Do you think your curls are out of control? Or maybe you’re tired of it always looking frizzy and out of shape? Having curly hair is a blessing, but only if you know how to care for it properly. When treated properly, curls give you the most beautiful look.
But how do you go from dry, frizzy hair that easily tangles to healthy, shiny, defined locks? This article has sifted through many tips and tricks from around the internet, and here are the best. Let’s dig in!
Is blow drying your curly hair a good idea?
The golden rule when it comes to caring for your wavy and curly hair is to avoid heat at all costs. And that includes hair straighteners and hair dryers. The reason for this is that such devices basically fry your hair. Too much heat is bad for any hair type, but it damages curls even more.
So if you’re looking for the culprit for your dry, frizzy hair, it’s probably the heat. However, this does not mean that you can never use a hair dryer or straightener again. Everyone enjoys a change from time to time. Also, some have to dry their hair because they don’t have the conditions to let their hair dry naturally every time.
But since heat damages your curls, it’s best to keep it to a minimum. For example, when using a hair dryer, keep it on cool air and style it with a diffuser. In this way, you will reduce frizz and avoid damaging your beautiful locks.
Also, always apply heat protection cream or serum and avoid high temperatures when using the iron. Also, don’t forget about compensation. Next time you wash your hair, use a deep conditioner. This will ensure that your curls stay happy and healthy.
How to blow dry curly hair
When drying your curly hair, you need to follow some rules if you want to achieve the best results. So here is a step by step guide on how to do it right.
Step 1: Buy the right hair dryer
There are various hair dryers on the market specially designed for curly hair. For example, ionic, porcelain and ceramic hair dryers help de-frizz, improve shine and reduce static electricity. So, you need to find the right one for your hair density and curl type.
Step 2: preparation
Hair preparation is very important, and it starts with a good shampoo and conditioner. After washing your hair, reduce the humidity by gently patting your hair dry with a cotton t-shirt.
Next you should use a leave-in conditioner as this will help protect your hair from the heat. Then put all the other products you normally use to moisturize and detangle your curls. It would help if you did it sparingly with the squeeze method. Also, don’t forget to apply a heat protectant after parting and combing your hair.
Step 3. Blow drying
First, you should squeeze the excess water out of your hair. Then divide it into four equal parts and fasten them with clips. Attach the diffuser and reduce the heat to low or medium. As mentioned above, it is not wise to use high heat, even if you want to speed things up.
Next, you should gently place each piece on the diffuser claw. Place the diffuser at the scalp and carefully lift the strands at the roots to increase the volume. Dry your hair this way until it is 80% dry, then let it air dry completely. This way you will preserve moisture and avoid frizz.
If you’re not sure how to blow dry your hair with a diffuser, check out some Youtube videos to help you out.
Step 4. Style
Put some styling product on your hands and gently iron dry curly hair to the desired shape and style.
How to give your dry curly hair a new life
Besides exposing your hair to less heat, there are other ways you can get rid of your dry, frizzy hair. These are some of them.
1. Buy the right type of shampoo
Shampoos usually contain chemicals that help them produce amazing lather and lather, called sulfates. However, these ingredients act as a detergent and remove too much natural oil from your hair and scalp. This is why your beautiful throws are very dry.
This effect is even worse for curly hair as this type of hair is usually more prone to dryness compared to others. The reason curly hair is so dry is because of its shape, which prevents natural oils from sliding down the length of the strand. So, removing a little oil will make your locks look like a haystack.
For this reason, it would be best to switch to shampoos that do not contain sulfates and other strong cleansers. There are many types to choose from, so try a few until you find the one that suits your hair best.
2. Learn to shampoo
The correct way to wash curly hair is to apply shampoo only to the scalp. That way, when you rinse it out, the shampoo will travel along your hair and wash it, but it won’t dry it out as much.
Another thing to remember is not to use too much shampoo as this only damages the hair further. Instead, try mixing some shampoo with water in a bowl. In this way, you will apply it in a diluted form and save your dry, curly hair from harsh chemicals.
Another way to save your dry, curly hair from further damage is to alternate shampooing with co-washing. For those unfamiliar with the term, co-washing is cleaning your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. Basically, you apply the conditioner the way you would shampoo and scrub the dirt off the scalp with your fingers.
But if that doesn’t sound appealing to you, you can always buy ready-made co-washes. Store-bought conditioners are regenerating cleansers that will help clean your scalp, but at the same time preserve moisture. However, try not to do it too often. Co-washing is a good option for those who have to wash their hair every day, but still have to clean it with the right shampoo.
