“Curly hair: it’s the perfect balance of wild and free-spirited.”
– Styled by Christina
Do you find that having curly hair can be overwhelming at times? Maybe even realizing that curly hair is a force in its own right? We have great hair days, and then suddenly, it turns into a really bad hair day. Why is that? Well… hopefully I can help shed some light on some of those issues and what you can do to avoid them.
Let’s start off with a couple of tips that can help you manage your luscious locks even better!
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- 1. Try not to wash your hair very often. By that, I’m not saying just to shampoo once a month; I mean more like 2-3x per week… or so. Curly hair is naturally drier, as every bend in the curl is a weak spot; it can be prone to breakage, which causes the hair to get frizzy over time if it’s not properly cared for. Using a sulfate-free shampoo is a better option, making sure to avoid shampoos with silicones in them because that will coat the hair, leaving it unable to retain moisture, which is vital with this texture type. Conditioning, on the other hand, should be done more frequently. Make sure to find the proper conditioner for your hair type. For instance, if you have fine but curly hair, use a lightweight conditioner to avoid flat, oily, weighed-down curls. If you have thick, coarse curls, find an intense moisturizing conditioner to help add weight to avoid the unintended “crazy hair day.” Curly hair is happiest when it’s moisturized. Rinse with cool water as well. This seals down the cuticle, causing less tangles and frizz, and will lock in moisture.
- 2. Use a wide-toothed comb when brushing out the curl, as this will provide the least amount of disruption with the curl pattern. Imagine your curls coiled together in the perfect shape, and you come raking through it with a brush or comb, spreading it apart, causing it to get wild and crazy, but not the way you prefer. Ensure that when you use the wide-toothed comb, your hair is wet and moisturized with a leave-in conditioner. This creates a barrier between the hair and the friction from the comb and gives the proper lubrication or slip needed to avoid damage. Always start from the ends, gently taking the comb and press down, then pull out the comb gently, repeating this until you’ve worked your way up to the root. When drying your hair after the shower, using an old T-shirt is better than your traditional terry cloth towel. Just put your head through the shirt hole, twist, and clip it up to allow your curl to dry naturally while the shirt gently pulls away moisture.
- 3. Avoid heat tools when you can. If heat styling is a must, my “go-to” tool is…. are you ready for this? A spaghetti strainer! You read that right: a spaghetti strainer. Believe it or not, once you’ve applied styling product to your hair, you can flip your head upside down, cup the strainer over your hair, then set your dryer on low speed, low heat, and evenly move the dryer back and forth. Then, after a couple of minutes, voila! The strainer creates a meshed holder for the curl, allowing air to penetrate just enough without the constant touching and scrunching. It’s the perfect tool. And the best part? I bet you already have one in your cabinet. Give it a try; I can almost guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
- 4. The use of a silk/satin pillowcase or hair bonnet protects your curl because it doesn’t cause nearly as much friction as your hair would experience otherwise. Sleeping with wet hair is a huge “no-no” because your hair is at its weakest when it’s wet, leaving it more prone to breakage. Even drying it between 70-80% is better than leaving it sopping wet. In short, wet hair + sleep = frizz central. No thanks, we’ll take a hard pass on that one!
