I gave the Curly Girl Method a try on my wavy hair, and I’m never going back.

Years ago, I first came across the Curly Girl Method, but never thought it could work for my in-between, wavy hair. Even calling it ‘wavy’ felt generous: whatever wave I had was always overshadowed by frizz, dryness, and unruliness—it wasn’t exactly curly. What I didn’t realize was that, for the Curly Girl community, my hair struggles were just untapped potential.

Susanna’s lively curls seem so effortless that you’d think they were a gift from nature, but after seeing her ‘before’ hair, which was nearly identical to mine, I felt hopeful about what this method could do for me. Plus, discovering these online communities meant I could gather all the info I needed by Googling it instead of reading the book (sorry, Lorraine Massey).

The Curly Girl Method and its followers

For Curly Girl enthusiasts, the Curly Girl Method is all about understanding your hair's porosity, giving it the right amount of protein, and keeping track of a long list of sulfates and silicones to avoid. Silicones can cause a waxy buildup that weighs down hair, preventing it from holding a curl. The one thing I knew for sure about my hair is that if I blow dry and brush it, it grows by about 30 percent in volume, so learning all this new hair science felt a bit overwhelming.

Luckily, baby steps are encouraged, so I focused on the two key areas: co-washing and styling after the shower. Co-washing is the heart of the Curly Girl Method, which means ditching shampoo and only using Curly Girl–approved conditioners. These conditioners are free from sulfates, drying alcohols, silicones, waxes, and non-natural oils. If you’re new to this, your current products are probably not CG-safe, and it can be tricky to spot the right ingredients. Online ingredient checkers like CurlsBot and Is It CG? exist, but they’re not always accurate. That’s where the large CG community comes in handy.

What Newbies Like Me Want to Know

The most common question in the Curly Girl Method group is, 'Is this safe?' usually accompanied by a photo of the product's ingredient list. Commenters are quick to flag any hidden silicones or questionable alcohols in the mix if the product doesn't meet the Curly Girl standards.

The second most frequent type of post tends to be frustration posts. These are from Curly Girls—also known as curlies, or, in my case, wavies—who aren’t seeing the results they hoped for and are on the brink of giving up on their hair journey. They often voice feelings of discouragement and are tempted to toss the microfiber towel. Commenters typically offer their own advice: "Did you do a final wash?", "How long have you been plopping?", "Your hair might need more protein." Others remind them with the familiar phrase, "This is a marathon, not a sprint," and encourage persistence.

On my personal Curly Girl journey, I had to figure out the right routine for my hair after I stepped out of the shower—yes, there’s a correct order for applying hair products. There are even products specifically for pre-pooing or using before shampoo. As with every aspect of this method, styling your curls after co-washing them involves trial and error—and learning an entirely new vocabulary. Anyone who’s used a diffuser on curly hair has probably made some of the common mistakes. My research on styling techniques is just the beginning, and each person will find their own ideal routine, but here’s what’s worked for me.

My Curly Girl Method Steps

Co-wash

"Squish to Condish"

Next, I practice the "squish to condish" technique, using my co-wash for a second round. This step happens at the end of my shower, with my hair still dripping wet and flipped upside down. The method of "squishing" in conditioner is said to help define the curls and seal in the moisture from the water.

Apply product

Once I’ve rinsed out the conditioner and stepped out of the shower, I move on to gel—a product I haven’t touched since my middle school days of misguided hairstyling. I've discovered that applying a generous amount of gel to wet hair is crucial.

Air dry

Afterward, I let my hair air dry, untouched. I gave up using a blow dryer early on, so this step was pretty easy for me. The real challenge is resisting the temptation to touch my hair since that can mess with the curl formation and lead to more frizz. (Unfortunately, it also means no naps while my hair dries.)

"Scrunch Out the Crunch"

Once my hair is completely dry and the gel has formed a crunchy layer (also known as a gel cast), I perform the SOTC (Scrunch Out the Crunch). This step is pretty straightforward and helps avoid that crispy texture. I gently scrunch my hair with either my hands or a microfiber towel to loosen any clumps that formed during drying.

My review of the Curly Girl Method

When Susanna first introduced me to the Curly Girl Method, she couldn’t predict exactly how my hair would react, but she assured me, "You're going to look different."

I was thrilled about this. I believe in changing up your hair to reflect your lifestyle changes (yes, even the post-breakup haircut). Plus, curly hair is a popular winter hairstyle. Having just graduated and relocated to a new city, I was due for a hair experiment—but the journey turned out to be gradual.

After a few weeks, I began to push through the tough part and noticed a shift in my hair. I learned to spend a bit more time scrubbing in the shower—around five to seven minutes—and felt like I was finally mastering all the squishing and scrunching.

I'm not entirely sure which category my hair falls into now, but it's definitely a change. When I follow all the right steps and leave my hair alone while it dries, it’s less frizzy, feels healthier, and is much more manageable. Before Curly Girl, I could never predict what my hair would look like after each wash. Good hair days were rare. Now, I feel like I have more control over my hair and the way my texture turns out. Not only are my waves more defined, but I’m even starting to notice some ringlets.

Although it’s not as drastic as I imagined when I first started, the improvements in my hair’s quality are enough to keep me going with this method. It’s an ongoing experiment, and I’m eager to see what’s next—like clarifying rinses, hair serums, and deep-conditioning treatments. Highlights for curly hair could even be on the horizon.

But beyond my hair’s better-but-not-perfect texture and look, the most exciting shift from the Curly Girl Method is my newfound attitude towards my hair. For example, when I want to "look nice" for something, I no longer reach for the straightener—I just spend more time caring for and styling my waves.