Having naturally curly hair can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, you have beautiful curls that many women envy. On the other hand, your curls can become frizzy and unmanageable if you don’t take the time to care for it correctly.
Luckily, the hair care industry is finally noticing that curly-headed girls want beautiful hair too. They are continually developing new products to help make your hair look and feel beautiful – the trick is to know which ones to use and when.
The key to creating beautiful curls is moisture, moisture, moisture. Curly hair, due to its structure, has a hard time receiving the moisture it needs from the scalp. This results in dry strands that break and frizz easily.
To start, look for products that are moisturizing. Products that are water-based are the best - stay away from ones that contain alcohol as one of the main ingredients. A couple of brands that work especially well for curly hair include Aquage [1] and Alterna [2]. Both are water-based hair care collections that work wonderfully on moisturizing dry hair.
For best results with your naturally curly hair, follow this routine:
Shampoo: Shampoo your hair only a few times a week. Remember, the key to manageable curls is moisture. Washing the hair every day only zaps natural moisture from the scalp.
Condition: Conditioner is a curly-headed girl’s best friend. Make sure you condition every time you shower and put enough product to fully coat your hair. Leave it in for a few minutes while you finish your shower to get its full benefit. It’s also a good idea to deep condition your hair at least once per week.
Styling: Stay away from products like mousse. Instead, using defining gel and work it through your hair with a comb or your fingers. For best results, air dry or user a diffuser on your blow dryer to keep your curls defined and beautiful.