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This is the only way I’ll wash my hair.
I had just moved to Los Angeles, and my hair and skin were confused.
@bianca__lambert / Design by Julie Bang
For some of us, this means throwing our entire wash day routine away.
Meet the Experts
Taylor Tugman is a senior stylist at Devachan Salon in New York City.
I asked why she thinks this method works on a range of hair types.
“It’s the ideal ‘hair diet’ for textured hair,” she explains.
It’s amazing how curly people can completely transform their hair simply by eliminating silicones and sulfates!"
“That being said, there are exceptions, like DevaCurl Buildup Buster.
Buildup Buster uses micellar technology instead of sulfates to magnetize impurities and gently remove them from strands.”
“First, using your fingers is much more intuitive.
Also, when using your fingers, you simultaneously massage moisture into the strands.
You wouldn’t put lotion on your body and hope it soaks in, would you?
It’s the same concept with conditioner.
It needs to be massaged and worked into curls to be most effective.”
Now that we’ve got the right shampoo and tools in our showers, how often should you cleanse?
For curly hair textures, washing should take place once every 10 days with a co-wash once a week.
The Curly Girl Method involves a few specific, sequential steps.
Start With a No-Poo Shampoo
As we’ve mentioned, sulfates are a no-go.
“Most traditional shampoos contain sulfates,” says Tugman.
“They are found not only in shampoos but also in many household products, like dish soap.
But remember to utilize the same in-shower method you’d use with a traditional shampoo.
Says Tugman, “We’ve been conditioned to think bubbles mean clean and forget about friction.
Like the shampooing step, how you condition your hair will vary based on your hair throw in.
For coily hair types, deep conditioning is highly recommended to lock in moisture.
Style Without Heat or Combs
The curly girl method recommends low manipulation for all hair types.
As a 4c girl (coily hair texture), I understand the shrinkage struggle.
After this step, you’ll move into your preferred method of styling.
