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One downside to doing a wash and go is that you have no control over how much your hair naturally shrinks. You can combat this by elongating your curls during a wash and go without stretching them.
What You’ll Need:
- Water (in a spray bottle”>
- A concentrator nozzle for your blow dryer (along with the actual blow dryer”>
- Moisturizer
- Sealant oil
- Aloe Vera Gel (unless you have something else you prefer to use when you do a wash ‘n go”>
MORE: Top 10 Curl-Defining Products
What To Do:
- Moisturize your dry hair with your favorite moisturizer.
- Apply the sealant to your hair, making sure to get full coverage, to trap in the moisture.
- Apply Aloe Vera Gel or a curl-defining cream of your choice.
- Spritz your hair with water to reset the curls as too much handling can cause frizz.
- Without touching your curls, shake your head of curls vigorously so they’ll fall back into place naturally.
- Apply a heat protectant to the roots of your hair to protect those roots against heat from the dryer.
- Separate a section of your hair and begin blowing your hair at the roots, gently pulling your hair to focus on that one specific area. Take your time and focus on only drying the roots.
- Focusing on your hair only, and avoiding your roots, spritz with water or a moisturizing spray one last time. Then give it one last good shake!
Stretch Your Wash and Go in 10 Minutes
By: TheStrawberriCurls
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Get more tips and tricks for your curls, coils and waves on NaturallyCurly’s YouTube channel.
You chose your current hair care products because they work great for your hair type, and reading good reviews about them beforehand didn’t hurt either. One of the things you might have been looking for was something that would add moisture to your otherwise dry locks, especially in the summer! But just what makes a good hair moisturizer, anyway? Is it something you can buy and use alone? You can actually make your own moisturizing hair masks once you figure out just what it is that moisturizes your hair so well! Here are some of the top ingredients that help to moisturize your curls.
1. Glycerin
Glycerin is an ingredient that binds water together. Naturally, this means it’s instrumental in locking in moisture in conjunction with the other ingredients in your products. You can also use glycerin to make soaps (those clear kinds of soap”> and lotions. In both soaps and lotions, glycerin helps moisturize your skin. You might also see “vegetable glycerin” listed on a product label instead.
2. Aloe Vera
If you get sunburns easily, you’re probably most familiar with using aloe to soothe your skin. If you’ve ever plucked an aloe leaf, you also know that the stuff you buy in the store smells much better than a fresh aloe plant! Nonetheless, aloe (also known as aloe vera or aloe vera juice”> has great moisturizing properties as well. In addition to helping your hair grow, it also helps maintain your hair’s natural sheen and luster by locking in your hair’s natural oils.
3. Avocado Oil
Avocado actually has many benefits for the body. It’s a good fat and is a great addition to a low-carb diet. Additionally, avocado is useful in trying to recover damaged hair. A few drops of avocado added to your favorite shampoo can also turn that shampoo into a very moisturizing concoction. If your scalp is itchy and needs moisturizing, you can also rub a few drops into your scalp for relief.
4. Jojoba Oil
You’ve probably already discovered that washing your hair on a daily basis isn’t a good idea — especially if you’re already dealing with dry hair. The reason for this is that your scalp produces a natural oil called sebum that keeps your scalp and hair moistened. Jojoba oil is very similar to this natural sebum. In fact, even its molecular structure is similar!
5. Shea Butter
You’ll find shea butter, a natural carrier of vitamin A, in almost any hair moisturizer because it physically holds in moisture. For our coilies, who tend to have thick, dry hair, shea butter is often a godsend.
Final Thoughts
While these ingredients will add moisture to just about any hair type, remember that not all ingredients work the same for all hair types. You might swear by a certain ingredient while another curly can’t stand it. Remember keep in mind your hair’s porosity level and thickness as well when choosing products.
Do you have something to add to the list? What are your favorite moisturizing ingredients?
Last week, I took my girls for a haircut with my stylist. They were excited as it was the first time I let someone other than myself cut their hair! As I sat in a chair behind my stylist, talking with her and my girls together, one of my daughters was immensely fascinated with my hair. So fascinated, in fact, that she kept trying to touch my hair. Oddly enough, my girls took turns at playing in my hair! As they did this, I kept chastising them with “Please don’t touch my hair! You’re going to make it frizz!”
Avoiding the frizzies is one good reason you shouldn’t touch your hair too much, but it’s not the only reason. Did you know you could damage your hair by touching it too much? Having your hands in your hair too much can lead to a bad habit known as hands-in-hair-syndrome (HIHS”>.
Frizz Control
Probably one of the worst effects of toying with your curls is that you actually ruin their look. When my daughters had their hands in my hair, I hadn’t done anything much to it that morning besides wash it and coat it with my favorite leave-in conditioner. So it was pretty much “naked” in the sense that it wasn’t protected. As it was, it was beginning to frizz a little, but we weren’t going anywhere else so I didn’t really mind. However, the fact that it had no gel in it or anything meant it was especially susceptible to frizzing. If you don’t typically use any styling products and you have a hard time keeping your hands out of your hair, you’re practically asking for frizzies!
In addition to keeping their own hands at bay, many curlies find themselves dodging the hands of others. While it’s extremely rude for people to put their hands in your hair without even asking, some people do it anyway before you can stop them. Others have at least a twinge of decency and will ask before touching, but when you say “No,” they may act offended. Oh well, they’ll just have to be offended if that’s how they choose to feel. Of course, you’re under no obligation to explain to people why you don’t want them touching your hair.
