Search Results: Michele Bender
Curly hair is thirsty hair.
That’s just the way it was born and the way it will always be. That’s why deep conditioning at least one to two times per week is critical for gorgeous, shiny hair that blows gently in the wind (as opposed to dry, crispy hair that don’t move”>. It was also one the top things I did when I was growing my chemically straightened hair out to go back to my natural hair. I was religious about it and I swear, once I started deep conditioning as much as possible, my hair grew faster than they had before. Here are my top tips for deep conditioning your hair.
1. Choose a rich conditioner
No lightweight will do here. Find one that’s rich and thick. I’m beyond obsessed with Heaven in Hair. It fills the porous areas on the surface of the hair so it stays super hydrated. This is key especially if you color your hair.
2. Lay it on thick
Apply deep conditioner to wet hair and don’t leave one curl uncovered. In fact, I like it when I can barely see my brown strands through the deep layer of conditioner I’ve applied. And don’t skimp on the ends since they’re the driest part of the hair.
3. Cover it up
To keep the conditioner from getting all over you and let it warm up a bit, slip on a shower cap. (I take them from hotel rooms when I travel.”> You can also wrap your hair in plastic wrap or a warm, damp towel. Keep this on for at least 15 minutes.
4. Heat it up
For best results, you need some heat to help open the cuticle of the hair so the conditioner soaks in. Try sitting in a steamy bath or shower or waving a blow dryer over your cap-covered head. My favorite way to deep condition is to sit under my table-top hooded dryer. I use the Gold N Hot Elite 1875 Watt Ionic Full Hood Professional Hair Dryer and I stay as long as I can stand it before getting overheated (about ten minutes”>.
5. Sleep on it
Once in a while, it’s a great idea to snooze with your deep conditioner in your hair. Not only is the conditioner in longer, but it warms up from your body heat as you sleep. This was another of my top tricks when I was growing out my chemically straightened hair. Just use an old pillow case and sleep on it that night. Note: Some curlies love this and others hate it. Exercise caution; if your hair is thin and easily over-moisturized do not attempt.
6. DIY
For a do it yourself recipe try the Wrapunzel from Curly Girl: The Handbook. Put a ripe avocado in the blender along with three to four teaspoons of honey or agave and three to four teaspoons of olive oil. Blend until combined and spread on hair. Cover with plastic wrap or a towel wrapped turban style. After 20 – 30 minutes, rinse thoroughly.
Want More?
But the fourth time was the worst: I had an up-to-my-ears bob that made my head look like a triangle with the width of my hair being three times the height. That was the final straw. I finally decided to find a salon where they knew how to cut curly hair.
So in light of my experience, here are some things to beware of so that bad curly haircuts and post-salon hysterics are a thing of the past for you, too! Here’s what to beware of:
Stylists who cut curls wet
Curly wet hair and curly dry hair are like distant cousins; they may be in the same family, but they act very, very differently.
“Curly hair may be halfway down your back when wet, only to spring up as much as 6 to 10 inches when it’s dry,” explains Lorraine Massey, author of Curly Girl: The Handbook. “Plus, we wear our hair dry, not wet, so it should be cut that way.”
Stylists who want to blow your hair straight before the cut
I’ve had stylists do this to me many times, claiming that straightening the hair helps them see the hair cut better. But if you don’t wear your hair straight, why would you have it cut that way? You may get a nice straight hair style and cut, but not one that will make your curls look their best.
Stylists who straighten their own curls
Request a stylist who is an expert in curly hair or, better yet, one who actually has curly hair and wears it that way. Another curly girl or guy will understand the nuances of your hair. Plus, someone who has accepted his or her natural hair texture can help you love yours even more.
Salons that treat curly hair and straight hair the same
Call the salon and ask if they know how to cut curly hair. If there’s any hesitation, find another salon. Better yet, look for a salon that specializes in curls (or has some stylists who do”>. One good way to find one you love: ask any gorgeous curly girls who does their hair. Us curlies love giving out advice. Or, if that fails, hop on over to our Salon Finder and find a curl salon in your area.
You already know that curly hair needs to be washed differently than other hair types, but did you know that curls need to be dried differently too? This is important in order to ward off frizz and maintain your curls’ beautiful, au natural shape.
What you’ll need:
The first rule of drying curly hair, is to give up the terry cloth. “A terry cloth towel will absorb too much moisture, which curly hair needs,” explains Lorraine Massey, author of “Curly Girl: The Handbook.” “Its harsh fiber will ruffle the hair’s cuticle causing frizz.” So opt for a micro-fiber towel instead! Other great options that have worked to great success for curlies are old t-shirts and paper towels.
What to do:
Once you’ve blotted your hair dry with your t-shirt or microfiber towel, apply a generous amount of gel or your favorite styling product and then don’t touch curls as they air dry or you’ll disperse them and cause frizz. Air drying is best for curly hair even though it can take a while.
Don’t turban
A hair turban absorbs too much moisture, opens the cuticle and disturbs the natural shape and pattern of your curls causing frizz. Break your habit of wrapping hair in a towel turban-style when you dry. Instead, dry your hair by cupping it in your hand and gently scrunching upward. Do this around your whole head.
No time to air dry?
If you don’t have time to air dry or the weather is cold, try a hooded dryer, which “creates its own little microclimate for curls so moisture from products locks into hair faster and the cuticle stays closed,” explains Massey. No hooded dryer? Then use a regular hair dryer with a diffuser on a low to medium heat setting. Look for a curly hair diffuser if you can.
