The
curly hair dilemma. You either LOVE it or you hate it!!! Curly hair is
both a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because it’s quite lovely
and a curse because it is generally accompanied by frizz.
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The
major culprits that contribute to the dreaded frizz are dehydration and
friction. Unfortunately, curly hair is naturally dry. The first line of
defense is to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Using the wrong products can
cause potentially luscious locks to become parched. Dry, thirsty hair
will reach upward and outward to try and quench its thirst from moisure
in the air which causes it to become big and frizzy.
Friction is
another no-no for curly locks. If you have lived with curls your whole
life, you know that the more you touch your hair, the more frizz you
create. There are other sources of friction that you probably don’t
realize you are creating, however. Eliminating some of these sources
will result in smoother curls. So without further ado, here are five
major habits to adopt that will fully transform your hair and take those
curls from frizzy to fabulous in no time.
1. Use only sulfate-free shampoos
What
are sulfates? Sulfates create suds. They are found in detergents, oven
cleaners, engine de-greasers and sadly, in most shampoos. Sulfates are
very effective for cutting grease but are too harsh for curly hair
because they strip it of lubrication. Invest in a moisturizing,
sulfate-free shampoo and cleanse your scalp in circular motions. Do not
scrub your hair, concentrate only on your scalp. As the shampoo runs
through your curls during your rinse, that will be enough to cleanse
your midshaft and ends.
[post_ads_2]2. Detangle curls with conditioner in the shower
After
cleansing your hair, apply conditioner. Leave it in while you take the
rest of your shower, shave your legs, exfoliate, etc. Before you rinse,
comb through your hair with with your fingers or a wide tooth comb. This
way, you will not tug roughly on the hair and break it. After you have
conditioned and detangled, stand upright under the shower head and allow
the stream of water to flow through your hair and rinse out the
conditioner.
3. NEVER use a terrycloth towel to dry your hair
Use
a microfiber towel (or even a t-shirt) to dry your precious curls.
Terry cloth towels act like velcro and really rough up the cuticle.
Instead of vigorously rubbing to remove moisture from your hair, gently
scrunch sections of hair with the microfiber towel in an upward motion,
blotting the water into the towel. This way, you are drying and helping
to coax your curls at the same time.
4. Sleep on a satin or sateen pillowcase
If
you own flannel pillowcases, please give them to a friend or Goodwill!
Tossing and turning at night in your sleep in unavoidable. The smoother
your pillowcase is, the less friction you are creating and the prettier
your curls will be.
[post_ads_2]5. Get your hair cut by a stylist who specializes in cutting curly hair
There
is a revolution happening in the curly hair world. Deva Curl and Ouidad
are the two leading companies that specialize in curly hair care. There
are now (finally!) independent classes for stylists to take so that
they can learn how to cut curly locks. Cosmetology schools do not teach
this and as a result, unless stylists pursue this type of education on
their own, the chances of them NOT knowing the proper way to cut natural
curls is extremely high. Do your homework. Go to www.naturallycurly.com for tips and recommendations. You can also find curly hairstylists at www.mydevacurl.com.
The
days of not knowing how to care for your curls are finally over! The
curl revolution is here. Start researching and find out more ways to
rock your gorgeous, natural curls. Find the right stylist and throw out
those sulfate shampoos and rough pillow cases. Treat yourself and your
tresses to a microfiber towel. You are the caretaker of a gift. The gift
of curls. Set them free and hold your head high. You are beautiful!
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