The Curly Girl Method

The Method

Recently I decided I was brave enough to try the "No-poo" / Co-wash / Curly Girl Method that a lot women with curly hair use as a technique to make their hair soft and their curls more defined. I was skeptical at first, because giving up shampoo was terrifying. What if my hair got greasy? What if I can't stand not washing my hair every day? What if my hair looks worse?

I had a lot of questions, so I went to YouTube and Google to see how to try it out. Here are some of the best websites and videos I found that explain the method:

Videos:

• DevaCurl: How to Quit Shampoo
• The Curly Girl Method (Curly Penny)
• How To Cowash (Curly Penny)
• How to Co-Wash Naturally Curly Hair
• My Favorite Hair Products (Curly Penny)

Websites:

• How to Determine if a Hair Product is Curly Girl Approved
• Coconut Hair Mist Recipe
• Here's How To Plop Your Hair For The Best Curls Of Your Life

So here's what I did:

1. I went through all of my hair products to see if they contained sulfates, silicones, and drying alcohols. If they did, out they went. New flash - most of them did. That meant bye bye Garnier Fructis and Tresemme products.
2. I made a run to Target and got some of the products recommended in the videos listed above: Suave Essentials Conditioners, L.A. Looks Hair Gels and Alberto VO5 Conditioners.
3. I shampooed for the last time to make sure all of the hair products that contained sulfates, silicones, and drying alcohols were removed from my scalp and hair.
4. I conditioned really well with my new conditioner.

The next time I was in the shower:

1. I followed the no-poo method, as described in the videos above with my new conditioner.
2. Once I was out of the shower, I lightly dried my hair with a microfiber towel and applied leave-in-conditioner spray and gel.
3. Then, I plopped my hair in a long-sleeved cotton t-shirt.
4. I let my hair dry and removed the t-shirt.

Between washings:

I made the Coconut Hair Mist and spray it on my bed-head each morning between washings.

Here's what I found:

• Your hair may look worse before it looks better (see my "beautiful" before photo below). Sulfates, drying alcohols and silicones strip your curls of much-needed moisture and can do significant damage to your hair and scalp. In my research, people say it can take up to three weeks to see major changes, depending on how dry/damaged your hair is.
• Your scalp may itch a bit between washings. This is normal. It means your scalp is healing. Shampoo strips your scalp of its natural oils which causes damage.

Results

Before: This was after my first co-wash, day 2. It was looking pretty rough. Despite the smile in the photo, I'm not gonna kid around, I was scared.

After (Approximately two weeks later): You can actually tell I have curls!

Final Thoughts

My hair is so much softer than I thought was physically possible. Before, my hair was so dry it felt like straw. Now, it actually feels soft and I can't stop touching it! This method is easier than I thought it would be and costs less than when I used salon products. If you want to love your curls, I highly recommend trying this out.