Everything about the Curly Girl Method!
Curly Girl Method: what exactly is it?
More and more curly girls are discovering that the Curly Girl Method is the method for curly hair. The Curly Girl Method is all about avoiding harmful hair products. Harmful hair products are products that contain damaging ingredients.
The main harmful ingredients are: Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS), silicones, and parabens. You can read more about SLS in our blog. But there are many more ingredients that are not good for your hair at all. These ingredients dry out your hair by stripping its natural oils. They draw moisture out of your hair. Everyone with curls knows that curls need moisture to look beautiful and stay healthy. Without moisture, curls become dry and very frizzy.
How do you dry your curly girl curls?
To get and maintain beautiful curls, it is important to care for and dry your hair properly. In the Curly Girl Method, in addition to using Curly Girl products, the way you dry your hair also helps create beautiful, frizz-free curls. A little frizz is of course nothing to worry about, but you don’t want to go through life looking like a ball of fluff. You want beautiful, healthy curls with great definition!
You can dry your hair in two ways: let it air-dry or use a hair dryer for curly hair. A hair dryer for curly hair? This might sound a little intimidating, but it isn’t. A hair dryer for curly hair is simply a hair dryer with a diffuser. The key is to dry your curls with a diffuser. If you don’t use one, your hair will get extremely frizzy because it will be blown in every direction. The diffuser lets you direct the airflow onto your hair in a controlled way. This prevents frizz and keeps your hair from drying out.
Dry your hair on the coolest setting possible
When drying your hair with a diffuser, it is important to use the coolest setting possible. Yes, it takes longer, but the results are amazing. No frizz, just beautifully defined curls. And not just for one day, but for several days. If you dry your hair properly after washing it, you’ll enjoy the results for days and save lots of time every morning. You’ll only need a minimal refresh.
Everyone who follows the Curly Girl Method knows that it can take some patience, but your patience is always rewarded! If drying your hair on the coolest setting takes too long, you can use the next-warmest setting instead. Always finish on the coolest setting, though. Heat opens the hair cuticles, causing your hair to lose moisture. Finishing on the cool setting closes the cuticles again, leaving you with moisturized, defined curls instead of frizzy hair. And that’s what you want!
The step-by-step guide to beautiful curls
You can create beautiful curls in a few simple steps. It’s really not difficult, but it does take some patience.
- Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner, and care for it with a hair mask. If you wash your hair with shampoo, a hair mask is essential. If you co-wash your hair, you don’t need to use a hair mask.
- After washing, dry your hair with a microfiber towel (terry towels dry out your hair). Don’t dry your hair too much; the wetter your hair is, the better it absorbs hair products.
- Apply all your hair care products to wet hair. This means leave-in conditioner and gel or mousse. If your hair needs a little more, you can use a curl cream before applying gel or mousse.
- Now grab your hair dryer, attach the diffuser, and set it to the coolest setting (or one setting warmer). Lean forward, place the dryer against the ends of your hair, then move it a little toward your head. Dry this section for about 20 seconds before moving on to the next one. Do the same while turning your head to the left and right, then finish leaning forward and use the coolest setting.
- Stop blow-drying when your hair is 80-90% dry and let the rest air-dry.
- Once your hair is completely dry, spread a few drops of hair oil over your hands. Then, while leaning forward, scrunch out the cast (the hard layer from gel or mousse). Gently shake your hair from side to side and voilà! Beautiful curls!
IMPORTANT: Don’t touch your curls while blow-drying or while they’re air-drying! Only touch your hair once it is completely dry and you have spread a few drops of hair oil over your hands. If you touch your hair before then, it will definitely get frizzy, and that’s exactly what you want to avoid.
Invest in a good hair dryer with a diffuser
I’ll be honest: a hair dryer that costs twenty bucks won’t have the same effect as a more expensive one. Want to make sure you have a good hair dryer that dries your hair properly, causes little to no damage, and helps reduce frizz? Then you really do need to invest. As with almost everything, in this case, buying cheap can end up costing more.
Why the CHI Lava Ceramic hair dryer?
I recently started using the CHI Lava Ceramic hair dryer, and I don’t want to use anything else. The hair dryer I used before was good, but when I tried the CHI Lava Ceramic hair dryer, it was a revelation. My hair used to be a little frizzy, but that’s a thing of the past with the Lava hair dryer! I used to avoid the coolest setting because it took me over an hour to dry my hair. Now I use the coolest setting and I’m done in no time. It’s incredible. I really don’t want another hair dryer!
The CHI Lava hair dryer is made with volcanic lava and ceramic heating elements that provide gentle, consistent heat while styling. The combination of volcanic lava and ceramic dries your hair faster at lower temperatures. The dryer has 3 settings: a cool temperature for cool drying, low airflow and low temperature for gentle drying, and high airflow and high temperature for very fast drying. The dryer also has a Cool Shot button. When you hold this button down, it delivers a constant stream of cool air for as long as you hold it. When you release it, the dryer continues blowing at the selected setting.
What should you keep in mind when drying curls? My 5 golden tips!
- Apply Curly Girl products to wet hair. Towel-dried hair is already too dry.
- Scrunch the products into your hair. When you hear that squishy sound, you have enough product in your hair and can start drying it.
- Always use a diffuser when drying your hair.
- Never dry your hair on the hottest setting. Your curls really won’t like it.
- Never, ever touch your hair before it’s completely dry! Curly hair doesn’t like to be touched, especially when it’s still a little damp.
If you follow my steps and tips, I’m sure you’ll soon have a beautiful head of curls!
Love,
Irene
Shop for your Curly Girl hair products
Order Curly Girl hair care from JohnBeerens.com?
With the right Curly Girl hair products, you’re one step closer to the curls of your dreams. We offer a variety of hair products that meet the requirements of the Curly Girl Method. Choose hair care from well-known brands such as Biosilk, Hairfinity, and Kérastase. Wondering which one is best for you? Ask one of our beauty care advisors for advice, or leave a comment below.
