Hair care tips for all types of naturally curly hair

Using a Terry cloth towel

The first rule of drying curly hair, is to give up the terry cloth. “A terry cloth towel will absorb too much moisture, which curly hair needs." Terry cloth has tiny nubs that flutt up your hair cuticles, causing them to frizz. Use a cotton T-shirt or microfiber towel to scrunch dry. Terry cloth also absorb too much water out of the hair, which can make it tangel.

Hair masks

Hair mask are more like a mini spa day for your hair. Hair mask works wonders in repairing your hair, preventing it from getting damaged, and maintaining the definition of your curls. Incorporate hair masks into your hair care routine and you may find that the results (think softer, stronger and shinier hair) are worth the extra time. You could buy a hair mask from a drugstore or do it at home.

Satin pillowcase

During the night, your scalp produces natural oils that are meant to moisturize your strands, but your cotton pillowcase may be soaking it all up instead. This can leave your hair feeling dry and tangled come morning (especially if you move around a lot in your sleep). Cotton pillowcases cause too much friction and can seriously mess up your curls and cause breakage. Satin pillowcases, on the other hand, are smooth and eliminate frizz from your hair.

Skip Daily Shampoos

Curly hair doesn’t need to be shampooed as frequently as straight hair. Frequent shampooing can stretch and stress out fragile strands, and dry out thirsty curls.

Avoid Sulfates In Your Shampoo

Sulfates/ sulfites are the harshest of detergents and surfactants. They are extremely drying to the hair, and should be avoided.

Use Deep Hair Conditioner

Curly hair is thirsty hair. That’s just the way it was born and the way it will always be. That’s why deep conditioning at least one to two times per week is critical for gorgeous, shiny hair that blows gently in the wind. After shampooing, apply a deep conditioner. Choose a formula that answers the needs of your hair. Is it dry? Pick a moisturizing formula that contains humectants like glycol, glycerin or good quality oils. Is it weak? You’ll need a protein reconstructor with silk amino acids or keratin to restore strength. As with your shampoo and pre-shampoo formulas, work this formula into your hair in sections to be sure it’s applied thoroughly. Then let the conditioner go to work, if you feel you need more moisture, opt for applying a leave-in conditioner after rinsing out the protein conditioner and before styling your hair.

Lay Off the Heat

While heat tools can be a quick fix and an easy way to achieve your desired look, it can damage hair. Too much heat can lead to dryness and brittle strands. Blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons—all of these thermal tools lead to breakage. If you’re a hot tool addict, try to wean yourself off of the heat.

Use hair oil

To give you a brief introduction on hair oils, there are two main categories you will come across.

Carrier oils- vegetable/nut/seed derived oil, usually odorless, can be used alone or used to transport or carry the scent and properties of an essential oil.

Essential oils- highly concentrated scent, contain specific therapeutic benefits, normally extracted from plant sources and diluted with carrier oils.

There are so many oils for natural hair. But, just like finding the perfect shoes, it may take a while to find the best naturally curly hair oils. When it comes to the sheer number of natural hair oils, it can be confusing to know which one may work best for your hair. Although you can learn by trial and error, it is always a good idea to do a little research before trying new ingredients.