I’ve spent most of my life battling my curly hair. God forbid my flat iron broke, I couldn’t leave the house until my mom went to Sally’s and got me a new one. When Frizz-Ease was on sale at CVS, I was there faster than you could say “John Frieda.” I spent an hour each morning blow drying and straightening my thick, curly hair. The days I wore my hair naturally were so few and far between that when I did, people asked if I got a perm. After I snapped, “NO!” I’d go back to fantasizing about waking up, washing my hair and walking out the door without so much as a drop of serum or a minute of flat ironing. Obviously, I am borderline completely obsessive when it comes to my hair.
Then college happened. Waking up an extra hour earlier just so I could straighten my hair became less and less appealing, and some days I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I had to face it—I had to learn how to deal with my curly hair.
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Now, my routine changed frequently. I’ve use different products and methods, but after 21 years of avoiding my curls, I’ve finally figured out how to embrace them. Here are my personal tips that I’ve gathered over the years for embracing your curls.
(P.S. Every product I mention can be purchased by hopping on the Route 16 bus and heading over to Sally’s and CVS in the Manor Shopping Center!)
First thing’s first; find a good hairstylist. Thankfully, I’m local to Lancaster so my favorite salon is never more than a few miles away. I go to Tangles on Marietta Pike, and in terms of what you get for your money I think it’s the best salon in town. It feels high-end, and all of the stylists do a fantastic job, but the prices are completely reasonable. However, no matter where you go, make sure you communicate with your stylist! I always make sure to tell them that I have naturally curly hair, but I like to wear it both curly and straight so that they can cut it in a way that will look good no matter what. I’ve found that layers are really necessary for curly hair.
The next step to great curls is to be picky about what you’re washing them with! For multiple reasons, I avoid any shampoo with sulfates in them. Sulfates are bad for the environment, dry out your hair and wreck your color. I’m also really loving products with keratin in them, so right now I’m obsessed with Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner, both of which are sulfate-free. Now, I know the word “straight” is in that name, which might throw you off, but I haven’t had problems with it flattening my curls. It does smooth them though, so there’s less frizz! Also, remember that curly hair is naturally dry, so the less often you wash it, the better. The natural oils in your hair are good for it, so find a good dry shampoo (like TRESemme Waterless Foam Shampoo) and try to use that instead of washing your hair everyday. If you feel the need to actually wash it everyday, you can always rinse it and condition it without using any shampoo!
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In order to keep my curls in tact, I figured out I had to stop brushing my hair. The only time I do is in the shower, after I apply conditioner and before I rinse it out. If I so much as put a comb near my head after that point, I can say goodbye to curls and hello to weird, semi-wavy frizz. Moral of the story—don’t comb out your curls! If you want ringlets to stay in tact, avoid brushing or combing your hair after you get out of the shower. Do it in the shower before you rinse your hair for the last time. If you must, use a wide-toothed comb, not a brush.
Another trick I found is to avoid products with alcohol. Alcohol dries your hair out, and if you have curly hair, you probably know that natural curly hair tends to be extremely dry. Dry hair doesn’t exactly lend itself well to frizz-free, shiny curls. So put down the gel, mousse and hairspray. Get yourself a good, alcohol free curl cream. My favorite is Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream. I’ve found that the fewer products I use, the better. But if you need the extra hold, seek out mousses and hairsprays without alcohol!
Once you’ve washed your hair and run your product of choice through it, your best bet is to let it air dry. The less you touch your hair while it’s damp, the less frizz you’ll experience later. If you must blow dry it (which I’m often guilty of, I hate leaving the house with wet hair) use a diffuser. Blow dryers often come with large plastic ones, which usually work fine, but I love mitt diffusers like Conair Pro Pilmatic Mitt Diffuser.
So curly girls, drop the flat iron, restock your hair products and go natural for a change. I promise, curls can work.