Dry while you drive
Use the heater in your car if you commute. “This is what I do,” says Massey. “Because it creates a similar microclimate as the hooded dryer.”
All the things that make summer so appealing – sun, heat, and ocean breezes – can also make life difficult for Type 3 curls. These elements can leave hair dry, rough, and tough to manage. Add humidity to the mix and you’ve got frizz and a few dips in a chlorinated pool and hair gets even more parched (especially the ends”>. But summer CPR is as close as your kitchen. Just open the pantry and pull out the olive oil, an ingredient that is super hydrating and can revive and nourish your strands. Here, five ways to use it courtesy of Lorraine Massey, author of Curly Girl: The Handbook.
Olive Oil for Summer
1. Pool Protection
Before you cannonball into the pool, give your hair a little protection from the drying, chlorinated water. “Olive oil is a great barrier for swimmers as oil and water don’t mix,” explains Massey.
How to:
- Get a spray mister (at a housewares store”> and fill it with olive oil.
- Before going in the pool, spritz your entire head.
- Better yet, spray the lining of a bathing cap and wear that for your swim.
2. Avocado Deep Conditioner
How to:
- Blend 1 ripe, mashed avocado, 3 to 4 teaspoons of agave syrup and 8 to 10 drops of olive oil in a blender.
- “Apply to wet hair paying extra attention to the ends,” says Massey.
- Wrap your hair with a towel, turban-style and relax like this for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Rinse hair thoroughly, then cleanse and condition as usual.
3. Hydrate your ends
The ends of our hair tends to be the most revealing when it comes to damage. If your aim is length retention, it is important to treat the ends of your hair to prevent breakage and split ends (which will require more frequent trims”>.
How to:
- Mix 1 to 3 teaspoons of olive oil with 2 to 4 drops pure essential oil (such as lavender or verbena”> and put this on the ends of your hair.
- Wrap hair in plastic wrap for 30 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly.
4. Soothe Your Scalp
Your scalp is exposed to the elements and a result can get dry and itchy. Sloughing off dead cells can help ease the itch and remove product buildup.
How to:
- “Dab olive oil on dry areas of the scalp and leave it on overnight,” explains Massey.
- The next day, combine a tablespoon sulfate-free cleanser (like No-Poo”> and a tablespoon of brown sugar and exfoliate your scalp by gently massaging in circular motions.
- Rinse thoroughly.
5. Tame frizz and flyways
Type 3 curls can frizz in the summer heat and humidity and easily lose their healthy sheen (and shine is something that’s hard for curly girls to hang on to”>. “Olive oil sits on top of the hair so it can act as a silicone-free serum/topical finish that adds shine,” says Massey. “It’s really good on dry, brittle, and frizzy curls.”
How to:
- Dab your fingers in a little olive oil.
- On dry hair, gently graze the outer layer of hair with your fingertips.
Behind the Scenes with L’Oreal Paris
L’Oreal Paris and NaturallyCurly
When the biggest hair care brand in the world makes a line of products just for curls, coils, and waves, we take notice! L’Oreal Paris released the EverCurl line of sulfate-free curly products and we loved them so much, we awarded them an Editors’ Choice award for best new line!
If you haven’t picked up these products at your local store, check out what our video reviewers had to say, and take a quick look at our product reviews section.We reached out to some of our favorite top bloggers and vloggers to ask them what they thought of L’Oreal Paris EverCurl. Guess what – we filmed the whole thing!
On Set in NYC
So some of the NaturallyCurly.com team flew from our home in Austin, Texas to New York City to meet up with the vloggers and the L’Oreal Paris crew! We were so excited to hit the Big Apple for this video shoot!
We found a super cute studio that we would transform into our shooting location. Big thank you to Vernonique at Chelsea Daylight Studios for being such a gracious host. Her space is beautiful and was just right for our fun and flirty L’Oreal Paris EverCurl video shoot.
Dinner with Curlfriends
The night before the video shoot, we invited all the internet mavens to dinner at Aria Wine Bar in Midtown. It was the perfect opportunity for these curlies to get to know each other before the long day tomorrow.
Curl Talk
Laughs, photos, and hours of curly conversations were had. Fast friends!
Early Call Time
On the morning of the shoot, we put the finishing touches on the studio space turned cozy bachelorette pad and quickly briefed the hair, makeup, wardrobe, and camera crew.
Action!
First scene, and…ACTION! We wanted to get a group conversation going about the vloggers’ different hair types and how they all found something to love about L’Oreal Paris EverCurl. Wavies crave more definition and less frizz. With curlies – second day hair is the motive! And for our coilies, moisture is imperative.
Jackie’s Waves
Wavy guru Jacqueline Nicole Brown is one half of the YouTube duo The Style Kittens, where she talks style tricks and skinny tips with her friend and partner Lauryn Evarts. Jackie’s also the talented designer of her own jewelry collection, JNB!
Jackie’s video will be about her personal style, from her jewelry to her wavy tresses, she’s a glam yet easygoing Cali girl: can you say beachy waves? Stay tuned to see her Style Kittens Halo Braid!
Shannon’s Curls
Shannon Boodram is one half of the YouTube duo Those Girls Are Wild – the online destination for girls who are “free-spirited, confident, charismatic, and straight hilarious.” A photographer and author in her own right, Shannon said she fell into curly hair vlogging. She noticed that her viewers and fellow wild girls needed curly hair tips and a great hair day can pump up your confidence.
