Taking care of curly hair is a little bit more complicated than normal plain hair. We have found out all the possible ways to take care of your curly hair for both women and men.
Curly hair lacks moisture and dries out frequently by nature. Curly hair is mostly frizzy thus lacks softness and shine. Also, hair breakage, split ends, fizziness, knots; tangles, etc are the regular affair of curly hair. Hereby, it becomes difficult to take care of curly hair. Curly hairs need more care and attention to tame them.
But a religious hair care regime can help one to manage the curls. For instance, a sulfate-free mild shampoo to wash the curls, leave-in conditioner or curl cream, avoiding heat styling tools, massaging the hair with moisturizing oil, protecting the hair with a silk satin bonnet while sleeping, and so on are the ways to take care of curly hair in both men and women. You may also like our recent publication on how to stop hair fall out.
What Makes Hair Curly?
Curly hair is known as a dominant or additive gene trait. Hair follicles influence the amount of curly hair. Oval and asymmetrical hair follicles cause hair curl. Also, it is determined by genetics, the weather, environment, scalp health, and the products one uses have an impact on getting curly hair.
The 12 Ways on How to Take Care of Curly Hair
Many people think curly hair is a hassle to maintain. But if one cares properly for it, it can be easily maintained. So, here are some ways on how to take care of curly hair.
1. Choose shampoo and conditioner properly
Curly hair lacks moisture. So shampoo and conditioner with natural oils such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, etc are the best choices for curly hair. Also, aloe Vera, keratin, shea butter, pantheon, pro vitamins, hydrolyzed silk, and animal proteins are good conditioning agents for curly hair. Let’s see top cosmetic brands in the world.
One should not wash the hair every day. It is better to use shampoo two to three days a week. In case of everyday use, one must use a very mild and gentle shampoo that has mild cleansing and nourishing agents. Never forget to follow shampooing with a nourishing conditioner to lock moisture.
2. Pre-Shampoo Treatment
People with heavy curls need to try using a pre-shampoo treatment. Coarse curly hair people can use conditioner both before and after washing hair with a shampoo. Curly hair is very prone to lose moisture very easily. So, using a conditioner before washing the hair helps to protect the hair strand from stripping the natural oils out of the hair.
3. Avoid Excessive Shampooing
Avoiding excess shampoo is one of the most important ways on how to take care of curly hair. The shampoo contains various chemical ingredients that are harsh to hair health. So shampooing every day is not a good deal for hair health.
Curly hair lacks moisture and oil naturally. Too much use of shampoo strips oils from hair strands and makes hair strands rough. Moreover, washing hair every alternative day or thrice a week is suggested. Let’s see the benefits of coconut oil to hair.
4. Avoid Brushing Curly Hair frequently
Brushing curly hair very often is not good for hair health. To preserve the curls, one needs to keep minimum possible contact between the brush and the hair curls. Experts suggest brushing hair only before washing hair with shampoo.
Brushing curly hair very often can ruin the pattern of the curls and can cause breakage. It is recommended to brush curly hair when it is wet to avoid dizziness and flyways.
5. Use Cold Water for Hair
Hot water strips out the natural oil from the hair. Hereby, washing hair with hot water makes hair dry and dehydrated. On the other side, cold water helps to seal the cuticle of the hair. Rinsing hair with cold water helps to retain the moisture of the hair.
6. Use A Very Wide-toothed Comb
A wide tooth comb is good for keeping the curls intact especially when they are wet. This type of comb effortlessly goes through the curls without pain or pulling. Also, it easily detangles occasional knots; therefore there is fewer or no breakage happen. The wide-set bristles also help to dry wet hair naturally and detangle without any snagging of the hair.
7. Hair Styling With Moderate Heat
Most people use heat to straighten their hair. Straightening hair very often with straightening iron can make the hair more frizzy. Again blow drier does the same. Hair-dryers need to keep a minimum of 6 inches away from the surface of the hair.
Again heat protector spray should be sprayed on the hair before any heat styling. In that case, heat resistant spray containing silicone, keratin, or oils is beneficial for sealing the cuticle.
