Dear curly-haired friends,
You often ask me what I think of the Curly Method and how it works. To shed some light on the subject, I’d like to dedicate this blog post to the Curly Method:
The Curly Method
Lorraine Massey, the creator of the Curly Method, first introduced it in her book *Curly : The Handbook*. The basic idea behind this curly hair care method is to completely avoid chemicals and shampoos in order to help curls regain their purely natural and, above all, healthy form. By avoiding harmful ingredients such as sulfates, silicones, and alcohols, curls should retain their moisture and natural structure.
curly's Departure
The first thing to do is to completely remove any chemical and silicone residue from your curls by washing them with a silicone-free shampoo or a cleansing shampoo. Doing this allows your hair to restore its natural protection, which will make your curls look even more beautiful.
If you start using this method, your curls may look dull until the natural protective layer has had time to rebuild itself.
The Curly Method
1. Final Wash - wash one last time with sulfate-
. Most "traditional" products contain chemicals that are harmful to curls, such as silicone, which coats your hair and makes it look soft and supple, but actually has the opposite effect. Silicone prevents essential nutrients from penetrating the hair and dries it out from the inside. At the same time, you need relatively “strong” products to remove the silicone from your care and styling products, which further strips your curls. That’s why you should wash your curls one last time with a sulfate-containing shampoo before you start using Curly products.
To do this, you can really use any regular shampoo (Dove, Nivea, Fructis, Head & Shoulders, etc.).
2. Co-Wash - Not for all curls
People often ask me about co-washing, but I don’t readily recommend it, especially for European curls, because it can weigh down the curls, cause them to lose their shape, and “flatten” them. can also make your hair look greasy and unkempt. I would use it if the curls are very tight and defined or if they resemble Afro curls—that is, curls that aren’t easily “flattened” by products that are too heavy.
2. Shampoo—also for curly
After doing the "final wash," only use sulfate-free shampoos to wash your curly hair, such as those available on lockenkopf. The only exception is if you’ve been to the salon and traditional products were used there, or if your hair has been chemically colored—in which case, the curls need to be “released” again with a Final Wash.
Use shampoo as often as necessary, but as infrequently as possible. A good rule of thumb is about 2 to 4 times a month, but every head of curls is different—find the right routine for your own curls.
If you tend to wash your hair more often (for example, after exercising), use only a small amount of shampoo and focus mainly on your scalp and hair roots. This way, the roots are cleaned and rid of the natural oils produced by your body, without over-drying the ends (the oldest strands of hair). Since they are so close to the scalp, the curls are constantly lubricated by the skin.
3. Hair mask – for healthy, radiant curls
I’d use masks about every 1 to 4 weeks to give your curls everything they need in a concentrated form. If you’re using a curl mask, you should first rinse your curls with warm water—this opens up the hair cuticles and best prepares your curls for the mask. The mask is even more effective if you put a shower cap (plastic) on your hair and slip a winter hat or a heated cap like the one from Hot Head over it. The two layers help generate more heat and allow the mask to penetrate your hair more effectively. Leave it on for about 45 minutes, then rinse and follow up with conditioner to close the hair cuticles.
4. Conditioner—your curls’ best friend
Conditioner is probably themost important product in the shower. It seals the hair cuticles and locks in moisture. This makes it easier to comb through your curls. After all, it’s the cuticles clinging to the hair that can make styling curls such a hassle.
On days when you don't wash your curls with shampoo, just use conditioner to rinse your hair. So, wet your hair with water, work the conditioner into your hair with your fingers, then detangle your curls and rinse them out.
As a general rule, you should always finish withconditioner in the shower!
Despite all its benefits, you should never apply conditioner (or styling products) to your scalp, because the effect it has on your hair—sealing the hair cuticles to make styling easier and lock in moisture longer—is absolutely undesirable for your scalp! Here, too, conditioner would clog the pores of the skin, which could lead to itching, dandruff, or an excessively oily scalp.
5. Drying—a different approach for curly hair
Curls really hate being dried with a terry cloth towel—it’s the best way to get frizz!
Instead: divide your curls into sections and gently squeeze out the excess water by hand, or put an old T-shirt over your hands (even better, a microfiber cloth) and use it to lift the curls and scrunch them. This way, the curls are already slightly "shaped" and only the excess water is removed without the curls getting tangled again, becoming brittle, or losing their shape. (Rubbing dry = frizz)
6. Leave-in - Define your curls
The leave-in product helps define your curls while moisturizing your hair. Apply the leave-in to towel-dried or wet curls. To do this, put a small amount of product in the palms of your hands and work it through your hair with your fingers. Finish by scrunching. By scrunching, you help your curls take shape even more.
To give your curls more life and bounce, start applying styling products from a distance of about a hand’s length from your head. This keeps your curls lighter, especially for fine hair and wavy or curly textures.
7 Gel & Mousse - Keeps defined curls in shape
With the gel, you set thecurls defined by the leave-in conditioner. Rub the gel into the palm of your hand and comb through the curls with your fingers; finish by scrunching them again.
The choice between gel and mousse is a personal one; mousse gives you more volume but less hold, while gel usually provides better hold. In my experience, it’s almost always a matter of personal preference.
8. Second drying step—let your styled curls air dry
Once you’ve finished styling your curls, the next challenge is figuring out how to let them dry.
It’s best to let yourcurls air dryor use a diffuser, setting the heat to cool. Air that’s too hot can dry out your curls and make them brittle.
And very important: while drying, DO NOT TOUCH THE CURLS!
I know it's hard, but it's worth it. If you touch your hair while it's drying, you'll "ruin" the definition of the curls, and the dry crown will lose its bounce.
The Curly Method
- No sulfate-based shampoos, no styling or hair care products containing silicone
- No chemicals, no silicone, no sulfates—only organic products
- Rinse the curls with COLD water
- Do not use a brush or comb on dry hair
- Hair dryer: Microfiber cloth, T-shirt, or air
- No heat
- No Toca - Don't touch your curls while they're drying
- Trim your split ends regularly (about every 6 weeks)
- No hard hair ties
- You have curls—be proud of them and give them plenty of love!
The Curly Method & Me
I think it’s a good way to “revive” your curls, and you figure out pretty quickly what works for your curls—and you embrace it. But I still wash my curls every now and then with shampoo (100% natural, of course). What was a real eye-opener for me was the fact that you shouldn’t touch your hair while it’s drying.
After drying my curls, I take a little oil, spread it on the palms of my hands, and "grip" the curls from underneath. This adds a bit of shine and protects the curls.
There you go—I hope that sheds some light on the Curly method.
See you soon
Your
Rosa Maria
