Beauty spot

Curly situation

WHILE LOOKING GREAT IN ITS NATURAL STATE, CURLY HAIR CAN LOOK EVEN BETTER WITH A ROUTINE CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR IT

There’s a lot to love about having curls; natural body and bounce, unique curl patterns and the ability to stand out in a sea of straight hair.

But with natural curls also comes the often time- consuming task of styling them, preventing frizz and maintaining defi nition and bounce. But that was before the Curly Girl Method (CGM) gained international prominence and fl ipped the curly hair community on its head.

“The Curly Girl Method is a simple, minimalistic approach to caring for wavy, curly and coily hair,” Curls Only and Curly Girls Australia and New Zealand founder Lindsay Wilson says.

“It’s not a product, but rather follows three simple steps: cleanse (preserve), condition (organise curls) and style (maintain),” the curl expert says.

“It’s a lifestyle, using a maximum of three to four products that must be lather-free, plant-based, botanically infused, fully water-soluble and rich in natural emollients.”

While the fi rst two steps are rather straightforward, the biggest challenges are not brushing your hair and avoiding styling tools.

Instead, styling involves ”plopping” and scrunching the hair to enhance your natural curl pattern, before wrapping the hair in a towel or T-shirt and allowing it to air dry.

A term originally coined by US curl stylist Lorraine Massey in her 1999 bestseller Curly Girl: The Handbook, CGM has grown to become a worldwide phenomenon in recent years, thanks in part to online hair communities, with some outlets even describing the practice as “cult-like”.

While the curly hair community has come ahead in leaps and bounds, Lindsay believes greater accessibility is needed.

“A lot of change needs to happen in hairdressing schools, and we can certainly expand on more curl-friendly products, but it’s positive to see people are embracing their true hair texture.”

WE LIKE A’kin Moisture Rich Macadamia Oil & Wheat Protein Conditioner, 500ml, $23.99; John Frieda Volume Lift Foam, 212g, $15.49

STEP 1 Cleanse

Use a zero-lather cleanser, which is eff ective at cleansing and hydrating curls. You can even detangle with it, which simplifi es your routine even more.

STEP 2 Get hands-on

Connect with your curls by touching them throughout your curly hair routine, including the detangling process. This is very gentle and benefi cial for curly hair.

STEP 3 Mirror, mirror

Have a compact mirror in your shower. Seeing what you’re doing is very helpful.

STEP 4 Water works

Water plays an important role as it traps moisture in the hair follicles, keeping curls hydrated. Choose water-based hair products for shine and softness.

STEP 5 Less is more

Skip conditioner if you have very fi ne hair. After using a zero-lather cleanser rinse it off completely, then apply a very hydrating silicone-free gel while hair is still wet. It works beautifully and means you are only using two products; less is more for fi ne, curly hair.