What is the Curly Girl Method? Step-by-step guide for beautiful curls

10.03.2026

With the Curly Girl Method, even slightly wavy hair can develop into beautiful, natural curls. The method focuses on natural care, which is a central part of ZENZ's philosophy. Read more about the method below, and which products we recommend for creating beautiful and well-groomed curls.

Step 1 consists of either a co-wash or a low-poo. Washing hair with only conditioner is called co-wash (conditioner only wash), while low-poo is a mild hair wash with shampoo.

Co-washing can be a good way to ensure that the hair is cleansed of styling products while also being given moisture between shampoo washes. However, this requires that the styling products do not contain silicone, which ZENZ Organics styling products are completely free of.

It is often recommended to use conditioner only on the lengths of the hair and not the scalp. However, a silicone-free conditioner can be used from root to tip. This allows the scalp to restore its healthy and natural balance with the conditioner's nourishing ingredients.

If you prefer to use a shampoo, you can opt for a low-poo wash, using a mild shampoo free from unwanted chemicals. Our experts use ZENZ Organic Products, as they are both gentle and contain nourishing sulfates from coconut that don't dry out the hair, but gently cleanse, nourish, and add moisture. A suitable shampoo is Shampoo Deep Wood no. 07, which provides intensive care and has a lovely warm scent of cedarwood and patchouli. Shampoo Rhassoul no. 16 is also recommendable, as it cleanses the hair very gently, while the mineral-rich rhassoul clay from Morocco soothes and nourishes.

Once the hair has been cleansed with a co-wash or low-poo, it's time for a nourishing conditioner. ZENZ's experts recommend Conditioner Deep Wood no. 08 if the hair is very much in need of moisture or chemically colored. If, on the other hand, it tends to become greasy, the lighter Conditioner Sweet Sense no. 05 is ideal, as it both lifts and creates volume even in fine hair. If the hair needs extra moisture and care, Treatment Pure no. 03 is recommended as a nourishing hair treatment. It enriches the hair and curls with proteins, vitamins, and minerals, leaving it strengthened and silky soft.

Afterwards, squeeze the water out of the hair with a towel, but avoid rubbing it too hard so the hair isn't damaged. For the Curly Girl Method, a microfiber towel or a cotton t-shirt is recommended, but you can also use a pure cotton terry towel.

In the Curly Girl Method, natural care is the focus. It is therefore also important that you don't blow-dry your hair too often, and only do so on low heat. This ensures that the hair isn't dried out by the hot air. It is recommended to use a diffuser, which distributes the heat and is gentler on the hair.

To avoid blow-drying, the hair can be washed in the evening so it can air-dry overnight. For more defined and shaped curls, the wet hair can be gathered up on top of the head in a towel or a t-shirt, so the curls aren't pulled out of shape by gravity. Another trick is to pin up the damp curls with clips, as this creates good air circulation, allowing the hair to dry quickly while the scalp can breathe.

The experts at ZENZ always recommend a heat-protecting product after washing and before blow-drying. For example, use our Styling Gel Sweet Orange no. 12 or Hair Styling Mousse Pure no. 90, which add moisture and are well-suited for step 3 of the Curly Girl Method. Scrunch the products into the hair, tilt your head down, and blow-dry from the tips upward.

When air-drying, gel cast/scrunch-cast creates a beautiful curl structure. Here, a generous layer of Styling Gel Sweet Orange no. 12 is scrunched into the damp hair, so it forms a heavy "shell" of gel around the hair strands before it air-dries. Once the hair is dry, the gel can be scrunched out with the hands. A towel and a little Oil Treatment Deep Wood no. 99 can optionally be used to release the gel cast from the hair.

Once the hair is dry, feel free to use extra styling gel to gather and define the curls. Avoid heated styling tools, as they dry out the hair just like the hair dryer. Finish by scrunching natural oil into the ends. Our Oil Treatments are made from 100% natural ingredients and are completely free of mineral oils.

Our experts recommend a leave-in conditioner if the hair needs moisture during the day. Distribute the conditioner in your palms and scrunch it into the hair from the bottom up. Make it a habit to always keep a conditioner in your bag – for example, Conditioner Cactus no. 18, which is available in a travel size. You can also mix 1 part conditioner with 4 parts water in a spray bottle to make a leave-in conditioner spray.

EXTRA TIPS: DETOX AND TREATMENT

Before starting the Curly Girl Method, it can be beneficial to give the hair and scalp a detox and a nourishing hair treatment. Here are two steps our experts recommend.

DETOX FOR HAIR AND SCALP

It's important to cleanse the hair to remove silicone residue, lime scale, and dirt before using care products. Our experts recommend Hair & Scalp Rinse Fresh Herbs no. 87, an intensive hair treatment that cleanses deeply without drying out the hair, while also adding moisture from aloe vera. Three capsules of it should be used, dissolved in a glass of water and poured over the hair. It should be massaged in well and left on for 2-3 minutes, after which the hair is rinsed thoroughly and finished with conditioner.

Although conditioner should always be used after a hair detox, a deep-acting protein treatment will work wonders on any hair type. Our experts recommend Treatment Pure no. 03 with gluten-free wheat protein, which penetrates right into the core of the hair strand and strengthens and moisturizes the hair from within. By using an Oil Treatment, the hair gets an extra moisture boost, and the treatment can be left in the hair overnight. A protein treatment can be used as needed, though most people will benefit from a weekly treatment. Which products best moisturize each individual's curls without weighing them down depends on the thickness of the hair strands, the curl structure, whether the scalp is balanced, and much more.

Natural, soft curls are easily achieved with the Curly Girl Method, and ZENZ Organic Products are tailor-made for it. Our concept is based on natural care with pure, certified organic ingredients. We steer clear of silicone, which forms a film around the hair strand, preventing nourishing ingredients from penetrating. Similarly, we avoid drying alcohols and sulfates, which not only remove the dirt we want to get rid of, but also strip away the nourishing, natural fats that would otherwise keep the scalp healthy. No hair type benefits from drying chemicals – not even greasy hair, as it throws the scalp out of balance.

To help you navigate the jungle of ingredients, we've created this mini-guide:

• Silicone: Avoid ingredients ending in -icone or -ixane.
• Sulfates: Avoid the most commonly used drying sulfates: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).
• Alcohol: Only use the fatty alcohols cetearyl, lauryl, cetyl, myristyl, stearyl, and behenyl alcohol.