Curls are gorgeous. Big curls, tight curls, beach wave curls, frizzy curls… they’re all beautiful. But maintaining them is loads of work. Curly hair isn’t like regular, straight hair. I mean, all types of hair need love and care, but when it comes to those curls, they need extra attention. When you start taking good care of your curls, only then will you start loving your curly hair looks. Trust me, I’m a former curly-haired girl myself and I learned the hard way to treasure my curls. Which is why I figured I would compile all the hacks that had helped me maintain my curls over the years.
These are just simple and basic hacks, nothing too crazy, like dipping your head in a bowl of eggs, or something. It’s everyday stuff that you may be doing wrong that can potentially damage those beautiful curls.
1. Choosing The Right Shampoo and Conditioners
Curly hairs have the tendency to get dry pretty quickly and also get greasy really fast. Curly hairs need a specific shampoo that is designed to enhance those curls without drying them off. For curly hair, it is best to find mild shampoos that are gentler on the hair.
When searching for the right shampoo and conditioner, look for products that have;
- Essential or natural oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil and sunflower oil.
- Aloe Vera (has soothing properties and is good for damaged curly hairs)
- Keratin
- Shea Butter
- Plant Extracts
- Panthenol and provitamins
All the ingredients mentioned above are really beneficial for curly-haired girls. So don’t simply pick a shampoo and conditioner – take time finding the right one that will give your hair all the love it needs in the shower.
2. Pre-Shampoo Oiling Treatment
Now, most of you may not be a fan of this, but it is highly important to nourish your curly hair. Before showering your hair, try the oiling treatment. The oiling treatment is when you simmer your curls from the roots to the ends with any type of oil for an hour or two before washing it off. The oils that I would recommend are coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil and olive oil.
How to:
1. Put any one of the oils recommended above in a small bowl. (You can even lightly heat up the oil to activate it)
2. Partition your hair into sections from left to right or whichever way you prefer.
3. Apply the oil with your fingertips, starting from the roots of the hair in each section.
4. While applying on the roots, be sure to massage the roots as well.
5. When the roots are done, dip the rest of your hair into the oil and gently smooth it out among the curls.
6. Use your fingertips that are dipped in oil to curl your hair to further enhance those curls.
7. Lastly, with the excess oil in your hands, give yourself a much needed scalp massage.
A tip when massaging your scalp is to bend your head over upside-down and massage in that manner for a few seconds. Massaging the scalp with oil enables faster hair growth. This is great for curly haired people who can’t seem to grow their hair to the desired length. Oiling your hair before shampooing allows your hair to be moisturised and this technique helps tame curly hair as well as giving it a healthy glow. Trust me when I say it works cause it did marvels for my curly hair.
3. Never Wash Your Hair – Too Hot Or Too Cold
When showering your hair, the shampoo and conditioner you use aren’t the only concern – the temperature of the water is equally important. I know we all love a good hot, steaming shower, making us feel like we are at a spa. But while you are enjoying the heat, your hair is struggling. Too hot showers can strip your hair of moisture and make it super dry, which could be the reason why your curls are just a frizzy mess. Too cold showers are also not recommended for a head bath. When showering your hair, adjust the water to room temperature, which is perfect for your hair. It may not seem that important, but it will result in healthy curls after showering.
4. Heat Styling For Curly Hair
The best way for curly hairs to dry after a shower is air-drying. Throughout my curly haired days, air-drying was the only method I went for after every hair wash. Yes, it does take time, especially for curly hair, but the natural way of drying your hair saves it from chemical and heat damage that is extremely unsafe for your curls.
Similarly, when using heat tools like straighteners and curlers, always and I repeat ALWAYS remember to use heat protectant sprays first, before directly applying a few degrees of heat onto your hair. Your curls will thank you.
5. Combs or Brushes/ Combing Routine
When it comes to this question, I would always suggests curly hairs are better off with combs than brushes. One thing about curly hair is that no matter how many times you brush it, your hair will still manage to be tangled in the end. It’s super easy for curly hairs to get tangled, and using hair brushes that can be highly compact can cause more breakage and irritate the knots, which worsens the situation. Hair combs on the other hand are better for detangling knots for curly hairs.
And here are things to not do to your beautiful curls:
- Never use products that contain sulfate, fragrances, harsh chemicals and alcohol. These ingredients damage the curls, and texture and health of your hair.
- Pulling back your hair into a tight ponytail. Ouch! Even imagining it hurts my head. Never stretch the strands of your so harshly – it can cause breakage and even split ends.
- Detangling dry hair. Do not detangle your curls when they’re dry. Use some sort of oil to soften the tangles then proceed to detangle softly, starting from the ends of your hair all the way to the roots. This technique avoids excessive hair loss during detangling.
- And shampooing frequently is a big NO. Over-shampooing your hair can dry it out really badly, and strip your curls of natural moisture.
So there ya go, curly-haired beauties. Now you know how to maintain and rock those curls.
More on hair hacks? Read here:
https://lipstiq.com/hair/192711/curl-ourful-6-important-tips-for-dyeing-curly-hair/
https://lipstiq.com/hair/201390/8-ways-to-static-proof-your-hair-stat/
