What is the Curly Girl Method?

The Curly Girl Method ("CGM") was created by DevaCurl founder Lorraine Massey. Lorraine Massey's book, Curly Girl: The Handbook*, is the guideline we follow for categorizing our products as approved or not approved for the Curly Girl Method.

You can help bring out the best of your natural waves or curls by using Curly Girl Method approved products. This means avoiding certain ingredients in your hair products, including but not limited to:

  • detergents (sulfates)
  • non-water-soluble silicones
  • drying alcohols
  • non-water-soluble waxes

Curl Warehouse helpfully shows which products are approved for use with the Curly Girl Method. Look for this image on product pages:

  
If you've researched the Curly Girl Method, you'll notice that some websites suggest foregoing all low poo and no poo products in favour of co-washing only. Others believe all alcohols should be avoided. Even more suggest specific techniques that you must use in order to follow the Curly Girl Method "correctly". We do not offer modified versions of the Method. Curl Warehouse's products and advice are based on the original Curly Girl Method ingredients to look for as set out in Lorraine Massey's book.
We understand that everyone's curly hair journey is different. Our site provides a list of product ingredients and highlights some ingredients you may look for in a product or choose to avoid, such as glycerin or protein.
Some of the products we sell contain preservative alcohols like benzyl alcohol. These alcohols are neither fatty alcohols (approved) or drying alcohols (not approved) but are added to extend the shelf life of your product. They have no impact on your hair and appear in formulas at extremely low concentrations.
Other products marked as CG approved may contain water-soluble silicones and waxes. Even the mildest cleanser will remove these ingredients from your hair. Water-soluble ingredients do not cause build-up like ingredients that are not water-soluble and a clarifying shampoo - still gentler than one containing sulfates - will remove any build-up you may experience. No sulfates needed!
If you have any questions about the Curly Girl Method, we are here for you! Use the chat window on the bottom right side of your screen or our contact form to get in touch with us. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
  
 
 
 * This is an Amazon affiliate link. Curl Warehouse may receive a small commission from items purchased after visiting this link but it does not alter your purchase price.