We wanted to incorporate her profession as a photographer into her curly hair routine. You know what that means: second day hair. How does she maintain her beautiful curls for those 12+ hour days at a photo shoot? You’ll have to wait for her video to find out…
Carissa and Amber’s Coils
Carissa and Amber Gardner, aka NaturallyGG on Youtube, were our coily vloggers for the day! They may be sisters, but their hair is completely different, so they talked about their individual hair needs and the diversity and versatility of natural hair!
Carissa is on track to become a CPA and Amber is in nursing school. Both professions require pared down hairstyles, but these sisters are anything but boring.
In their video, they’ll teach you how they turn glam natural hair into a style appropriate for their particular professions without losing that spark!
That’s a Wrap!
After 10 hours on set, it was a wrap! Thank you to L’Oreal Paris for the opportunity to engage our favorite YouTubers in the curly conversation. Our wonderful friend and videographer Natasha of Mane Moves TV did an amazing job with the camera work. We’re so excited and can’t wait to show you the finished product!
It’s better to give than to receive – especially when you’re helping a curly girl have a good hair day. The best part is that you can do all of this for less than $30! Just peruse this gift guide to find the ideal items for all the curly recipients on your list in one place.
Curly Stocking Stuffers
1. Microfiber towels
A microfiber towel’s smooth texture helps blot water from hair right after a shower without creating the friction (and frizz”> that a terrycloth towel does. Plus, these smooth towels are so slim they’re easy to travel with!
Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel; $12.24
2. A Satin pillowcase
Not only does this add a little luxury to bed time, but it protects hair while your curly girl sleeps. Rougher fabrics can cause tiny knots — especially when she moves around in her sleep — as well as frizz. A satin or silk pillowcase keeps hair smooth and free of fly-aways.
3. Curly Girl: The Handbook
Written by curl expert Lorraine Massey, this is a must-read for all things curly. Whether your gift recipient is new to wearing her hair curly or has been doing so for a while, “Curly Girl” provides insight into fighting frizz, identifying your curl type and getting the best curly hair cut.
Curly Girl: The Handbook; $13.95
4. Satin-lined headband
It’s cold outside, but when it comes to curls, just any old hat won’t do. That’s because rough fabrics can rub hair the wrong way disturbing their gorgeous, natural shape. The answer is a satin lined hat or headband to keep you warm and make it a good hair day.
Sequined Knit Headband; $19.99
5. Sulfate-free cleanser
Shampoo is a huge no-no for curly girls because the harsh ingredients it contains (called suflates”> remove hair’s natural oils so curls frizz up fast.
Today, there are several sulfate-free cleansers available, so treat your curly girl to one or more of those you find at CurlMart.
Our faves:
DevaCurl No-Poo; $17.95
6. A bathing cap
If your gift recipient loves to take a dip in the pool for her workout, then help her protect her strands with an adorable bathing cap. This way damaging chlorine can’t seep into her strands drying hair and fading color.
Sports Authority; $10.99 – $14.99
7. DevaCurl One Condition
For curlies, the key to gorgeous hair is leaving some conditioner in your hair after you shower rather than rinsing it all out. This rich hydrating conditioner is perfect for that because it moisturizes curls and leaves them soft and manageable rather than sticky or crunchy.
DevaCurl One Condition; $17.95
” src=”https://www.beautycon.com/curlreading/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/153016661-11.jpg”>8. DIY Beach Spray
On a beach vacation, curly hair needs something to ward off the frizz and snarls caused by ocean water and salty beach breezes. In a cute gift bag, toss a bottle of your favorite conditioner and a plastic spray bottle (about $3-4 at the drugstore, mass merchandiser or Sally Beauty“>.
Tie on a tag with this beach-relief recipe: “Combine equal amounts spring water and conditioner in spray bottle. Spritz on hair after a dip in the ocean or every hour or so on the beach.”
When the weather outside is frightful, why can’t your curls be more delightful? “As the weather begins to change and the atmosphere becomes drier, so does our hair,” explains Lorraine Massey, author of Curly Girl: The Handbook. In addition to parched strands, you can also get static and split ends. But a few insider secrets can make any curl-type look gorgeous this season!
Winter Curls
1. Sleep on satin
Snoozing on a pillowcase with a rough texture — like low thread-count cotton — can cause knots, split ends and static because of the friction it creates when you toss and turn. But the smooth surface of a satin or silk pillowcase rubs hair the right way so it stays static and tangle free.
2. Use hot coconut oil
Coconut oil is good for your body because it has antibacterial benefits and contains healthy fat. But it’s also good for your hair! Heat half a cup (more for longer locks”> in the microwave for 50 seconds, then apply to freshly cleansed hair and leave on for at least a 1/2 hour. (It’s great for dry skin, too!”>
3. Stock up on rich conditioner
Apply it to hair in a steamy shower and then do the rest of your cleaning, scrubbing, shaving etc. while it soaks into your strands. Our favorite is DevaCurl Heaven In Hair because you can leave some of it in when you rinse to give frizz the boot.
MORE: DevaCurl Hair Products
4. Pull out the paper towel
No not to clean your house; but to quickly tame your static! First, wet the paper towel and then apply a dollop of silicone-free, alcohol-free gel to it. Gently graze this over the top layer of hair – a.k.a. the static zone – in a downward motion.
