I do a lot of posts on the Curly Girl Method, but the truth is, there are some essential curly hair tips that are great for curl hair care, whether you follow the Curly Girl Method or not.
With that in mind, here are 6 essential tips to help you have great curls!
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Use a healthy amount of conditioner
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 make it a point to use 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 type and length, so you’ll have to play around with it. But hopefully this gives you a place to start!
Gel is a key styling product for curls!
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!
Affordable products work great!
Related to the point above, you don’t have to buy expensive gel or products to have great hair!
There are plenty of affordable products that do an outstanding job. If you’re looking for a place to start with affordable products, check out this post! It’s a great list, whether you follow the curly girl method or not!
But with all that said, if you want to spend your money on expensive products, then by all means go for it. 🙂
Scrunch your hair when you style it
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 your hair (and never brush 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 as 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.
Avoid heat
Heat can really try your curls out, which makes them more frizz-prone. This isn’t to say you can’t use heat on occasion, but the less you use it, the better off your curls will be.
Instead of using a blow dryer with high heat, try using one with cool to medium heat with a diffuser attachment.
Or better yet, try airdrying if you have the time!
It’s also a good idea to avoid straightening your hair.
This doesn’t mean you can’t do it from time to time if you want to. But if your goal is to create awesome curls, then leaning into your natural hair and away from the straightener will help A LOT with this process.
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!
I love these suggestions! These tips are great for maintaining curly hair! Thanks for sharing!!