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The system in based on the fact that most hair care products these days, contain two ingredients known as 'silicones' and 'sulfates', which are not friends with curly hair. Silicones are designed to smooth hair and lock in moisture, and are used in many conditioners and styling products; however they are not usually water soluble and can only be removed by using a harsh cleansers known as sulfates, of which the most common is sodium Laureth Sulfate, and is found in the majority of shampoos. The logic behind the 'Curly Girl' system is that curly and wavy hair is often too dry and fragile to cope with the repeated use of a harsh sulfate cleanser and that this dries out the hair causing it to frizz and poof up like a sheep with it's hooves stuck in an electrical socket. The 'Curly Girl' method, which despite the name is not gender specific, involves cutting these ingredients out and forgoing shampoo altogether, though if one is more timid or at the finer, wavier end of the spectrum a 'low poo'; a shampoo with a gentler cleansing agent, can be used. The theory is that if one uses silicone free products hair can be effectively cleansed by using only conditioner, thus keeping hair moist and manageable.

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So after finding an appropriately silicone free conditioner, which is quite a hard task on the high street, I was off. The first time was odd indeed, being so used to shampoo I was unused to the foam free practice of 'co-washing' (washing hair using only conditioner), but being the pioneering sort I persevered. The key to a good co-wash is a good scalp massage, you need to get right to the roots and spend a good few minutes being quite firm with your fingertips. Scalp massage is good for stimulating hair growth and is rather relaxing to boot. Then one rinses out the conditioner and applies yet more conditioner, usually a thicker more moisturizing sort, to comb through those tangles gently and painlessly; which for someone who spent a childhood screaming in agony when having tangles brushed out was quite the revelation.

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Then another rinse, some leave in conditioner and you're onto the shower section. The curly girl rules stipulate that a silicone free gel can be used to create definition and hold and that under no circumstances should you rub your hair with a towel! Instead you 'scrunch' using a microfibre cloth, tea towel or old t -shirt. You can also use this as the basis for a 'plop', which is a way of making sure your curls stay squashed in the right way in a nifty turban style headdress. It is recommended you let hair dry naturally or use a difusser on your hair dryer. Oh and don't brush or comb it when dry!