8. Choose the comb carefully
Curly hair is often dry. Therefore hair breaks and brittles eventually when combed. Brushing hair regularly in the shower can avoid breakage. One can brush hair wearing conditioner to ensure the conditioner coats the hair strand properly. A wide-tooth comb is helpful to brush any knots.
Hair brush is a necessary affair for hair. So a high-quality brush of natural bristles like a boar bristle brush helps to spread natural oils from the scalp to the hair end.
9. Trim to Avoid Split Ends
Literally, there is no way to repair split ends. So cutting or trimming split ends is the only treatment available. It is better to prevent split ends than cure them. A detangler brush helps to avoid split ends. Then brushing hair with a wide-tooth hair brush is effective.
Tight buns or ponytails can damage hair health. Also, heat styling hair tools damaged hair strands. In short, a hair trim every two to three months is recommended to avoid split ends.
10. Sleep Routine for curly hair
Sleeping on the backside puts much weight and pressure on the hair follicles. It leaves the hair messy, frizzy, and knotty. So sleeping on the sides or on the stomach is a better option for maintaining curly hair health. Also wrapping the hair in a scarf or bonnet may protect the curls while sleeping. However, using a hair mask or oiling the hair before bed helps to tame the curls by adding moisture to the hair.
11. Hair masks for curly hair
There are various types of hair masks available in the market nowadays. One can also create DIY hair masks with household ingredients at home. Masks that have ingredients like honey, coconut oil, banana, avocado, essential oils, curd, etc. nourish hair and works better if used overnight. People with curly hair must use a hair mask thrice a week religiously.
12. Oils for Curly Hair
Curly hair needs to be hydrated all the time. Adding natural oils overnight can help to lock moisture and relieve dryness. The spiral configuration of the curly hair makes it difficult for the sebum to move down from the scalp to the hair shaft from roots to tips. For example, coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, avocado oil, and others are deeply conditioned for curly hair.
These moisturizing oils penetrate the hair shaft and lock the moisture within. On the other side, sealing oils like jojoba oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil, shea butter, etc. stay on the surface of the cuticle and form a film to reduce moisture and help improve surface properties like silkiness, softness, shine, etc.
The 4 Solutions on How to Control Frizzy Curly Hair
Frizzy curly hair is quite difficult to control for its nature. So taming curly frizzy hair means keeping the hair locks hydrated, limiting hair damage, and reducing hair friction. These three are the main reasons for the fizziness of curly hair. The below-mentioned steps and products are beneficial for controlling frizzy hair.
1. Do not over wash the curls
Curly hair is by nature drier so washing hair very often derives the natural oil of the hair. Curly hair people need to choose a moisturizing shampoo to lock the retained moisture of the hair. If someone has very dry hair then it is better to skip using shampoo and start using a moisturizing conditioner only. Also, a curl resetting spray will work well for curly frizzy hair.
2. Conditioning deeply
Curly hairs need to moisturize both inside and outside. Therefore one needs to use a hydrating hair mask two to three times a week for proper moisturization. Masks include nourishing oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil can smooth and strengthen the hair strand.
3. Avoid heat styling tools
Heat derives the hair from its natural oil and nourishment. Heat styling tools such as flat iron, curling iron, hair dryer, curling wands, etc can burn the hair as well as hair cuticles. It is recommended to use a hair-protecting spray, diffuser, or prime the hair to protect the hair curls against disruption of the curls.
4. Trim regularly
Trimming every two to three months is very much needed for curly hair people to avoid hair breakage and split ends.
The 8 Curly Hair Tips One Should Follow
Curly hair is dry, unruly, and frizzy inherently. Hereby, a proper hair care routine needs to be followed for maintaining curly hair.
1. Curly hair is usually dry, dense, and breakage-prone so one needs more hydrating creams or gels to take care of the curls.
2. Curly hair is naturally dry and frizzy. Curly hair lacks moisture naturally. So it is strongly prohibited to over wash the hair because it will strip the scalp’s natural oils.
