Curly hair instantly gets you in the spotlight. While you enjoy compliments for your unique hairstyle, you may also fear managing it. Handling dry, coarse, and frizzy hair requires time, skill, and patience. A good hair care routine can allow you to convert untameable hair into good curly hair.
Curly hair upkeep needs regular practices, such as oiling, steam, and massage to lock in moisture and improve manageability. Building a decent hair care routine may also require professional salon visits and healthy habits. Here are five universal steps to make your unique curls look good and in perfect condition.
Choose Your Shampoo Wisely
Irrespective of your hair texture and volume, hair wash is the foremost step in a typical hair care routine. Cleansing or washing your curls ensures no excess oil, dust build-up, or dead skin cells on your scalp. Make it a habit to use a mild shampoo free of scalp-irritating parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and silicones. Parabens are hair care preservatives, whereas sulfates are lathering agents. Switch to fragrance-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, and paraben-free formulas in your cleansing shampoos.
As a pro tip, dilute your shampoo and low-lather hair conditioner in water before hair application. This will help save some amount of shampoo and conditioner and keep a repeat purchase in check. Avoid excessive shampooing to prevent natural moisture loss. Consider cleansing and nourishing your curls with curl cream for curly hair to get a long-lasting curl definition.
Invest In Hair Oils
No matter your hair type or texture, the fundamental hair care rules remain the same. Hair oiling is a time-tested remedy to boost blood circulation to the scalp and promote healthy growth. Get into the habit of using natural oils for your curls. They are rich in vitamin E and fatty acids and help to lock the hair moisture and control frizz. Here are some hair oils for your consideration:
Coconut oil suits all hair textures, whether straight or ringlets. It is light and non-greasy. Use your fingertips to massage coconut oil deep into your scalp. Apply it before bedtime and wash it the morning after. You can also apply coconut oil an hour before hair shampooing.
Olive oil is also suitable for curly hair as it adds moisture. Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a bowl. Apply evenly to scalp and hair strands. Wrap a warm towel over your head. After an hour gap, rinse off the oil with a mild shampoo.
Castor oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, argan oil, and Ayurvedic oils are equally suitable for curly hair.
Pick The Right Brush/Comb
Curly hair is often brittle. Hair strands may break easily when brushed or combed. Consider combing your curls when in the shower to avoid hair breakage. Start your curly hair combing with a wide-tooth comb to break any knots. You can also comb with the leave-in conditioner in your hair to ensure complete conditioner coverage.
When shopping for a hairbrush, invest in a high-quality brush with natural bristles. Avoid buying a plastic bristle hair brush. A boar bristle brush is a noteworthy option, too. It can help spread natural oils, starting from the scalp to hair tips. If you have springy curls, apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair and then finger-comb your wet hair. Keep changing your hair brush/comb regularly every few months for hair hygiene.
Avoid Frequent Heat Styling
Most hair stylists will recommend air-drying your curly hair, as repeated blow-drying can make your hair look frizzy and damaged. Before using a blow dryer or straightening iron, it is essential to use a heat-protecting spray or treatment. Look for a hair spray containing keratin or silicone to help seal the cuticle and make it more resistant to heat damage.
When blow-drying your hair ahead of a meeting or function, keep your hair dryer at a distance of 15 cm from your hair surface for fewer tresses’ damage. Natural drying is usually safer than using artificial heat sources, such as a hair dryer. In situations when blow-drying is a must, think of adding a diffuser attachment onto your blow-dryer to limit direct heat from hitting your hair.
Use Hair Masks Often
An effective hair mask helps to manage tough curls and locks in moisture, ensuring adequate nourishment for each hair strand. Deep conditioning and moisture are essential for curls. The right hair mask formula can also help with detangling. Once a week, hair masks your curly strands. A longer gap might damage your hair strands.
Honey, coconut oil, banana, or avocado-infused hair masks work well to moisturize your mane, prevent scalp infections, and boost hair growth. You may use argan and rosehip oil hair masks to hydrate your curls.
Wrapping Up
Curly locks dry out without doubt and crave moisture. Reduce your hair wash frequency and add moisture to your hair through oils, butter, proteins, and natural plant extracts. Switch to silk pillowcases instead of cotton pillow covers to reduce hair friction. Avoid comparing your curls with other hair types. You must learn to embrace your curls.