5 Tips On Curly Hair Care

Every girl who has curly hair knows that maintaining the mane is no joke. The curls have a mood of their own and behave the way they want! My curls often remind me of those last benchers who create a ruckus in each class and trouble the teacher to no end. Dryness, frizziness, split ends, lacklustre, ugh the list of problems goes on! But you know what, once you accept your gorgeous curls and start taking care of them, no one will stop you from looking like a curly hair goddess. So, take out your notepads for I have a few tricks up my sleeve that will save you from a hair heartbreak!

1. Deep Conditioning

If one had to describe curly hair in a word, they’d say “dry”. Let’s face it, ladies, dryness is one of the main characteristics of our hair. That’s why we need to give them the much-deserved moisture at least once a week. Try the deep conditioning method for the same. The steps of the same are-

1. Drench your hair thoroughly with room temperature water and part it, making at least four sections.

2. Apply a thick layer of hair mask/butter. Don’t be a miser and generously apply the said mask. You can go for homemade options like a mixture of egg, mayo and yoghurt or Forest Essentials Japapatti and Brahmi hair mask, the Body Shop’s Rainforest Hair Butter. 

3. Use a seamless wide-toothed comb to spread the mask evenly. 

Wrap your hair in a warm damp towel or a thermal cap. This will help the cuticles to lock in the moisture. Keep it on for 10-15 minutes.

Wash it off with your shampoo and let it AIR DRY.

Voila! You now have soft and moisturized curls!

2. Gentle Products

Unfortunately, curly hair demands you to use n number of products in order to maintain them. Nowadays there are many eco-friendly and hair-friendly products available in the market. Try to go for products that don’t use sulphates, parabens, silicone or mineral oil. Sulphate free shampoos help in maintaining the natural oils of the hair. Unless you want drier hair, chemical-free products are your best bet! My favourite natural brands are Soapworks and Vilvah.

3. Stay Away from Heat

It’s no secret that heat damages your hair. Constant exposure to hairdryers, straighteners or other heat-inducing styling products can do irreparable damage. Let your hair dry naturally. It will take some time but it is always the best method.

4. Champi

Girls, why do you refuse to oil your hair?! A good champi is all you need to restore your hair’s long lost health. Say bye-bye to dandruff, frizzy hair, premature greying and what not!

A friend suggested a concoction that works wonders- mix one part of castor oil with three parts of coconut oil. Add two tablespoons of methi seeds to it and keep this glass bottle in the sun for a week. You can warm the oil if you wish before you apply it. Massage the oil on your scalp (massaging is important. It improves blood circulation) and leave it overnight. Wash it off the next day but only once. If the oil remains in your hair, wash it off the day after. Hello, shiny and healthy hair!

5. Hair Wash

Washing curly hair is not as straightforward as it seems. There are numerous things to keep in mind. The products, the temperature of the water, the towels, so on and so forth. The easy ones are-

1. Do not wash your hair every day. Twice or thrice a week is more than enough.

2. Use a mild shampoo to cleanse your hair. You can also use a shampoo brush that will help the shampoo to spread and gently clean your scalp.

3. Curlies, you know that a conditioner is your BFF. That being said, make sure that you use a silicone-free conditioner. The silicone will just add to the buildup and coat your hair. You can also co-wash, i.e., washing your hair with conditioner only.

4. Ditch the regular towel and wrap your hair in a cotton t-shirt instead. The terrycloth towels will further cause breakage and frizz. 

5. Detangle your hair in sections and be gentle while doing so. Throw the hairbrush in the bin and start using a seamless wide-tooth comb. 

There! You and your bouncy curls can now feature in those shampoo advertisements!