Curly Hair
How to Care for Curly Hair
Rebellious, untamed, fragile, brittle, and often dry, curly hair can make daily life challenging. However, with the right care, they can also become objects of desire. Discover the ideal hair care routine, from shampoo to styling, that will make you proud of your hair!
Characteristics of Curly Hair
Unlike straight hair, curly hair has a structure made of more or less pronounced curls. Curly hair has a wide curvature that allows the scalp's sebum to spread in small amounts along the lengths. However, this protective substance hardly reaches the entire hair, especially the ends, resulting in a tendency to dryness.
Curly hair is characterized by well-defined and elastic S-shaped curls. Sebum has more difficulty flowing, leading to dry, less shiny, fragile, and often thin hair.
Finally, kinky hair has a very firm Z-shaped curl, forming a voluminous and light mass, similar to cotton. In this case, sebum hardly drains, and the hair fiber is porous, dull, very dry, and fragile.
Choosing Products for Curly Hair
A hair care routine consists of different products: shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, oil, or serum. If you have curly, wavy, or even kinky hair, it is essential to choose products that are adapted to this nature and the issues you are facing.
Oil Bath and Shampoo for Curly Hair
Shampooing is a step in the hair care routine that can weaken curly hair even more. To preserve them as much as possible during washing, we recommend starting with an oil bath. This technique aims to nourish, repair, and protect the hair. You can take an oil bath two to three times a month, and even before any other shampoo if you have kinky hair. Choose a pure hair oil or a ready-to-use blend and cover the lengths and ends, not forgetting the roots. Then let the oil bath rest for at least an hour, ideally under a warm towel to optimize penetration. Among the most recommended vegetable oils for caring for curly hair, you will find coconut, macadamia, argan, and baobab oils.
The shampoo should be chosen carefully; otherwise, it will further damage curly hair and make it dull. Prefer a gentle shampoo, preferably sulfate-free, and rich in nourishing and coating active ingredients to limit frizz: shea butter, vegetable oils (coconut, avocado, macadamia, argan, etc.). Finally, to preserve the health and beauty of curly hair, we recommend not shampooing more than twice a week. Indeed, very frequent washes dry out and weaken the hair fiber.
Hair Conditioner and Mask for Beautiful Curls
The conditioner and hair mask are real treatments. People with curly hair should be careful not to forget these two steps in the hair care routine. Indeed, these products protect the hair from external aggressions such as sun, wind, cold, pollution, or even tobacco smoke. The conditioner also allows easy detangling of the hair, gently removing knots, and strengthening the hair fiber. To take even more care of kinky hair, use a moisturizing and nourishing hair mask.
Styling for Curly Hair: Tips
Styling curly hair can sometimes be a real headache. However, with suitable products and good habits, your hair can reveal all its beauty!
Enemies of Curly Hair
Many factors can harm the vitality, shine, and flexibility of curly hair. Therefore, when styling, it is best to avoid using hairbrushes as much as possible, which tends to break the hair fiber. The comb is a better option, as long as you choose one with wide teeth to preserve the curls and avoid the dreaded "tuft" effect, so feared by people with curly hair. The comb also helps distribute sebum to the ends, nourishing and protecting the fiber naturally.
Styling products like hairspray or gel should also be avoided as they have a drying effect. If you want to style your hair and tame your curls, we recommend opting for a product in the form of aloe vera cream or gel, known for its moisturizing properties and holding power.
Ideally, the hairdryer should be left in the closet to allow the hair to air dry. This habit will ensure well-defined and plump curls. If you can't do without the hairdryer, choose the coolest drying mode or use it with a diffuser, not forgetting to apply a heat protection treatment.
As for hairstyles, we recommend limiting tight braids and pulled-up hairstyles. In fact, this type of hairstyle promotes hair pulling at the root, which is called traction alopecia. As much as possible, never cut your curly hair yourself, especially not when wet, risking an unpleasant surprise when drying. Trust your hair to a professional and follow their advice to maintain the cut.
Styling curly hair. Various products will help take care of your curly hair daily, especially for styling. You can use a hair oil or serum as the first step to bring elasticity and shine to the hair. This also helps to style the hair and define the curls. Vegetable oil is particularly known for its benefits on curly hair. It has a coating and smoothing action, helps control the curls, smooths frizz without losing shine. This oil will also reduce the hair's sensitivity to static electricity. To apply the product correctly, pour two to three drops into the palm of your hand and warm it up. Then distribute the treatment over the lengths and ends, taking care to keep gentle movements. To facilitate styling curly hair, we recommend having a curl activation cream or spray on hand. These products are specially formulated to respect the nature of your hair; they are designed to style but also to moisturize, nourish, and protect the hair from the daily aggressions they are exposed to.
Conclusion
Sources of complexes for some, setbacks for others, curly hair has a very particular structure that makes them fragile, dry, brittle, and untamed. Therefore, they require more care than straight or slightly wavy hair. It is essential to choose products specially dedicated to the care of curly hair. A good hair care routine consists of