Carrie Bradshaw may have made big, curly hair look glamorously sexy, but ask a girl with locks that are anything but straight, and she will tell you that such hair requires loads of work and patience. To attain glossy waves instead of a mop of ratty ringlets takes some serious dedication and a few bottles of serums and leave-in creams that, just sometimes, can get your hair to behave. We help make life a teeny bit easier for you with a few tips on how to manage your curls. Go ahead, fall in love with your unruly affair!
1. A Few Hair Care Essentials for Your Curls
The Right Cut
Ask your stylist about a haircut that will be easy for you to manage with your texture. Going in for a pixie cut or super-short bangs will just require you to straighten your hair all the time. Instead, long layers can help make your locks more manageable. Getting a dry cut can be a good idea, as your hair looks different when it is wet. Cutting when dry can give your stylist a better idea of how your curls coil when dry. Don’t forget to get regular trims to get rid of damaged ends and keep your locks healthy.
Throw Out That Straightener
Curly hair is prone to dryness and damage since the natural oils produced by the scalp don’t evenly reach your strands when compared to straight and wavy hair. Constantly using heat to blow-dry/ straighten your locks can just make matters worse and make your hair even more unmanageable. Embrace those gorgeous kinks instead of wasting all that time and effort wrestling with heated tools.
Condition, Condition and Condition Some More
Dryness is the most common woe that curly-haired girls have, thanks to not being able to brush their hair often enough, which distributes the scalp’s natural oils. Compared to any other hair type, curly hair needs to be conditioned the most. Liberally condition your strands and try to leave it on for as long as possible. One key way of taming frizz is to keep your curls moisturized; even if you skip shampooing, frequent conditioning is an absolute must in your hair care regime.
Stick to Sulfate-Free Hair Products
Sulfates can be extremely damaging and drying, so one habit that can make a world of a difference to your natural curls is using a sulfate-free shampoo. It is a chemical that is too harsh for your precious curls. The Body Shop Banana Shampoo is a great sulfate-free shampoo that brings a shiny bounciness to your strands.
Style When Wet
The best way to curb frizziness is by applying your styling product when your hair is dripping wet. Forget about rubbing your hair with your towel as all that friction will just cause your curls to frizz up. Instead, gently blot it. Use a moisturizing curl cream or leave-in conditioner by raking it in with your fingers and then scrunching/squeezing your strands with your hands.
Sleep On a Satin Pillow Case
Only a curly-haired woman can understand what it’s like to go to bed with pretty ringlets and wake up with an uncontrollable mop. One way to prevent this is by sleeping on a satin pillow case, which prevents the frizz caused by the friction of your hair against a normal pillow. Plus, it helps maintain the shape of your curls.
2. Managing Your Curls
Wavy to Loose Curls
Softer, less defined curls require products that will boost volume for limp waves. Moroccanoil Curl Control mousse is perfect for controlling frizz, and prevents your locks from falling flat and gives them some life.
Medium Curls
Your spirally strands are well defined and are a combination of wide curls as well as tight coils, with a healthy amount of volume and bounce. You need something to fight frizz and keep your locks moisturized, like Kerastase Crème Oleo-Curl, which is a leave-in product for controlling volume and leaving your locks soft and hydrated.
Super-Tight Curls
Your hair has a kinky texture and consists of tightly coiled ringlets. The curlier the hair, the dryer it gets; so it’s important to keep your strands moisturized with deep-conditioning treatments. Organix Shea Butter and Argan Oil Curl Enhancing Mask is perfect for restoring moisture and making your curls more soft than coarse. Use a styling product like TRESemme Flawless Curls Jelly to curb frizz and add shine without weighing down your curls.
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