Curly hair can be very difficult to care for. To ensure that your hair is not damaged, you need to choose the right products and use them in the right way. In order to maintain the shape of curly hair while maintaining its strength and shine, wash your hair gently and focus on the stems and ends.
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Part 1 of 3: Choosing the Right Product
Step 1. Choose an SLS-free shampoo
SLS stands for sodium lauryl sulfate which may be too harsh for curly hair. In fact, SLS is the main ingredient in most shampoos and detergents. So, choose a shampoo that contains natural oils instead.
- If you don't use the right conditioner with SLS shampoo, your hair cuticles will be damaged.
- Natural oils can help strengthen hair and make it shiny.
- Shampoos without SLS may not lather much, but they can make your curls bouncy and shiny.
Step 2. Read the label on the product packaging to limit the use of alcohol
Products with a high alcohol content tend to make curly hair curl by reducing its moisture. Use a water-soluble gel instead. This gel should not feel sticky to the touch. You can also use mousse or aerated foam.
- When removed from the packaging, the texture of the foam and aerated mousse will resemble whipped white foam.
- Any product that lifts and maintains hair shape usually contains alcohol. Although the alcohol content in gels and mousses is quite a lot, the product that contains the most alcohol is generally hairspray.
Step 3. Use the right conditioner
Pair the conditioner with a shampoo specially formulated for dry or damaged hair. Curly hair is prone to breakage and gets dry easily. This tendency is even greater if your hair is colored. So, use products that contain natural oils such as coconut oil, jojoba, or other natural oils.
Even if the label doesn't say the product is specifically for curly hair, if it says it's for damaged hair, the formulas for the two are quite similar. The right product for curly hair doesn't have to be stated that way on the label
Step 4. Make your own conditioner
Make a natural conditioner using a cup of mayonnaise at room temperature. Stir the ingredients together and work your way through your hair, especially the ends. Depending on the length of your hair, the recipe below should suffice for 2 treatments. Use this treatment immediately after making it so that the fat and oil in it can seep through the hair follicles.
You can make your own mayonnaise from cup olive oil + 3 egg yolks. Do not refrigerate this mixture as it will give the best results at room temperature. However, do not leave this mixture for more than a few hours
Part 2 of 3: Using the Right Technique
Step 1. Reduce the frequency of shampooing and shampoo you use
No matter what shampoo you use, washing your hair more often can damage your hair by making it dry. When shampooing, concentrate the shampoo on your scalp to prevent your hair from drying out. Only apply shampoo to the hair shaft if you use a lot of styling products. After the scalp is clean, gently rinse the shampoo from the ends of the hair.
- The average person washes their hair every 2 or 3 days. Watch for signs you need to wash your hair, such as itching and flaking on your scalp, or if your hair looks greasy.
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Sebaceous glands secrete an oily compound to help moisturize the hair and scalp, and play a major role in making hair feel dirty. Wash your hair when it feels dirty, or follow these tips:
- If you have curly hair or thick, tight curls, you should only wash them about once a week or until they feel dirty. Washing your hair every day will leave your hair feeling dry. You can use dry shampoo or conditioner in between washes to help refresh your hair.
- For medium curly or wavy hair, you can wash it every few days because your hair will look beautiful with a little natural oil from the sebaceous glands. Use a mild shampoo or bar shampoo. You can also use conditioner in between washing your hair if you are doing a lot of activities or exercising. You can also use just water to massage your scalp in between washing your hair.
- With curly or fine wavy hair, you may use styling products that make them feel greasy every day. So, you can wash your hair every day to keep it looking clean and use a good conditioner to moisturize it.
- The water quality in the city where you live affects your hair.
Step 2. Gently wash and treat hair
Do not apply shampoo to dry hair. Make sure your hair is completely wet beforehand, then rinse the shampoo out of your hair thoroughly after using it. Avoid frizz by not piling the hair shafts on the top of your head.
Use your fingertips to massage your scalp and wash your hair gently
Step 3. Remember to always use conditioner
The shape and texture of curly hair makes using conditioner very important because the natural oils from the scalp don't spread as evenly as in straight or wavy hair. Usually, combing your hair can help to distribute the oil from your scalp, but it's not recommended for curly hair.
Step 4. Use conditioner properly
Apply conditioner to the hair shaft and avoid the roots. On the scalp, conditioner can weigh down the hair shaft and make it look limp while the rest of it bulges. Try to leave the conditioner on as long as possible on the hair shaft because the conditioner will moisturize the hair while it is still in use.