3. Curly hair again needs to detangle with a wide-tooth comb to maintain them.
4. Curly hair people have specially designed products like styling gels, sprays, mousses, and other products that work well on wet hair.
5. Heat styling products are not good for curly hair. Therefore, one should use a diffuser or air dry the hair to minimize friction of the hair.
6. Curly hair is rough, dry, and frizzy by nature. And heat styling products like straightening iron, curling iron, blow dryer, etc derive moisture from the hair. So it is necessary to use a heat protectant spray before using hot tools.
7. Hair ends of curly hair tend to be the thinnest and driest part of the hair. Therefore, regular trims can be helpful to eliminate the damaged and split ends by restoring the curls; elasticity, and bounce of the hair strand.
8. There are various types of curl-enhancing mousse or spritzing the curls with a texturizing sea salt hair spray.
The 5 Essential Tips to Preserve the Curl
Some tips and tricks on how to take care of curly hair and preserve the curl are given below.
1. Use a silk or satin pillowcase
A silk pillowcase is great for preserving curls. The cotton pillowcase is somehow rough. Cotton pillowcase roughs up the cuticles which can cause hair breakage and curls less defined as well. Curls are by nature dry and less moisturized.
Therefore a silk pillowcase helps in protecting the cuticles against roughness by not damaging the cuticle structure of the hair. This is also refreshing for the curls and makes them easier the day after washing.
2. Put your hair in a ‘pineapple’
Putting the hair in pineapple is to tie all the hair up at the crown of the head with a satin or cotton scrunchie to protect the curly hair. This is a very simple hairstyle. However, one thing one should keep in mind is not to pull the hair too hard or too tightly. It can also combine the method with a silk headscarf or satin hair bonnet to protect the curls of the hair.
3. Do twists or braids
Hair strand rubbing is harmful to the hair follicles. So hair needs to be secured against hair rubbing or bedding. Simple twists using bobby pins or small elastics or secured braids can stabilize the structure of the curly hair overnight.
4. Use a silk or satin bonnet or headscarf
A satin bonnet or a silk headscarf is really beneficial for maintaining the hair curls. Hair has cuticles that define curly hair. Also, a silk bonnet helps in protecting the moisture of hair and keeps the nourishment of the hair cuticles.
On the other hand, a cotton head scarf is rough in texture that can derive the hair moisture. Or the friction of the hair with the pillowcase hampers the cuticles of hair and hair dries out. Therefore, a silk or satin bonnet or head scarf can protect the hair moisture, cuticles, and curls.
5. Try a spritz or two of product
A leave-in conditioner adds keratin to the hair follicles and can infuse the hair with health, shine and bounce. Also, spray on conditioner helps strengthen damaged hair strands by hair dyeing and heat styling. These also make hair softer, easier and shinier to style in the morning.
What Hairstyles are Best for Curly Hair? (Top 4)
Pulling hair back hairstyles like a bun, tight braid, or ponytail should be avoided for styling curly hair. These hairstyles lose the formation of curly hair.
1. The Classic Updo
A hairstyle that has evolved over the years is an undo. At first, create a loose ponytail and then wrap up the hair around into a bun and secure the bun with a pin. Curls will give a wonderful texture to the bun to look perfect.
2. Ultra-High Ponytail
This hairstyle is bliss for curly hair women. It is especially a good hairstyle for long-hair people because longer curly hair needs a long preparation to make them tangle free. So a ponytail is bliss for them. Grab all the hair at the crown of the head and seal it with a rubber band and that’s it.
3. Side Braid
These are traditional and easy hairstyles for all ages. Side braids are versatile hairstyles. It gives classical, modern, and sophisticated looks. It perfectly suits the curly frizzy hair by not affecting the overall impression.
4. Messy Half Buns
It is the most popular and trending hairstyle right now. The messy bun is convenient for frizzy hair. This gives the natural fuzzy pump without the help of blow dry. It works best for maintaining frizzy curly hair easily.
How to Maintain Curly Hair While Sleeping
The following methods can save both time and fuller curls in the morning.
A. Wet hair in braids
If someone is comfortable sleeping with wet hair then the following methods might be most comfortable.
