Ways to Take Good Care of Curly Hair – smartesthairstyles.com – Taking care of your curly hair can be a challenge, especially when it becomes dry or damaged! Regular conditioning treatments, natural oil remedies, and deep conditioning can help restore your tresses to their natural shine and prevent further damage.
- With normal conditioner
Choose a conditioner of your choice. Make sure you use the shampoo and conditioner you like. Check the label and make sure it’s formulated for curly hair.
Lightweight formulas with mild moisturizers work best for looser curls and oily hair. Thicker formulas are better for tighter curls and drier hair.
Tight curls or kinks usually require a cream conditioner.
Dry curls need a conditioner with heavy moisturizers or oils.
For damaged locks, buy a conditioner made specifically for damaged hair.
Apply the conditioner. Curly hair tends to see the most dryness and damage at the ends since the ends are the oldest part of the hair. Focus on conditioning the ends, then work your way up to the roots. Use more at the ends and very little at the roots – this will help maintain your hair’s natural shape by preventing greasy build-up at the roots.
Leave the conditioner on for five to twenty minutes. Leave the conditioner in your hair for at least five minutes. You can increase the time to fifteen or twenty minutes if your hair is badly damaged or unusually dry.
Rinse your hair with cold water. Rinse your hair thoroughly and use cold water to lock in your hair’s natural oils and smooth your hair by sealing the cuticle. Run your fingers or a wide-toothed comb through your hair to detangle as you rinse.
Using a wide-toothed comb is especially useful for tightly coiled, textured hair.
Use a leave-in product (optional). Many companies make leave-in conditioners or hair masks, especially for curly hair. These can add extra protection to your hair and make your curly hair a little easier to manage. Apply according to package directions, leave on and style as usual.
Allow your hair to air dry. Air drying is the best way to prevent damage and frizz on curly hair. If you generally rely on blow drying to style your hair, try other methods to curl or straighten your hair.
Turn heat styling tools to the lowest setting. Too much heat can damage your curly hair! If you’re using a curler, flat iron, or hot comb, set it to the lowest possible temperature. If you use a curler, get one with a large diameter to avoid overusing it on your hair.
- Care with oils
Choose the right oil for your hair. Oils are a natural way to condition your curly hair without using chemicals or risking product build-up. The type of oil that works best for you depends on your hair texture and your own preferences.
Jojoba oil is an extra light oil that feels less greasy than other options. It’s good for all curly hair, but especially useful for light curls.
Coconut oil is excellent at penetrating the hair to restore strength and is ideal for African American hair. Some people may not like the smell of coconut oil.
Heat your oil with warm water. Warm oil is easier to apply to hair as it is usually in liquid form. Don’t heat it in the microwave or on a stove – it can cause burns! Instead, place the oil container in a bowl of warm water until the outside is warm to the touch.
It is additionally necessary to heat coconut oil until it melts since coconut oil is solid at room temperature. However, if the air is warm enough, it can melt on its own.
Protect your clothes. Oil can leave permanent stains on clothing, so be sure to slip a barber’s cape, apron, or rain poncho over your clothing before you begin.
Rub the oil into your hair from the ends upwards. Use about 1 ounce (30 ml) to start and increase as needed. Start at the bottom of your hair and work your way up, massaging the oil into your hair while detangling with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb. Be careful not to spread the oil directly on your scalp – this can clog your pores!
Leave the oil in your hair for five to twenty minutes. When you allow your hair to absorb the oil, it helps retain nutrients and repair damage. Leave the oil on for about five minutes. If your hair is badly damaged, you can leave it on for up to twenty minutes.
Rinse your hair with cold water. Cold water helps lock in oil treatments. Flushing out the oil can take a lot longer than flushing out a regular flush, so make sure you get all of the oil out! Leaving your hair soaked in oil will make it appear greasy. Then let your hair air dry.
- Using deep conditioning treatments
Choose a deep conditioner. Deep conditioner helps tame extra curly or frizzy hair. It is especially good for treating damaged hair! Make sure your deep conditioner is made for curly hair — the best deep conditioners for your hair contain ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil, keratin, argan oil, and coconut oil. You can also buy protein deep conditioners to treat severely damaged hair – look for ingredients like hydrolyzed collagen, panthenol, soybean protein, or glycoprotein.
Apply according to the product instructions. Work from the tips to the roots as you would with a regular conditioner.
Apply heat (optional). This is an optional step, but heat will open up your hair’s cuticles, allowing the conditioner to penetrate deeper. Using blow dryers on your curly hair can damage it, so instead, dampen 3 or 4 towels with cold water, wring them out, and microwave until hot, about 1-2 minutes. Wrap the towels around your head and leave them on for 5-10 minutes.
Rinse your hair with cold water. Rinse your hair thoroughly with cold water to remove the conditioner. You can detangle your hair with your fingers or with a wide-toothed comb.
wash your hair Wash your hair as usual with curly hair shampoo. Make sure to wash your hair in a downward motion before rinsing – this will prevent tangles! You can use a regular conditioner afterwards to help with deep conditioning, but this is not necessary.
Cut off your hair. If you have long hair, divide it into 6-8 sections for more convenient handling. If necessary, detangle your hair with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb, but use caution as wet hair is more prone to damage.
Apply any additional products. If you plan to use curlers, hair styling products, or a leave-in hair mask, put them in now before letting your hair air dry.
Repeat regularly! Deep conditioners aren’t made for everyday use, but you should use them regularly. If your hair is very damaged, give it a thorough condition every week. If not, once a month is enough!