- Apply a generous amount of deep conditioner to hair that is still wet after washing or cleaning. Focus on the ends of the hair because this is the part that tends to be dry and brittle. Leave the conditioner for 5 minutes in the shower as the steam can help the conditioner sink into the hair shaft.
- Leave the conditioner on longer if your hair is heavily damaged. You can cover your head with a plastic shower cap and towel to prevent heat from escaping your head. After 10-20 minutes, rinse off the conditioner, but don't shampoo again to retain the oil in your hair. Conditioner will have an effect until you use shampoo to wash your hair again.
Part 3 of 3: Styling Curly Hair
Step 1. Dry your hair using an old T-shirt or microfiber towel as gloves
Using an old t-shirt instead of a towel to dry your hair is known as plopping. While the use of microfiber towels as gloves is done exactly the same as the name suggests. Towel-drying your hair can make it tangle, but using this technique can prevent that from happening, as well as reduce tangles and prevent breakage.
- In the plopping technique, you have to place the towel on a flat surface with the ends of the arms toward your body. Bend over and place your head in the middle of the shirt so that it covers the front and back of your hair. Try to position yourself so that your hair shaft is straight down. Cover the nape of your neck with the bottom of the shirt. Then, take the front of the shirt and fasten it on both sides of the head while bringing the sleeves of the shirt and tying them from the front to the back of the head. You can twist the sleeves and sides of the shirt to help secure it around your head. Tie the sleeves of the shirt in front of the forehead to maintain the position. Tuck in the hanging t-shirt and allow your hair to dry.
- Once the conditioner has been rinsed out of your hair, turn your head from top to bottom and knead your curls with a microfiber towel. You can buy microfiber gloves online or at a local beauty shop. Squeezing your hair will remove the remaining water and make it swell. This technique will also reduce frizz and keep your curls in shape.
Step 2. Attach the diffuser to the hairdryer
Air gusts from a hairdryer can damage the curls and cause them to tangle. The diffuser will reduce the rate of air coming out of the hair dryer. In addition, this tool can also be used to make hair more fluffy.
- Make sure the size of the diffuser fits the hairdryer. While they may be sold as a complement to a hairdryer, universal diffusers can also be purchased online or at your local beauty supply store.
- Use styling products before blow drying your hair with a diffuser. About 75% of your hair should be dry before using the diffuser to dry it completely.
- Use the medium temperature option on the hairdryer if the low temperature option is not available. The low temperature option can prevent the heat from damaging your hair.
- Use a diffuser funnel. Move your head up and down, or tilt a section of hair straight into the diffusing funnel.
- Dry directly to the roots of the hair by moving the diffuser towards the head. Be careful not to damage the curls of your hair. Partially dry your hair until only 10% of it is wet when styling curls. Use a small amount of product like pomade or curling cream, then blow dry your hair to lock in the product's moisture.
- To make the hair more fluffy, wiggle the roots with your fingers.
Step 3. Choose the right product to control frizz
Prevent your hair from looking greasy and protect it from heat and tangles by choosing the right products. For fine curls, use milk or a light anti-tangle lotion. For coarse or thick curls, use an oil treatment so that the moisture can seep into the hair shafts that are prone to frizz.
Step 4. Arrange the dry hair with wet fingers, and do not use a hairbrush
Avoid brushing curly hair as it can break them by stretching and damaging the cuticles. You can dry wet hair after washing it with a towel and comb, brush, or style it with your fingers. Next, apply conditioner or an anti-frizz product and style your hair with your fingers.
If you must comb your hair dry, use damp fingers. Even in humid or windy weather, water alone is enough to overcome the tangles that occur due to dry conditions
Tips
- You can leave a small amount of your regular conditioner in the middle of your hair shaft to the ends. This conditioner will help smooth the hair and prevent it from tangling.
- Avoid products that contain silicone because it will accumulate on the head. If you must clean your hair, use lemon juice mixed with conditioner, or a sulfate-free shampoo (without ammonium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, or sodium lauryl sulfate). However, this product cannot clean most silicones or waxes.
- To reduce frizz, use a t-shirt instead of a towel to dry your hair.
Warning
- Your hair may need to adjust over the course of a few weeks if you cut back on shampoo.
- Brushing curly hair once it's dry will make it frizzy and look messy!
- Be sure to apply silicone-free conditioner to your scalp. That way, your hair won't look greasy. Silicone will build up in your hair if you don't use a sulfate shampoo.
