Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you want to know about your curls, our products and how we ship. Can't find your answer? Contact us and our team will help.
- Shipping & Delivery
- Returns & Refunds
- How to Use Our Products
- Ingredients
- The Curly Girl Method
- Protein vs. Protein-Free
- Your Curl Type
- About Us & Canada
Shipping & Delivery
Where do you ship from, and how long does delivery take?
We ship from our US warehouse, so your curls get their products fast. Most US orders arrive within 3 to 7 business days after processing. You'll get a tracking link by email the moment your order ships, with no long waits and no overseas customs.
Do you ship to Canada?
Yes. We ship from our US warehouse to both the United States and Canada. Canadian orders usually arrive in about 6 to 12 business days. Import duties or customs fees may apply on cross-border orders and are the recipient's responsibility.
Is shipping free?
Yes. We offer free US shipping on orders over $100. Orders below that amount have a flat rate that is clearly shown at checkout, and your cart always tells you how close you are to free shipping.
How soon will my order be processed?
We process most orders within 1 to 2 business days. Order early in the week for the quickest turnaround. Once your order leaves our US warehouse, you'll receive a tracking link by email so you can follow every step.
Can I track my order?
Yes. As soon as your order ships from our US warehouse, we email you a tracking link so you can follow it to your door. If you haven't received tracking within a few business days, check your spam folder or reach out to us.
Returns & Refunds
What is your return policy?
We want you and your curls to be happy. If something isn't right, contact us within 14 days of delivery. For hygiene reasons, hair products must be unopened and unused to be returned. We'll always do our best to make it right.
My product arrived damaged, what now?
We're sorry! Email us within 7 days of delivery with your order number and a photo of the damage. We'll send a replacement or refund the item, with no long forms and no hassle. Looking after you is how we grow.
Can I exchange a product?
Of course. If a product doesn't suit your curls, reach out and we'll help you find a better match from our range, or arrange an exchange or refund per our return policy. Not sure which product fits? Just ask us.
How long do refunds take?
Once we receive and check your returned item, we process refunds within 5 to 10 business days to your original payment method. Your bank may take a few extra days to show it. We'll email you the moment your refund is on its way.
How to Use Our Products
What order do I apply my curly hair products?
Keep it simple, in three steps. Cleanse with the Peppermint Clean Shampoo, condition with the Leave-in Conditioner, then style with a flaxseed gel, all on soaking-wet hair. Once a week, add the Intense Protein Mask as your Weekly Boost.
How do I use flaxseed gel for defined curls?
On soaking-wet, conditioned hair, rake a generous amount of Magical Flaxseed Gel through your curls, then scrunch upward. Let it air-dry or diffuse. Once dry, scrunch out the cast to reveal soft, defined, frizz-free curls with natural shine.
How often should I wash my curly hair?
Most curls thrive on washing 1 to 3 times a week, because curly and coily hair is naturally drier than straight hair. Cleanse when your scalp feels oily or product builds up, and refresh with your leave-in between washes.
How much product should I use?
Start with less than you think, then build up. Fine or wavy hair needs a little, while thick, coily hair needs more. Always apply styling gel to soaking-wet hair for even, frizz-free definition.
Can I use these products every day?
Your leave-in and styling gels are gentle enough for daily or refresh use. Cleanse only when you need to, 1 to 3 times a week. Use the Intense Protein Mask once a week as a treatment, since it's a concentrated repair boost.
Do I apply products to wet or dry hair?
Soaking wet. The Curly Girl Method works best when you cleanse, condition and style on dripping-wet hair, so products spread evenly and lock in moisture. Water is your first styling ingredient, so never skip it.
Ingredients
Are your products sulfate- and silicone-free?
Yes. Every Pretty Curly Girl USA product is free from sulfates, silicones, parabens, waxes, mineral oils and drying alcohols. That's what makes them Curly Girl Method approved, so your curls stay clean, moisturized and healthy.
Are your products vegan and cruelty-free?
Yes. All of our products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free, with no animal ingredients and never tested on animals. It's one of the values our founder built this brand on, and it will never change.
What ingredients do you deliberately avoid?
We practice ingredient honesty. Beyond sulfates and silicones, we skip popular but problematic ingredients like coconut oil, argan oil, olive oil and aloe vera, which can weigh curls down or cause buildup. Our formulas are 98% natural.
Where are Pretty Curly Girl products made?
They're made in the USA using European-sourced ingredients that meet strict EU cosmetic safety standards. We're a Dutch brand with local US production, so American and Canadian curls get the exact European formulas we're known for.
Are your products safe for color-treated hair?
Yes. Our sulfate, silicone and drying-alcohol-free formulas are gentle on color-treated and chemically processed curls. Because we skip harsh surfactants, your color stays truer for longer. Always patch-test if you have a sensitive scalp.
The Curly Girl Method
What is the Curly Girl Method?