More Harm Than Help
With your hands in your hair, it’s tempting to being playing with and twisting your curls. This may seem like a harmless habit, but it’s not! In fact, you can cause your curls to break off, with damage worse than split ends. Do you ever have your hands in your hair, twist it, and notice that you pull your hands away with a few strands wrapped around it? If so, you’ve already experienced this kind of breakage.
How to Treat HIHS
If you find yourself always touching twirling and running your hand through your curls whenever they’re free, there are a few things you can do to help keep your hands from destroying your curls.
A lot of times, the danger is when you are sitting at home watching television or reading or any other activity that doesn’t require two hands. You may find yourself absentmindedly twirling and tugging on your curls. One way to avoid this is to whip your curls into a loose braid or bun so that it’s out of the way. You can do a hairstyle like this if you struggle with putting your hands in your hair during the day, or you can just put it up when you get home. If you pineapple your hair at night you can go ahead and do so right when you come home to avoid touching your hair before bed.
Don’t be afraid to go as far as picking up a new hobby to protect your precious curls. If you are interested in DIY and crafty things, you could take up knitting or crocheting that you can work on while you need something to keep your hands busy. The result will be great homemade gifts and happy undisturbed curls!
Set aside limited time to play with your hair, try new hairstyles and bond with your texture. Seriously! Especially if you have just recently embraced your texture, your curls are something new to you, and when you put your hands in it, you’re getting to know it. When you’re deliberate about knowing your curls, you may still want to touch them a lot because you just like the way they feel, but they won’t be so new to you. Then, when some of their “newness” is gone, you may be less likely to touch your curls so often.
Whenever you do touch your curls, however, be very gently with them. Remember that you could be damaging them if you’re not careful.
Do you have a hard time keeping your hands out of your hair? Are you a reformed hands-in-hair curly? Tell us how you overcame the habit and help your fellow curlies in the process!
About three months ago, I offered to help my best friend do something fun with her hair. As she pulled her super-thick waves out from their daily bun, she proceeded to brush her dry waves. Yes, BRUSH them! As she did this, she told me one reason she hated her hair so much: it poofs every time she brushes it. I think the look of shock on my face must have been obvious because she started giggling with a tinge of embarrassment. Of course, I wasn’t shocked that her waves poof when she brushes them. I was shocked that she was somehow amazed and distraught at this fact. I probably sputtered out something along the lines of, “Well of course it poofs — you’re brushing it! Dry, no less!”
“Well…you have to get through your hair!” she replied.
“Not like that, you don’t! You detangle it, yes…but you should’ve done that when you finished washing it and maybe with some conditioner still on it.”
“No one’s ever told me that before. I’ve just always hated my hair.”
“You mean…no one’s ever told you not to brush through your waves or anything about detangling it, deep conditioning it and so on?”
“Nope.”
“Oh, honey….”
Some of you are amazed she’d gone all this time without knowing how to deal with her waves, while others of you can totally relate to her responses. Did you know that curls and coils aren’t the only hair types you need to handle with care? No matter what your hair type is, you need to be careful with it! So, what’s a wavy gal to do?
1. Cleansing
Whether you’re doing without shampoo or using one on a regular basis, you need to cleanse your waves regularly. Use a lightweight, gentle shampoo that is strong enough to get rid of any product build-up but that won’t weigh down or stretch your waves. Have a look through our top 10 shampoos and choose one that gets great reviews from fellow wavies!
2. Drying
As with any type of curly hair, wavy hair is prone to frizz and damage when wet. To take some of the water off your hair, use a microfiber towel or hair glove rather than a terrycloth towel, which can be rough on your hair. For some suggestions, check out what Alyssa thought of some different brands!
Another option is to upcycle your old t-shirts and use them to dry your waves!
3. Brush vs. Comb
Not all brush types are disastrous for wavy hair, but you do have to be careful. Avoid paddle brushes as well as any with stiff bristles. Vented brushes are usually fine for waves, as long as you’re gentle and only using it when your hair is wet.
Alternatively, you can avoid brushes altogether and stick with a wide-toothed comb. These will work nicely when your hair is damp, but you may even be able to get away with delicately using it on dry hair as well without causing it to poof. In my experience, this depends on how wavy the hair is. I’ve seen and have combed wavy hair ranging from barely-there waves (2a”> to practically a curly (2c”> with wide-toothed combs on dry hair. Combing through seemed to have the least impact on the 2a and 2b hair types that weren’t overly thick, while the thick 2c, borderline 3a wavy hair I’ve dealt with didn’t handle it too well.
If you’re hearing any of these tips for the first time, please take them to heart and put them into practice. Your wavy hair will stop being a source of frustration and become a source of swavy, curvy hair pride!
Have you been able to share some valuable textured hair care knowledge with a friend? How have you benefited from a friend sharing their knowledge with you?
Among all of your curly friends, you’re definitely the hair aficionado. You know all about curly hair, from distinguishing between different hair types to using the lingo such as no-poo, co-wash, ACV and twist-out correctly. You follow the best curly-haired blogs, and you have made a name for yourself on Facebook groups devoted to those with curly hair. Bottom line: curly hair is more than just what sits on top of your head. For you, it’s truly a passion, and you love educating and helping others with curly hair. If this describes you, try making some money from all of your knowledge!
One thing we curlies are always looking for (unless we’ve found one already”> is a stylist who really KNOWS curly hair. We’re not very interested in stylists who THINK they can handle what we bring but who would turn us into a triangle head. That said, we curlies would LOVE to have more in-the-know curly hair stylists available!
