You need a regular hair routine when it comes to getting the most out of your curls come wash day. But it takes time to figure out the best way to shampoo, condition and style curls, especially if you’ve you’re going through the straight-to-curly transition. And it’s also trial and error when testing out multiple products that claim to do the ‘best’ for your curl type, when in fact you may need to cocktail up on finding the perfect products.
Curly girls know that having a good hair day is so much harder than it looks. Yes you get lovely compliments when your curls are behaving, but they can be unpredictable most of the time and difficult to control. Your wild curls sometimes have a mind of their own. But to help prevent wash day stress, here are some simple tips that will keep your waves and curls looking shiny and strong all day long.
Cleanse Hair with Care
The golden rule when it comes to washing your curls? Always opt for a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfates (which create the lather) wash away product buildup and grime from the scalp, however the downside is that they strip away the hairs natural oils making it dry and brittle which prevents curls from properly forming. If your hair has a wavy, softer, fine or springy curl then a clarifying shampoo like Bouclème Curl Cleanser, £15
that doesn’t strip away natural oils is your best bet. However if your hair has a coarser texture with a tighter curl pattern, the best shampoo is not actually a true shampoo but rather a co-wash – swapping out your shampoo with a conditioner. Surprisingly though, conditioner does in fact provide a mild cleanse which will help protect more coily and kinky curls hair from moisture loss. Try out Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo, £24 for a moisture rich cleanse.
Condition and Detangle Hair
Once you’ve rinsed out your shampoo, it’s time to hydrate your curls. If you co-wash, rinse out and condition your curls some more. For finer curls, use a rich creamy leave-in conditioner like The Curl Company Curl Defining Leave-In Conditioner, £6.99 that will nourish and soften curls, either rake through and detangle with a wide-toothed comb. Next, you need to squish to condish. Make sure your hair is soaking wet and squish the conditioner into the hair and upwards towards the scalp. Water and conditioner work in unison to hydrate hair – water is the hydrating factor here, the conditioner is the medium to get water into our hair. If your hair thicker, your hair may still feel on the dry side and needs transformation with a deep moisturising hair mask with a hair oil formula like As I Am Jamaican Black Castor Oil Moisturizing Masque, £13. Also look for treatments with either avocado, jojoba and almond oil and leave on your hair for around 15 minute before rinsing.
Get Your Curls to Clump
Once you’ve conditioned your curls, the next step is to add a curl cream or gel to your wet hair. Choose a lighter product that doesn’t weigh down finer curly hair like Aveda be curly Curl Enhancer, £23 and remember, make sure your hair is soaking wet and hydrated with water, curl clumps are more likely to form on fully wet hair. Applying styling products to damp hair can cause frizz, and we’re aiming for frizz-free ringlets, right?. For dry and coarse curls that tend to shrink up, use thicker, pudding-like products to nourish and elongate curls, we love Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Souffle, £23 for kinky coils. For either curl type, glide the product along the outside of your hair using the praying hands method, then flip your hair over and scrunch more in the back, ensuring sure your curls are evenly covered. Scrunching is key but be careful not to break up curl clumps in the process!
The Best Way to Dry Curly Hair
You’ve washed, conditioned and applied a curl enhancing cream to your hair, but before you rush to pick up a hair dryer, wrap your hair in an old t-shirt instead of a towel to remove excess water as this will reduce the chances of frizz! If your soft curls need more of an extra hold, scrunch in a hydrating and curl enhancing mousse like Bb.Curl Conditioning Mousse, £24. Keep scrunch drying your hair with the t-shirt or keep your hair wrapped up for around 5-10 minutes. Remove the t-shirt and let your hair air dry for a few minutes to form a natural cast and then turn to the diffuser – its your best friend when it comes to creating bouncy, voluminous curls. Switch between low and medium heat settings and dry your curls upside down until they are mostly dry. If you prefer to not use as much heat, allow your curls to air-dry the rest of the way.
Refresh Your Curls
If you’re blessed with tight corkscrew curls, then this part doesn’t apply to you. For type 2 wavy girls out there whose looser locks gradually fall out within a day or two, refreshing your curls is essential. Simply spray your hair with warm water and scrunch in some cream or gel curl defining product to revive curls, either air dry or diffuse on a low heat and you’re good to go.
