I’ve always felt a bit envious of Katie’s hair. It’s perfectly straight, fine, and blonde. Meanwhile, I inherited my mom’s thick hair and my dad’s ringlets, leaving me with dark, coarse, and tightly curled hair. After struggling for a while to straighten it—which took forever and was painful—I finally found peace with my curls.
Curly hair requires special attention because the natural shape of the strands often leads to dryness, while the scalp can get quite oily. The challenge is balancing these issues. The scalp produces an oil called sebum, which is supposed to keep hair soft. For straight hair, sebum moves smoothly along the hair, but with curly hair, it gets stuck due to the hair’s irregular shape, leaving the hair dry and the scalp oily.
When it comes to caring for curly hair, the most important rule is to never brush it when it’s dry. Brushing breaks up the natural clumps of curls, leading to frizz. Instead, it’s best to detangle your hair when it’s wet, ideally while using conditioner.
Washing curly hair is a personal choice and varies for everyone. Some people with straight hair need to wash daily, while those with curly hair might find washing every other day better. For me, washing every two days works best; any more often, and my hair gets too dry.
Traditional shampoos can be harsh on curly hair, so many opt for using just conditioner—a method known as “no-poo.” I’ve found that a gentle cleanser works better for my thick hair. I look for products that are free from harsh detergents and silicones.
In terms of shower routines, you can choose to leave the conditioner in, rinse it out, or do a combination. Leaving it in can help with styling and hydration, especially if your hair is very dry. Rinsing with cool water can reduce frizz but might feel uncomfortable. When my hair was longer, I’d rinse and then apply conditioner again for better control.
Choosing the right products is personal. Avoid harsh ingredients like sulfates and silicones, which can dry out hair and create buildup. Some silicones are water-soluble, but I prefer to avoid them entirely to keep my hair as healthy as possible. It often requires trying different products over time to determine what works best.
Stylers come in various types. Creams are great for thick, dry hair, offering moisture and definition. Gels can add shine and hold but might be drying. Mousses are light and buoyant but often contain alcohol or silicones. Pomades can provide shine and hold, especially for updos or short styles.
These tips aren’t just for those with curls—if your hair is dry, some of these methods might help you as well. Once you learn how to properly care for your hair, you might start to love it more. How do you look after your curly hair?