A good stylist does more than just cut and shape hair, though. This means that in addition to knowing how to work curly hair, you need to be able to know — based on a woman’s personality, shape of her face, the clothing she wears, etc. — whether or not a particular style will suit her.
Unfortunately, because so many stylists simply aren’t familiar with working with curly hair, curlies (especially coilies”> have to teach themselves how to care for their hair. With all that you’ve done to research how to best care for your hair, you’d be a great asset in the world of hairstyling! But how do you become a curly hair stylist yourself?
Where Do I Start?
You probably have a string of questions about how to become a stylist. A good starting place to go for the answers is the Beauty School FAQ at Beauty School Advisor. There are detailed answers to common questions you might have about Beauty School.
After getting some of your burning questions answered, you should start to research cosmetology schools in your area. To find out what schools are in your area, you can do a quick search on Beauty School Advisor. From there, you will have a good place to start in further researching each school. You can use this resource to look at what some schools have to offer and what kind of training you can get there. Does the school pride itself in offering courses on how to be a nail tech or esthetician as well as a stylist? That could be a plus if you are interesting in taking on multiple specializations. Make sure that the school offers what you want to specialize in and that it is accredited.
How Long Does it Take?
Most beauty-school programs last the length of a regular school year: nine months to a year. While this may seem like a long time if you were expecting to receive a license in a few months, keep in mind that a lot of the time spent in school will be hands-on. You won’t just sit and read from or be lectured from a textbook all that time! This is meant to prepare you to become a licensed stylist. Beauty School Advisor has a list of each state’s licensing information so that you can find out what the requirements are in your state.
What Does it Cost?
You may be concerned about how you will pay for school. The good news is that you may be able to get federal student aid if your school accepts it. You can find a list of helpful links about financial aid on that handy BeautySchool FAQ page under “How do people pay for it?” If you’re hoping to be able use Pell Grants or Stafford Loans (both very common for higher education”>, you’ll need to fill out a FAFSA and include your school’s code on the form.
What’s Next?
Once you’ve completed training and have a license, you may need to enroll in some extra courses that offer specific training. You can do another search on Beauty School Advisor to find schools for specific specializations, such as facialist schools, esthetician schools, electrolysis and even just general continuing education schools. Keep in mind that even after you become licensed, you should to continue to build on your knowledge to give yourself a competitive edge. Attend as many hair shows, workshops and hair events as you can. Doing so will give you guidance, keep you updated on the latest products, help you learn new techniques and provide the opportunity to network which can produce some amazing job leads!
How Much Can I Make?
Typically, a stylist makes around $26,000 annually. Salaries for stylists can be greater or less than that average amount depending on several factors, including location, whether you work for yourself of for a corporation and the types or variety of services you can provide (this is where those extra classes can help”>. Invest in every learning opportunity to hone your craft and you will be able to make your passion into something you get to work with everyday and get paid for it!
Do you want to turn your passion for curly hair into something more?
Many curly girls have to use something to hold their curls together, whether for a special hairstyle or just everyday wear. Gels are great for this, but for some curlies, they can weigh down their hair or hold it in clumps that won’t separate. A good alternative to this is hair spritz. Some curlies choose to use a hair spritz for moisture as well. As with any hair products, upkeep can be costly and you may have concerns about the ingredients in them. We found some tried-and-true homemade hair spritzes you can make yourself!
Sugar ‘N Style
Diane Kidman, owner of the dkMommy Spot blog, shared one of the easiest recipes on her blog. Are you ready for this? You’ll need sugar and water. Yes, that’s all you’ll need (aside from a spray bottle to hold the mixture”>! Diane says to bring about ½ cup of water to a boil, turn off the heat, then stir in about 2 tsp of sugar. Let this cool before pouring it into a spray bottle. That’s all there is to it! If you want, you can also add in a few drops of essential oils for scent (this is how she prefers to make it”>, but you don’t have to if you don’t have any on hand. The neat thing about this recipe is that its ingredients are things you probably always have at home, which means you can easily whip this up in no time in a pinch when you’re out of your usual sprays or gels!
Moist and Mist
Rose water has good cleansing properties and can clean the pores of your skin of dirt and other oils. Since rose water is also an excellent source of hydration, especially for the skin, using it as a main ingredient in this spritz is a great choice. Stephanie of Shakara Natural Tips has a fantastic recipe for a lightweight spritz that’ll add moisture to parched hair. You’ll need 100 ml of rose water, 200 ml of aloe vera juice, and up to five drops of pure jojoba oil (you can also use lavender oil or sweet almond oil”> to make the spritz.
Coating for Coilies
Many coilies like putting their hair in twists because they get a textured curl when they let out the twists. Before you set your hair in twists, you should coat it with a moisturizing leave-in conditioner or some type of setting lotion. If you’d prefer to use something natural, you can make a spritz for this yourself! KCurly with Newly Natural has developed a recipe for a spritz that’s perfect for coilies who like to put their hair in twists. She mixes together equal parts (usually one cup each”> of aloe vera gel and water, and then adds in a few drops of jojoba oil and essential oils. If your hair doesn’t respond well to the oils she uses, feel free to substitute the jojoba with almond oil or coconut oil. Spritz this on your hair before twisting it or finger curling, and see if it helps keep your hair moist!
Want More?
Final Thoughts
As with anything you buy in bulk to make from scratch, homemade hair spritz might cost a little more than a premade version upfront, but your investment will be worth it!
What other recipes for homemade spritzes have you tried and loved?
