Can it really be time to start thinking about back to school and fall weather? In the north you might be getting ready to enjoy the end of the season with those beautiful Indian summer nights. In south, where we are, I can only think about the fall weather as something in the distant future. What we all have in common, though, is healing our summer curls.
Whether your summer included a great vacation in the tropics, mini weekend getaways or a stay-cation, the curls were in the summer elements. The pool, beach and summer humidity have most likely left your their mark on your locks. To begin preparing for Fall the first step would be to do some rescue treatments for your thirsty and parched curls. Our First Aid Kit has all you need to start this. Give your dry and damaged curls the love they need. Lots of deep conditioning is a great place to begin. Deep Conditioners and Oils tend to be thicker and more moisturizing than a daily conditioner. Be sure to leave on the deep conditioner or oils on for 30 minutes with heat. The heat swells the cuticle and allows the conditioner to better penetrate the hair shaft. Get a magazine or book and put a conditioning treatment in your curls. Cover your curls with a cap and sit under a dryer or use the a Hair Therapy Wrap. Your curls will say a big thank you.
My Favorite Deep Conditioners
- First Aid Kit
- Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment
- Curl Junkie Hibiscus Banana Deep Fix Moisturizing Conditioner
- Curlisto Deep Therapy Masque
- MYHoneyChild Olive You Deep Conditioner
- Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment
- DevaCurl Heaven in Hair
- HPO Butter Drops
- Hair Therapy Wrap
- Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner
- Ouidad Deep Treatment Intensive Conditioner
Once the cool weather does finally arrive, you should have your curly cold weather routine ready. The key is to plan ahead. In the fall and winter, you will need to replenish the moisture in your curls. The extreme cold temperatures outside and the dry indoor heating are going to pull all of the precious moisture out of your curls.
Washing your hair less often or co-washing to keep as much moisture in your hair is a good way to begin taking care of your winter curls and waves. Lots of conditioners should be ready and waiting in your cabinets.
CurlySuzy wants you to be able to try out some of these great products, so she’s offering a special promotion code to her readers. Type in CurlySuzy15 and get a 15% discount at CurlMart.
Next, it is time to start switching from your summer styling products to the cold weather line up. In doing this there are a few things to consider. When you are cleansing less and co-washing, the styling products you should avoid are ones that will cause a lot of build-up.
Ingredients that have a high wax and resin content, heavy oils and non-water soluble silicones are going to cause build-up. The best plan for product build-up is to avoid it in the first place. Be a label and ingredient reader. Another quick way to know if a product will cause a lot of build-up is if you can’t wash a product off your hands with cool water easily, then it’s not going to come out of your hair easily, either. Rich creams, puddings, custards and leave-in conditioners with lots of humectants and butters are going to be great. Curl refreshing sprays and pomades are super winter products as well.
Fall and Winter Conditioners:
- Curl Junkie Curl Theory Moisturizing Hair Conditioner
- Curls Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner
- DevaCurl One Condition
- HPO Spa Hair Conditioner
- Jessicurl Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner
- MYHoneyChild HoneyNutt Conditioner
- Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner
Fall and Winter Styling Products:
Leave-in conditioners
- Kinky Curly Knot Today
- Curl Junkie Curl Assurance LEave-in Conditioner
- John Masters Organics Neroli Detangler
- Long Lovely Locks Coco Light
- Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Milk
Creams, puddings and custards
- Kinky Curly Curling Custard
- Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme
- Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding
- Curl Junkie Coffee Coco Curl Creme
- MOP C-Curl Curl Defining Cream
- AG Re:coil
- Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding
Refreshing sprays and pomades
- Blended Beauty Kick for Curls Aloe Juice Spritz
- Devacurl Mist-er Right
- Curl Junkie Curl Fuel Curl Enhancing Spray
- Curls Quenched Curls Moisturizer
- Kinky Curly Gloss Pomade
- MOP Glisten High Shine Pomade
- Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade
- Wild Woozle Tiare Pommade
In addition to products for the winter months you can also re-think how your hair is going to dry. That sunshine and warm air are gone for air drying your curls. Absorbent smooth towels and a diffuser for your hair dryer are what you need for the cold weather.
With all these changes in climate and your curly routine it may take a few weeks to get your winter curls looking the way you want them to. In the meantime, keep a cute hat or a cloth hair tie in your bag for curl emergencies.
Some curlies may want to experiment with a new fall hair style by planning once a week to establish a curl pattern by re-twisting curls in sections and then taking it out. There are lots to choose from, like a twist-out, coil-out, double strand twist, bantu knot or braid-out, recommends Titi Branch of Miss Jessie’s. Keep these styles safe by wearing a satin cap or sleeping on a satin pillowcase, she adds.
Right now we are all wishing for some cool autumn breezes. In the meantime, getting your curls ready for them is what August is for.
