unless you’re into that. 😛
It is also a work in progress, so if you see something you’d like to contribute please feel free to message the moderators!
Please do keep in mind: YMMV (your mileage may vary). As you gain more experience working with your curly hair, you may want to swap out some techniques and/or products. While CG works for many people, it does not work for everyone and modified CG (or no CG) is also a valid approach!
CG Method
The Curly Girl Method (CG) is a gentle, moisturizing hair care method designed to bring out the best in your curly hair. It is named this from the founder, and is appropriate for all genders. This section gives a detailed overview of each step of the CG. You do not need to follow the CG to participate in this subreddit or to benefit from this guide! Many of the techniques here will apply even if you modify your routine. If you just want a straightforward, quick, and inexpensive starter routine, check out the Beginner Routine!
Overview of the Basics
Almost all curly hair can benefit from some parts of CG. This method was curated by Lorraine Massey and published in her book Curly Girl: The Handbook in 2011. The basic approach is simple: cleanse, condition, and style. The author recommends removing from curly routines:
- ❖ Sulfates (sodium/ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium/ammonium laureth sulfate, etc.)
- ❖ Silicones (dimethicone and its derivatives)
- ❖ Non-soluble ingredients (mineral oil, waxes, etc.)
- ❖ Drying alcohols (isopropyl, ethanol, benzyl, alcohol denat., etc.)
- ❖ Brushes/combs
- ❖ Terry cloth towels
- ❖ Heat styling
Since publishing, there have been many modifications to this basic routine to better help all curl types thrive. We’ll go through this in more detail below, but here’s the method in a nutshell:
1. Cleanse - conditioner-only wash (co-wash) OR low lather/sulfate-free shampoo (low-poo), clarifying shampoo (as needed)
2. Condition - rinse-out conditioner, detangle while wet
3. Style - scrunch in gel (mousse/curl cream) - air dry (diffuse) - break the cast (SOTC)
Make sure your products are CG-approved if you co-wash or use low-poo! The fastest way to check ingredients is to google them, then paste them into one of these helpful apps: Curlsbot, IsItCG.
How Often to Wash
Long story short: it's up to you! Anywhere from every day to once a week or even less frequent are common. Commonly we use the term “wash” to describe the entire cycle: cleanse, condition, and style.
How often you wash will depend on your hair characteristics, lifestyle, schedule, preferences, etc. It's probably easiest to start off by sticking to your usual washing schedule, but only co-wash/condition on those days instead of shampooing. You may find that you need to condition more or less, but it's a good starting point.
It’s common to wash only once or twice a week, and "refresh" between washes as needed. Many find that their hair benefits from getting conditioner every time it gets wet. More information about refreshing can be found here.
There's a LOT of trial and error involved. That is why we suggest the beginner routine as a starting point and then troubleshoot/tailor your routine from there.
Beginner Routine
Be prepared to throw everything you know about haircare out the window! The CG really shakes things up. Even if it sounds crazy, give it a try!
It’s a quick, ultra minimal, and an inexpensive way to get started with CG! This tried-and-true set of products and steps will help you build a foundation that you can modify as you get to know your hair. It will not work for everyone, but it is a great way to get started. Try it for a month and then come back with more specific questions.
Wash Day
Infographic
Last update August 2024
Need a mobile friendly version? You can view it here. Prefer the old version? You can view it here.
Detailed Version
CLEANSE: Clarifying Shampoo
Before starting CG, you must wash any product build-up out of your hair with a clarifying shampoo that contains sulfates, but no silicones. This is the most important 1st step. Do not skip this!