Hair butters (particularly, shea butter”> are like a godsend to a coily girl! Not only do they add moisture to dry hair, they’ll also moisturize and protect your scalp. Call it a two-for-one deal, but several coily girls have shared that they don’t know what they’d do without their hair butter! As with many products for our hair, there are pros as well as cons to using mass-produced hair butters. Did you know that you could make your own homemade hair butter and control not only what goes into it but also the quantity of each ingredient? Why not try making your own hair butter?
Butter…for Hair?
Probably the most well known ingredient in most hair butters is shea butter. What is shea butter? It’s a fat that comes from the shea tree and that is great for moisturizing. For that reason, you’ll find it in many cosmetics and hair-care products, as well as body lotions and hand creams. Additionally, it can soothe wounds and help cover unsightly scars. Oddly enough, it’s also edible and is an ingredient in some African foods and sometimes chocolate!
Thankfully, making hair butter is nowhere near as time-consuming and strenuous as making real butter! When purchasing hair butter isn’t an option (or preferred”>, try making your own with this recipe.
Basic Shea Hair Butter Recipe
For this recipe, you’ll need a double boiler as well as a rubber spatula to scrape the shea butter and coconut oil out well. Use about one cup of each and pour them into a double boiler, then let them melt slightly. Once they’ve melted some (but not completely”>, let the mixture solidify and then pour the mixture into a mixing bowl. At this point, you can add in any essential oils you might like for scent, such as peppermint, lavender or tea tree. If you do add any essential oils, use just a few drops of each. This is optional, though some curlies have found benefits from specific oils. Blend the mixture together until it’s very smooth (some curlies prefer to actually whip it”>, then use a spatula to transfer your hair butter into a mason jar with a lid.
This recipe is what we like to call a “basic” recipe. That’s because some curlies prefer to use olive oil instead of coconut oil, whereas others like adding in some cornstarch to thicken the mixture some. Still others like adding in about a teaspoon of jojoba oil. Whatever the case, you really have a lot of freedom to add whatever great oils you’ve found work well with your hair to this basic recipe.
Do have a recipe for a moisturizing hair butter that your curls love?
Hair serums and pomades are great for conditioning your curls and giving them an extra boost of strength. They can also keep the frizz at bay, make your curls easier to comb through and add some great shine! The best products, though, can cost you a pretty penny. Here are some great homemade pomade recipes you can make yourself to save some pennies!
The Bees Knees
This homemade pomade from Organic Authority uses beeswax and jojoba oil as its base. You’ll need a mason jar, which you’ll place in a double boiler by adding water around the jar until it reaches the middle of the jar. Gently drop in a 1/2 lb of chopped beeswax. Turn up the heat until the water boils, then remove the pan from heat and stir in 1 tbsp jojoba oil. Add in 1 tbsp arrowroot powder, and then stir in a few drops of peppermint oil. Let the mixture cool and then pour it into whatever container you will use to store your pomade.
Tropical Triple Ingredient Balm
Beeswax is a common base for hair balms. Nearly any balm you find will use this as a main ingredient. This recipe is super easy and only requires three ingredients: beeswax, coconut oil and olive oil. Just melt all of the ingredients together over low heat, then remove from heat and pour into a mason jar. Once the mixture solidifies, it’s ready for use!
Milky Massage
If you need a super quick balm, go to the fridge and grab some milk! Yes, milk! For this recipe, all you need to do is wash your hair as usual, then massage and rinse it with milk. You’ll want to let it sit on your hair for about 20 minutes (good time to shave!”>, then rinse with warm water. As a result, you’ll have softer, shinier hair!
Want More?
Final Thoughts
Pomades and serums are excellent for hair, but the cost to keep up can be brutal, especially on college students and young adults. Do you know of a way to make a store-bought serum last longer or work better by adding in your own ingredients?
Have you tried your own serum or pomade recipe that you’d like to share? Tell us about it!
If you’ve been natural for any amount of time, you’ve probably already realized the need for something to strengthen and condition your hair. You may have tried various hot oil treatments and other conditioning regimens before shampooing your hair. Depending on your hair type, these can actually cause more damage than simply doing without. However, you can make your own pre-poo recipes and get exactly what you need for your hair!
EVOO My!
Since those tiny packets of hot oil treatments only provide so much oil and force you to come back buying more, consider making your own. In addition to using better oil, your homemade version can be much more cost effective! For this treatment, you can use either some EVOO (extra virgin olive oil”> or coconut oil, which will liquefy when warmed. To warm the oil, you can either microwave it (but watch closely to be sure it doesn’t boil”> or heat it up in a double boiler. Then begin massaging the oil into your scalp, working your way down so that all of your hair receives the treatment. You can use wide-toothed comb to distribute the oil if your hair tends to break off when finger combing like mine does!
Next, cover your hair with a shower cap and wrap. You can also wrap this with a towel to keep it extra warm. You can periodically comb through your hair while it’s under wraps, but this isn’t necessary. After about an hour, remove the towel (if you used one”> and the cap, then shampoo and condition as usual. You should notice a remarkable difference in the softness of your hair!
Co-Washing Pre-Poo
If you’re a fan of co-washing, you’re gonna love this pre-poo treatment from Curly Bronzed! She’s combined conditioning ingredients with pre-poo methods for an all-in-one mixture you can use for co-washing. Boil1/2 cup purified water and then stir in 1 tbsp organic flax seeds. After it simmers for about a half hour, let it cool. In a double boiler, combine 3 tbsps melted shea butter, 1 tbsp coconut oil, 1 tbsp aloe vera gel, 1 tbsp castor oil and 2 tbsp glycerin. Melt 1/2 tbsp raw honey (still in the double boiler”>. At this point, you’ll combine the two mixtures you’ve created, let the mixture cool and you’ll be good to go!
