Other than the Sri Lankan weather, curly hair is the next most unpredictable thing to exist. You either have a great hair day or the absolute worst, there is no in between, and the latter tends to occur on the most important days. Having curly hair myself, over the years I have learnt a few tips that might help you out. Since there isn’t much product available for curly hair here I have resorted to a few simple home remedies as well.
Disclaimer- Note that the result might differ from person to person depending on the type of curly hair you have and some products may not suit your curls so feel free to pick and choose or even mix and match the routine that works for you.
1. Don’t brush your hair……..unless it is wet
Brushing curly hair is a cardinal sin as it takes away all your curls and leaves you with head full of frizzy hair. Instead brush your hair immediately after a bath as your hair is still wet and your hair will remain curly. When using a brush make sure it’s a wide tooth brush so as not to destroy your curls.
2. Style your hair when it’s wet
Curls look best right after a bath. So if you need your hair to sit a certain way make sure it’s after a bath. However if you plan to leave it loose make sure you have enough time to dry it fully so that it will stay perfectly curly and you don’t walk out of the house with half wet and half dry hair.
3. Drying your hair
For some people drying curly hair can be a hassle as it takes a long time due to the volume and curliness as opposed to straight or wavy hair. Additionally as curls tend to be heavy when wet they may pull your hair down thus giving it a flattened look on top and a voluminous look at the bottom making it look like hair from the Shakespearean era. Instead take the front bit of your hair and clip it on the top of your head whilst drying your hair. This way your hair won’t be flat on the top and it will give it a bit of volume.
4. Leave-on conditioner or Argan oil
This is another great product to use on your curls as it helps keep your curls in shape even after it is dry and gives it a shiny look. As we live in a humid country this will also help keep your curls moisturized. A little bit goes a long way so add a few drops into your hand scrunch it into the bottom half of your hair instead of dragging it up and down. (Make sure you do this while your hair is wet)
5. Shampoo and Conditioner
Most curly hair requires more conditioner than other types of hair and less shampoo. This is because curly hair tends to get dry easily. Whilst conditioner tends to soften your curls it can also cause your hair to become too heavy if too much is applied so it requires a little trial and error. If you haven’t found the right conditioner maybe resorting to using Tresemme will help you out.
6. Tying
Try not to tie your hair too tightly as that can flatten your curls, instead try to leave a little breathing room for your hair. This can be done by not scraping your hair back tightly but letting it be a little loose in the front and using a hair band that is bigger in size as opposed to the tiny tight ones or better yet a silk scrunchie as this isn’t so rough on your hair. This will ensure your hair stays bouncy and curly throughout the day.
7. Make sure your hairdresser knows how to cut curly hair
Another mistake people make with curly hair is not cutting it properly. Firstly when deciding the length remember that when your hair is straightened out as it will be much longer so if you cut two inches off when it curls back again it will be four inches shorter. Therefore ensure that you cut the absolute bare minimum if you intend on keeping the length and make sure you go to a hair dresser who understands curly hair.
Also remember that the more layers you have the more voluminous your hair will be so be careful as to where you want the layers to start from as that can make or break your look.
8. AVC rinse treatment
This is where you apply apple cider vinegar when having a shower. It can be applied either before shampoo or after conditioner and there is no special order to it. This will help make your curls bouncier, shinier and overall give it a healthier look.
9. Don’t oil your hair directly
Many people do resort to oiling hair here but if you have curly hair you might not want to as oil can retain in your hair longer thus not allowing your hair to breathe and causing it to be heavy thus making the top of your head flat. If you must apply oil in case your scalp is dry mix it into the AVC treatment. You can also resort to adding castor oil into the AVC treatment instead or even just into your shampoo.
10. Pineapple top your hair when sleeping
Sleeping with wet hair is a hotly debated point as for some it dampens their curls whilst others wake up with perfectly set curls (I belong to the latter category). So this is another trial and error situation where you need to see what works for you. If you want you can also pineapple your hair – tie or wrap your damp hair up with a silk scarf or scrunchie, right on the top of your head, and go to sleep. In the morning just let it loose and you’re ready to go. There are many videos on YouTube for your reference and Alicia Keys is often seen wearing her hair like this so make sure you check out her tutorials too.
Hope these tips help you get through the day!
