Naturally Curly Hair Guide
Naturally Curly Hair Guide
I wanna say about 8 or 9 years ago I got frustrated with my cotton candy hair. My curls were undefined, frizzy, and I was constantly feeling like I had to wear ponytails and anything that would hold in the mess. Daily flat ironing made no sense, because it is damaging (even if you use heat protectants), took too long to achieve, and here in Washington rain was very likely to undo all that work anyway. So I searched online for any information I could, and happened upon the Curl Talk forums at Naturally Curly.
Being able to connect to others on the same hair journey was such help to me. There are all types of curls represented. I learned about my curl type, curl products (many that are not mainstream), and methods for getting smooth curls. It’s been about 7 years since I have been there, but the information I gained changed my curls forever. I am thrilled to share with you what worked for me, and I hope this Naturally Curly Hair Guide helps those of you struggling to figure out your own curl puzzle.
Cleansing
This one is probably the most personal topic out of everything. For me, I can’t shampoo every day. It dries my hair out and damages it. While there is growing evidence that everyone from curly haired to straight haired benefit from less frequent washing, I know many people are grossed out by not washing every day. If this is you, what I suggest for you is to use a regular shampoo only once or twice a week, then a conditioning cleanser the other days to avoid stripping your hair. I do not have a go to shampoo, but I do only buy ones that are sulfate free. Sulfates are so harsh on your hair. Make sure you read the ingredients. I see lots of shampoos that say sulfate free on the front, yet on the back is listed a sulfate.
Conditioning
My hair sucks up moisture like nobodys business. I like heavy conditioners that offer slip. Slip is that sort of slimy feeling you get from conditioner. Some people don’t like the feeling, but in order to detangle my hair in the shower it is a must. I do have a go to conditioner that I have been using for many months now, and it is the L’Oreal Power Moisture Hydrating Conditioner. It’s inexpensive and easily purchased anywhere. I condition every day. I apply my conditioner first thing in the shower, put my hair up and secure it with a lobster claw clasp, and leave it while I continue to clean so it gets several minutes to go to work.
I deep condition as needed. As of right now I don’t have a go to deep conditioner, but I am testing a couple I hope to share with you soon. When I deep condition I do it for at least half an hour, and I use a heat cap to maximize my results. I find I need to deep condition more often in summer and winter.
Styling
No brushes. Ever. I haven’t used a brush since high school. Detangling and styling in the shower, along with healthy, well conditioned hair, is more than enough to keep you tangle free.
I have used Curl Keeper for years and swear by it. It is my secret weapon for smooth, well coiled curls. For gel, I have been pretty loyal to the Curly Hair Solutions Gel for a few months now. It offers nice hold. For a leave-in conditioner, I just use a tiny blob of my regular conditioner.
I apply all of my styling products in the shower in a certain order and in sections to make sure I don’t miss any areas. First is my leave-in conditioner, over that I smooth in Curl Keeper until I get the curl formation I am looking for. I have to be pretty generous with it. Over that I apply my hair gel. I do all this while leaning forward, as I get the best volume this way. While still leaning forward, I put a micro fiber turban (Turbie Twist makes some) on my head but don’t wrap it. I gather my hair in one hand and the end of the turban in the other, stand up and pile my hair on the top of my head. I fold the turban over my hair and secure it, making sure to not wrap my curls up in the end of the turban. If you are familiar with plopping or plunking, it is similar but an easier method for me.
I leave my hair up like that for about 15 to 20 minutes, then I carefully take my hair down and allow it to air dry the rest of the way. Once fully dry, I gently scrunch my hair if it feels crunchy from the gel. I also fluff it up a bit if I am wanting some big hair that day.
That is pretty much it. It sounds like a lot of information, but the only thing that takes a long time is waiting for my hair to air dry (you can use a diffuser to help this along). Since quite a few requested this post, I hope you found this Naturally Curly Hair Guide helpful!
Naturally Curly Hair Guide appeared first on Cosmetics Aficionado
Leticia Fontaine
