Wild curls, beautiful ringlets, and mermaid waves. I adore them all. It’s a tragedy that my hair sits somewhere between curly and straight. I can never just leave it as-is and call it a day. I should write a book about my hair and call it The Head Of Hair That Would Not Be Left Unstyled. It would be a wild success. Wanna know why? Because 45% of women have wavy or curly hair, and I bet all of them have the same frustrations as me. I’m going to get right on that, but first, (because I love my readers), here is a quick play by play on some of my hair hacks for curly girls.
No curl is equal
The first step is to know what you’re working with, girl. This chart will help you determine what type of curl you’re rocking and offers quick tips on how to style it.
Be wary of certain ingredients
Sulfates, most silicones, and products with wax are terrible for girls with curly hair. Why? Curly hair does best when it’s moisturized and free of build up. Shampoos with sulfates will strip and damage your hair. Products with silicone and wax will cause build up, making your hair brittle and prone to breakage. Breakage = frizziness. It’s definitely a lot to take in. Here is a website that can help you shop for products that are curly- girl approved. My favorites are DevaCurl products like One Condition, a super-rich moisturizer that prevents breakage and makes your hair shiny like gold, and Light Defining Gel, which holds your hair in gorgeous curls without leaving all that yucky gunk in your hair that you have to rinse a thousand times to get out.
Shun rough fabric
Rough fabric cause frizz by ruffling the shaft of the hair. Using a 100% cotton T-shirt or small baby blanket instead of a towel after your shower can help a lot more than you would think. Or, if you’re willing to spend the big bucks, opt for a microfiber towel or gloves just for your hair. Switching out your pillowcase for one with a silky material will also make a world of difference and help your hair hold its curl overnight.
Learn to plop and clip
Plopping is a technique that helps your hair dry into its natural curl pattern. Start out with freshly washed hair. After you’ve put all of your serums and product in, grab a T-shirt and lay it on a flat surface with the sleeves closest to you. Flip your head upside down and place your hair onto the T-shirt. All of your curls should be at the crown of your head. Then, take the bottom of the T-shirt and pull it over your head to the nape of your neck. Wrap the sleeves around your head and secure it at the nape. Wait 30 minutes, and then finish drying your hair as usual.
Clipping will help you add volume to the root. Part your hair as you usually would, and then clip thin metal clips at the roots of your hair, parallel to the part, everywhere you feel you’re lacking volume. Leave on until your hair is dry, then remove.
Ditch the brush
I think every curly girl knows not to brush their hair when it’s dry- but did you know it’s not a good idea to brush it when it’s wet either? Brushing while wet can cause a lot of damage. Stick to using wide tooth combs, or just brush through with your fingers.
C’mon curly girls- did I miss anything? Share your insight with me on Instagram @poiseandpurpose. I’d love to hear what your think.
