Having curly hair can be both a blessing and a curse. It looks gorgeous and attracts many compliments when it is all done, but people never get to see your hard work and frustration with getting your hair in order.
Curly hair is relatively common in America; a study conducted revealed that about 65% of Americans have naturally curly or wavy hair. Maintaining your curly hair can be quite stressful because of the many ‘rules’ you have to observe to keep your hair looking good.
Do you want to discover more about how you can take good care of your natural curls? Here are four tips you should consider.
- Oil scalp treatment
Many experts agree that oiling your hair is essential to its maintenance regardless of your hair type. Oiling your hair facilitates healthy hair growth and massages the scalp, improving blood circulation to the area.
For curly-haired women like you, oils are more necessary because curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair. There is a wide range of oils to consider choosing from, mostly dependent on your preferred choice. Several hairstylists recommend coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, and jojoba oil as essential oils that curly-haired women should use.
Common curly hair problems like brittle hair and lack of sheen are quickly addressed with a little oil, so you should invest in a decent oil collection to keep your hair looking great at all times.
- Washing your hair
Washing your hair is a principal part of any hair care routine, as it removes dust and excess oil. Jason Hullman of famous curly hair experts Ouidad recommends shampooing less and focusing more on rinsing and conditioning.
Shampooing your hair too much removes its natural moisture; many experts agree that water used for washing all types of hair must be cold instead of hot because hot water depletes the natural oils in the deep areas of your hair faster, leading to dry scalp and an increased risk of breakage.
Wash your hair often to maintain it and give it an overall fresh and healthy look.
- Conditioning regularly
Conditioning introduces moisture to the scalp, helps your hair retain nutrients, and prevents split-ends. It would be best to use leave-in conditioners because they trap moisture in your hair longer than most everyday conditioners.
Regular deep conditioning is also necessary to maintain your hair. Many hair care experts ideally recommend deep conditioning after every wash, but since that may be too demanding for you, try doing it weekly instead.
- Styling
Many hair stylists recommend using wide-tooth combs instead of brushes to straighten out curls. Combs work better as curly hair’s fragile and tangled nature requires a gentle way of detangling without disrupting the curl pattern, and brushes cannot easily accomplish this because they are better suited for straight hair.
If you experience split ends that make your hair look too frizzy, consider visiting the hairstylist every two months for a nice trim. You can also try using hair curlers to iron out your curls to change up your look.
