Although curly hair is the envy of many, it requires special care and maintenance… Much more than straight hair. Maintaining shiny, bouncy curls requires a few changes to your hair habits and lifestyle. DESSANGE presents to you the best-kept secrets of professionals for taking care of your curly hair.
Contents
1. Curly hair and wavy hair: What are the differences?
Before diving headlong into putting together your new curly hair routine, take the time to look at your curls: Do you have real curls or slight waves?
Did you know? It is the shape of the follicle that defines the waviness of the hair. The flatter and more oval a follicle is, the curlier your hair will be. Conversely, a round follicle will produce rather straight hair.
Wavy hair is characterized by straight strands at the crown of the head and slightly wavy strands from the ears to the ends. Wavy hair is therefore halfway between straight and curly.
Curly hair, on the other hand, is very defined and offers a very significant volume at the scalp. This hair type is thick and usually quite rough.
2. Three tips to redefine your curls
Redefining the curls of your curly hair won’t happen alone. Depending on the condition of your hair, you may need to be patient to rediscover the beauty of your hair. In the meantime, follow these few secrets to take care of your curls.
2.1. Moisturize your curls
Hydration is the basis of all curly hair care. Curly hair tends to contain less keratin than straight hair. In addition, their curved shape slows the distribution of sebum from the scalp and moisturizing agents to the ends. This is why the ends of curly hair are more fragile.
Proper hydration of curly hair during your hair routine and when styling will help you avoid breakage and drying out and will give you silky and defined curls.
2.2. Protect your curls at night
Waking up is a sufficiently unpleasant moment. So let’s avoid starting the day with saggy and tangled curls. Before going to bed, use a suitable comb and moisturizing milk and gently detangle your curls. You can then slip them into a satin bonnet or opt for a pineapple bun to avoid knots forming and curl breakage overnight.
When you wake up, help your curls regain their natural shape using a spray or a light detangling spray. Waxes for curly hair can also help you redefine curls without weighing them down.
2.3. Detoxify your curls
Products for curly hair tend to be very moisturizing and therefore can weigh down the hair. These products leave residues that resist numerous shampoos and cause you to lose definition. Once a month, consider doing a detox using a clarifying shampoo to rid your curly hair of all these styling product residues.
3. How to wash and dry your curly hair?
Please note, curly hair must be washed and dried carefully. When washing, always finish your shower with a jet of cold water to properly close the scales of your hair. Then wring them out in a microfiber towel or an old t-shirt to absorb the water. Be careful not to rub them. If you need to detangle your hair before styling it, do so before it is dry and use a wide-toothed comb.
You can reshape your curls by wrapping them around your finger after applying curl cream. If you don’t have time to let them air dry, set your hair dryer to cold or medium hot mode, use a diffuser, and don’t forget your heat protection.
4. What products to use for your curly hair?
Please note, that to determine which products to incorporate into your hair routine, take a look at the porosity of your curly hair. Indeed, the porosity of a hair indicates its ability to absorb and retain moisture and therefore determines what your hair needs.
If your curly hair is not very porous, good hydration will be enough to give it a boost. Your hair routine must therefore absolutely consist of moisturizing products for curly hair: shampoo, conditioner, and mask. Between shampoos, you can use an oil for curly hair (jojoba or argan for example), a serum, or a cream to restore suppleness to your hair. For styling, choose light textures like mousses or gels.
If your hair is porous, hydrating it won’t be enough. You will also need to provide them with enough protein. Proteins fill the spaces in the hair fiber and slow down moisture loss. So get your hands on some hydrating, protein-rich hair products to use daily or once a week in mask form. After washing, opt for leave-in conditioners to lock in moisture inside the hair. Nourish your hair with ultra-rich butter at least once a week to accelerate hair regeneration.
