Beauty and Grooming

How to Care for Curly Hair

Whether you want big bouncy curls, teased twists or kinky curly coils, it’s time to ditch the flat iron and learn to love your curls. The cuticle of curly hair tends to be rougher than straight hair and curly hair is a little dryer because it doesn’t receive the natural scalp oils that straight and wavy hair receives. Those with curly hair know that brushes are our number one enemy because brushing curls when dry leads to frizz. Lack of brushing means that natural oils cannot be distributed from root to tip to penetrate down the hair shaft so you need to make up for this by caring for your hair in the right ways.

Here we tell you 10 hair secrets that every curly girl should know.

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    Stop Using Heat

    Heat should be used with caution and not everyday. If you can ditch the heat completely then do. Extreme temperatures can cause breakage and irreversible damage that cannot be corrected despite what products on the market may claim. When your hair is damaged from heat the curl pattern will look looser and it won’t revert back to it’s natural curly state when washed. The only way to get rid of heat damage is to get your hair cut. If you can’t live without a hairdryer or flat iron then use one sparingly, once a month and always use a heat protection spray. We  recommend using Moroccanoil Heat Styling Protection Spray  because it protects against frizz and is light so won’t weigh your hair down or make it greasy.

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    Use Natural Ingredients

    Opt for cleansers that contain natural ingredients and ditch ones that contain parabens and sodium lauryl sulfate. Sodium lauryl sulfate is what makes your shampoo lather. This chemical is drying to the hair cuticles and follicles and can be harsh on your scalp. It can also make curly hair more prone to frizz. Try using a sulfate free shampoo like Kérastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste, and always cleanse from the bottom upwards. The top of your hair should be the last place you cleanse and the last place you rinse conditioner from.

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    Invest in a Good Conditioner

    Choose a good conditioner that can also be used as a leave-in. If you prefer to use a conditioner that washes out in the shower opt for a leave-in cream that can be left in after washing out your conditioner. We recommend the L’Oreal Professionnel Pro Fiber Recover Leave In Conditioner as it hydrates your hair and leaves your curls soft, bouncy and shiny without weighing them down.

    Shampooing your hair can leave it dehydrated because it strips the hair of its natural oil. When you wash your hair with warm water the cuticle is opened and the shampoo flows inside the hair shaft washing out the essential oils and nutrients your curly hair needs to stay hydrated. Wash only 3-4 times a week, and if you have Afro-Caribbean hair you can get away with washing it just once a week.

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  4. Hair Plopping

    Plopping your hair is the act of wrapping wet hair into a cloth instead of towel drying your hair. If you don’t have a cloth you can use a t-shirt so long as it’s 100% cotton.The t-shirt will help hold your natural curl pattern and is a better alternative to towel drying because the latter can lead to frizz and breakage.

    • When hair is wet, apply your leave-in product and then wrap hair into the t-shirt.
    • Put the t-shirt on a flat surface, lean over with your head tilted down and position the hair onto the t-shirt so that the curls are positioned on top of your head.
    • Twist the sides and tuck under like a head wrap.
  5. Don't Use Brushes

    Never comb your hair with brushes especially not when wet. This is when the hair is most vulnerable to splitting and breakage. Use your fingers and finger tease any knots out after you have applied conditioner in the shower and before rinsing it out. Brushing your curly hair when dry is just as damaging and will only lead to frizz.

  6. Don't Use Too Much Product

    If you have curly hair then getting it to look soft, shiny and healthy is a matter of trial and error. You’ll learn what products work best for you and how much product you need to apply in order to achieve the desired look. Curls should never look or feel crunchy and over cleansing or leaving too much product or conditioner in your hair will lead to this.

  7. Don't Touch!

    Once you have applied your leave-in or curl defining creams don’t touch your hair again until completely dry. This will cause frizz so leave your curls alone.

  8. Use Your Workout as a Curl Treatment

    You don’t have to pay for expensive treatments to keep your hair hydrated. Before starting your workout or stepping on the treadmill, run your styling cream or leave-in conditioner through your curls and tie your hair into a high bun on top of your head. Your body and scalp with produce heat and this will enable curls to absorb the moisture and conditioner.

  9. Next Day Curls

    Use the pineapple method to achieve second-day curls. This is a method employed by curly girls and keeps your hair stretched to combat curl shrinkage. Use a scrunchy rather than a tight hair bobble and tie your hair into a high pony at the front of your head. The curls should stick out on top of your hair like the leaves of a pineapple, hence the name. Remember to sleep on either a satin or silk pillow as cotton pillows withdraw moisture from your curls.

  10. The Bigger the Better

    To give your roots extra volume at the roots lift and clip your hair at the roots while wet. This will allow the top layer of your hair to dry faster because it releases it from it’s own weight and the result will be an even curl pattern from root to tip.



Rachel Costello

Rachel Costello

Food & Entertainment Editor

I love talking about how to fully enhance an interior space or perfect a recipe, as well as what happened on the most recent episode of Game of Thrones. You’re likely find this film and dog enthusiast searching out the most stylish trends and the most useful lifestyle tips to make your life that little bit easier.