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The Curl Revolution
Are you tired of struggling with your curly or wavy hair? Do you find it difficult to manage frizz and maintain your natural curl pattern? If so, you're not alone! Many people with curly hair struggle to find the right hair care routine that works for them. That's where the "Curly Girl Method" comes in.
Created by hairstylist Lorraine Massey, the Curly Girl Method is a hair care approach that advocates the use of natural techniques and products to nourish and maintain curly or wavy hair.
But as with any beauty trend, there are both benefits and drawbacks to the Curly Girl Method. While it can be an effective way to care for curly hair, it also has its challenges, particularly when it comes to sustainability. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the Curly Girl Method and explore its benefits and drawbacks, including how it measures up from a sustainable hair care perspective.
Curly hair can be a beautiful and unique feature, but it can also be a challenge to maintain. From frizz to dryness to breakage, there are many factors that can make it difficult to keep curly hair looking and feeling its best. That's where the Curly Girl Method comes in. Here are some of the benefits of this popular hair care approach:
Curly Girl Method Pros:
Improved Curl Definition: One of the primary benefits of the Curly Girl Method is improved curl definition. By choosing hair products free from harsh sulfates, parabens, silicones, and alcohols; can help retain more moisture, resulting in improved curl definition.
Reduced Frizz: Another major benefit of the Curly Girl Method is reduced frizz. The use of gentle, natural products and specific techniques for washing and styling curly hair can help reduce frizz, resulting in smoother, more manageable hair.
Healthier Hair: By avoiding heat styling and harsh chemicals, the Curly Girl Method can help promote healthier hair, reducing the risk of breakage, split ends, and dryness.
Better Retention of Moisture: The use of shampoos which are free of harsh sulfates, conditioners, and styling products like the a detangling leave-in conditioner and deep conditioning mask can help retain more moisture in curly hair, making it less prone to dryness and breakage.
Enhanced Natural Texture: By using curly girl method approved products and techniques they can help to enhance the natural texture of curly hair, the Curly Girl Method can help achieve a more defined, healthy-looking curl pattern.
Improved Overall Hair Condition: By following the Curly Girl Method, curly hair can be kept in better condition, resulting in smoother, shinier, and more manageable strands.
Eco-Friendly: Similar to lusid's approach, the Curly Girl Method advocates for the use of gentle, natural hair care products, promoting an environmentally friendly approach to hair care but is usually only goes as far as the ingredients and not the packaging.
The Curly Girl Method is a hair care approach that urges those with curly hair to embrace and nurture their natural curls. By advocating for a natural approach to hair care, The Curly Girl Method promotes self-acceptance and acknowledges the distinct beauty of curly hair. It assists people with curly hair in acknowledging that their natural texture is stunning and deserving of proper care.
While the Curly Girl Method is a great hair care approach for those with naturally curly or wavy hair, there are some potential drawbacks to consider.
Jen Lee, from Lusid Hair; states that they are not to be associated with Curly Girl Method as it doesn't work for all hair structures. Some products that are curly girl approved are not good for your hair and some products that are not curly girl approved can give amazing results. Instead look for products designed for your hair structure, choose natural ingredients over harsh chemicals, but look further that just the ingredients. Are the claiming to be sustainable when their packaging is creating waste? Do watch out for greenwashing!
Curly Girl Method Cons:
Marketing claims over scientific research: The Curly Girl Method uses marketing claims to demonise that all sulfates, silicones, parabens and alcohols are bad. When actually, some sulfates like SLS and SLES are potentially harmful particularly for those with sensitive skin or scalp issues but not all sulfates are bad.
Parabens have also been demonised to be harmful when there is no scientific prove which parabens are bad and the paraben exposure in hair care products in generally to be very low that there is not enough evidence to prove harm to health at the low levels. Although the Curl Girl Method doesn't demonise all preservatives (just parabens) some can also be seen to have potentially harmful effects. Therefore, it is best to choose products that use natural preservatives
Not all silicones are bad for you, but there are some that are harmful. Dimethicone and Cyclomethicone are silicones that creates a barrier on the hair preventing moisture and can make your hair prone to dryness and breakage.