The neat thing about Curly Bronzed’s method is that, while it does take a little longer to put together than some other more simple pre-poo treatments, it works as both a pre-poo treatment and a conditioner — which is perfect for you no-poo curlies!
Want More?
Final Thoughts
Pre-poo treatments are great for softening your hair before you shampoo it. What has your experience been with using conventional hot oil treatments and other pre-poo concoctions?
Have you ever tried making your own pre-poo recipes? If so, how did it turn out and more importantly, would you do it again? Do you have any tips to add to the recipes we found? If so, tell us about it!
No matter what your hair type is, you need to moisturize your curls! Many curlies have a hair care routine that includes using moisturizers such as leave-ins and curl creams. Depending on the length of your hair, its porosity, and your budget, using such products can be costly. Did you know that you could make your own homemade hair moisturizer for a fraction of the cost? As a bonus, you’ll be able to whip up a batch on an as-needed basis (or give some away as gifts!”>, and you can apply your moisturizer generously since you can always whip up some more! If you like to cook things up in the kitchen, these hair moisturizer recipes are for you.
Gentle Glycerin
Glycerin comes from the liquid and fats of vegetable oil. While it can be tricky to find, I’ve found it in the grocery store near rubbing alcohol and facial astringents. It’s a great ingredient for adding moisture to your skin, and you can use it as a detangler as well! Bev from The Make Your Own Zone shared a glycerin-based detangler complete with before and after pictures that are astounding. Stir together 1/4 cup glycerin with 1 cup distilled water. Then add in 1 tsp of your favorite essential oils. Keep the mixture in a spray bottle for easy detangling, and you’re set!
Coily Conditioning
For you type 4s out there wondering how these treatments will work in your hair and if they will have any effect on the things you struggle with, fear not! Natural hair blogger TheMBess has a recipe that is just the mixture she needs to keep her hair moistened and dandruff-free. Combine 1 cup purified water with 1/2 cup aloe juice, 1 tbsp melted coconut oil, water from a can of coconut milk, about 3 tbsp lime juice, 5 vitamin E capsules (just pop with a needle and then squeeze into your mixture”>, 2 tbsp glycerin and a couple tablespoons each of essential oils that you know work well with your hair. Once mixed, you can store it in a spray bottle. She likes using this on hair at night before bed so that her hair can soak in the moisture overnight.
Just Add Water!
We know that for some of you, gathering up all of these ingredients can be near impossible if you don’t already know where to go to get them. For you curlies, there is something a little easier for you to do at home. MoTown Girl’s leave-in conditioner is just for you, curlies! All you have to do is add some distilled water to a few ounces of your favorite conditioner. You’ll need about 2 oz. of a store-bought conditioner, 1 – 1/2 oz. of distilled water, 1/8 cup olive oil and 1 tbsp glycerin (which is optional if you’re using a thick conditioner”>. If you want, you can add in 1 tbsp silk peptide powder and some essential oils, but these are not necessary.
Want More?
Final Thoughts
Keeping curly hair moisturized is an absolute must, especially during the summer months when our hair sees hotter temperatures than its felt all year. This summer have fun with making your own moisturizer!
Have you discovered any homemade moisturizer recipes that work well for your hair type?
While people with all types of hair should condition on a regular basis, it’s even more important for us curlies. Curly hair has a tendency to be on the dry side, and conditioners can restore our hair’s natural softness! Good conditioners can be pricey, however, since manufacturers tend to use “all natural” ingredients, including organic fruits, vegetables and oils. If buying conditioner on a regular basis isn’t agreeing with your bank account, consider making your own homemade conditioner instead!
Persimmon and Rosemary
This recipe is super easy to make. You will need:
- ripe persimmon
- sprig of rosemary
- 1/4 cup of almond oil
- 1/2 cup of honey
- peppermint oil
Tangy Rinse
If you thought the previous recipe was simple, wait until you try the recipe by Jeanne Haegele at Life Less Plastic. She uses — wait for it —vinegar. That’s pretty much it, unless you want to add essential oils to counter the aroma of the vinegar. Jeanne swears that this rinse is just as good as the most costly conditioners! To make her rinse, you will need:
- about 4 cups hot water
- 3/4 cup vinegar
- a sprig of rosemary
- a bag of apple tea (the latter two ingredients are for fragrance”>
Go Tropical!
If you don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen mixing up elaborate concoctions, then this recipe from LongLocks is for you! All you need is
- one ripe avocado
- coconut milk (organic is preferable”>
Final Thoughts
What made you consider using homemade hair conditioners? Are you tired of paying for good conditioners, or do you just like to know exactly what you’re putting in your hair?
How have homemade conditioners worked for your hair?
Whether you’re a low-poo, co-washing, or regular wash-and-go kind of girl, you’ll need something to clarify and remove products and excess oils that build up in your hair. Finding the right one, however, can prove to be challenging. You might find one that cleanses well but dries your hair out or you may have found one that is gentler but leaves your curls limp. One solution to finding the best hair cleanser is to make your own! You’ll know exactly what goes in into your homemade hair cleanser and control the amount of ingredients your hair needs.
Flowery Fresh
Castile soap comes in a variety of mixtures, some from olive oil and others from jojoba oils. Whatever your preference, you’ll need about 5 tbsp of chamomile flowers, which you’ll add to a pot and cover with about 4 cups of boiling, distilled water. Cover the pot and let the flowers steep for about half an hour. Strain the flowers, preserving the water, and pour in 1/4 cup of Castile flakes into the water. After the mixture cools, pour it into a plastic container and keep it in the shower.