5. Target the tips
The ends of your hair are the oldest so they’re typically the driest. This gets worse in winter when they’re constantly rubbing up against thick, rough fabrics like wool, along with coat collars and scarves. Before leaving the shower, apply a dab of conditioner to the ends and don’t rinse it out. Then smooth a silicone-free, alcohol-free gel to this area to help seal and protect.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, many beauty products are doing their part to support the cause this October. We’re highlighting hair products that help your curls look gorgeous and also donate some or all of their proceeds to breast cancer organizations and charities. It’s a win-win situation for all!
GG GATSBY Volumizing Hair Care Line
Created by Jerseylicious reality star, Gayle Giacomo, GG GATSBY will give 10% of its sales to the Young Survivor Coalition charity. This collection includes Raise Volume™ Shampoo, Raise Volume™ Conditioner, Over-The-Top™ Root Lift Spray, Ultimate Lift™ Dry Shampoo Powder and Against Gravity™ Hairspray. All products are sulfate-free, which is ideal for curly girls.
www.gggatsby.com: $14.99-$17.99
MORE: Macadamia Natural Oil Helps Breast Cancer Survivors
ASICS Hera 2-pack Headbands
ASICS America will donate $75,000 to $100,000 from the sales of items in a special collection to Christina Applegate’s Right Action for Women. This organization helps provide assistance to women who have an increased risk for breast cancer, and you can do your part simply by slipping on one of their Hera Headbands. The pink fabric, which is gentle on your curls, wicks sweat away from hair and skin. It also has a silicone gripper to keep the headband still while you move, and a reflective logo so you can be seen.
www.asicsamerica.com: $16
MORE: Keeping Curls Pretty While You Sweat for the Cause
Streekers in Pink
You can show your wild side and your support for a good cause when you give your strands a temporary burst of color. Streekers in Pink will donate 100% of its proceeds to the National Breast Cancer Coalition to help fund research that aims to end breast cancer by the year 2020. This temporary hair color is applied with a sponge-tip applicator to create streaks of crimson and binds to hair until you decide to shampoo it out.
Ulta.com or Streekers.com: $11.95
MORE: ULTA Beauty Supports Breast Cancer Research
Osmotics Cosmeceuticals FNS Pink Ribbon Collection
This special edition set will donate 15% of its proceeds to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a group that provides easy-to-understand information on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and connects women affected by the disease with one another. The Osmotics Cosmeceuticals FNS Pink Ribbon Collection contains a revitalizing shampoo, conditioner and nutrient serum all designed to nourish your hair follicles so hair looks thicker and shinier.
www.osmotics.com: $98
MORE: Curls After Chemo Hair Loss
Essence Skin-Saving Hair Volumizing Milk Conditioner
This conditioner is super light to the touch, but also super hydrating which helps halt the frizz and detangle your strands. Even better? You can also use it as a skin-softening, moisturizing body wash. It’s free of fragrances, parabens and preservatives and $1 from the purchase of each bottle will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
www.vmvhypoallergenics.com: $19
MORE: Real Texture Talk: Alisa Kress
Aquage Finishing Hairspray
This humidity resistant spray helps keeps your hair in place and prevents frizz without leaving your curls stiff or rigid to the touch. Its petite size also makes it easy to toss in your purse and tame hair on the go. For the fifth year in a row, Aquage will give a portion of its proceeds to Komen for the Cure and has already given over $489,000 to date!
www.aquage.com: $6 at salons
MORE: Curly Hair Growth Chart
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and filled with many wonderful events that let you run, walk, swim or bike to raise awareness and money for breast cancer organizations. But just because you’re getting sweaty for a cause doesn’t mean your curls can’t look their best post-workout. No matter how you exercise to help give breast cancer the boot, these tips will make it a good hair day.
Running or walking for the cause?
Keep curls neat while you sweat.
Before you break a sweat, pull your hair away from your face with a fabric-covered ponytail holder, ribbon or scarf. “These are more gentle so they won’t tear hair and won’t disrupt your curl’s natural shape,” explains Lorraine Massey, author of “Curly Girl: The Handbook.” For hair framing your face, especially shorter bangs and curls use, a thin headband or twist curls toward the back of your head and secure them to the rest of your hair with a bobby pin. Another option is what Massey calls the Unicorn ponytail where you simply bend forward at the waist, tilt your head forward and gather all your hair at the crown of your head, then secure it with a fabric-covered ponytail holder. For longer hair, as you loop the holder around the second or third time, don’t pull the entire ponytail through so you it resembles a bun on the top of your head.
MORE: Majoring in Curls: Curly Hair Tips for After the Workout
Bike riding for the cause?
Avoid a serious case of helmet head.
Helmet hair isn’t pretty. But you can fight back and still stay safe. Keep your helmet from flattening the top of your hair by dipping a hair clip in some silicone-free gel. Then, clip small sections of hair at the top of your head by placing the clip at the roots close to the scalp. This helps strands stay lifted despite the weight of your helmet pressing down on them. For shorter curls that frame your face, gently twist them back toward the crown of your head and secure with a bobby pin. Also, note that taking care of your hair daily using sulfate-free cleansers and lots of conditioning keeps hair healthy. As a result, it will rebound better and faster once you take off your helmet than dry, brittle hair will.
MORE: Curly Hair Care for the Gym
Swimming for the cause?
Prevent chlorine from leaving hair dry and brittle.
Chlorine is a chemical that can leave your hair super dry and stripped of much needed moisture so you’ve got to do a little prep work to avoid the damage. Before diving in, wet hair with tap water, then cover it with a rich conditioner. “The water and conditioner fill the porous holes in the hair so it’s much harder for chlorine to get in,” says Massey. “You can also apply olive oil to your hair instead of conditioner because it’s hydrating and helps repel the chlorinated water.” You can also slip on a bathing cap for added protection. After your swim, make sure to rinse and condition your hair as soon as you can to remove any cholorine that may have seeped in.
MORE: Curly Hair Products for Your Gym Bag
Do you have plans to support breast cancer awareness this month?
How you dry your curly hair has a big impact on whether you’ll have a good, great or bad hair day. But like most things curly, the rules are pretty straight-forward and less is more. Here’s how to dry your curls with care.
1. Air dry your curls
If you’ve got the time, letting your hair air dry is your top option. This keeps curls away from a blow dryer’s high heat and allows their natural shape to emerge. Just make sure to apply an alcohol-free gel to hair when you get out of the shower and then don’t touch your strands until they’re completely dry. If your hair is dripping wet, toss a microfiber towel over your shoulders or wear a robe to absorb any water.
2. Hop under a hooded dryer
Hooded dryers are fabulous because they dry hair without creating frizz and do it quickly. Plus, since your hands are free, you can read, surf the web or whatever all while making your hair gorgeous. The hooded dryer I got at Amazon.com for around $50 is a table-top version, but you can also find a few styles on wheels either online or at beauty supply stores.
3. Diffuse correctly
Traditional diffusers have always claimed to help curly hair, but they always leave my hair looking more poodle-like than human. Instead, try a diffuser made for curly hair like the hand-shaped DevaFuser. Its unique design allows for 360 degree diffused air flow. I’m not exactly clear how that makes my curls look so soft and beautifully shaped, but it does!
4. Remember the drying don’ts
Don’t apply the heat of a traditional dryer directly to hair. It’s too hot and harsh for curly hair, which is naturally fragile, and can cause breakage as well as frizz. Don’t use a terry cloth towel on hair because its nubby surface causes fly-aways and frizz and never wrap your hair turban style as this stretches your curls and disturbs their natural shape.
How do you dry your curls?
Moisturize Your Curls
Now that I am a reformed curly girl (i.e. I grew out my chemically straightened hair, tossed my blow dryer and flat iron and haven’t used traditional shampoo in four years”>, my curls look pretty good, if I do say so myself. But when I talk to curly girls who are still blow drying, flat ironing and doing other torturous things to their strands, they often say, “But I don’t have good curls like you” or some other variation of this sentiment. That is simply not true. I didn’t have curls like this either until I started treating my hair right.
One of the key things for good, make that gorgeous-looking curls, is moisture. As curl guru Lorraine Massey says, “Frizz is just a curl waiting to happen.” What it’s really waiting for is some hydration. Your poor frizzy strands are just thirsty! I promise that if you hydrate your hair, curls that you never knew were possible on your own head will start to emerge. And if you keep hydrating them, they will just get better and better over time.
1. Condition often and after cleansing
You should always condition after you cleanse your hair, which should be only a couple of times per week. The other days, just wet your hair and use your fingers to comb generous amounts of conditioner through it.
Even if you don’t want to get in the shower and drench your tresses, you can simply wet your curls lightly with water from the sink. Then put a dollop of conditioner in your palms, add a little water, rub hands together and gently apply this to your hair, especially to the top, which tends to get the frizziest.
2. Don’t rinse the benefits away
This was the best trick I ever learned. Don’t rinse all your conditioner out of your hair. How much you leave behind effects how much frizz shows up later. I personally don’t rinse any of my conditioner out. Instead, standing away from the stream of the shower, I simply fill my cupped hands with water and splash this over my head. That’s it. I find that my hair can never have too much thirst-quenching conditioner.
3. Use the right stuff
This may take some trial and error, but the right conditioner means you can leave a lot of it in your hair and it won’t feel greasy or crunchy. Look for one with ingredients that hydrate hair including shea butter, vegetable oils, jojoba oil, cetyl esters, olive oil and wheat germ. Also look for conditioners that contain humectants – ingredients that soak in moisture from the atmosphere – such as panthenol, vegetable glycerin and sorbitol.
4. Go deep regularly
At least once or twice a week, deep condition your hair using a rich, thick product and keep it on at least 15 minutes. Even better, heat it up with a blow dryer or wrap a warm, damp towel around your hair.
If you take the time to add these tips to your routine, your curls will be bouncing with joy!
MORE: Deep Conditioners for Curly Hair
What do you do to keep your curls hydrated?
In any of my school photos from kindergarten through my senior year in high school, my clothes change and my face matures. But one thing stays the same: my big, frizzy head of hair. It fills the photo’s whole frame and makes me cringe now the way it did back then. It’s too bad really, because all I needed to love my school pics was to know how to cleanse my curls properly. With the right technique, my hair could have been clean, hydrated and beautiful. But you can learn from my mistakes! Here are some essential tips for washing curly hair.
1. Lose the lather
The biggest rule in washing curly is to ban shampoo from your bathroom and your hair. Why? Because it contains ingredients called sulfates. These detergents give shampoo its rich lather, but they also strip your hair of its natural oils. This is a huge problem for us curly girls since our hair is intrinsically drier than other types. We need to hang onto any and all oils and moisture that we can or we’ll end up with parched-looking hair and frizz, frizz and more frizz. “Companies still use these detergents in shampoos because they’re cheap ingredients and because people are addicted to suds,” explains Lorraine Massey, author of “Curly Girl: The Handbook.” “But you don’t need them to clean your curls.” Instead, look for sulfate free cleansers like DevaCurl No-Poo.
2. Cleanse right
Don’t scrub your hair aggressively because harsher hands don’t result in cleaner hair. “Resist the impulse to start scrubbing your head the second you get in the shower because this disturbs the basic shape of your curls,” says Massey. When your curls’ natural shape are disrupted, you also get some frizz. Instead, let the water cascade through your hair when you get into the shower. Then apply your sulfate-free cleanser to your fingertips and gently massage it into your scalp using firm, circular motions. “The friction of your fingertips combined with the cleanser will loosen up any dirt and product buildup, leaving your scalp and hair cleansed and deodorized,” says Massey.
3. Wash less often
Mama may have told you to wash your hair daily, but that’s another myth for us curly girls. Instead, you can get by with wetting your hair and hydrating it daily with conditioner. I use a cleanser on my hair once or twice a week. The rest of the time I gently massage my scalp with conditioner. Once I rinse that down the drain, I condition my hair some more.
4. Stay poo-free on the road
Shampoo that is. This goes for even those times when you’re desperate. For example, recently I was staying at a really nice hotel that offered bathroom products from a top-notch brand. I had forgotten my sulfate-free cleanser, but still I didn’t dare reach for the hotel’s tiny bottle of shampoo. Instead, I just cleansed my scalp using my conditioner. (I used the top notch brand’s shampoo to hand wash my lingerie and bathing suits instead!”>
Stay tuned this month for a daily dose of tips for happier, healthier curls, coils and waves!
When I grew out my chemically straightened hair and finally embraced my natural curls, my big fear was managing my hair in the summer. When I shared my concern with the curly gurus at Devachan Salons, they shared some amazing tips for taming hair. I learned that I didn’t have to resort to a season of ponytails and buns. Here are the top tools for enjoying a no-frizz summer.
Frizz-Fighting Tools
- Lots of conditioner: Conditioner is always key for curly girls. In summer, it’s even more important, and you’ll probably want to use more of it. You can even slather it on before you go swimming in a pool or the ocean to keep the water from drying out your curls.
- A deep conditioner: I make sure to deep condition my curls at least twice a week. Once a week I also shower before bed, cover my hair in a rich, deep conditioner and sleep with it in my hair. Some mornings it seems to melt into my hair, and my curls look so good that I don’t even need to rinse. Other mornings when that doesn’t happen, I simply rinse and go. My favorite deep conditioner is DevaCurl Heaven in Hair.
- A hooded drier: This is the best secret weapon for gorgeous, frizz-free summer curls. A hooded drier creates a microclimate so hair dries without any interference and curls maintain their natural shape. Best of all, you can settle in under your dryer and then read or work. These dryers come in all price ranges and sizes, from those that sit on a table, to those on wheels. I personally love the Gold N Hot Elite 1875 Watt Ionic Full Hood Professional Dryer.
- The right gel: This is another key to keeping frizz and flyways from creating a halo around your head. Just make sure you choose one that’s alcohol- and silicone-free so curls don’t dry out or look crispy.
- Cloth covered ponytail holders: These were a hair accessory staple in the ‘80’s. To me, they’re a hair accessory staple in summer when you have to pull your hair back and up a lot. Elastic bands tend to rip and tear curly hair which is naturally fragile. Try: Goody Ouchless Gentle Scrunchies.
- A curly cover up: Sun doesn’t just dry out your skin, it can also dry out your hair. And dry hair equals frizzy hair. For long days in the sun, make sure to cover hair with a hat (protect skin, too, with one that has a two to three inch brim”> or cute scarf.
- Spray bottle: At the beach or pool, hair can get dry and frizzy from the sun, wind, chlorine and salt water. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts spring water and conditioner. Then toss it in your beach bag, shake it up and spritz it on hair before you jump in the water and after you get out.
How do you keep your hair frizz-free through the summertime heat and humidity?
Curly hair can be prom ready in a cinch. In fact, with just a few twists and turns, you can have fresh prom curls for this special day without spending a lot of time, money or effort. Here are some of our favorites from Lorraine Massey, author of Curly Girl: The Handbook.
The Twist Up
This is an easy, elegant way to give hair a lift – especially perfect for warm spring or summer nights — and it works well with both long or shoulder-length curls.
- Pull all your hair together at the back of your neck as if you were going to put it in a low ponytail.
- Gently twist your hair, directing it upward toward your crown as you twist.
- When you’ve twisted your hair as much as you can, hold it in place with one hand while you using your other hand to slide bobby pins into the crease formed by the twisted hair against your head.
Notes:
- If you have shorter hairs that frame your face and want a softer look, take a few of those curls out before beginning The Twist Up.
- For a fancier look, use bobby pins decorated with gems, rhinestones, pearls or other pretty goodies.
The Yin-Yang
This hair style is a fun and funky look that gives you two completely different textures of hair — sleek on top and an explosion of lively curls in the back. As a result, this style allows your curls to be the star of the show.
Before you start:
- Make sure hair is totally dry so you can get more of the bigness out of the curly part, which is what you want for this look.
