Sure, it’s called the curly girl method, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the curly girl method for straight hair. The wildly popular curly girl method really should be called the healthy hair method, because, in reality, that’s what it is.

Sure, it will make your hair more curly if your hair is naturally curly. And if your hair isn’t naturally curly? It will still help your hair become healthier, shinier, smoother, and more beautiful.

If you’ve read about the curly girl method (or CG method, for short), then you might be wondering how do you apply the curly girl method for straight hair. The CG method breaks out the best hair care approach by hair-type, or curl size. But it doesn’t give insight on how ladies with straight hair can take advantage of it and reap its benefits.

So let’s get to how you can use the curly girl method for straight hair in 7 simple ways:

1. Use Chemical-Free Hair Products

curly girl method: use chemical-free products

You’ve probably seen the laundry list of no-no hair products on the CG method. Regardless of your hair’s texture, straight or curly, you should avoid products that contain these chemicals for your health. There’s no reason we need to be loading our products up on harmful chemicals, that not only may risk our internal health, but many of which also ruin the condition of your hair.

Check the list of ingredients in your products and bin them if they include any of the following:

  • Sulfates
  • Silicones
  • Mineral Oil
  • Parabens
  • Alcohol
  • Fragrances
  • Diethanolamine or DEA
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Formaldehyde

To find clean, chemical-free hair products check out EWG—a database for clean products.

2. Wash Your Hair Every 3 to 4 Days

cg method on straight hair

The general rule with the curly girl method is that the tighter your curls, the longer you wait between washes. So, with straight hair (which is prone to quickly looking greasy) you’ll want to wash your hair every three to four days.

You might find that you can’t go for three to four days, but you also might find that you can go longer without washing. Ultimately, it’s really about waiting as long as you can before washing your hair.

3. Only Use Conditioner On the Ends

curly girl method for straight hair: skip the heat

Where it’s shampoo’s job to clean your hair, it’s conditioner’s job to re-hydrate your hair. By shampooing less frequently, you won’t be drying out your hair as much. Shampoo is harsh on your hair, after all. Never mind washing your hair also makes it dry out by stripping it of its natural oils.

If you’re like most, you’ll still want to use conditioner, but limit your use to only the ends of your hair. Leave your conditioner on your ends for at least five minutes before semi-rinsing.

Tip: Never fully wash out your conditioner! If you fully rinse out conditioner. If you do, then you render it useless as it won’t do anything but waste your money.

4. Skip the Heat

don't blow dry your hair

Heat has no place with healthy hair. Avoid heat tools, such as blow dryers and irons. Applying heat to your hair damages it so much that you’ll have a tough time growing your hair long. This is because heat causes breakage. Yikes.

Interested in growing out your hair? Check out these 18 tricks for long healthy hair.

5. Dry Your Hair With a Microfiber Towel

use a microfiber hair towel turban to dry hair

It’s one thing to pat down your body with a cotton towel, but don’t use it on your hair. Bath towels are notorious for damaging hair follicles. Instead, towel dry using a microfiber hair towel.

Get your microfiber hair towel ($9.89 for a 2-pack).

Tip: Use the hair towel turban in the shower to keep your hair dry on day you’re not washing it.

6. Use a Boar Bristle Brush

Most brushes damage hair, but not boar bristle brushes. They also help you more effectively distribute your natural oils from your scalp down to the ends of your hair. This helps your scalp look less greasy and moisturizes your hair naturally. It also means that you can shampoo less often (another CG method win). And for yet another win, you can get a boar bristle brush for under $10.

Tip: Don’t brush wet hair! Brushing wet hair will make you more susceptible to split ends and breakage.

7. Keep it Natural (Don’t Dye Your Hair!)

how to use the curly girl method on straight hair

Whether you know it or not, your natural hair is beautiful. It’s unique, it’s you, and yes, it’s beautiful. Part of the point of the CG method is to help you rock your natural locks, and it’s not only about texture, but color too. Your hair will be in better condition by skipping the dye, and it will also fit your skin tone, eyes, and eyebrows better.

Tip: If you’re afraid of how your hair will look as your grow it out and go natural, go for highlights, or partial foils to help blend your hair color without dying all of it. Alternatively, if your current color is drastically different from your natural color, then try dying it your natural color so when it grows out you don’t look like a 1990’s Mustang with a racing stripe down your part.

Benefits of Using the Curly Girl Method for Straight Hair

Sure there are benefits of using the CGM on straight hair, but the main benefit always being touted is that it helps enhance your natural curls. And if you don’t have natural curls? Using this approach to take good care of your hair will help boost its appearance and strength. In turn, it will help to improve the overall condition of your hair health, and possibly of your general health.

  • Improve the condition of your hair
  • Eliminate harmful chemicals from your haircare routine
  • Get shinier hair
  • Helps to reduce frizz
  • You may discover you have a natural wave
  • Enjoy your naturally beautiful hair