Caring for curly hair involves a lot of trial and error, and our editors have had their fair share of both. From how to dry your coils, to why fighting humidity isn’t worth it, here are a few of the tried-and-true lessons they’ve learned along the way. Read up and get ready to make 2016 your best hair year, ever.
Stop comparing your hair to hers
Even though this isn’t a technique or a product recommendation, it is one of the most important steps to embracing your curly hair. My coworker Nikki (below”> and I both have Type 3c hair, so we spend a lot of time comparing products and techniques in the office. But, the truth of the matter is that even though our curl pattern is the same, our hair is completely different! Hers is fine, while mine is coarse (my strands are wider than hers”>, she has low density hair, while I have high density hair (meaning I have more strands”>. I’ve wasted too much time comparing my hair to hers and other curlies — my curls are totally unique and individual to me, and that’s why I love them! — Devri, Type 3c
Embrace slip
You know that feeling when your hair is soaked with conditioner and it is 100 times easier to run your fingers through it? That is what curlies like to call “slip.” We like slip in our daily conditioners, deep conditioners, or leave-in conditioners because these are the products we use when washing and detangling. The slipperier the product, the better. I hate detangling, so I like to use products that are extra slippery. I use moisturizing conditioners and leave ins like Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner, Curl Junkie Curl Assurance Smoothing Lotion, SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow Restore Leave-In Conditioner and Kinky-Curly Knot Today. These products make it easier to detangle even my day 5 hair. – Nikki, Type 3c
Toss your terry cloth towel
Terry cloth towels can create friction and frizz when you use them on your hair, but don’t worry — there are so many alternatives out there that you can use instead. You can try an old t-shirt, a microfiber towel, or there are even microfiber gloves. I personally love Curly Tee Towel and the Hair Repear Towels. I’ve used them for so many different things — sitting with leave-in conditioner, drying my hair after a wash, even wearing to bed sometimes as my scarf. They’re also great for when my hair is wet and I’m applying makeup. Once you make the switch from terry cloth, you’ll never want to go back.— Kami, Type 4a
Get a diffuser
Everyone knows air drying is the healthier option when it comes to drying curly hair. The heat of a blow dryer can damage your curls, but when you have high porosity hair sometimes it’s just not an option to let it air dry for hours. I use the cool setting on my dryer to avoid heat damage, and wait until my hair is partially air dried before I start diffusing. I also find that if I don’t diffuse, my curls can look limp and flat, but if I diffuse upside down then I get bouncy ringlets with lift and volume at the root. The best way to diffuse is to apply your leave-in conditioner and styler to wet hair and plop, then when your hair is partially dry use a diffuser with your head flipped forward. — Jamie, Type 3b
Don’t skip deep conditioning
Whether you color treat your hair, use the occasional flat iron or curling wand, or simply experience dryness from time to time, all curly hair needs more hydration than straight hair. Many common curly issues like frizz, breakage, and split ends could all be prevented if you start incorporating a deep conditioner into your routine once a month. One of my Holy Grails is the EDEN BodyWorks Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner. I apply it and either leave it in for 3-5 minutes while I’m soaping the rest of my body, or, if I feel like a longer, deeper conditioning session, I’ll put on a Heat Therapy Thermal Wrap and leave it in for 20 minutes or more. For a more intense treatment for damaged hair, try a protein treatment like ApHogee’s 2-Step Protein Treatment once a month. — Cristina, Type 2c
Accept that humidity changes everything
You can’t expect to style your hair the same way every day — the weather plays a major role in how your curls and coils are going to behave. Believe me, there is no fighting humidity when you have curly hair. You can still have a good hair day, though, just adapt our routine to suit the forecast. When it’s humid, my hair is so moisturized I can’t keep a stretched style for more than a day. To stand up to the humidity, I like to avoid stylers that list glycerin and other humectants high on the ingredients label. Obia Curl Enhancing Custard and Kinky-Curly Curling Custard provide hold that lasts no matter the weather.” — Evelyn, Type 4c