If your hair is on the dry side, mix together 1/4 cup of the Castile mixture, 1/4 cup aloe vera gel, 1/4 tsp avocado oil and 1 tsp vegetable glycerin. Store this mixture in a plastic container so it’s handy in the shower.
Naturally Clean
Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile soap is useful for a variety of things. If you’ve been into natural cleaners for any amount of time, you may have used some of his soaps for anything from house cleaning to washing cloth diapers. (Peppermint scent is my favorite for cloth diapers!”> But, did you know you could use Dr. Bronner’s Castile for your hair too? Lindsay, from Passionate Homemaking, has developed a great homemade hair cleanser using Dr. Bronner’s and a few other ingredients. Just mix together 1 cup Dr. Bronner’s (in your favorite scent”>, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 3/4 tsp tea tree oil, and 1/4 cup water.
Alternatively, you can mix in 1 cup green tea, 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tsp honey with your Dr.Bronner’s soap. Either way, stir it up really well and store in a spray bottle so you can spritz it on your hair for cleansing.
Final Thoughts
If mixing up a new shampoo sounds overwhelming to you, just add some baking soda to your current shampoo. This will help remove product buildup, especially hair gels and holding sprays.
What successes have you had with homemade hair cleansers?
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Like many curlies, you’ve most likely developed a hair care regimen that you’re comfortable using on a daily basis. Additionally, if you leave your house every day, you’ve almost certainly come up with a routine that lets you look your absolute best as often as possible. But does constantly applying products to your curls do more harm than good? Should you skip the products from time to time and give your curls a chance to breathe?
Product Buildup
Styling products such as gels and leave-in conditioners are often a curly girl’s best friend! Without them, we might have a tough time handling our curls. They’re so important that many of us have different styling products to accommodate different occasions, seasons and types of weather. Despite the benefits of styling products, however, there is one disadvantage to using them: product buildup.
Most of us curlies don’t need to wash our hair every single day. But to keep our style looking fresh, we may add a small amount of product to our hair each day. As a result, we end up with hair that carries products around for days. After a few days, our hair may start to appear lifeless due to the added weight of these products. This is why you should use clarifying shampoos to remove the products you’ve been applying without damaging your curls.
Skip the Extras
No curly wants to feel uncomfortable with her looks if she has to interact with people! However, if you don’t actually have to look presentable for the day, like on your day off, consider “airing out” your hair by skipping the styling products. Let your curls rest! Shampoo, condition, and dry as usual, then pull your hair back into a simple braid, puff or ponytail for the day. Since you’re used to wearing hair weighed down with products, you’ll probably notice that your hair feels much lighter. It’ll also be more likely to frizz, especially if you have fine hair, but that’s okay since you’re not leaving the house! The next day, you can resume your normal hair care routine, gels and all.
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Final Thoughts
We won’t argue that gels and leave-in conditioners are pretty much a lifesaver for curly girls! Still, while we may swear by some of our favorite styling products, we can do our curls a favor by letting them rest without the extras now and then. Have you come up with a way to make your hair look great even without styling products?
What are some of your styling secrets that don’t involve using styling products?
Curly hair needs more moisture than straight hair, and curlies have come up with a variety of methods for moisturizing and sealing natural hair. Even those with the same hair types may use totally different methods! Do you use conditioners and other moisturizers and then seal the moisture in or do you use your styling products before adding in moisturizers? Does the order even matter?
1. Moisturizer Then Styler
If you moisturize before adding styling products, your hair is probably very dry and needs moisturizer as a primer. I coat my hair first in a good leave-in conditioner before doing anything else. In fact, even if I’m not going anywhere and am not going to style my hair, I still use my leave-in conditioner. No matter what my plans are for the day, I don’t want to leave my hair exposed to the day’s weather or activities.
If I don’t use a leave-in conditioner, there is just no detangling my hair. When I’m done with the leave-in, I’ll add in some scrunching gel to style as I head out the door. Luckily, I don’t really need to seal in moisture with any types of oils. In fact, doing so would just weigh my hair down big time, resulting in limp hair that will not cooperate by the time I get to the gel. Still, my type 3c/4a mixture of hair requires a good deal of moisture before it will even consider agreeing to look good!
2. Styler Then Moisturizer
Some of you need do something to keep your curls in check before treating them to moisture. You may have found that your hair’s response to moisture is to poof up. As a result, you’ve learned that you need to organize your locks first with a gel before topping it off with moisture and then sealing it in with a sealant or with oil. If this describes you, you’re not alone. Many of our curlies on CurlTalk have to do this as well.
3. Mixing it Up
To expedite the styling process, you may be able to mix a sealant and moisturizer. You could add a hair butter or oils to your moisturizer. You could also try a conditioner that has a sealant already in it or mix some type of sealant into your conditioner. Ouidad, who is always on the cutting edge of curly hair care products, has also developed Moisture Lock, a hair cream designed to help define your curls, infuse them with moisture and act as a styling gel all in one product!
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Final Thoughts
The bottom line: there is no “right” or “wrong” method of sealing and moisturizing natural hair.The only right way is the way that works best for your hair. What works best for you? Do you feel like the oddball in doing something that most others with your hair type don’t seem to have to do?
What’s your favorite way to trap in moisture for your curls?
As curlies, we’re always trying to find the best way to keep our tresses looking their very best. Part of this usually involves regular trims, haircuts and new styles. These days, straighties have many options for trimming their hair, such as having a blunt cut, razors and the twist-cut method, which involves twisting the hair in order to get an angled haircut. But is this method that works so well on straight hair really something we curlies should pursue?
The Technique
Twist-cutting is a great way for a stylist to do an angled haircut, such as for bangs or an inverted bob. To do a twist-cut, a stylist will gather a section of the hair that she will twist then cut. The trick is to twist with the hair in one hand and then take over halfway through with the opposite hand, freeing up the dominant hand for cutting. She can then cut straight across — at a predetermined length — but the result will be two angled sections of hair that are even. Alternatively, some stylists twist the hair and then run the blade up and down the twist, similar to using a razor.
The Appeal
From a stylists’ point of view, the twist-cut is effective and fast. Rather than cutting one section of the hair at an angle and then trying to match up the other side just right, the twist-cut allows a stylist to cut just once and obtain the same results. For clients, the twist-cut takes up less time and keeps them moving, rather than tying them to a salon chair for an unnecessary amount of time.
Curly Considerations
When you want your curls trimmed or styled, you’ll definitely want to see someone who really knows how to work with curly hair. After all, curly hair has so many different variations, from type and porosity to shrinkage levels and curl definition. For instance, while using a razor results in a natural looking (read: not blunt and choppy”> trim on straight hair, it can actually break apart our curls and damage the hair shaft. On the other hand, some curlies say that using the razor can work wonders if you’re trying to thin out your hair.
The same is true of the twist-cut method. It’s a great choice for straighties, but curlies might need to think twice about it. For one thing, cutting our curls at an angle may result in “pyramid head.” As a result, our hair can look frizzy even when it isn’t and we might even look a little top-heavy in the hair.
Have you considered having a twist-cut done to your curls? Better yet, were you brave enough to have it done? If so, what were your results?
Many curlies who are transitioning have concerns about how much their hair is growing or not growing. This growth is extremely important, as is evidenced by curlies keeping natural hair journals and doing weekly length checks. Curlies who have done a big chop may be even more impatient as they attempt to get used to wearing a short style. As a result, Virgin Hair Fertilizer has gained popularity among naturals in the midst of a transition. But is it worth the money and does it actually work? If so, what should you know before trying this product?
What is it?
When you open a box of Virgin Hair Fertilizer, you’ll find a tube of somewhat thick hair cream. Some say it reminds them of petroleum jelly (probably because that’s one of its main ingredients”>, only it’s a little “lighter” than Vaseline. It smells like menthol and has a strong odor (likely from the peppermint oil and other herbs”>, but if you leave it in overnight, the smell is better by morning. The peppermint oil is the most likely culprit in the reported “tingly” feeling on the scalp some curlies say they feel when using it.
Will it Work?
We’ve read some mixed reviews as to whether or not this product does what it claims to do. Some of our CurlTalk curlies swear by it while other curlies say they can’t really tell for one reason or another; either their hair grows nicely in the first place or they’re wearing a sew-in while transitioning and will have to wait a couple of months. Like many products, it appears that this may be another try-it-for-yourself-and-see product because your results may vary.
For more reviews and experiences, visit their Facebook page to see what others who “liked” the manufacturer have to say.
How Do I Use it?
Since Virgin Hair Fertilizer is meant to stimulate hair growth and condition the scalp, you’ll want to massage it into your hair roots and scalp daily. You can even apply it if you’re protecting your hair with a sew-in during transitioning.
Where Can I Find it?
Virgin Hair Fertilizer is available both in person at beauty supply stores (we’ve been told that you can find it at Sally’s Beauty Supply”> and online at retailers such as Amazon. The company is based in Nigeria, but you can also order it directly from the manufacturer.
Have you tried Virgin Hair Fertilizer with positive results? If you haven’t tried it, are you willing to try it for yourself and see if it works for you?
Many hair care products geared toward the curly community boast of having added protein. This is good, as we curlies do tend to need the added protein, especially if we have porous hair. However, with a couple of ingredients and a little bit of extra time, you can actually give your hair a protein boost at home with this rum and egg porous hair treatment.
Getting Started
To get started, you’ll need some clear alcohol such as rum or vodka and two eggs. This depends on the length of your hair, though, and those of you with chin to shoulder length hair could probably get away with just one egg. I opted to double the recipe to be sure I had enough for my hair which is several inches past my shoulders. None of my mixture went to waste.
Since I didn’t have any rum on hand (we only drink one maybe two times a year”>, I rummaged up some leftover vodka from New Year’s. Before doing so, I researched this to see if there would be any difference between rum and vodka and there did not appear to be any difference. The important thing seemed to be having a clear alcohol that is fairly strong and “dry.”
Read More: How Does Hair Porosity Affect Your Curls?
Creating the Mixture
I mixed together three tablespoons of vodka per egg yolk, so this meant six tablespoons of vodka and two egg yolks for my length of hair. The mixture was kind of gooey, even though I whipped it with a fork several times. It actually was smooth-looking, but once you stick your hands into it, you can see it’s kind of goopy.
Next, it’s a good idea to detangle your hair. Alcohol isn’t exactly a natural detangler (quite the opposite, actually”>, so do what you can beforehand.
Note that I started out with third-day hair, pretty dull at this point, with all sorts of crazy things going on. My hair was in a ponytail and some of the hair was straight-ish with spirals at the end, while other parts were just coily (especially near the nape of my neck”>. So I let it down and detangled before putting the mixture in my hair. Yep, that’s my combed-out frizz-happy hair.
