If you’ve ever looked for curly hair advice online, you’ve probably come across the Curly Girl Method; but where did it all begin? In this post I’m going to dig into the origins of the Curly Girl Method and the woman behind it all.
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The origins of the Curly Girl Method lie with hairstylist Lorraine Massey
It was developed as a way to help women with curly hair learn how to take care of their curls.
Lorraine didn’t just develop the Method overnight. Like many of us, she started out on her own curly hair rollercoaster. Growing up, Lorraine often felt pressured to tame her curls to fit in, remembering hours spent straightening and even enduring a disastrous chemical straightening attempt at school. Instead of helping, these experiences led to even more frustration and damage.
In her twenties, Lorraine decided it was time to stop fighting her curls and start celebrating them. She recognised that she wasn’t alone in this struggle. There were countless people feeling unsure how to care for their natural texture.
She realised that most people were using harsh products and techniques that were damaging their curls.
Lorraine Massey wanted to create a guide that would help women achieve healthy, beautiful curls without having to resort to harsh chemicals. The Curly Girl Method has since become hugely popular!
What Makes the Curly Girl Method Special?
There are hundreds of hair care methods out there, so what sets the Curly Girl Method apart?
First of all, it’s all about natural, health-boosting ingredients, and it entirely challenges the mainstream beauty advice of the past decades.
Here are a few stand-out principles from the Curly Girl Method:
Community and empowerment – At its core, the method is about feeling proud of your hair and supporting others on the same path.
Respect for natural texture – The method encourages you to work with your curls, not against them.
No sulphates or silicones – These common ingredients can strip and suffocate curls; the Curly Girl Method says no thank you.
Gentle, moisture-focused care – Routine involves lots of conditioning, scrunching, and air drying.
Zero to minimal heat styling – Say goodbye to the straighteners and hello to defined, healthy natural curls.
Have look at some Curly Girl Method approved shampoos
Take a look at Curly Girl Method Approved Conditioners
The Birth of a Movement
Lorraine’s passion led her to open the famous Devachan Salon in New York City, which quickly became a haven for curly-haired clients desperate for proper advice. But her influence didn’t stop there. She wanted to reach even more people, so she documented her trailblazing ideas in her book, Curly Girl: The Handbook.
The handbook became an instant cult classic and provided the groundwork for the origins of The Curly Girl Method. It was the first guide to truly speak to the unique needs of curly and wavy hair, explaining why traditional products and routines were so damaging. The Curly Girl Method offered something new and exciting—a set of mindful guidelines devoted entirely to nurturing curls, not hiding them.
A key focus of Lorraine’s approach was cutting out the harsh chemicals commonly found in commercial hair products. She advocated for using only sulphate-free and silicone-free products. The method shuns heat-styling tools and instead puts moisture, gentle handling, and patience at the centre of the routine
Interested in trying the curly girl method?
No that you know the origins of the Curly Girl Method, you might want to give it a go! Here are a few key things to do.
First, start by switching to products that are free from sulphates, silicones, and other harsh chemicals.
Next, cut back on heat styling and give your hair a break from hot tools. Finally, learn how to style your hair using techniques that will enhance your natural curl pattern.
Read more about The Curly Girl Method here.
Speak soon,
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