The Curly Girl Method is a curl-care approach that ditches sulfates, silicones, waxes and drying alcohols so your natural texture can thrive. In short, it's gentle cleansing, lots of moisture, and styling on soaking-wet hair.
What are the basic steps of the Curly Girl Method?
There are four simple steps. Cleanse with a sulfate-free shampoo, condition and detangle with moisture, style with a curl gel on soaking-wet hair, then dry by air or diffuser and scrunch out the cast. Once a week, add a treatment.
Are Pretty Curly Girl products Curly Girl Method approved?
Yes. Our range is Curly Girl Method approved, free from sulfates, silicones, parabens, waxes, mineral oils and drying alcohols. Our shampoo, leave-in and flaxseed gels are also protein-free and vegan.
Do I have to follow the Curly Girl Method perfectly?
No. The method is a helpful guide, not a rulebook. Do what works for your curls and your life. Our products keep you compatible with the method either way, so you never have to check a label twice.
Can wavy hair follow the Curly Girl Method?
Yes. The Curly Girl Method works for every texture, from wavy to curly and coily. Wavier hair usually needs lighter products and a gentler hand, so start with less gel and our flexible-hold options for soft, bouncy definition.
Protein vs. Protein-Free
Are your products protein-free?
Yes, with one deliberate exception. Our Peppermint Clean Shampoo, Leave-in Conditioner and all our flaxseed styling gels are 100% protein-free. The only protein product we make is the Intense Protein Mask, a weekly repair treatment for curls that need extra strength.
How do I know if my hair is protein-sensitive?
If your curls feel stiff, straw-like, brittle or crunchy after protein products, they may be protein-sensitive and want moisture instead. A quick test is to gently stretch a wet strand. If it snaps fast it may need protein; if it stretches and stays limp it needs moisture.
What is a protein-free curly hair routine?
It's a routine that gives your curls moisture, definition and hold without protein, which is perfect for protein-sensitive or high-porosity hair that overloads easily. Use our protein-free Shampoo, Leave-in and flaxseed gels to cleanse, condition and style.
Can I use the Intense Protein Mask if my hair is protein-sensitive?
No. This mask contains protein by design, as a weekly repair treatment for curls that need a strength boost. If your curls are protein-sensitive, stick to our protein-free Shampoo, Leave-in Conditioner and flaxseed gels instead.
What's the difference between protein and protein-free products?
Protein products temporarily strengthen and rebuild damaged, weak or over-elastic curls. Protein-free products focus purely on moisture, slip and definition. Most people need mostly moisture with the occasional protein boost, so balance is everything.
Your Curl Type
Which products are best for wavy hair (type 2)?
Waves love light layers. Reach for our Peppermint Clean Shampoo, a small amount of Leave-in Conditioner, and our Flexible Hold Gel for soft, touchable, bouncy waves. Apply to soaking-wet hair and use less product than you think.
Which products are best for curly hair (type 3)?
Type 3 curls thrive on moisture plus definition. Cleanse with the Peppermint Clean Shampoo, hydrate with the Leave-in Conditioner, and define with the Magical Flaxseed Gel for all-day, frizz-free hold. Add the mask weekly if curls feel dry.
Which products are best for coily hair (type 4)?
Coily curls are the driest and thirstiest, so lead with moisture. Use the Leave-in Conditioner generously, seal with a flaxseed gel, and treat weekly with the Intense Protein Mask if your curls feel weak. Apply everything to soaking-wet hair in sections.
Are your products good for high-porosity hair?
Yes. High-porosity curls soak up and lose moisture fast, so they love our sulfate, silicone and protein-free formulas that hydrate without heavy buildup. Layer your leave-in and flaxseed gel to lock moisture in.
I don't know my curl type, where do I start?
No problem, our whole range works across wavy, curly and coily hair. The easiest start is the Keep It Simple set, which cleanses, conditions and styles in three steps. From there, adjust how much product you use.
About Us & Canada
Who is behind Pretty Curly Girl?
Pretty Curly Girl was founded by Hanan el Fizazi, a Rotterdam-born entrepreneur who set out to make curl care that truly works and respects natural texture. We're a small, independent, woman-owned brand. Be Pretty. Be Curly. Be You.
Is Pretty Curly Girl really made in the USA?
Yes. We're a Dutch brand with local US production. Your products are made in the USA using European-sourced ingredients that meet strict EU cosmetic safety standards, so American and Canadian curls get the exact European formulas we're loved for.
Are your products right for me if I'm new to curly hair care?
Absolutely. We built our brand around Keep It Simple, a three-step routine anyone can follow. Start with the Keep It Simple set, follow cleanse, condition and style, and give your curls a few weeks.
Do you sell in Canada?
Yes. We ship from our US warehouse to both the United States and Canada, so Canadian curls get the same clean, Curly Girl Method approved, vegan formulas. Delivery usually takes about 6 to 12 business days, and import duties may apply.