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Curly Girl Method Ingredients to Avoid: Complete List

Curly girl method ingredients to avoid explained in one complete list. Learn which sulfates, silicones, alcohols, and waxes to avoid and how to spot them.

Por Karla Reyes

If you’re starting the curly girl method, you’ve probably heard that there’s a list of prohibited ingredients, also known as non CGM-approved ingredients. But what exactly are they, and why should you avoid them?

Some common ingredients found in hair products can dry out curls, cause buildup, or block moisture from penetrating the hair shaft. Learning how to identify these ingredients is essential to building a healthy curly hair care routine.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the full list of curly girl method ingredients to avoid and explain how to spot them on product labels.

List of prohibited ingredients in the curly girl method

We can divide prohibited ingredients in the curly girl method into: drying alcohols, sulfates, water-insoluble silicones, mineral oils and petroleum derivatives, waxes, and other ingredients. Below is the complete list.

Drying alcohols

Some alcohols remove natural moisture from hair, which can lead to dryness and frizz. These are the drying alcohols:

  • Alcohol 40
  • Alcohol Denat
  • Denatured Alcohol
  • Ethanol
  • Ethyl Alcohol
  • Isopropanol
  • Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Propanol
  • Propyl Alcohol
  • SD Alcohol
  • SD Alcohol 40

Sulfates

Sulfates are strong detergents that deep clean, but they can strip natural oils and leave hair dry and prone to frizz. In the curly girl method, sulfates are typically used only for a final wash or occasional clarifying when needed. These are the sulfates to avoid:

  • Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
  • Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
  • Ammonium Xylenesulfonate
  • Ethyl PEG-15 Cocamine Sulfate
  • Olefin Sulfonate (all)
  • Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
  • Sodium Coco Sulfate
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate
  • Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
  • Sodium Myreth Sulfate
  • Sodium Olefin Sulfonate (all)
  • Sodium Xylenesulfonate

Water-insoluble silicones

Water-insoluble silicones can form a coating on the hair that blocks moisture. Since they don’t wash out easily, they often require sulfates to fully remove, which is why they’re generally not compatible with the curly girl method. These are the ones best to avoid:

  • Amino Bispropyl Dimethicone
  • Aminopropyl Dimethicone
  • Amodimethicone
  • Behenoxy Dimethicone
  • Bis (C13-C15 Alkoxy) PG-Amodimethicone
  • Bis-Amino PEG/PPG-41/3 Aminoethyl PG-Propyl Dimethicone
  • Bis-Aminoethyl Cyclohexene
  • Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone
  • C24-28 Alkyl Dimethicone
  • C30-45 Alkyl Dimethicone
  • C30-45 Alkyl Methicone
  • Cetearyl Methicone
  • Cetyl Dimethicone
  • Cyclomethicone
  • Cyclopentasiloxane
  • Dimethicone
  • Dimethiconol
  • Hexyl Methicone
  • Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone
  • Methicone
  • OFPMA-Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate
  • Phenyl Trimethicone
  • Phenylpropyl Dimethylsiloxysilicate
  • Polydimethylsiloxane
  • Propyl Dimethicone
  • Simethicone
  • Stearamidopropyl Dimethicone
  • Stearoxy Dimethicone
  • Stearyl Dimethicone
  • Stearyl Methicone
  • Trimethylsilylamodimethicone

Mineral oils and petroleum derivatives

These ingredients can create a barrier on the hair that prevents water and nutrients from absorbing properly:

  • Mineral Oil
  • Paraffinum Liquidum (liquid paraffin)
  • Petrolatum
  • Petroleum
  • Liquid Vaseline

Waxes

Waxes can cause buildup and often require sulfates for removal:

  • Bees Wax
  • Candelilla Wax
  • Wax
  • Waxes

Other ingredients to avoid

There are other ingredients that may affect hydration and curl health. Some can cause buildup, interfere with moisture absorption, or be too harsh for some scalps:

  • Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate
  • Alkylbenzene Sulfonate
  • Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
  • Emu Oil
  • ETAS-Expandable Textured Aerospheres
  • Hazel
  • Isoparafin
  • PBAE-Polyalkylaminoester-1
  • Sodium Carboxylate
  • Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
  • Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
  • Tea-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
  • Witch Hazel

How to check if a product is suitable for the curly girl method

There are different ways to check whether a product is curly girl method–approved. Reading the ingredient list is one option, but there are also tools that make it easier.

  • Ingredient checker tools: The Curly Check product finder can help you quickly check whether a product is suitable. Other popular options in English include CurlScan or CurlsBot.
  • Curly hair communities: Online groups and forums often share product lists, but formulas can vary by country and can change over time.
  • Check the label: Always review the ingredient list yourself. If you see any prohibited ingredients, the product is not suitable.

If you use an app or a community list, confirm the ingredient list on the bottle. Brands can change formulas without notice.

Are you ready to start with the curly girl method?

The CGM is based on using products that support hydration and curl health. Prohibited ingredients can contribute to dryness, buildup, and frizz.

Now that you know the main curly girl method ingredients to avoid, you can make more informed decisions and choose products that truly support your curls.

Last updated: December 03, 2025