How to Care for Naturally Curly Hair

Say goodbye to frizz and hello to smooth, shiny locks.

Many people with straight hair envy the look of luxuriant curls. Unfortunately, people with naturally curly hair may want to lop it all off. That's because curly hair tends to be drier and can easily become frizzy and unmanageable. Yet, if you just put a little effort into your curls, you will be amazed at their shiny softness.

Instructions

1. Wash your hair with a shampoo designed for curly hair. You don't need to wash your hair every day. Try to wash only two or three times a week. Frequent washing may strip your hair of natural oils.

2. Always use a conditioner after washing. You must never skimp on this step. Look for conditioners made for curly hair. A conditioner with olive oil is also beneficial because it provides extra moisture.

3. Perform a deep-conditioning treatment once a week. You can buy a deep- conditioner at any drug store or beauty supply store. You can also make your own treatment at home. Just warm up olive oil or jojoba oil and apply it to your hair. Leave it in for 15 minutes and then wash it out. Alternatively, you can apply mayonnaise to your hair and leave it in for an hour.

4. Apply a leave in conditioner to add extra moisture to the hair. Use this after your regular wash and conditioner. This will help your hair remain smooth and frizz-free.

5. Comb hair carefully with a wide-tooth comb. Never use a brush because this will add frizz.

6. Apply a styling gel that does not contain alcohol, which is drying to hair. Follow the directions on the gel and apply sparingly.

7. Air-dry hair whenever possible. Avoid heat appliances since they can rob vital moisture from dry, curly hair. Instead, experiment with other techniques to straighten hair. For instance, wrap damp hair around large plastic rollers.

Tips & Warnings

• You can easily moisten your hair in between washings and apply a little leave-in conditioner and gel. Finish your hair by scrunching it and you are ready to go.

References

• TheHairStyler; Caring for Curly Hair; June 2009
• "Glamour"; My Secrets to Caring for Curly Hair; Trop Rouge; February 2011
• HairCareGuide: Curly Hair Care Tips
• "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies"; Dry Hair

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish