How to Manage Curly Hair: Tips & Tricks

Most women with curly hair obsess about having straight hair as they are easier to maintain. But with a little bit of effort, even a tangled mess can be transformed into absolutely gorgeous tresses.

The first thing to do to make your curly hair look great is to eat healthy foods! A nutritious diet is as important as using great-quality hair care products. Speaking of which – you need not invest a fortune in hair products! Just make sure that you purchase good-quality products designed for curly hair.

Top 5 Tips For Maintaining Curly Hair

1. Do Not Wash Your Hair Every Day

Many people feel the need to wash their hair every day. This does not work well with curly hair since regular washing can dry out curly hair which is naturally dry. Since straight hair gets greasy easily, it needs to be washed much more frequently. However, curly hair is dry and prone to getting frizzy. If you wash it too often, it may get drier with time and become brittle. If you need to wash your hair often, use a gentle shampoo or skip it entirely and only use a conditioner to add moisture to your hair.

 2. Use Nourishing Hair Care Products

It is important that your shampoo does not strip off moisture from your hair. Your conditioner and leave-in conditioner must nourish your hair. You need these products to help smooth out curly hair since it can feel dry and coarse, especially immediately after a wash. Consider investing in a quality curly hair treatment mask that you can use every other week to replenish the moisture in your hair. You can also massage your hair with a nourishing oil an hour before washing your hair. The massage will stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth while the oil will nourish the length of your hair strands.

3. Stop Heat Treatments

Many people who have curly hair love to experiment with their looks by straightening them out. While a new look can certainly make you look great, the extensive heat treatment required by curly hair to be straightened can irreparably damage your hair. For the same reason, do not blow dry your hair after every wash. Always use a heat protection spray or cream to protect your hair before you use a flat iron or blow dryer. The diffuser attachment with your hair dryer may work better to preserve your curls while removing excess water post hair wash.

4. Use a Wide Tooth Comb Instead of a Paddle Brush

It may make you feel great to brush your hair with a large paddle brush but it is not the right tool to detangle curly hair. Since curly hair is dense and the curls are usually tight, the bristles of a hair brush can pull the curly hair leading to hair breakage. A wide-tooth comb is ideal for detangling and combing curly hair since it is gentle on the hair. And the best curly hair care tip is that you have to start detangling your hair from the bottom and work your way up. If you use a brush, there are chances that its bristles will get tangled in your hair.

5. Define your Curls

Once you wash and detangle your hair, it may lose its definition and appear frizzy. You can use a styling cream and use your fingertips to define your curls. Adding a little bit of non-sticky hair oil or serum can add the much-needed shine to your hair too. You can use a diffuser to dry your hair since it will minimize the frizz and boost volume. You may use a curling wand to define your curls for special occasions.

3 Must-try Hairstyles for Curly Hair

There are plenty of amazing hairstyles for curly hair that help you utilise the strength of curly hair – volume – in a big way. Make sure to follow the curly hair tips and take care of your hair so that it is healthy. Here are a few curly hairstyles you can try out:

1. Easy Topknot

There is nothing more stylish or chic than a top knot for curly hair. It is so easy to do that you will get hooked. This hairstyle is great especially in summer when you want to keep your hair away from your face. Just gather your hair in a high ponytail and secure it with an elastic band. Divide it into two sections. Twist one section and wrap it around the base of the ponytail. Secure the end by crisscrossing two bobby pins. Wrap the second section around the first section and secure it with bobby pins. Now, gently tug in the centre of the bun to give it a lift and make it appear round.

2. Dutch Braids

Braids look great on curly hair. If you love to sport a rock-chic look, you can try out Dutch braids. All you need to do to prep your hair for Dutch braids is to use a nourishing serum to tame your hair and smooth out the curly hair tips that appear frizzy. Then, use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair and divide it into two sections. Start from the top to create a three-strand braid by crossing the right strand under the middle strand and crossing it with the strand on the left side. Keep adding strands of hair on each side by alternating between the right and left sides. Secure the braid with an elastic band.

3. Braided Updo

An updo is not just for straight or wavy hair. Braided updos look fabulous on curly hair! Detangle your hair and divide it into two sections, top and bottom. Now divide the bottom section into two sections. Start braiding the three-strand braid for each section at the point where you want your updo to be. Secure the braids with an elastic band. Hold the centre braid and pull it across the back of your head, securing it with a bobby pin. Pick up the right braid and use a bobby pin to secure it on top of the centre braid. Repeat with the left braid. Use a hairspray to set the hair in place. You can also use a hair accessory on special occasions to make this braided updo more event-appropriate.

For hair that is curly, haircuts need to be selected carefully. Since curly hair has a lot of volume, getting a haircut that has lots of layers can help manage the hair better. Even if you decide to sport short hair, the length has to be right so that the hair appears great. If you decide to leave your hair open, you may have to use a styling cream to keep it tamed and under control in windy conditions. The best tips for hair care and styling for curly hair we can give you is that be confident with the hair that you have since it is just as beautiful and special as any other hair types.