So you’ve decided to embrace your natural waves and curls and follow the Curly Girl Method (CGM) – good for you. You are following the advice and you are checking the ingredients in hair care products to ensure that they are right for your hair. Great! To help you along, here is a list of ingredients to avoid, as well as those to look for.
Too much hassle to search the list? No problem. Just head over to CurlPlanet.com and search by product brand or name, to check whether your hair products are CGM compliant.
Sulfates to Avoid in CG Method
Alkylbenzene sulfonates
ammonium cocoyl sulfate
ammonium dodecyl sulfate
Ammonium laureth sulfate
Ammonium lauryl sulfate
ammonium xylenesulfonate
C12-14 Olefin sulfonate (BUT can occasionally be used to clarify)
C14-16 Olefin sulfonate (BUT can occasionally be used to clarify)
Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
Ethyl PEG-15 Cocamine Sulfate
monododecyl ester
sodium alkyl sulfate
sodium c12-18 alkyl sulfate
Sodium carboxylate (soap)
sodium cetearyl sulfate
sodium coceth sulfate
Sodium coco sulfate
Sodium cocoyl glutamate (mild)
Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
Sodium laureth sulfate
sodium laureth-40 sulfate
Sodium lauroyl Sarcosinate (on the milder side)
Sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (mild)
sodium myreth sulfate
sodium polystyrene sulfate
Sodium Xylenesulfonate
TEA lauryl sulfate
TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
triethanolamine lauryl sulfate
Non-Water Soluble Silicones to Avoid in CG Method
Aminopropyl Triethoxysilane
Amodimethicone
Behenoxy Dimethicone
Bis-Amino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl PG-Propyl Dimethicone
Bis-aminopropyl dimethicone
Cetearyl Methicone
Cetyl Dimethicone
Cyclomethicone
Cyclopentasiloxane
Dimethicone
Dimethiconol
Parsol SLX
Phenyl trimethicone
Polysilicone-15
Stearoxy Dimethicone
Stearyl Dimethicone
Trimethylsilylamodimethicone
Drying Alcohols to Avoid in CG Method
Denatured alcohol
Ethanol
Isopropanol
Isopropyl alcohol (also called IPA)
Propanol
Propyl alcohol
SD alcohol 40
More Ingredients to Avoid in CG Method
Formaldehyde
Mineral oil (paraffinum liquidum)
Parabens
Petrolatum/Petroleums
Phthalates
Soaps
Waxes: Beeswax, Candelilla wax
Itchy scalp for SOME
There are a class of ingredients called the ‘Itchy M’s’ such as Methylisothiazolinone and
Methylchloroisothiazolinone that you may wish to avoid
These are also used as preservatives and can cause an itchy scalp in some people:
Benzyl alcohol
Diazolidinyl urea
DMDM hydantoin
Imidazolidinyl urea
Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl parabens
Phenoxyethanol
Quaternium-15
Sodium Hydroxylmethylglycinate
THESE ARE GOOD:
Gentle cleansing ingredients include:
ammonium cocoyl isethionate
babassuamidopropyl betaine
behentrimonium methosulfate
capryl glucoside
caprylyl glucoside
Cocoamphodipropionate
Cocoamphoacetate
cocamidopropyl betaine
cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine
coco betaine
coco glucoside
decyl glucoside
decyl polyglucose
disodium 2-sulfolaurate
disodium cocoamphodiacetate
disodium cocoamphodipropionate
disodium laureth succinate
disodium laureth sulfosuccinate
disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate
lauroamphoacetate
lauryl glucoside
lauryl hydroxysultaine
sodium cocoamphoacetate
sodium cocoyl isethionate
sodium lauroamphoacetate
sodium lauroyl glutamate
sodium lauroyl hydrolyzed silk
sodium lauroyl lactylate
sodium lauroyl oat amino acids
sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate
sodium laurylglucosides hydroxypropylsulfonate
sodium methyl 2-sulfolaurate
sodium methyl cocoyl taurate
Water-soluble silicones
Look for the letters PEG or PPG. Examples are
DEA PG-Propyl PEG/PPG-18/21 Dimethicone
Dimethicone PEG-8 Phosphate
Dimethicone-PG Diethylmonium Chloride
Hydrolyzed Silk PG-Propyl Methylsilanediol Crosspolymer
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Hydroxypropyl Polysiloxane
PEG/PPG-20/15 Dimethicone
Fatty alcohols that provide slip:
Behenyl alcohol
Cetearyl alcohol
Cetyl alcohol
Isocetyl alcohol
Isostearyl alcohol
Lauryl alcohol
Myristyl alcohol
Stearyl alcohol
Humectants
1,2,6 hexanetriol
Butylene Glycol
Dipropylene glycol
Glycerin
Hexylene Glycol
Panthenol
Phytantriol
Propylene glycol
Sodium PCA
Sorbitol
Triethylene glycol
Polyglyceryl sorbitol
Glucose
Fructose
Polydextrose
Potassium PCA
Urea
Hydrogenated Honey
Hyaluronic Acid
Inositol
Hydrolyzed Elastin
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Hydrolyzed Silk
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Erythritol
Capryl glycol
Isoceteth-(3-10, 20, 30)
Isolaureth-(3-10, 20, 30)
Laneth-(5-50)
Laureth-(1-30)
Steareth-(4-20)
Trideceth-(5-50)
Plant-derived oils and butters (use in moderation, some build-up potential)
Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera)
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter
Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
Vitamins
Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5)
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
