BE NATURAL, BE YOU

The time of taming and straightening curls is finally over, and women all over the world are embracing their naturally beautiful curls and waves! But curly hair requires a specific care routine to bring out its natural luster and enhance the shape of the curl.

Curly Hair = Dry Hair

The scalp produces natural oils that keep hair from drying out. The curlier the hair is, the harder it is for those oils to travel down the hair strand and protect it. In addition, many hair care products contain harsh ingredients that strip these natural oils from the hair. The result: hair that is dull, damaged and frizzy.

The Curly Girl Method

So you’ve heard of the Curly Girl Method by now, but if you’re a CGM newbie you may be wondering what it’s all about. There’s a lot of information to be found on this, but we’ll give it to you in a nutshell.

In 2001, the Curly Girl Method (or CGM) was introduced by the innovative English hairdresser and entrepreneur Lorraine Massey with the publication of “Curly Girl: The Handbook”. *

The CGM starts from the awareness of what curly hair needs to make it look its best, while eliminating from the beauty routine certain ingredients that are considered less suitable for your specific curl type. By routinely following this method and sticking with it (remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day!) your natural curls will be revived and get their bounce back!

The Curly Girl Method is not just one simple set of rules to follow, but some generic dos and don’ts of CGM can be summed up as follows:

AVOID

• Shampoos that contain sulfates. These are usually listed in the ingredients as sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS) or ammonium laureth sulfate (ALS). Sulfates strip away oil and dirt, but to the extent that it leaves the hair dry and unhealthy. They may also make the scalp dry and prone to irritation.
• Products that contain silicones. Anything in the ingredients that ends in “–cone” is a type of silicone. Silicones form a layer on the hair shaft and are usually hard to remove, causing stubborn buildups.
• Product that have strong fragrances and/or contain certain types of alcohol. These can strip moisture from the hair. Not all alcohols are bad though – there are fatty alcohols that actually have hydrating, softening and protective effects.
• Applying a lot of heat. Limit the use heat styling tools such as blow dryers.

GO FOR

• Gentle, sulfate-free hydrating shampoo or a co-wash. These will have natural, mild cleansing ingredients that do not dry out the hair or irritate the scalp.
• Natural, plant based conditioning ingredients. Aloe vera, as well as natural oils from coconut, jojoba or flax seed are known for their hydrating and conditioning properties without building up on the hair.
• Wide-tooth combs to gently detangle and comb product through the hair.
• A diffuser on your blow dryer will help to distribute the heat more evenly which is much better for your curls.

* Natural Hair Concept is not associated with Lorraine Massey, the Curly Girl Method (“CGM”), or Curly Girl: The Handbook. Reference to the Curly Girl Method provided is for informational purposes only and is accurate to the best of our knowledge, however, it is not guaranteed. Product formulas can change at any time.