8 expert tips for curly natural hair
Whether you’ve always rocked natural curls or have only recently made the transition from relaxed hair, taking good care of your curls is essential. Here are 8 expert tips to ensure that your curls are as nourished and healthy as possible.
1) Conditioning
Naturally curly hair is typically very dry and prone to breakage, so you need to use a leave-in conditioner as well as a rinse-out conditioner. Try Fructis Triple Nutrition Curl Nourish Conditioner and Butter Cream, which contain coconut, jojoba, and macadamia oils to lock in moisture.
It’s best to shampoo your hair no more than once a week. When you need to condition, just rinse your hair with water and apply your conditioner—this way you won’t dry out your scalp with too much cleansing.
2) Minimal styling products
If you used to have relaxed hair, styling products like mousses, gels, or sprays should be kept to a minimum to avoid weigh down or a greasy scalp.
3) Limit the heat
As with most curly hair types, naturally curly hair should really be air-dried as much as possible. Limiting your use of blow dryers and other styling tools will help prevent heat damage.
4) Twist-up
If you want to maximize your curls without using heat, create two-strand twists on wet hair and let it dry into gorgeous, healthy curls. Alternatively, you can use rollers to create lovely, thick waves.
5) Splash on some oil
Keep your naturally curly hair moisturized all day long by applying a small amount of oil. You can try different hair oils like olive oil–extra virgin of course!
6) Hands off!
The more you touch your natural curls, the more you will exacerbate dryness and breakage. Choose protective hairstyles like twists or braids that will not only stop you from fiddling, but also help protect your hair and even stimulate growth. Most of all, limit any brushing or combing you do to an absolute minimum. If you want to redefine your curls later in the day, try Fructis Curl Renew Reactivating Milk Spray.
7) Don’t straighten
Just as chemical relaxing permanently damages your hair, heat from straightening or curling irons dries out natural curls and causes damage over time. Embrace your natural curls and experiment with hairstyles instead!
8) Feed your body and hair!
Finally, the best way to care for your hair is to care for your body in general, particularly by eating healthy and staying hydrated. Stocking up on protein-rich fish, vegetables, and eggs will not only increase your hair health but also stimulate growth too!
