How to Care for Curly Hair

Curly hair is one of the most versatile hair types, ranging from wavy, curly to coily, and knowing how to take care of curly hair is a case of trial and error. Maintaining curls requires creating a tailormade hair routine with the right products to help it attain a healthy vibrancy. If your hair texture falls under the ‘curl’ category and you want to know how to keep curly hair healthy, we outline some of the failsafe tips that you can implement into your hair routine.

Picking the Right Haircare Products 

Those with curly hair often state that their hair is typically dry and that’s because sebum — the oily, waxy substance that is produced by our sebaceous glands — has a tendency to get stuck while travelling down the hair shaft. As such, curly hair can become parched and needs a little tender loving care to help it achieve a healthy lustre. Selecting the right haircare products and creating a solid hair routine are the most effective ways to ensure your curls remain glossy, shiny and healthy.  

Knowing how to take care of curly hair by using quality products and committing to a consistent hair routine will serve you in the long run. To achieve healthy curls, it all starts with your shampoo and conditioning routine, which will help to improve your hair’s hydration levels. Use a moisture-rich, hydrating shampoo and conditioner that contain hydrating ingredients (or humectants) to infuse your curly hair with indelible smoothness. Shampoo your curls with Manketti Oil Shampoo, £26.

Follow up with Manketti Oil Conditioner, £26. Leave the conditioner on for at least 10 minutes to receive the maximum benefits of softness and smoothness.  

Both products form part of Charlotte Mensah’s award-winning collection created for curly and coily hair textures. Products are infused with an organic blend of Manketti oil made from the kernel of the Manketti seed, which is native to countries throughout the African continent.  

Additionally, pre-shampoo treatments and hydrating masks will increase softness to your curls and prevent them from becoming dry and brittle. You can try the Nourishing Strengthening Hair Mask, £31, enriched with softening ingredients including shea butter and organic argan oil that help strengthen both the hair and scalp.  

 

Once you start regularly using a quality shampoo and know how to condition curly hair, your strands will become softer, smoother and quenched. However, this can be a bit of a paradox, as washing curly hair too frequently can actually be quite drying, so it’s advisable to keep shampooing to a minimum.  

Unlike straighter hair textures, curly hair requires the addition of moisture and hydration to prevent it from become dry and brittle. Do you find that your hair becomes dryer as the days progress after washing it — and would like to know how to take care of curly hair between washes? Try adding natural oils such as Moroccan argan oil, coconut oil and avocado oil, all renowned for penetrating the hair shaft with lasting shine, smoothness and softness. Oils play an integral role in protecting hair from damage according to experts. We recommend the Nourishing Beauty Hair Oil, £23, blended with organic argan and camellia oils. This lightweight oil will help to replenish thirsty curls and delivers a healthy-looking shine to dry hair.  

Haircare routine 

As well as using the correct products, establishing a solid and consistent routine will help your curly hair thrive. And if you want to discover how to take care of curly hair naturally, experts agree that you should minimise your use of combs which can add stress onto the hairline. Instead use your fingers to tease and detangle your curls.  

At night, wrap your curls in a protective style like a bun or ponytail to prevent friction. Avoid sleeping on cotton pillowcases as they are prone to zapping moisture from the hair, and instead use silk and satin pillowcases or headscarves that will help to lock moisture and hydration into the hair fibres. 

Read more: Hair oils are back 

Things to avoid with curly hair  

Now we’ve explored some of the healthy haircare habits we can put in place to keep curls healthy, it would also be beneficial to discuss some of the practices to avoid to minimise damage. Blow-drying hair at a high setting is damaging to the hair, so we recommend that you use moderate heat and add a diffuser attachment to your hairdryer to distribute the heat evenly and lessen the impact of heat on your curls. Dry your hair using a hairdryer that contains innovative technology like Shark iQ Hairdryer & Styling, £249.99, which features heated ionised air for faster drying — minimising the chance of damaging the hair. The dyer also features a diffuser lift and define function that circulates the air flow to enhance curls.  

Even applying everyday hairstyling tools like combs can also cause damage to your curls. Similarly, vigorously brushing your curls can aggravate the surface of the hair follicles, so try and use finger combing instead, or if you are going to use a conventional comb, use a wide tooth one and comb your curls from tip to root. Tangle Teezer Wide Tooth Comb, £12 is designed specifically for curly and coily hair types.  

Similarly, shampooing your hair with piping hot water can strip the hair of natural moisture which is drying. Instead, use lukewarm or cold water to help preserve your curls and prevent them from drying out. 

Knowing how to take care of curly hair in a way that encourages your curls to be healthy, defined and smooth will make the process of styling and maintaining your hair a lot smoother. As well as hairstyling practices, avoiding certain ingredients will also stand you in good stead. Try and refrain from hair products that contain sulphates, alcohol, parabens, and polyethylene glycol, which can all be drying.  

FAQs 

What should I put in my curly hair every day? 

To keep your curly hair shiny and defined, apply the following products to your hair on a daily basis: a multi-purpose, natural based oil like Nourishing Beauty Hair Oil, £23  will keep the surface of your curls softened and moisturised to emit shine and radiance. Use a leave-in product like Curl Cream by Boucleme, £19 every morning to replenish your curls as well as maintain their definition. Blended with organic shea butter, coconut fruit extract, coconut and castor oil, this cream-based no-rinse formula provides a soft hold to your curls without the crunchy feel of heavier styling products.  

What should you not do to curly hair? 

Avoid products that are laden with alcohol as they tend to draw moisture from the hair and leave it feeling fried or crunchy. Common culprits are strong-hold hairsprays, styling gels and styling/defining hair mousse. As mentioned, using excessive heat and over washing your curls can also lead to excessive dryness.  

How do you take care of curly hair after a shower? 

During or after your shower is a great opportunity to look after your curls. Use the steam and warm water as a companion to help you style and treat them. Apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair while its damp and, using a wide-tooth comb or your fingers, gently detangle your strands to prevent any knots from forming. Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner, £13.49 is a lightweight leave-in product that is packed with natural ingredients like babassu oil and citrus extracts and provides great slip and softness to the hair leading to lasting hydration.  

Read more: How to get smooth, shiny hair at home