How to care for curly hair
A good curly hair routine comes down to three things: keep moisture in, handle the curls gently and let them dry without touching them. Here is a simple wash day, step by step, and what to change for your type.
The wash day routine, step by step
- Cleanse gently. Use a sulfate-free shampoo or a co-wash, and focus on the scalp. Let the suds run down the lengths rather than scrubbing them.
- Condition and detangle. Put on plenty of conditioner and work out knots with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb, from the ends up. This is the only time to detangle.
- Apply products to soaking wet hair. Leave-in or curl cream first for moisture, then a gel for hold. Wet hair takes product evenly and forms curl clumps.
- Scrunch and plop. Scrunch the curls upward, then wrap the hair in a cotton T-shirt or microfiber towel for 10 to 30 minutes to soak up water.
- Dry without touching. Air-dry or use a diffuser on low heat. Touching wet curls breaks them up and causes frizz.
- Scrunch out the crunch. Once fully dry, gel can leave a hard cast. Scrunch it out with a drop of oil on your hands for soft, defined curls.
What changes from wavy to coily hair?
The steps are the same for every curly type. What changes is how heavy the products are, how often you wash and how much you stretch the hair.
| Type | Wash | Products | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2, wavy | 2 to 3 times a week | Mousse, light cream, light gel | Heavy products that pull waves flat |
| Type 3, curly | 1 to 3 times a week | Leave-in, curl cream, medium to strong gel | Brushing dry, which turns curls into frizz |
| Type 4, coily | Every 1 to 2 weeks | Water-based leave-in, butters, oils, custards | Dryness and breakage from rough detangling |
How to refresh curls between wash days
Mist the hair with water, or a mix of water and a little leave-in, until it is damp but not soaked. Scrunch it back into shape and let it dry. For curls that went flat on one side, twist a few sections around your finger while they are damp.
How to protect curls at night
Cotton pillowcases soak up moisture and rough up the cuticle. A satin or silk pillowcase, a satin bonnet or a loose high ponytail on top of your head, called pineappling, keeps the curls from getting crushed and frizzy overnight.
Common curly hair mistakes
- Brushing curls when they are dry.
- Using shampoo with harsh sulfates every day.
- Putting products on damp rather than soaking wet hair.
- Touching or towel-rubbing the curls while they dry.
- Choosing products for the wrong type, such as heavy butters on 2A waves.
If you are not sure which type you have, the free hair type test names it from one close-up. Your porosity matters too; the hair porosity test shows how to check it.
Not sure which type you are? Take one close-up of your hair and the free hair type test tells you in seconds.
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