It’s been a while since I’ve done a classic curly hair tips post, so I thought it would be fun to go back to the basics.
I mostly blog about the Curly Girl Method, but there are some pretty killer hair tips I learned from following this hair care philosophy that apply to anyone with curly hair–wheater you follow the Curly Girl Method or not.
So today’s post is for anyone with curly hair! Here are 6 essential curly hair tips to help you get your curls in fabulous shape!
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Moisture, moisture, moisture!
Curly hair needs moisture to look its best. Not only does moisture help curls curl, but it also goes a long way in cutting down on frizz.
Before I knew how to take care of my curls, I use to take great pride in using my shampoo and conditioner at the same rate. But when I did this, I wasn’t using nearly enough conditioner to hydrate my hair properly
Using at least 2-3x the amount of conditioner as you do shampoo is one of my all-time curly hair tips.
Exactly how much conditioner you need will be specific to your hair, so you’ll have to play around with it.
Wash less
And speaking of moisture, one way to get more of it is by washing your hair less.
This is because the oils we naturally produce work their way down the hair strand and hydrate the hair. With curly hair, it can take longer to wind down the twists and turns. So if you’re washing you’re hair daily, you’re washing some necessary, natural hydration right out of your hair.
Again, how often you need to wash will vary. I do twice a week, but you may need more or fewer washes.
Gel is your friend!
I avoided gel for so long because I thought all it did was leave my hair hard and crunchy.
What I didn’t know was that gel is a two-step process. The first step is to apply it when you style your hair wet. The second step is to break up that hard gel cast once your hair is dry. This should leave you with fabulous, bouncy, hydrated curls.
Gel is great for curls because that cast is locking in moisture as your hair dries. You can add other styling products too, but if you’re not finishing with gel, you might want to give it a shot.
Here’s a list of 25 gels to try out!
Scrunch your hair when styling
Once you apply your styling products, cup your curls in your hands and scrunch them up toward your scalp. This encourages and enhances your curl pattern.
This is such a simple step, but it was years before I came across it! And it’s one I’ve been using since before I found the Curly Girl Method, so it really is great for everyone.
Avoid brushing (and never dry!)
Curls don’t really need to be brushed.
The easiest and simplest way to detangle your hair with your fingers in the shower while your hair is saturated with conditioner. But you can also use a wide-tooth comb or a designated curly hair/wet brush if you’d prefer.
These techniques detangle hair without breaking up curl clumps like a regular brush would.
You also want to avoid brushing your hair dry! Not only with this break up your curl clumps, but it’ll also pull the curl out of your hair and leave you with a frizzy mess.
Sleep on satin with your hair protected
I used to think that I had to wet my hair every day if I wanted to have nice curls. Now I know that’s not true!
If you want to get several days of nice curls in between washes, one of the first things you can do is sleep on a satin pillowcase. Satin pulls out less moisture than traditional pillowcases, which means more moisture stays in your curls. This gives you much better next-day curls!
To keep your curls from getting squashed overnight, try sleeping in a protective style. This is one of my favorite curly hair tips that absolutely change the hair game for me.
You can learn all about how to sleep with curly hair here!
And for tips on how to refresh next-day curls, check out this post and this post.
Looking for more guidance on your curly hair journey?
For beginners
If you’re new to curly hair care and looking for some help, you should check out the No-Stress Guide to Curly Hair Care!
After spending two years learning and caring for my curly hair, I wanted to create my own, in-depth guide to help fellow curlies create incredible curls in the easiest way possible.
It took me a while, but I eventually found an approach that helped me create a curly hair routine that fits into my life in the simplest way possible. And now I want to help you do the same!
For more intermediate/advanced guidance
If you’ve been on your curly hair journey for a while but still have some struggles, check out Curly Hair Problems!
After spending hours scouring the internet looking for solutions to my own curly hair problems, I found myself wishing for an easier, more comprehensive guide to the most common problems.
So that’s what I created!
Curly Hair Problems offers you 78 total solutions to the five most common curly hair care problems, including frizz, curl clumps, limp curls, product issues, and scalp issues.
Sound off: What essential curly hair tips do you have to share? Tell us about your experience! Be sure to tell us a little about your hair type too!