Not all alcohols are bad for your hair either. Choose fatty alcohols (derived from natural sources) which condition and moisturise your hair. Drying alcohols on the other hand are seen to be harmful as they strip the hair of its natural oils.
If you are unsure if an ingredient is safe to look it up! The hair care industry is unregulated. So it is easy for products to slip on shelf that are not good for you or do not do as they claim.
Sustainability concerns: One of the major cons of the Curly Girl Method is its impact on sustainability. The method involves using a lot of products, most are contained in plastic packaging, contributing to environmental waste. All plastic that exists will continue to exist in our lifespan. Only 14% of the world plastic is actually recyclable and plastic consumption is still on the increase despite the reduction of single used plastic here.
Time-consuming: The Curly Girl Method requires more time and effort than traditional hair care methods, as it involves several steps, including washing, conditioning, and styling.
Expensive: Curly Girl Method-approved products can be more expensive than other hair care products and can require alot of products, making it less accessible for people on a budget.
Trial and error: Finding the right products for your hair type may require some trial and error, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.
Limited styling options: The method emphasises avoiding heat styling and other damaging techniques, which can limit your styling options, especially if you prefer straight hair.
Not suitable for all hair types: The Curly Girl Method is designed specifically for those with curly or wavy hair types and may not be as effective for those with straight or coily hair, which can limit its appeal to a broader audience.
Confusing: Information regarding the Curly Girl Method can be seen as confusing and complicated. Curl hair education is not that easy to understand and there is a lot of misinformation.
When asked about the Curly Girl Method, Amy Scarlett Rosvally, admitted that while she knows a little bit about it, she never really went down the "rabbit hole" like others have. "It was just too complicated," she said. "It took too much time and investment. I just don't have that time to invest in it."
And she's not alone in feeling this way. While the Curly Girl Method has worked wonders for some, others find it too time-consuming and overwhelming. It also requires investing in hair care products specifically designed for curly hair, which can be expensive.
Founder of The Curly Girl Method Claims not to be associated with DevaCurl
DevaCurl, a hair care brand which was founded by the creator of The Curly Girl Method; Lorraine Massey was sold in 2013 prior to numerous lawsuits a few years later for causing hair loss, hair damage, excessive shedding, balding and scalp irritation. Customers, mostly women, have complained about issues such as flat and misshapen curls, inflamed scalps, and hair loss, blaming the company's products for these problems. According to the lawsuits, some harmful ingredients found in DevaCurl products include propylene glycol and cocamidopropyl betaine. Pay attention to ingredients and read reviews from other consumers to ensure that you are making an informed decision. Your hair's health is important, and choosing the right hair care products should not be taken lightly.
What do curly kiwi's think?
We also asked some in the kiwi curly haired community their thoughts and got a somewhats mixed response.
"It worked well for me in AUS, they seem to have better accessibility to really great CGM products" - Phillipa Howe
"I don't like how exclusionary it is and how it doesn't accomodate for individuality" - Shannon MacKintosh
"It's a big time commitment and i hate using so many different products" - Raquel Emily
"Really helpful intro to curly care but needs to be personalised on hair type and lifestyle" - Paige Miriam
In conclusion, many people with curly hair have found it to be incredibly beneficial in improving the health and appearance of their hair. It's a great starting point for those who want to embrace their natural hair. It's all about finding what works best for you and your hair type and be careful to check ingredients over marketing claims. It may not be the best fit for everyone.
What we do love about the Curly Girl Method is that "It's all about understanding and embracing your curls and working with them, not against them." Lorraine Massey, the creator of the Curly Girl Method.
If you are interested in learning more about your curls and how to look after them consider Lusid Hair products for an easy hair care routine. At Lusid we have a range of products which are free from harsh chemicals, that are vegan friendly and made with organic ingredients, but our key point of difference is that we have products for different hair structures as not all curls are the same and we choose to be free of plastics and microplastics. If you would like a Lusid Hair Consult to help gain advice to achieve your hair goals not matter your hair structure, follow this link. We would love to hep you to achieve your hair goals and gain hair confidence.