The 5 Step Guide to the Curly Girl Method by Lust Haircare

Curly and wavy hair, with its natural bends and coils, possesses a unique beauty but also requires special care to thrive.

The Curly Girl Method (CGM) is a set of rules to follow, techniques to use and ingredients to avoid enhancing and encourage the natural curl pattern, minimize frizz and promote overall hair health. At its core, the Curly Girl Method advocates for avoiding harsh sulphates, non-water-soluble silicones, drying alcohols, waxes and mineral oils. Over the years the CGM has changed slightly, mostly due to the advancement of specialised haircare and accessories that are now available.

Our resident Curly Girl Suz (who has long, dry, thick, naturally curly hair) has been incorporating the Curly Girl Method into her Lust Haircare routine for a few years now.  Over time she has tailored this to what works best for her, and she is sharing her curly hair routine and suggestions with us.

Step 1: Prep your Hair with a Deep Cleanse!

WHY DEEP CLEANSING IS YOUR CGM FOUNDATION

To begin with, you need to do a deep cleansing/clarifying shampoo. This step is really important as it will remove any buildup that has accumulated in the hair over time, prepping your hair to be almost like a blank canvas, ensuring it will be more receptive to your new hair care method. 

This is the only time using sulphates are said to be acceptable however I use our Lust Deep Cleanser (Lust Scalp Shampoo is another option) both of which are sulphate free.

Step 2: Saying goodbye to shampooing and hello to co-washing.

EMBRACING NEW HABITS

Now that you have completed prep, it is time to say goodbye to using shampoo every time you wash your hair.

Before learning about the Curly Girl Method I had never considered co-washing (cleansing your scalp and hair with conditioner instead of shampoo) but man, it is a game changer! My hair always feels so much softer and my natural curl is always much more defined. However, after 2 or 3 co-washes I do start to feel the itch of product buildup and this is when I use our Lust Hydrate Shampoo. I massage this into my scalp only and allow the rest of my hair to be cleansed by the shampoo as I rinse it out.

Especially designed for dry hair and infused with Grapeseed Oil and Aloe Very Leaf, the Hydrate Shampoo is rich, moisturising and perfect for my thick hair. Plus, just like all Lust Shampoo’s it is sulphate, silicone and paraben free making it perfectly acceptable to use.

For those of you with finer hair I would suggest using something a little lighter such as Lust Curl or Lust Daily shampoo.

Step 3: Deep conditioning & Gentle Detangling

THE SECRET TO MOISTURE RICH, TANGLE FREE CURLS

After you co-wash or shampoo it is time to complete a second, deeper condition. I have come to believe that this is one of the most important and beneficial steps in the curly hair routine as it is prepping your curls to be the best they can be. 

I use the Lust Daily Conditioner because it is our only CGM friendly conditioner so obviously that is my go-to. Before you condition make sure you gently squeeze out as much water from your hair as possible so it can really absorb the conditioner. Be a little generous with your conditioner and ensure it is distributed evenly which will help to nourish your curls and make the detangling process gentler and easier.

When the CGM was initially created, the use of combs and brushes was a no go and using your fingers to detangle knots was preferred. However, I use our Lust Coco Brush and find it simply amazing for gently and thoroughly detangling my thick, long hair. Believe it or not, I have had the same brush for over 2 years and it is still going strong. If you have finer hair, you may be more partial to our Eco Detangling Brush or Eco Detangling Comb.

Start from the ends up and be gentle. Once your curls are tangle free, rinse your scalp and hair thoroughly but leave about a quarter of the conditioner in for added moisture (remember, I have extremely long and thick hair so this works well for me but it may not be ideal for those with fine hair).

It is at this stage I suggest flopping your head and hair over and using your hands to gently squeeze out as much excess water as you can while grabbing sections of your hair and scrunching them up toward your scalp to help with definition. Do not skip this step as I find it really does make difference to helping define your curls.

Step 4: Master your Styling Routine

CHOSING PRODUCTS AND METHODS THAT WORK FOR YOUR CURL TYPE

Hair gel is suggested as the ideal product to use as it helps to add extra curl definition, locks in results and longevity. However, after my own trial and testing I prefer to use our Lust Styling Cream which delivers on its promise to provide natural feeling definition without the crunch. I like to apply my product by rubbing it my hands, once again flopping my head over, and scrunching it into my hair up toward your scalp. And once again, be generous!

Apart from squeezing out the access water in the shower, I do not dry my hair before applying my product (I did not do this for a long time as it just didn’t seem right but I can confirm that it really does make a positive difference)! Setting the curl pattern to wet hair is great for achieving optimal definition and hydration because there is room for the product to be absorbed into the hair shaft which will lock in moisture and lead to more consistent and defined curls as it dries.

Step 5: Air Drying vs Plopping

WHICH METHOD WORKS BEST?

Personally, I think nothing goes past naturally air drying my hair but this can take time and I am not a huge fan of that sopping wet feeling so I usually speed things up by ‘plopping’.

Simply mound your hair on top of your head and secure it with a gentle, microfiber head towel, pillowcase or even a t-shirt. Avoid using the rough fabric of a normal towel so that you do not have to twist your hair or deal with the weight, both of which can lead to frizz.

Once my hair is ¾ dry, I remove my head towel and leave my hair to air dry.

The final step in my routine is adding more product. Because my hair is so long and thick I usually find that once it is 100% dry there can be a few small areas that still look a bit dry and frizzy so I like to mix a small amount of either Lust Curl Cream or Lust Hair Beauty Cream with one or two pumps of Lust Luxury Argan Oil and use my hands to smooth it into my hair, starting from my ends to mid lengths.

Ready to Transform Your Curls?

REMEMBER: PATIENCE AND CONSITENCY ARE KEY!

The Curly Girl Method can seem daunting at first but stick to it as it does get easier.

Remember that everyone's hair is different and it will take some trial and error to find the products and techniques that work best for you.

It also takes time for your hair to adjust to your new normal so do not expect miracles overnight.  Patience is key!

XX

SUZ