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Curly hair careCurly hair care is very simple, as long as you follow one guiding principle: don't mess with it too much. Unlike straight hair, curly hair rarely gets oily, so it doesn't require the same harsh cleansers. In fact, the more you wash and brush it, the more likely you are to end up with frizzy split ends.
Unless you have very oily hair, don't wash it every day. A couple of times a week will do. Avoid shampoo and stick with a castile soap or natural liquid cleanser. These will clean your hair and scalp, without stripping the oil that coats each strand of hair. Within weeks, you'll have shinier, healthier hair. After washing, rinse hair in cold water to seal the cuticle. Then apply a leave-in conditioner (or a small amount of normal conditioner) and work it in. Comb hair while wet with a wide-toothed comb or with your fingers, starting at the ends and working upward in small sections. This will stop the comb from getting hung up on any tangles, which causes breakage.
Never comb or brush curly hair when it's dry, unless you want it to be frizzy. Let it drip dry unless you absolutely have to dry it. The difference will amaze you. Whenever possible, leave your hair down or loosely tied (especially while sleeping). Tying curly hair in rubber bands causes massive amounts of breakage, which means you end up with frizz all around your face. If you do tie your hair back, try braiding it. -
Curly hair cutA good cut can mean the difference between gorgeous hair and a boring ponytail. If you don't like how your hair looks, you'll never wear it down, which is just a waste of those curls. But getting a good haircut for curly hair can be a challenge. So take matters into your own hands.
Find a hairstylist who has curly hair, or who specializes in curls. Most stylists only know a limited number of curly cuts, which severely limits your style options. Also, experienced curl-cutters have some tricks up their sleeves to bring out the best in your hair.
Before you visit the salon, do some research. Determine your face shape, and find hairstyle advice for that shape. Search the web and photo-sharing sites for curly hair photos, and pick out some of your favorites. Print out the photos and bring them to the salon with you, and help your stylist give you a cut that will look great on you.
Got thick hair? You may want to have your stylist use thinning shears or just cut out chunks of your hair. This will make it fall down instead of bulking outward. If you don't want to have your locks thinned, ask for a layered cut. This keeps the upper layer from weighing down the layers underneath (aka helmet head). -
my daily struggleCurly hair is often misunderstood. It just needs to be treated gently, and it will flourish. Most hair care advice is geared towards straight heads, but when applied to curls it is bad news. Here are some tricks that will work for you.
Don't use styling gel. Most gels contain alcohol, which will dry your hair almost irreparably. Once you have stopped stripping your hair's natural oils with harsh shampoos, it won't need much help finding definition. In the meantime, work in a small amount of olive oil or silicone gel, which will help your locks stick together without making them dead.
Got ringlets? While hair is dripping wet, work in a large amount of conditioner and comb through. Then separate the top layer into sections (1 inch or smaller) and twist around your finger in the direction they curl naturally. Let drip dry for beautiful, naturally, well-formed ringlets.
Want bangs? If your curls aren't too tight, straight bangs can be very cute and flattering. Have your stylist cut them as if you had straight hair, then use a blowdryer and round brush to comb them out straight. Trim as necessary.