- Fill a spray bottle with ¼ cup of an alcohol-free, silicone-free gel and ¾ cup of spring water.
To get the look:
- Spritz the top, front section of hair with the gel/water mixture and then slick hair back by grazing it gently with your hands.
- Gather hair at the center back of the head in a medium to high ponytail.
- Use a fabric or cloth covered ponytail holder to tie the gathered hair back into a ponytail. Fabric or cloth covered ponytail holders are less damaging than elastic or rubber bands.
- Take the curls that are coming out of the ponytail and lightly piece them open with your fingers to create a big explosion of curls coming out of your ponytail.
- To cover the ponytail holder, take a piece of hair that’s coming out of the right side of ponytail and lift it out to the side.
- Bring that piece of hair underneath your ponytail and out to the left side of your ponytail. Then wrap it around your ponytail holder to hide it.
Read More: Trendy Curly Updos for Weddings & Proms
The Top Knot
This easy as 1-2-3 style takes a mere minute, but is an unfussy way to make curls look gorgeous and give them a change from their day to day look.
- Take a section of hair that’s at the nape of your neck and underneath the rest of your hair and divide it into two sections. Hold each section out to the side.
- Cross the two sections on top of the rest of your hair, which should be down.
- Pull one section under the other and pull in a way similar to the first step in tying your shoes.
- Secure the tie with a bobby pin. Massey suggests a fun, decorated bobby pin or a simple ribbon.
Read More: Natural Prom Hairstyles for 2011
One of the biggest curly hair myths is that curly girls can’t wear hats. (Another is that men don’t like curly hair! Boy is that wrong, but that’s a story for another day.”> But if you didn’t realize this was a myth, you’re not alone.
None of my curly-haired friends knew this, and neither did I. In fact, during the years that I wore my hair curly, I spent many winters freezing for the sake of a decent hair day. Fear of frizz also kept me from wearing a bike helmet for many years.
When I had kids, I learned to embrace my curly hair and got these great curl-covering tips from the experts at Devachan Salons in NYC and Culver City, CA. Now I’m protected when I wear my bike and stay warm in the winter, and I can even sport a cute spring or summer chapeau without worrying about hat head.
These tips also go for wearing wigs or scarves.
1. Keep your curls healthy
If your hair is hydrated and in good shape to begin with, your curls will bounce back better and more quickly after sitting under the weight of a hat, helmet, wig, etc. This means washing hair with sulfate-free cleansers, moisturizing often with loads of conditioner and deep conditioning at least once a week.
2. Clip hair for lift
It’s usually the top of the hair that gets flattened under a hat, scarf, etc. Give hair a lift by putting a little alcohol-free, silicone-free gel on a hair clip (find them at any drugstore”>. Then take a small section of hair from the top of your head and place the clip at the roots close to your scalp. Do this in a few different spots on top of your head so these strands stay lifted while your hat, scarf, hood or helmet presses down on them.
3. Remove clips with care
When you take the clips out, use one hand to remove the clip and the other to hold the section of hair. This keeps the curl’s natural shape and prevents accidentally tearing or snapping of the hair. Then spritz curls with water or use wet fingers to gently ruffle hair near the roots.
4. Revive wayward curls
If any curls get unfurled while covered, just wet your finger and wrap the section of hair around it. Pin it with a clip or bobby pin for a minute or two, release and the curl formation will be back.
5. Pin them back
If you’ve got shorter curls framing your face, you can gently twist sections of these hairs toward the back of your head and secure with a body pin. This helps them keep their natural shape while covered.
A good or bad hair day can actually start the night before. Despite its hardy appearance, curly hair is so delicate and fragile that how you wear your hair while you sleep has an impact on how it will look the next day. Here’s how to wake up with curls that are as pretty as they were when you went to sleep.
Second Day Hair in a Cinch
- Choose the right pillowcase. If you tend to move around a lot while you snooze, then swap your cotton pillowcase for one that is silk or satin. “Tossing and turning in bed causes a lot of friction and can cause split ends and knots,” explains Lorraine Massey, author of “Curly Girl: The Handbook.” These fabrics create less friction keeping hair smooth.
- Sleep on your back. If you always sleep on one side, you can cause the hair on that side to break off and get weaker. Try to snooze on your back with a pillow under your neck and another under your knees, which is good for your back and your curls.
- Make a top knot. Leaving your hair down and loose can cause it to get tangled, knotty and eventually break. Avoid this by leaning your head forward and then gathering your hair into a ponytail on top of your head. Secure it with a fabric-covered ponytail holder or ribbon. An elastic or rubber band can rip, tear or tangle hair. Sleeping this way also reduces friction with hair rubbing against your pillow case and reduces tangles.
- Treat it right in the a.m. Take your hair out of the top knot and shake it out gently. Then spray hair with a lavender spray and gently shuffle hair at the roots. No lavender spray? Do the same with wet fingers or spritz hair with water. Then let hair settle a bit before you take a second look. Apply a dab of leave-in conditioner or cream conditioner to stray curls and gently scrunch. Or you can revive any stretched out curls by wrapping them around your finger and securing them with a clip for a minute or two. Smooth any top-of-the-hair frizz with a bit of alcohol-free, silicone-free gel.
