From very early on in my curly hair journey I always get the same compliment. “Your curls are so beautiful, I wish I had curly hair!” Immediately after I joke and say, “No you don’t!”
I love and hate my curly hair at times. Why? Because it’s time-consuming, and super high maintenance. But I wouldn’t trade for any other hair type!
Maintaining healthy curly hair may feel like a struggle at times, however, it doesn’t have to be hard. With the right practices and consistency, you can have healthy happy curls that always look their best!
Whether you’re just starting your curly hair journey or researching for someone else, you must know these life-changing do’s and don’ts for curly hair! They’re the same tips I use on my curls to this day!
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Brushing curly hair
You should never use a brush as a tool to detangle curly hair. It can cause frizz and breakage leading to damage to the hair. Instead, you will always want to use either a wide-tooth comb or your fingers.
The best detangling method for curly hair is finger detangling. Your fingers are allowing you to feel the areas that need more patience and attention. Whereas a comb, people tend to still rake through.
When using the comb method, you will still need to take your time and make sure you start from the bottom to the top of the hair. Using a wide-tooth or flexible comb will always be the better option when not using your fingers.
Always make sure to take your time and use a detangler to make the process easier. I recently found the best detangling tool that does look like a brush.
However, the backing is flexible and glides with the hair rather than raking through with a normal brush. If you ever used the small tangle teezer, this is the same thing with a handle! I can not recommend this product enough. Every time the curly hair subject comes up I find myself ranting and raving over this must-need tool!
Always use a leave-in conditioner
Leave-in conditioner is a step you don’t want to miss with curly hair. Curly hair is naturally dry, any moisture you can add to it, your curls will thank you!
Adding a leave-in conditioner to your hair after your wash or co-wash will allow further moisture locked in the hair until your next wash. In my routine, I use a spray leave-in conditioner. I love the spray better because I can spray it in scrunch and go! Pictured below, is the current leave-in conditioner I use and highly recommend. and you can find it here.
How to properly dry curly hair
Anytime you dry your hair after it is wet, you will want to use a microfiber towel or even a cotton t-shirt. Your regular bath towel will promote frizz and breakage over time.
Remember, your hair is at its most fragile state when wet!
When using a microfiber towel for the excess water, will keep moisture in the hair, eliminate possible frizz and your products will apply better.
Over-washing curly hair
Since curly hair is further on the dry side, it is best recommended to wash your curly hair once per week. I know, I was grossed out when I first heard that.
Although, it made sense! While I was transitioning from chemically straight to naturally curly hair, I was washing my hair just about every day. My hair/scalp was so dry!
So, I began to push out my washing days from every day to eventually every 4-5 days, and thank God, my hair no longer looked or felt dry again!
Now, I know what you’re thinking, some people may be on the oilier side with their scalp. No matter the hair type, or oiliness, it is recommended to wash at least every other day or every two days.
If needed, you can start with every other day and see how far you can push it from there. Another thing to consider could be the products you’re using as well! When building the best wash routine, listen to your hair, if washing every 3 days is needed then do that! Just make sure you are not over/under washing your scalp/hair.
Not Deep Conditioning regularly
As I mentioned before, and will most likely say again, curly hair is naturally dry! If you haven’t already, I highly suggest you begin a deep conditioning weekly routine. Deep condition treatments are vital for maintaining healthy moisturized curls.
Previously I mentioned the term, co-washing. Your deep conditioning treatment can act as your co-wash to revitalize the curls and add moisture back into the hair without stripping the scalp from natural oil.
Even if you are washing your hair at the recommended, once per week, your hair may still seem dry some days. This can happen with changes in the weather, products your using, or even your daily diet/water intake. When you implement deep conditioning into your routine, you’re adding extra moisture back into the hair.
It’s like washing more than once a week except your not shampooing your scalp! Using a deep conditioner, you will see your curls more defined and will feel softer and shinier. Another holy grail deep conditioner that saved my hair back then and today are the Shea Moisture Intensive Hydration Hair Mask. This hair mask leaves your hair feeling super soft and moisturized. To view this item and its related products, you can find it here!
Detangling curly hair don’ts
Please, please, please, do not detangle your curly hair while it is dry! Always, detangle the hair when it is wet and preferably have a conditioner or a detangling product in it.
Detangling regularly is vital for curly hair, however, detangling while the hair is dry, will promote damage and further breakage to the hair shaft.
When you create breakage in the hair, you will experience knotting, frizz, and unruly curls! To detangle the hair properly you can simply do so in the shower or wet it with a spray bottle and apply your detangling product that doesn’t need to be rinsed out.
If you choose to detangle the hair outside of the shower, start by sectioning the hair. Once sectioned, saturate the section with water and apply your detangler to the hair. Repeat each section and always comb from ends to scalp.
Heat Damage
This is a hard one for most. However, you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t care about the integrity of your hair!
