Curly Girl Method for Wavy Hair: New Product List!

Pretty much every day, someone asks me the same question:

Are you still doing that thing with your hair?

By "that thing," they mean the Curly Girl method for wavy hair I adapted and have been experimenting with since last summer.

And my answer? Is a resounding YES.

In case you missed my original post, the basic formula is simple: no sulfates, no silicones, shampoo as infrequently as impossible and drying with either a non-terry cloth towel (my new favorite is this one by DevaCurl) or an old T-shirt of J's. I actually love the way my hair comes out when I use the T-shirt (it absorbs much less water so the texture comes out different) but J tends to glare at me when I use them too often...(oops.)


I've never been so happy with my hair in my entire life. I've been running almost every day and sweating it out in Bikram yoga on the off days, so I've been showering about a billion times more often as I used to, but my routine is simpler and faster than it has ever been. For special occasions, I still use a flatiron and velcro rollers or splurge on a blow out, but my day-to-day style is Curly Girl all the way.

Since so many questions and comments have poured in on my original Curly Girl for Wavy Hair post, I'm working on a FAQ post that will address some common issues, and another that will discuss some modifications I made for the wintertime. But today, I'm writing to share some new products I've discovered on my (never-ending) search for the perfect sulfate-free, silicone-free Curly Girl approved products.

Because even with the method working its magic, this wavy hair needs a lot of help.

Conditioner

I've been experimenting with lots of different conditioners, especially since the winter months left my hair pretty dried out...my beloved Trader Joe's Tea Tree collection just wasn't giving my hair the moisture I needed. My current favorite drugstore brand is L'Oreal Evercreme Intense Nourishing Conditioner. It's thick enough to stay put during my whole shower (remember, after rinsing or lightly shampooing your roots, condition the ends BEFORE you wash your body, shave your legs, etc. to maximize the benefits.) It's sulfate and silicone free and smells AMAZING. I can really tell a difference in the texture of my hair when I use the L'Oreal Evercreme--it's smoother, silkier and less prone to tangles.

My new salon brand favorite is Pureology Precious Oil Softening Conditioner. It's designed for "dull, brittle, color-treated hair" (which I don't have) but the folks at my neighborhood beauty supply store assure me that's just code for "extra gentle." With natural, 100% vegan ingredients, this one wins points for having both sunflower and coconut oils, which work wonders for coarse hair texture and make my hair extra-shiny. I also love the Pureology Precious Oil Shampoo, and since I use so little of it (washing just once a week most weeks, and only along my part line at the scalp) I can justify the extra cost.

Curl Cream

Current obsession: Devaconcepts DevaCurl Styling Cream. This brand is the go-to authority on all things Curly Girl, so I was thrilled when they finally introduced a curl cream to their product line. Gels and mousses are too stiff and sticky for my wavy hair, so after much trial and error I pretty much stick exclusively to creams. This one gives my waves great shape and definition with minimal fuss...I scrunch a little bit through my wet hair (ends only,) focusing on the denser areas the nape of my neck. So far, I'm thrilled with the results!

Another curl cream (though they call this one a "solution") I've been getting good results from is Curl Junkie Curls in a Bottle! . If you're an obsessive ingredients-reader like me, you'll notice this one contains PEG-8 dimethicone, but since it's water-soluble, it earns the Curly Girl seal of approval. I like this one because it's lighter than the creams, still gives great definition and helps with shine.

Dry Shampoo

OK, OK. I have absolutely NO idea whether dry shampoo is allowed on the Curly Girl method. There aren't any contraband ingredients in my current favorite,Alterna Bamboo Style Cleanse Extend Dry Shampoo, but that doesn't mean I might somehow be cheating on my no-'poo lifestyle. Either way, I'm loving this dry shampoo from Alterna on days when I only have 30 seconds to jump in the shower and rinse. A few quick sprays at the roots, which I then comb out with my fingers or a wide-tooth comb (love this one from Cricket Ultra Clean that prevents bacteria!) and my hair looks fresh and smells great, no water required :)

Curly Girl devotees out there: have you been experimenting with new products? Share them in the comment section below and I'll highlight them in my roundup piece coming soon!