If you are someone who is blessed with curly hair then unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve most likely heard about the Curly Girl Method. This method was originally discovered by hairdresser and fellow ‘curly girl’ Lorraine Massey. 20 years on, her book ‘Curly Girl’ is now world famous and considered a ‘how-to bible’ on how to get your best curls ever. As you can imagine though, a lot has changed in 20 years since the original Curly Girl Method was released, and even since the second edition was printed in 2010. After a lot of research, trial, error and personal horrors, we present to you: the Nourished Curly Girl Method. Here is how to achieve luscious curly hair in just 5 steps! PS: read until the end where you will find some extra tips.

Curly hair routine

Step 1: Cleanse/washday

The original Curly Girl Method called for ditching shampoo and going completely sulfate-free, but curly hair care has evolved. Not all sulfates are harsh; some gentle, naturally-derived ones can cleanse effectively without stripping natural oils. Like Sodium Coco Sulfate At Nourished, we recommend a no-poo or low-poo routine; which means using clean, sulfate-free or low-sulfate shampoo for curly hair. Avoid harsh sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, which dry out curls and cause frizz. For healthy, defined curls, choose a shampoo from our shampoo collection that balances moisture and gentle cleansing. The ones we can recommend for curly hair are:

+ Innersense Pure Harmony Hairbath Shampoo
+ SANS [CEUTICALS] Balancing Hair Wash
+ Kitsch Rice Water Shampoo Bar

Step 2: Conditioner

To get frizz-free, defined curls, your hair needs three essentials: moisture, lipids, and protein. A high-quality, natural conditioner delivers all three. Try to look for ingredients like avocado oil, shea butter, rice protein and panthenol. Regular conditioning restores curly hair’s structure and bounce. Just make sure your conditioner is silicone-free; silicones coat the hair, blocking it from absorbing the nutrients it needs. Over time, this leads to limp, dull, and fluffy curls. Some of our favorite silicone-free conditioners:

+ SANS [CEUTICALS] Nourishing Hair Hydratant Ultra+
+ Innersense Pure Inspiration Daily Conditioner
+ Bondi Wash Cleansing Conditioner

Step 3: Styling

Hair styling is a crucial step in any curly hair routine since it’s key to locking in definition and moisture. A good leave-in conditioner keeps curls hydrated throughout the day, while a lightweight styling gel helps hold shape, reduce frizz and enhance curl pattern. Look for clean formulas with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera or flaxseed extract. Apply your leave-in to wet hair, then follow with gel using a scrunching method for best results. Together, these products seal in hydration and give curls a long-lasting hold without crunch or buildup. Protip: when applying the products, make sure your hair is soaking wet. After putting in the products, grab a microfiber towel and scrunch out the excess water. Believe me, it works wonders against frizz!

Our go-to:
+ Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control (leave in conditioner)
+ Innersense I Create Hold (styling gel)

And in case your hair could use a volumizing boost:
+ Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam

Step 4: Scrunch out the crunch

How you dry your curls makes all the difference in achieving frizz-free, defined results. For faster drying, use a diffuser on a low heat, low speed setting. This helps set the curl pattern and reduce frizz without causing heat damage. Prefer to air dry? Clip your roots with a hair clip while drying to boost volume at the crown and prevent flatness. Whichever method you choose, avoid touching your curls while they dry to keep definition intact. Once fully dry, gently scrunch out the crunch if you’ve used gel and enjoy soft, bouncy curls. Once fully dry, gently scrunch out the crunch in your hair, preferably with a bit of oil, and enjoy soft, bouncy curls.

For that extra bit of shine:
+ SANS [CEUTICALS] Activator 7 Body + Hair + Face Oil

Bonus-step:

Sometimes your hair needs a bit of extra love, and that’s where a deep conditioning treatment or hair mask comes in. These intensive hair treatments help restore moisture, repair damage, and strengthen curls from within. Use a nourishing hair masque once a week or whenever your curls feel dry, brittle or lack definition. Think of it as a reset button for tired curls, leaving them soft, shiny and more manageable.

Hydrating treatments:
+ Innersense Hydrating Hair Mask
+ Kitsch Pre Wash Scalp Oil - Rosemary & Biotin
+ SANS [CEUTICALS] Treatment Duo

Detoxing treatments:
+ Innersense Detox Hair Mask
+ Innersense True Enlightenment Scalp Scrub

Extra tips for healthier, bouncier curls:

Now that we’ve covered the step-by-step curly girl routine, we also want to give you some extra tips to achieve the bouncy curls of your dreams.

+ Wash your hair once and a maximum of two times a week.
+ Avoid heat
+ Use a microfibre towel
+ Use a satin pillowcase and satin scrunchies

Remember, having curls is a gift and with a little care and consistency, your natural texture will truly shine. As you get to know what your hair loves, caring for your curls becomes second nature; and yes, the compliments will follow! Still figuring out what works best for you? We’re here to help! Reach out via Instagram DM, our web chat or via hello@nourished.nl.And don’t forget to explore our natural hair care collection and hair accessories for everything you need to support your routine.