As the year comes to an end I’d love to share with you a list of my favourite Curly Girl products of 2020. I’ve been following the Curly Girl Method for a few years now and my favourite products have changed over time as my hair’s condition has improved.
My health hasn’t been great this year and this has affected my hair. Not only has it thinned a bit – I guess aged has also contributed to this – but it also started falling out a bit, to the point where you could see some bald patches. Luckily with my health improving and healthy eating I’ve managed to restore it.
This year I’ve used Ayurvedic plants and clay masks more often to encourage growth and get healthier hair. I love trying new products but these are those that I’ve kept going back to over and over this year. My hair is low porosity and gets worn down easily so I try not to use too many ‘leave-in’ or heavy products. These products might not work for you. and if you are a regular reader you will know I always say it’s all trial and error when it comes to the Curly Girl Method. But if you are looking for new products to try you might want to give any of these a go.
These below have been my favourite curly girl products of 2020:
My Favourite Curly Girl Products of 2020
Favourite Co-wash
This has been my favourite co-wash for years, in fact I haven’t found any other I like as much as this one. As I am Coconut Co-Wash is perfect for my fine hair, not too heavy. It leaves my scalp feeling really clean and it smells amazing. I only wash my hair once or twice a week but I guess it would be ok for daily use as it’s quite moisturizing. This co-wash is glycerin free so it’s ideal to use in high humidity conditions.
Favourite Low -Poo
Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream
This is a great alternative to shampoo and I like to use it from time to time when I want a change from co-washing. It’s a gentle wash that doesn’t leave the hair dry, leaving it moisturized instead. This is not like a shampoo, being a low -poo it doesn’t lather too much but it still cleans the hair really well.
Favourite Clarifying Shampoo
Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo
Clarifying once a month or every six weeks in quite important to avoid product build up. If you live in hard water area you might need to clarify more frequently too. Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo is a bit more expensive than some others out there in the market, but one bottle will last a long time so it’s quite good value for money. I’ve had the same bottle for probably 2 years and it’s still half full. I love how it leaves my hair really clean and removes all the build up. I always deep condition after using this, otherwise my hair would be a bit dry.
Favourite Deep Conditioner
Mielle Organics Babassu Oil Mint Deep Conditioner
This is my favourite deep conditioner; it smells amazing. In fact you can still smell the mint a day after using it. It does contain protein which is not great for everyone, but I think it gives a great protein – moisture balance. For me, the trick is to not leave it on too long; 15 minutes is enough to leave my hair really soft and looking healthy. If your hair loves or needs more protein, it might be worth leaving it on for longer.
Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Papaya
This is my favourite non-protein deep conditioner. I’ve been using Garnier’s Ulitmate Blends Hair Food Papaya for years, in fact I used to buy it in Spain and bring it over to the UK before it was available here. This is my favourite conditioner of the hair food range, I tried some others, but the Papaya it’s by far the best. I love that it can be used three ways, as a normal conditioner, as a deep conditioner or as a leave in. My hair absolutely loves it, especially as a deep conditioner. I use clay masks regularly – you can read about it here – and I usually leave this on for about an hour or so afterwards, it leaves my curls really soft.
Favourite Leave In
Only Curls Hydrating Curl Cream *
To be honest, I don’t use leave-in conditioners or creams very often. But when I do, this is the only one I use. I don’t usually use these products because my hair is fine and low porosity and products like this build up really quickly. Only Curls Hydrating Curl Cream is light and suits my fine hair. It contains aloe, shea butter and marula oil to help hydration and replenish moisture. It doesn’t wear my hair down and it smells amazing.
Favourite Mousse
Pantene Pro-V Styling Mousse Defined Curls No 5
I’ve been using this mousse for years, even before I ever heard of the Curly Girl Method. It is probably my number one favourite CG product. This mousse doesn’t dry the curls, unlike some other brands, and gives a strong hold and great definition. The packaging has recently changed and for some reason it’s not as widely available as it used to be. I hope they don’t discontinue it! Be careful though, the No5 is the only Curly Girl approved mousse of the range.
Favourite Gel
Jessicurl Spiralicius Styling Gel
There are many reasons why I love this gel. It’s glycerin free, so ideal for London’s winter and for those humid summer days. It gives a strong hold, which is something I love when using hair styling products and it doesn’t dry my hair. I never used styling gels until I started following the Curly Girl Method, but they are now part of my routine. I always use mousse first and then gel, although lately I’m using just gel, I find Jessicurl Spiralicius Styling Gel gives me enough hold and definition on it’s own.
This styling gel has a very small amount of Ethanol which is a drying alcohol, but the proportion is so small that it doesn’t have much of an impact.
Favourite Oil
A mixture of olive oil, castor oil, mandarin, camomile and rosemary essential oils that smells amazing and helps hydrate the hair. I love using it as a prepoo – I put a small amount on my scalp and ends, and leave it for about 30 minutes before rinsing it properly. I sometimes add a couple of drops to my hair once it’s dry as it’s great to lock in moisture. This oil smells amazing and a bottle will go a long way.
Favourite diffuser
There are mixed reviews about this diffuser, I know some people love it and some don’t rate it very high. I’ve been using it for a while now and I love it. It’s compact and quite light which I really like. It has two settings, both with hot air but I don’t see it as a problem. My curls are super defined and look amazing, a look I haven’t been able to achieve with any other hairdryers / diffusers
Favourite Accessory
I never thought I’ve be this excited about a spray bottle, but this is amazing. It’s an easy way to refresh curls, I love the continuous flow of fine mist. A few sprays and my hair is refreshed with the right amount of water. It’s not a huge bottle so it does need to be refilled frequently but it’s actually a handy size to have in the bathroom.
These are my favourite curly girl products of 2020. Have you tried any of them? Let me know what you think.
You can read all my other Curly Girl Method posts here
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Products marked * have been previously gifted
