In our busy lives, it can be hard to switch up our looks. When you have to get up for the dreaded 8 a.m. class, appearance might not be the first thing that crosses your mind; however, if you don’t want to change out of your “uniform” of leggings and a Penn State sweatshirt, an easy upgrade can be switching up your hair.
Some people were born with a messy, naturally beachy look, and others were not. If you’re someone who wouldn’t classify your hair as straight, but wouldn’t necessarily consider it curly, don’t lose hope. With the “Curly Girl” method, you can find the curl that has been there all along.
The Curly Girl method comes from a book called “Curly Girl: The Handbook” by Lorraine Massey. It’s a guideline to people, specifically with curly hair, on how to wash and style your hair so you can achieve the best curls naturally.
While the method refers more to curly and coiled hair, it can apply to “textured” hair as well. The term ‘textured’ refers to those who have some form of wave or curl and their hair isn’t pin-straight. If your hair is completely straight, you will have to come up with other ways of achieving texture in your hair.
One key thing to remember before doing this method is not to brush your hair before showering. Brushing can lead to hair breakage, which causes frizziness in your curls. If you wish to brush, try using a detangler and a comb.
Step 1: Cleanse
The first step to the method is to cleanse your hair, focusing on your scalp. A cleanse is using shampoo as follows but conditioning before and after the shampoo process. Depending on the thickness of your hair, the method recommends a cleanse 1–3 times a week. The technique recommends using a shampoo with no parabens or sulfates.
Step 2: Condition
Now, it’s time for the weird part. You are going to ring out your hair while still in the shower, so it’s not soaking wet. Next, take your favorite conditioner and lather it on your hair, focusing on the ends. It should feel like the texture of seaweed. Then, you will detangle your hair using only your fingers.
Lastly, wash your hair but don’t thoroughly wash out the conditioner. The more wavy/curly or thick your hair is, the more conditioner you can leave in.
Step 3: Style
This is the fun part: when you can start to see your curls forming. What you want to do is ring out your hair and flip your head upside down. Take a T-shirt and scrunch your hair until you feel like it is dry enough. Using the T-shirt as a towel will help all of your hair develop into curls, as opposed to just the top layer.
You can apply a small amount of gel if you want your curls to stay and stand out. If you want a stronger curl, use a diffuser upside down to get bouncier curls. VALLEY recommends the MOTION.LOTION, by KEVIN.MURPHY to perfect your curls.
Another great styling tip is to use a salt spray if you want your hair to have beachy curls. VALLEY recommends using Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, which is widely available at convenience and grocery stores. Just spray on your hair and run the product through with your fingers.
Finally, an excellent way to get volume in your roots is to take styling clips and put them throughout your hair. You can clip your hair away from your roots with styling clips so that the hair doesn’t dry flat. VALLEY suggests the Matte Metal Salon Clips from Ulta.com.
If you are confused about how to do the root clipping, below is an example of what to do.
While most people can’t go to the beach year-round, there are plenty of ways to get 24/7 texture in your hair. With the Curly Girl method, you can transform your lackluster waves to lively curls that elevate your everyday look.
