Telling people with curly hair that their hair looks better straightened should be a criminal offense.’ Curly-haired Twitter users recently shared the sometimes awful unwanted advice some people give on their hair. Being different in a sea of straight hair, it can be tempting to want to fit in; however with the right products and styling, there’s no need to blend in with the crowd.
Get the fundamentals right
Before turning to styling, make sure you know what kind of hair you’ve got. To an outsider, all curly hair can seem the same. In fact, there’s wide variety within it. To find whether you’re a 2B or a 4C, you’re going to need to know the answer to a lot of questions about your locks. This includes how tight each curl is, are individual strands thinner or thicker and even the porosity of your hair. This may sound overly detailed, but the specific type of hair you have determines the kind of shampoo, conditioner and styling products that will work best for your hair.
While your curl type will have a great effect on which kind of products are best for you, there are some general rules of thumb to follow. Curly hair tends to dry out a lot more easily than our frizz-free friends. This affects how you should be using shampoo on your hair. Some curly girls choose to do away with shampoo completely, following the no poo method. At the very least, you should be using a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfates are put in soap and are what give it that ‘clean’ feel. However, if you’re a clean freak, you’ll be aware how drying soap can be, and therefore it’s best to stay away from it if your hair looks more monkey puzzle than weeping willow. Similarly, choose a conditioner which advertises moisturizing properties.
Choose the right products and know how to use them
Although there are multiple ways to style curly hair, going for the ‘natural’ look can be the quickest, if you’re short on time in the morning. Start with wet hair, then squeeze your hair until dry, and then slowly work in your product of choice, as recommended for your curl type. After this, you may wish to use a special diffuser for curly hair, if you don’t have time to wait for your curls to air dry.
Curly and proud
It can sometimes seem like everyone from your coworkers to your hairdresser doesn’t get that curly hair works different and requires different care. However, that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot of great resources online which can help you with your journey. Let’s fight back against the hair straighteners, both the products and the people.