These methods and ideas come from The Curly Girl Handbook and the CG movement this book sparked. You can read more about it here.
3. Everything is in the conditioner
Although shampoos keep your scalp and hair clean, they cannot save your dry, frizzy hair even if they are specially designed for this type of hair. The secret behind healthy, shiny waves is conditioner.
But we’re not talking about just any conditioner — it has to be creamy and moisturizing. Also, it must not contain silicones. Only such a conditioner will create a protective film around your curls and make them smooth and lively, even in humid conditions.
4. Use conditioner correctly
After you finish washing your hair, divide your hair into several sections. Then apply generous amounts of conditioner all over your hair, but skip the scalp. Using your fingers and a wide-toothed comb, start combing the curls from the bottom up.
However, remember to be gentle. Your curls are most sensitive when wet, so you need to treat them with care. Also, as mentioned before, your conditioner needs to be creamy. Doing so will create slippage and make your strands slide against each other without creating friction.
At the end, you can completely rinse off the conditioner or leave it on for a while.
5. Do not brush dry curly hair
As you probably already know, you shouldn’t brush your wavy or curly hair every day. Moreover, it would be best to never brush your curls when they are dry. In fact, the best time to comb (not brush) your hair is wet and after applying conditioner, as we just mentioned. You should avoid brushes at all costs and only use a wide-toothed comb.
A comb with wide teeth will help to properly distribute the conditioner along the entire length of your hair. It will also reduce frizz and keep those clumps of curl together.
However, sometimes if you notice that your hair is very tangled, you should try combing it with oil before washing it. This is because your curls are extra sensitive when wet, and combing out such large knots would further damage them. So maybe the only other case where you can brush your dry curls and waves is after using a leave-in conditioner and occasionally with an oil applied to your hair before showering.
6. Use curl creams and leave-in conditioners
After washing out the shampoo and conditioner, you should apply a leave-in conditioner that will transform your dry, frizzy hair into smooth, healthy curls. Generally speaking, creams designed for wavy and curly hair, as well as leave-in conditioners, help your curls stay hydrated until the next wash. Moreover, they save it from getting all frizzy and tangled.
To be more specific, curl creams help define your curls and make them last longer, while leave-in conditioners provide moisture. And yes, you can use either of them or both at the same time. Simply try applying just one product and then a combination to see which method works best for your hair. But don’t forget to comb your curls after applying these products to make sure they’re evenly distributed!
7. Deep conditioning is mandatory
To help your dry, curly hair recover, you should deep condition it at least once a week. This step is vitally important and you should never skip it, especially if you’ve just started your curly hair recovery journey.
Deep regeneration provides much-needed hydration to curls and waves. More moisture means healthy curls, less split ends and less frizz. Therefore, you will be able to grow your curls very quickly!
8. Don’t squish your curls while you sleep
Have you ever styled your curls perfectly and enjoyed them that day, only to wake up the next day with them messy and frizzy? Yes, we’ve all been there. It’s natural to toss and turn during the night. However, this means that you are crushing the curls that you spent several hours styling the previous day.
So, if you want to protect your curls at night and prevent them from losing definition, you should make a loose bun or “pineapple” and cover it with a satin cap. There are various tutorials on Youtube that can help you learn how to do this using a scarf, t-shirt, etc.
9. The importance of using oil
As mentioned above, the natural oils from your scalp have a hard time traveling down the curly locks. Because of this, the ends of curly hair are usually very brittle and dry. Of course, to take care of split ends, you should condition your hair thoroughly every week and trim your hair every few months. But to prevent their reappearance, you should start applying a few drops of oil to the ends of the curls.
In this way, you will retain moisture and enhance the effect of your curl cream, leave-in conditioner and other styling products. This step is crucial if you want your hair to grow longer and faster!
10. Hydration comes from within
By that we mean enough water every day!
You are probably aware by now that drinking plenty of water has many health benefits. But did you know that many experts and estheticians claim that if you drink enough water every day, your skin will look beautiful and your hair will grow faster? That statement is actually true!
Essentially, if you drink enough water, every system in your body will start working properly. This will help your body cleanse itself of all accumulated toxins and make your skin clear and even. Furthermore, sufficient hydration will make your skin more elastic and your hair healthy and shiny.
So, while moisturizing your beautiful locks with different products is great, even essential, to get rid of dry, frizzy hair, you’ll need to moisturize from the inside as well.