How to Manage Really Curly Hair

Those with curly hair often wish they had straight hair and vice versa. Curly hair never goes out of style, but requires a great deal of work in order to manage it, so it can be both a blessing and a curse. If your hair is naturally curly, here are a few simple things you can do to keep frizziness and dryness under control.

Shampooing

A common mistake many people with curly hair make is washing it every day. The fact is that curly hair tends to be dry, so shampooing every day can strip the scalp of essential oils. When this happens, the hair may become brittle and prone to breaking. For best results, you should wash your hair only every two to three days, and use a mild shampoo that does not contain any harsh chemicals. Natural shampoo followed by a protein-based conditioner is recommended.

Deep Conditioning

In addition to conditioning after each shampoo, you should also deep condition your hair on a regular basis, preferably once a week or so.  Consult your stylist for recommendations for the best deep conditioning masque for your hair type. Apply thoroughly from the mid-shaft to the ends of your hair, let the masque remain in your hair for 15 to 30 minutes. Certain deep conditioning masques may even be left in overnight.

Choose Hair Products Carefully

Oddly enough, many of the products you use to combat frizziness may actually be adding to the problem. Hair products containing alcohol may dry out your hair and increase the odds of frizziness. Those with petrolatum oil might also cause damage to your scalp. To ensure you are not harming your tresses, you should read the list of ingredients on any hair products you use very carefully, and avoid buying ones that contain harmful substances and consult your stylist for the products that will work best for your hair type.

Comb your Hair Properly

Broken ends and flat curls may result whenever you brush your hair. For this reason, curly hair should only be combed. Use a wide-toothed comb when your hair is wet in order to part it and remove tangles. Once your hair is dry, use a hair pick to fluff up your curls and give them body. When blow drying your hair, simply use your fingers to gently fluff your locks instead.

Limit the use of Heated Styling Appliances

It may be tempting to use hair straighteners, dryers or curling irons repeatedly; however, you run the risk of damaging your hair each time you do so. For best results, limit your use of styling appliances to only what is necessary. You should allow your hair to dry naturally whenever possible, but if a hair dryer is needed, use a diffuser attachment to direct heat to one section of your head at a time.

These common-sense methods of caring for curly hair can make all the difference in how it looks and feels. After following these tips, you may just rediscover how nice it is to have a head full of attractive, flirty curls.