10 Rules You Need to Follow For Flawless Curls
- Jul 17, 2018
- 6 min read
I follow these rules on a daily basis. I've learned the hard way how to take care of this curly mane and I get tons of questions on how I take care of my hair and if it is natural (which will totally happen to you too).
These rules are all super helpful and easy to remember so you can keep your tousled hair happy, healthy, and attention worthy! I get compliments all the time and some people {complete strangers} even ask me about my routine and what hair products I use. Both men and women with curls can use these rules to create a routine that works best for their unique hair type and style.
It's all in the routine! I spent a few months working at a Best of Madison, WI salon -and I took notes!
Here are the rules you need to follow to have that drool worthy head of curls that people are d y i n g to have!
1. Only shampoo 2-3 times a week on your scalp & roots
The oils that come from the scalp don't travel down the curly strands well, because - the hair is curly. It takes a lot more work for the oil to travel down the strand. So for those out there with long curly hair - the ends will get dry and feel fluffy and damaged from the split ends because there is a lack of oil and conditioning. By only shampooing the roots you will minimize the drying/cleaning agents from drying out the ends of your hair.
You do need to make sure that your scalp is still getting cleaned so your pores don't get clogged with sebum. Clogging the pores will prevent maximum hair growth, so make sure your are giving your scalp a good clean { and massage too ;) }
Some people even do the No Poo (shampoo) method and use baking soda and apple cider vinegar but this takes a perfectly diluted solution of vinegar and it's a little smelly. If you don't get the right amount of vinegar you could seriously damage your hair with the baking soda wash. It's definitely worth researching!
2. Condition (nearly) everyday
Anytime you wash your hair you MUST condition it as well. I condition pretty much every time I shower, which is almost everyday because I weight-lift. The trick here is to prevent the conditioner from getting into your roots. You only want to condition the bottom 3/4's of your hair because oil from your scalp has your roots covered. Plus, conditioner in the roots will give you a heavy-weighed down look and we don't want that! We want light, voluminous curls that bounce and tousle flawlessly ;)
3. Only brush your hair before you shower
This is a trick I learned on my own. Years ago I noticed when I would forget to brush my hair the curls always got ringlety and less frizzy. I knew I couldn't just stop brushing my hair altogether so I experimented brushing it when wet/dry and before and after showers. RESULTS.... brushing your hair dry, just before the shower is totally the best time. Here's why: You take out all the tangles before you hop in the shower, then you get it completely wet and condition, and when you get out of the shower the water prevents the curls from separating and then you style and air dry! If you brush after the shower, then you are separating the curls and they don't form as pretty and evenly.
4. Stay away from heat! (if at all possible)
This is a pretty standard rule for keep all hair types healthy. Heat is damaging, so even thought you really want to do something nice - think twice about straightening/heat styling your hair. If you do make sure to condition it well afterwards and use heat protecting spray to minimize damage. I sometimes use my diffuser in the winter when I don't want to go outside with a wet head and get sick in the -20F temperatures. Especially if you want to grow out your hair to below-shoulder lengths, you are going to want to stay away from as much heat as possible to keep those ends healthy!
5. Don't touch when wet (I know it's hard, but let them do the work!)
This one of those super simple things that can make a HUGE difference when it comes to how your hair looks 6-8 hours after you initially styled it. If you want the curl to dry without frizz or losing it's shape, you have to keep your hands off of it! It's less of a problem when your hair dries, but remember - the more you fuss with the curl, the more it's going to want to separate and frizz (and not in a good way).
6. Get a cut from a professional hair stylist who KNOWS how to cut curly hair (or is A Curly Girl)
Hair stylists all have their comfort zones and styles they excel at cutting. Do some research and find the nearest salon and check out their website or just call the salon to find out who would be a great fit for you. The stylists are usually really good about finding the right person for your hair and desired style. Trust me, peeps. $40-$60 is totally worth an awesome cut and great advice on products and how to use them.
7. Use creams and oils instead of gels
This rule is a little more dependent on what kind of hold you are looking for, but if you want the - soft - tousled - slightly messy - but still cute - look then stick to creamier products. They should still help with frizz, while helping you keep the bounce and volume. The more gel in the product, the harder and crunchier the curl is going to look. This also is dependent on hair length. Short curls can get away with more shine and firmer holds. Long hair looks more unnatural if is gets too hard, or crunchy.
8. A silk pillowcase or silk cap are a must!
This is another BIG time game changer when is comes to hair (and even skin) health. Silk is softer on the hair strands and won't separate the curls like cotton or polyester. There are tons of super cute silk wraps out there on amazon and etsy that'll help you maintain your style for more than 2 days! For the longest time I thought I would have to shower daily to reset my hair, but no more! My hair might look a little messy when I first wake up, but after sleeping on my silk pillowcase I can do a little fixing with water and product to make myself presentable.
9. Try second day styling products to minimize washing hair
My stylist said the more you wash your hair, the more likely it is getting damaged. I mean it makes sense, every time the hair is wet, it has to dry which sucks moisture out of the strand. There's quite a few products out there now that will condition and refresh your hair for a day two style! It's kinda like dry shampoo - but for curls! Check out R + CO Aircraft linked above; this product has amazing reviews!
10. Don't sleep with wet hair!
If you haven't had to experience the mess that ensues after a night or nap in wet hair... you are really missing out. Curls dry up in a mashed up shape and it's pretty much impossible to style it without having to take another shower. My hair always gets down-right unruly and tangley, so I generally just avoid going to bed with damp or wet hair. Braiding helps a little bit - but I still wake up with a head of frizz.
And there it is! 10 super easy steps to start taking to improve the health and appearance of your curls! Remember to do whatever you can to keep those curls intact and moisturized!
Please share with those curly people you have in your life. Once I knew how to take care of my hair, I really started to like it! Seriously, the compliments from other people boosted my self-esteem and made me enjoy having a more unique hair type. Curls are special, so take care of them!
Find more curly inspiration on my Pinterest!
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