1. After washing the hair one can normally divide the hair and make one braid, pigtails, or three braids.
2. Also French braid works if one wants strong curls. Therefore, the more braids one creates, the more waves one will get.
3. Then spritzing with leave-in conditioning products before going to bed helps in getting good hair, next morning.
4. The braids should be taken out carefully in the morning.
5. For a more subtle look, just brush the hair out gently.
B. Plopping
Popping is another good way with which one can fall asleep with wet hair and wake up with good curls.
1. A freshly washed hair should be infused with curl gel, an alcohol-free mousse, or another curl shaping product.
2. Flip the wet hair forward onto a flat cotton T-shirt to be centered on the shirt.
3. Then, fold the flap of fabric behind the neck and secure the arms of the shirt with a knot.
4. At last, one can sleep with the hair secured in the shirt overnight and get beautiful fuller curls in the morning.
C. Hair rollers
The classic hair roller technique is the most popular one to manage curls. One can use the traditional plastic or metal curlers and can be replaced with softer sleep-in curler alternatives. They are like flex rolls that do not feel uncomfortable to the skin.
1. Simply separate the hair into smaller sections and roll the curler around the curler. Curling needs to be started from the ends and then moves upward to the hair roots.
2. Pin the hair curlers at the top of the head with a bonnet or scarf over the curlers to protect them.
3. One can also use curlers on wet hair, too.
The 7 Things You Should Not Do With Curly Hair?
There are some things you need to avoid to maintain curly hair and there are-
1. Over cleansing Your Hair
Over-washing curly hair is a big no-go. Curly hair lacks moisture and natural oil inherently. Also, the texture of curly hair tends to be the thirstiest, so it can go a long way without washing very often. Washing hair once or twice a week is enough for curly hair. Frequent washing will make the hair more frizzy and brittle by depriving hair of its natural oil. The scalp may also experience irritation and dryness.
2. Using a Brush to Detangle
Curls are dry, delicate, and frizzy so difficult to manage. So a detangling brush will work fine for maintaining the curls. A detangling brush or wide tooth brush can separate clumps and can release knots without any difficulties, tugging, or any potential breakage. Curly hair and brushing the hair do not go well together. Hereby to manage the curls the interactions between the hair brush and the curls should be as little as possible.
3. Skipping Conditioner
Conditioner is a must for curly hair people. Curly hair tends to lack moisture naturally. So conditioning the hair inside out is necessary for retaining the moisture of the hair. Some also suggest using a deep conditioner in the place of a shampoo. Conditioning masks containing natural oils need to be applied twice to thrice in a week for having soft, smooth, and better curls.
4. Blow-Drying Your Hair the Wrong Way
Blow-dry is not suggested in wet hair. Hair needs to blow dry when the hair is mildly wet otherwise the dryer will absorb the moisture and will make the hair drier. Also, heat resistant spray is a must-use the product before blowing the hair dry to secure the hair from further damage.
5. Not Protecting Your Hair While You Sleep
Tying up all the hair with a silk or satin scrunchie bag at the crown of the head is needed to protect the hair while sleeping. One can also secure the hair by tying up the hair like pineapple and protecting it in a silt or satin headscarf against any friction.
6. Waiting Too Long to Apply Styling Products
Heat protectant product is a must use to minimize hair damage before using any heat styling tools to the hair. Heat protectant products create an extra layer of protection to the hair from drying or damage. Generally, people spray four times to cover the whole hair. Heat protectant spray works for one to four hours on hair. But it is suggested to use the heat styling tools within one hour of using the heat protectant products on hair for optimum benefits.
7. Not Using a Leave-In Conditioner Using Products with Sulfates
Curly hair has a fragile hair pattern by nature. Therefore it is very much prone to breakage, split ends, dryness, and frizziness. In such cases, a leave-in conditioner comes to the rescue by defining the curls without any greasy or crunchy feeling. This staple product can help to lock moisture, add shine, and protect colored hair from fast fading and detangling hair easily.