Using heat tools is a big no-no for maintaining/growing healthy curly hair. The damage from heat tools over time will alter/change the curl’s ability to curl and you will visibly see the difference when you wear your hair natural. Luckily with trims and a lot of love and patience, your curls will get back into their natural pattern. However, to get rid of the damage completely, you would need to cut the hair.
Now I’m not stating to start cutting at your hair, but if you want the damage completely gone, you will need to grow it out over time and get regular trims until it’s gone.
If you’re wondering what the heat damage may look like, you can google images for reference. If you have recently put heat damage on your hair or within the year, you can visibly see some curls may be affected.
For example, if you have tight spiral curls and you see one that starts in a spiral and ends in a zig-zag pattern, that curl has some damage to it.
If you regularly straighten the hair, you may find curls that curl at the top of the head and towards the mid-shaft going down to the ends, the hair is wavy or more straight. Extensive damage will show even while the hair is saturated.
Hair Coloring
Now I don’t want to completely say don’t color your hair. However, please know that when coloring your hair always keep it conditioned and get a cut with your color! I will always recommend you go to a professional and always use professional hair color. You get what you pay for!
Lightning treatments
When lightning the hair out of its natural color, please make sure you are doing the treatments professionally with someone who is certified or experienced with curly hair types in general.
Being in the Cosmetology industry myself, I have seen/heard too many horror stories and the damage alone is traumatic! I would recommend not lighting the curly hair at all. Here is why, when working on curly hair in general, most people are not familiar with it.
Meaning, that they don’t have a clientele built or the experience to maintain curly hair. Most salon professionals will first want to put heat on the hair to straighten it because it will be manageable and easy to apply the lighter to the hair.
Heat tools on curly hair create heat damage. If you are like me, who doesn’t use heat on your hair and hasn’t for years, then this method of hair lightning isn’t for you. Unfortunately, this is the standard for general salons.
Now, this does make sense for the professional, however, it may not align with your values or best practices for keeping your hair in a healthier state.
If you are someone who still really wants those highlights, but not the heat damage added on, you can look for curly hair-certified professionals/salons that use methods that focus on the integrity of your hair. Yes, they do exist!
I’m telling you this because so many people are not educated on the basics of curly let alone the methods used for intense hair coloring services/treatments. So, always do your research and do what’s best for you and your curly hair!
Using Low-Quality Products
The only way to find out if something works for you is by trying it out yourself. Each curly head is different from the next, even if you and your identical twin have curls that look the same!
Using any product on curly hair will not work. You will need to find products that are catered to curly hair. When I began growing my hair out from chemically straight hair, I tried everything that had the word curly on it!
After my product junkie days, I realized that yes professional products are great, however, natural lines that specifically cater to curly hair alone are better!
For example, I love It’s a 10 miracle leave-in conditioner, however, I religiously use Shea Moisture for shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, leave-in conditioner, etc. Their products never disappoint and I can keep all products within the same family for the best results.
However, at times I do switch it up to other brands I love and used in the past because curly hair does get bored of the same product routine. Talk about high maintenance!
When choosing products do your research, read reviews, and try them out for yourself!
Must-Need Products
Last but not least, sleeping on a normal pillowcase. Don’t do it!! To ensure your curls are happy and breakage free, please sleep on a silk pillowcase!
You can also wrap your hair in a silk bonnet or scarf if you do not have a silk pillowcase. The non-silk material creates friction with your hair as you toss and turn and will promote frizz and breakage.
Studies show that using silk or even a high-quality satin pillowcase helps maintain the moisture in the hair overnight.
Luckily silk pillowcases and other products are affordable and high in quality! If you are interested in finding a silk pillowcase, scarf, or bonnet, you can view them here! They also come in a variety of different colors. I promise you won’t regret it and your curls will thank you later!
Hair Cuts
Regular haircuts are a must for maintaining healthy hair and growing your hair out. Think about it, the ends of your hair are the oldest part. Getting your hair regularly trimmed will decrease dead/split ends. You can decrease split ends from forming by using better products and keeping your hair moisturized.
However, that alone will not prevent split ends from forming entirely.
Getting regular haircuts with a great hair care routine will keep the dead/split ends away. Fun fact, when split ends are not cut regularly they will travel up the hair shaft resulting in more inches needing cut!
The moral of this tip is don’t skip haircuts!
Oil Treatments
Oil treatments are also great for maintaining your hair in a healthy state. Luckily there are so many options to choose from based on their benefits. Most oils you can make in-house and know exactly what the ingredients are!
For oil treatments, you can simply mix them in with your deep conditioner or apply a little oil to the mid-shaft/ends to help keep them healthy.
Oil is nourishing and vital to curly hair. If you add oils into your regimen after washes, I recommend putting in your moisturizing product and then locking it in with your oil!
Curly hair is a journey in itself. But it doesn’t have to be hard to obtain healthy happy curls. These curly hair do’s and don’ts are a must to keep your hair healthy and even get your hair to a healthier place. Let me know in the comments how these tips helped you with your curly hair care!
P.S. don’t forget to share with a curly friend!
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