Photo courtesy of Rachel Rebibo/The Licensing Project

Caring for curly hair (from waves to coils) once meant a daunting array of heat tools and innumerable products laden with harmful, harsh ingredients like formaldehyde, ammonia, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and more, but the 2002 book Curly Girl: The Handbook helped change all that. Written by salon owner and hairstylist Lorraine Massey, it introduced a more holistic, minimalist approach—the Curly Girl Method—encouraging those with curly hair to celebrate “the world’s most graceful beauty accessory, the natural curl.” Various iterations of the method have since evolved, as people have tweaked and experimented to find what works best for them. The best news: The method is entirely (and delightfully) doable using clean products.

CLEANSE (BUT SKIP MOST OF THE SHAMPOO)

The Curly Girl Method often starts with a reset cleanse to get rid of buildup before ditching shampoo altogether (for the most part). This invigorating, mineral-rich scrub is made with big chunks of pink Himalayan salt that sweep away buildup (and give your scalp a fantastic in-shower massage), plus cold-pressed moringa and unfiltered rose hip oils for shine, softness, and bounce.

1. Deep-cleanse and moisturize

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CONDITION AND DETANGLE WHILE YOUR HAIR’S STILL WET

Curly hair tends to be drier than straight hair, which is why extra moisture is essential. Use a luscious, deeply hydrating conditioner in the shower and try not to rinse it completely out. Because curly hair is often delicate and prone to breakage, gently detangle it while it’s still wet and soaked in conditioner. Detangle with your fingertips or a wide-tooth comb in the shower, or use a leave-in after the shower. Note that most versions of the method discourage combing or brushing dry curls; wet is the time to comb or brush.

1. In the Shower

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   Hydration Conditioner
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2. Post-shower

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   The Leave-In Conditioner
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3. Comb

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   Crown Affair
   The Comb No. 002
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4. Detangling Brush

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   Manta
   Pulse Healthy Hair Brush Therapy
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AIR-DRY IF YOU CAN

Use a microfiber towel or an old T-shirt to gently wrap wet curls; the agitating motion most of us have been taught to use increases frizz, so wrap and gently squeeze water from your hair instead. Air-drying incurs the least damage and frizz, but a hair-dryer with a diffuser attachment helps mitigate heat damage.

1. Hair wrap

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   Copper Sure Rapid Dry Hair Wrap
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2. Hair towel

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   Crown Affair
   The Towel
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3. Dryer with diffuser

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   IQ Perfetto Hair Dryer
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STYLE WITH TEXTURE

Since the Curly Girl Method is all about embracing your natural curl, major blowouts and straighteners are obviously unnecessary. Smooth frizz, define curl, and enhance texture with clean creams made with ingredients like shea butter, botanical extracts, and honey.

1. Define curl

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   Innersense
   Quiet Calm Curl Control
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2. Enhance texture with
   light hold

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   Innersense
   Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer
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3. Shine-boosting oil

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   Kreyol Essence
   Haitian Black Castor Oil Light
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4. Frizz-obliterating cream

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   Grown Alchemist
   Smoothing Hair Treatment
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MASK AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK

If you love the results a face mask can deliver for your skin, definitely consider doing a regular hair mask. Massage a mask into wet hair and leave it in for 15 to 20 minutes; to amp up results even further, apply heat (you can use the sun, a diffuser, a sauna, a steam shower, or simply a warm towel as your heat source).

1. Moisturize with hyaluronic
   acid and shea butter

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   Dr. Barbara Sturm
   Repair Hair Mask
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2. Restore with
   plant-based oils

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   Augustinus Bader
   The Leave-In Hair Treatment
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3. Hydrate with tsubaki-seed
   oil and yuzu extract

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   Crown Affair
   The Renewal Mask
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4. Nourish with rahua
   and sunflower-seed oils

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   Rahua
   Omega 9 Hair Mask
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