The 5 Tips on How to Take Care of Curly Hair for Men
A routine hair care regime is necessary to Take care of the curly hair of men. Frizz and lack of moisture are the main culprits for maintaining curly hair in men. Also, the coil shape of the hair follicles makes the traveling of natural oils from roots to the hair shafts. This creates split ends and dryness towards the end of the hair. A regular hair care regime is given below.
1. Moisturizing with shampoo and conditioner
One needs to always prioritize a Moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to take care of curly hair. Products that contain argan oil, coconut oil, etc. To add extra nourishment and add a protective layer to the hair. Aloe vera and glycerin are also good for moisturizing. Tighter curls must need a leave-in conditioner and hair mask to condition the hair deeply.
2. Pre pooing for the curls
This method protects one against hair breaking, tangling, or fizzing. Using Products such as argan oil, shea butter, coconut oil, rosehip, and so on before washing hair with shampoo to get a better coyly hair.
3. Use dry shampoo
Washing hair with shampoo frequently deprives the hair of its natural hair. So using dry shampoo between washes is a good alternative to wash the hair. Using dry shampoo 2 to 3 days a week is good but it is not good to use more than that because it will make the hair grimy. Dry shampoo is used on the scalp to soak the extra grime and oils of the hair even without compromising the hair strands.
4. Don’t forget to Air dry the hair
Air drying the hair is the best option for drying curls. If air dry is not possible then blow dry with a diffuser.
5. Use foundation hair spray
Humidity gives moisture and bounce to the curls. But humidity also can mess up the hair. So, to combat the fuzziness, one can use a foundation spray such as wax, spray clay on wet hair, or an anti-humidity shield after styling the hair.
Q/A on Taking Care of Curly Hair
How Often Should You Wash Your Hair If You Have Curly Hair?
The curls’ type detects how often the hair should be washed. Loose or classic curls can be washed two to three times a week. Coyly hair is good to wash once a week or co-wash weekly. Washing curls every day or very often removes the natural oils of the hair and lacks moisture. Therefore, one can rinse and condition the hair often but one should not wash curly hair with shampoo very often.
How to wash curly hair properly?
Curly hair is dry and frizzy. So, normal water is preferred to warm water for washing curly hair. Because hot or warm water will make the hair more dry and frizzy. Then use a conditioning shampoo and work more on the scalp and less on the hair strand.
After that, cleanse the hair by combing the hair with your finger. Then rinse the hair with normal temperature water while massaging the hair. Follow with a deep conditioner and leave in the conditioner. At last, air dries the hair naturally.
How to maintain curly hair after shower?
First, soak the wet hair after taking shower. Then use a leave-in conditioner to moisture the curls to make them smooth, soft, and shiny. Take a quarter amount of curl cream or leave-in conditioner into the palm and apply the product all over the hair with both hands.
Rake or separate the fingers like a wide-tooth comb and spread the products in a perpendicular direction. Then scrunch the hair to the head while squeezing the fingers. In fine, air dries the hair for almost 45 minutes or more until it’s damp. All these steps will contribute to defining each curl beautifully.
Curly hair care routine
The first and foremost step is to lock the moisture of the curly hair to protect the hair from further damage. So, one needs to pick a gentle, sulfate-free, and nourishing shampoo wisely. The excessive shampoo will remove the natural oils from the hair and scalp and will make the hair more frizzy and dry.
One can oil the hair with moistening hair oil such as avocado oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, etc. As well as apply a conditioning hair mask containing banana, honey, curd, and others to condition the hair inside out. Avoid heat styling tools to style the hair as heat removes the oil from the hair strand and damages the hair cuticle.
Also one needs to limit combing the curly hair to control the curls. A wide-tooth comb will help one with that. Always wash the hair with cold water to keep the moisture locked and avoid warm water as it derives from the natural oil thus moisture of the hair. Fine, trim the hair every two to three months to get rid of split ends.
How Should Curls Be Conditioned?
Curly hair is thirsty. Curls need to be conditioned from both inside and outside. Pick a deep and thick conditioner and then apply the conditioner on wet hair filling all the surface of the hair. One can also wrap the head with a shower cap and wrap it with a warm, damp towel for 15 minutes for super hydration.