Like most curly girls, I spent years trying to turn my hair into something it was not. This included more than a decade of blow drying and flat ironing followed by six years of submitting my strands to thermal reconditioning. This chemical straightening was a life saver at first, but it wasn’t because my hair looked great. It was actually really flat. It was because it was frizz-free and I could predict exactly how it would look each morning. This was huge because, as curly girls know, our hair has a mind of its own and doesn’t always look the same from one day (or even one hour”> to the next.
But once my hair started breaking off and looking fried, I decided I had to toss the blow dryer, flat iron and round brush, steer clear of the chemicals and embrace my hair’s natural texture. I wasn’t excited about what I thought would be a future of frizz, but I feared I’d have little hair left if I kept torturing it.
Then something amazing happened. When I learned how to properly care for my curls and kept the following things in mind, it was easy to learn to love them! Here’s how you can too!
- Work with your natural hair, not against it. This is actually pretty simple no matter what type of curls you have. Stop blow drying and flat ironing, using a brush and washing with detergent-filled shampoos. Slather hair with loads of conditioner and don’t rinse it all out. These things alone will turn your curls into something to love! Also, get rid of the idea that blow drying or flat ironing your hair every once in a while is okay. Even one time can cause damage by drying it out which disturbs your curls’ natural shape and causes frizz.
- Going curly means life doesn’t revolve around your hair. Many curly girls who blow dry and flat iron know that life can revolve around your blow-drying/flat ironing schedule. For example, you can’t break a sweat soon after a blow dry or your hair will frizz and all those efforts will be a waste. This means that you usually work out less often, which may be good for your blow out, but is terrible for your waistline. Going natural avoids this and you’ll be able to work out whenever you want, or do whatever you want, when you want to do it.
- Lazy beach days are back on the agenda. Fun activities like swimming and beach days are out of the question if you’re straightening your hair, because once you jump into the water or frolic in that beach air, your blow out will be ruined. Going natural means that you can love and embrace your hair’s texture, and the fact that it will only increase in the salty wind.
- Embracing your hair’s natural texture saves time and money. You will save all those hours sweating and straightening in the bathroom and the price of professional blowouts, anywhere from $35 to $200 a pop. You also save money on the endless products to smooth hair. And if you chemically straighten, it can cost at least $300 every two to three months. At a good salon, it’s closer to $600 and up. If you chemically straighten, there’s also the price of deep conditioning products and treatments to soothe your parched, fried strands. Say goodbye to the chemicals and hello to the cash in your wallet.
- Going natural also saves stress and energy. It sounds crazy, but most of us curly girls know that when you’re trying to straighten your hair into submission, everything from the weather to how long it takes to blow dry can stress you out. You also spend time worrying about other people “finding you out.” For example, a first date or job interview on a humid or rainy day can send your mood plummeting downward fast!
- You feel more like yourself when you let your hair be itself. This may sound sort of cheesy and pseudo-spiritual, or at least that’s what I thought when people told me this before I went curly. I’d roll my eyes and think, “Whatever.” But once I let my hair go back to its natural texture, I realized it was true. I was no longer hiding a natural part of myself, no longer masquerading as someone I was not. Once you go with your natural hair, you’ll see the real you emerge.
Loving your curls is as easy as saying,“sayonara” to your shampoo, at least to shampoos and cleansers that contain sulfates.
“These detergents strip curly hair of its natural oils leaving it dry, frizzy and dull,” says Lorraine Massey, author of “Curly Girl: The Handbook. “This is bad for all hair types, but for curly girls whose strands are naturally drier than others, this is a disaster! Secondly, these detergents ruffle the cuticle of the hair.
“This outer layer contains overlapping scales.” adds Massey. “When they lie flat, your hair looks shiny and gorgeous. But when they stand up, the result is frizz and dullness.” Luckily, going shampoo-free isn’t hard; you just need to make a few adjustment for washing curly hair.
- Change your products: Toss any shampoo that contains sulfates. Now this doesn’t mean you’re not cleansing your hair, it just means you’ll be doing so with cleansers that are 100% sulfate-free. The other option is to use conditioner to cleanse. Yes, conditioner! Just spread it on the fingertips of both hands in the shower and, when hair is wet, use the following technique.
- Change your technique: Another thing that disturbs the cuticle and natural shape of your curls is the technique most people use to wash: scrubbing hair roughly with their fingers. In reality, what really cleanses the hair and the scalp – the area that holds lots of dirt and oil – is friction. All you need to do when using your sulfate-free cleanser or conditioner is gently massage the scalp with your fingers to loosen any dirt and oils then rinse. Friction is how many things get clean – just think of a washing machine.
- Change your thinking: One reason traditional shampoos contain sulfates is because sulfates cause shampoo to lather. Though the bubbles don’t actually cleanse the hair, we’re all conditioned to think they do and that more suds equals cleaner hair. That’s just not true. Sulfate-free products and conditioners won’t suds up, but they will get your hair clean. At first, it may be hard to get used to little to no lather, but give it time and see how much your curls improve. You won’t regret it.
- Change your schedule – but not yet: To start going shampoo-less, use a sulfate-free cleanser or conditioner as often as you’ve been using shampoo. “As you begin to see the health and look of your hair become remarkably different – think more shine, body and less frizz – you may need to cleanse hair less often and can just condition,” says Massey.
- Change the world: When you rinse sulfate-filled products from your hair in the shower, they get washed down the drain and into our waterways. This is bad for the environment, so by using sulfate-free products, you are not only saving your curls, but saving the planet too!
