An in-depth review of Curly Girl the Handbook by Lorraine Massey plus what I loved about it and how I implemented the recommendations in my hair care regimen.
I’ve read various books about hair over the years and found them helpful in developing healthy hair care practices.
Recently, I picked up Curly Girl The Handbook for the first time. The first version of this book came out about ten years ago.
However, the one I bought was the updated version with expanded information and a lot of new materials.
Curly Girl the Handbook Review
There are several things mentioned in the book, which are key components to the regimen of a curly girl such as:
Avoid Sulphate Shampoos
Don’t use sulfate-based shampoos or any products containing silicone. Those were the first things to go when I started my healthy hair journey.
Use Non-Drying Gels
Style your hair by scrunching with a non-drying gel after washing.
My all-time favorites are Giovanni La Natural Styling Gel and Quidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel.
The climate control gel really makes my curls pop. In recent times, I’ve taken to making my own hair gel.
Air-dry Your Curls
Air-dry your hair, or use a hairdryer with a diffuser attached. I go for air-drying as I don’t have the patience to use a hairdryer without ripping at my hair.
Co-wash More
Co-washing or cleansing with a cleansing conditioner is the cornerstone of the Curly Girl Method.
The Curly Girl the Handbook also includes several different categories of curl types:-
- Waves
- Loose curls
- Tight curls
- S’wavy
- Wavy
- Cherub
- Botticelli
- Corkicelli
- Corkscrew
- Fractal or zigzag
I wasn’t too focused on the curl typing system as I prefer the type 1 – 4 system.
The book also offers a simple and straightforward pinecone explanation about the hair cuticle.
Curl Girl The Handbook
What I Loved About Curly Girl the Handbook
The section on products and home-made recipes is a gem.
I was intrigued with the Scrub me the Right Way exfoliating cleanser recipe, which is a perfect fit for the unused packet of quinoa in my kitchen cabinet.
I also loved the versatile lavender spray recipe which I will be trying ASAP. These are just two of the fabulous sounding home-made recipes in the book.
Sprinkled throughout the book are several “curl confessions” from curly-haired readers who eventually learned to let go of harmful hair practices and embrace their glorious curls.
Though the author is the owner of a product line, she didn’t try to push this in the book.
She was open about what to watch out for in hair products, which lends more credibility to the information in the book.
Also included with the Curly Girl the Handbook is a 25-minute DVD with various techniques demonstrated.
For someone who finds styling a challenge, this is quite useful including the chapter on how to trim your own hair.
There’s also a great section on curly Qs & As at the end where common questions are answered extensively.
Buy Curly Girl the Handbook
Overall, the Curly Girl the Handbook was a fast read and contained comprehensive information every curly hair girl needs to know.
I highly recommend it if you are new to the world of embracing your curls. Get your copy HERE.
365 Days of Moisture for Dry and Parched Hair
If you want a curly hair book that’s more focused on black hair care, then 365 Days of Moisture for Dry and Parched Hair might be a better fit for you.
Book 4 in the Healthy Hair Care series covers the best solutions and dry hair remedies for you to achieve and maintain moisture every day of the year and longer.
It also covers the best hair care practices for perfect moisture retention on even the driest of hair, the best products that fit every budget, and much more.
The book is updated every year. You can learn more and grab up to 20% off as a valued subscriber HERE.