How to take care of a curly hair toddler?
Children’s hair should be washed less frequently to retain moisture. Because too much washing of curly hair makes the hair dry and dull. So Co-washing is a suitable option for them. Washing only with conditioner gently cleanses the hair by retaining natural moisture levels and keeps the hair healthy. Curls are very prone to tangle up.
So try to detangle the hair after applying conditioner as conditioner makes the hair smooth thus more manageable. Brush the hair with a wide-tooth comb or simply with the fingers very gently. Select products that are free from sulfate, silicone, paragon, and paraben. A leave-in conditioner, cream oil, or curl cream may help to achieve a good definition of the curls.
How to take care of thin curly hair?
A good quality shampoo, a deep conditioner, and a hair mask are a must to have soft, shiny, damage-free hair. To heal the hair strands, oiling the hair is necessary. Then brush the hair with a tangle teezer gently. This will help to add volume to the hair. And most importantly one can use volumizing and texturizing sprays to make thin hair appear thicker.
This immediately adds more texture to the curls and lifts up the roots of the hair. It creates a thick, airy, and fuller volume to the hair. Thinner hair is more susceptible to damage so thinner hair needs to be protected from heat, UV Ray, heat styling tools, and sun. So a heat protectant spray is a must for styling hair using heat styling tools.
How to get soft curly hair naturally
Owning soft curly hair can be possible with a proper beauty regime. At first, choose a hydrating shampoo and follow up with a leave-in conditioner for moisturization. Air dries the hair for 45 minutes or more.
Toss the towel onto the hair to lock moisture in the hair. Comb the hair gently. Sleep in a silk pillowcase or sleep with securing the hair in a silk or satin bonnet to protect from frictions and damage.
How to make curly hair soft and shiny at home
There are several steps needed to follow to get soft and shiny curly hair at home. Oiling is the most important part of it. One can use a warm mixture of castor oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil and massage the mixture into the hair from the root to the tip of the hair.
A hair mask made of egg, lemon, curd, and oil is a conditioning mask to soften the hair. Always use a sulfate-free shampoo and can use shea butter or argan oil as a conditioner to the hair. And dry the hair naturally in the air. These steps will help one to add shine to the hair and make the hair soft naturally at home.
How to make curly hair wavy
There are certain strategies that can turn one’s curly hair into wavy hair. These strategies are mentioned below.
1. Brush through techniques
This is the easiest technique to make curly hair wavy. Take a wide-tooth comb and start combing the hair until the hair becomes wavy. One may need to spritz the hair with anti-frizz hair products to protect the hair from becoming frizzy, otherwise, over brushing can make the hair static.
2. Rollers
Rollers are also great equipment for curly and straight hair to make the hair wavy. First, wash the hair with an anti-frizz and moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Then squeeze the extra moisture down the hair. After that, brush the hair to make it tangle-free.
Then roll the roller from the hair end to the crown of the hair and leave the hair until the hair is completely dry naturally or with a hairdryer. Then take off the roller from the hair and brush the hair softly to get a better wavy hair.
3. Chemical relaxation
Chemical relaxation treatments can soften the hair to relax the natural curls. But this can damage the texture of the hair if left on for a long period. Relaxing the curls with chemical relaxation treatments can release the curls thus making the curls wavy.
How to style curly hair after shower
Firstly, soak the wet hair gently with a cotton towel. This will moisture the opening of the hair follicles. This will also help the hair to absorb products more. Then apply a leave-in conditioner or curl cream in dripping hair. Dry the hair naturally until the hair is dry. If one wants to blow-dry the hair, then use a diffuser or heat-resistant spray before using a hairdryer. Now the hair is ready to style.
Frizzy curly hair hairstyles
Natural curliness or weather, nothing can be changed. But certain hairstyles can be done to make the best of the frizzy mess to look smooth and subtle. For example, messy bun, half updo, loose French braids, messy ponytail, undone bouncy ponytail, braided headband, topknot, choppy curls, side-parted uneven Bob, and so on are the perfect hairstyles for frizzy and curly hair.