At this point, you just dive right into the ooey-gooey mixture and start applying it to your hair.
I have to say, the mixture left my hair feeling kind of parched, rough and smelly. Then again, I can’t stand the smell of alcohol CONSTANTLY in my face, though this may not bother some people. While I let it set on my hair for approximately 20 minutes, I was nearly nauseous as I kept getting whiffs of the vodka around me. Bleck! I could’t wait to hop into the shower!
Read More: Quick & Easy Hair Porosity & Density Tests
Rinse & Repeat
Finally, it was time to wash it out of my hair! When I stepped into the shower, I rinsed my hair with just plain water at first. I was already amazed at how my hair felt surprisingly soft, considering the alcohol made it feel so straw-like as I was applying the egg mixture. I’m guessing this was a result of the egg sliding out of my hair.
Next, I shampooed my hair as usual. When I rinsed out the shampoo, I was still shocked at how SOFT my hair felt. Of course, I still wanted to follow it up with conditioner, so I did.
While researching for this article, before daring to apply this to my hair, I found that many people followed up this porous hair treatment with an ACV (apple cider vinegar”> rinse. Should you choose to do that, you’ll want to add about a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to two cups of water. Some complained of the vinegar smell (even after their hair dried”>, while others said it was barely noticeable. This must depend on how much you dilute the vinegar as well as whether you’re using apple cider vinegar or plain vinegar. Alternatively, you could use lemon juice in place of vinegar.
As for me, I didn’t use either because I didn’t discover that I had no vinegar in the house until the egg mixture was whipped together. Frantic, I did some more research to find out what the vinegar is for and whether or not it was truly necessary. As far as I can tell, it’s supposed to help make your hair soft when you finish shampooing out the egg mixture. Since I planned to follow this up with conditioner and my usual detangler, I figured it didn’t matter all that much.
Read More: Why Hair Porosity & Density Matter
Final Thoughts
Here’s a shot of my hair after rinsing and detangling. It doesn’t look a whole lot different here than it did when I first applied the porous hair treatment, probably because my hair is still wet. This is also pre-scrunching, which is what I do to get defined curls. My hair is actually fine and is extremely porous, which means water weighs my hair down tremendously. Had I planned to go anywhere other than to bed, I would have hit it with some holding gel or hairspray and would have done a scrunch-and-pump!
As I sit here typing this, over an hour after getting out of the shower, my hair is drying somewhat. Since it’s very porous and traps in water, it’ll be awhile before it’s completely dry! But at this point, I’m not noticing a whole lot of difference. I did notice a huge difference while in the shower as my hair was really soft hair, but I’m still thinking that could be just from the egg yolk.
The verdict: would I do it again and is this something I simply MUST incorporate into my hair care routine? I’m going to have to say….probably not. But it was still fun to try!
Read More: Is Water Damaging my Hair?
Are you thinking of whipping up some alcohol and eggs to treat your porous curls?
In the natural hair community, monitoring hair growth is common. To this end, some naturals are very diligent in monitoring and keeping track of any amount of progress and are very interested in anything that might promote hair growth.
Miconazole Nitrate (better known as “Monistat” followed by a 1,3 or 7, indicating the number of days a woman should use it to treat a yeast infection”> is said to stimulate hair growth quite rapidly. Can something so simple as a vaginal cream really make your hair grow? If it does, should you be putting this antifungal cream on your scalp?
Is This For Real?
Regardless of its intended use or the box it comes in, Monistat is merely a cream. It’s an antifungal cream, designed to combat the overgrowth of yeast in the vagina along with other things such as athlete’s foot, ringworm and jock itch. But again, it’s just a cream. There’s really no reason to be horrified at putting it on your scalp!
Why It Works
With so many women who swear by using Monistat for hair growth, you may wonder what’s in that little tube that can help your hair grow. It may not be that there’s anything specific in the formula causing hair growth. Rather, it’s possible that the antifungal cream kills off fungus on your scalp — fungus that would otherwise stunt hair growth.
How It’s Done
It’s possible that the antifungal cream kills off fungus on your scalp—fungus that would otherwise stunt hair growth.
We found one blogger who runs a blog specifically about using Monistat for hair growth (actually, that’s the title of her blog“>. On her blog, she posted a video showing two different methods of applying Monistat to your scalp.
For the first method, she suggests putting a small amount of Monistat in a little bowl and mixing in a few tablespoons of water. You can then put that mixture into a squeeze bottle with a pointed tip. Part your hair down the center and begin applying the solution to your scalp and massaging it in, working your way down to the bottom of your hairline (by your neck”>. Continue this process over your entire scalp, sectioning off hair as you go.
With the second method, you’ll just squeeze a small amount of Monistat straight from the tube and apply it directly to your scalp using your fingers.
Considerations
Obviously, Monistat isn’t marketed as a hair growth cream. That’s not to say it doesn’t work to encourage hair growth, but it’s good to keep in mind the possible side effects. Some people have reported experiencing a tingling or burning scalp, an itchy scalp, a very tender scalp and ringing in the ears. However, this seems to happen when people apply it straight out of the tube to their scalp without diluting it.
If you are naturally prone to skin irritations (or have tried Monistat for its intended use and experienced burning and pain”>, definitely dilute the cream before trying to rub it into your scalp. You should also do a test area of your scalp where you apply it to just a small section and see how that goes. If doing so doesn’t cause any problems, you’d probably be okay to apply it to your whole scalp.
So curlies, would you try using Monistat for hair growth?
