The start of this journey was rough. Real rough.
I didn’t do my research (that’s a no no, always do your research). So I was purchasing items I thought were helpful without giving much thought to what’s in them! So I turned to curly hair influencers of YouTube and Instagram and various sites on the web to help me out! Lord knows I needed it.
While watching videos and reading articles, I learned the do’s and don’ts of curly hair care. Now, I follow these 4 rules:
Rule number one: Limiting the use of sulfates and silicones.
Not everyone follows this rule as it is a personal preference, but it’s one that I want to try my best to stick to. I have started using more products with natural ingredients and have felt a major difference in my hair!
Sulfates are typically found in shampoos, and although they help clean hair, there are shampoos with harsher sulfates that strip the hair follicles of their natural oils and dry out hair. Since curly hair tends to be a lot dryer because it’s harder for the oils from our scalp to fall down the full lengths of our hair, this chemical is not something we want to use all the time to clean our scalps. It is okay to use shampoos or clarifying washes that contain sulfates if that is your preference, but make sure you combat the use of those products with deep conditioners or check the ingredient list for moisturizing components that help balance it out. I do not mind using them from time to time, but I prefer my sulfate-free shampoo because they do as great a job at clarifying my hair and leave my hair feeling extra soft and smooth.
Silicones are found in conditioners, leave-ins, deep conditioning treatments, some oils and shampoos, and styling creamers. Silicones can be very moisturizing, BUT they put a plastic coating on your hair that may prevent your hair from sapping up any extra moisture throughout the day. Not only do they prevent extra moisture coming into the hair follicle, most silicones are not water soluble. This makes the product difficult to remove from the hair and may cause product buildup. Again, I don’t mind using these products every so often, but I prefer my silicone free as they are natural and still do a fantastic job keeping my hair moisturized!
At the end of the day this rule definitely depends on what you’d prefer, so if you decide you want to keep products in your routine with these ingredients, no sweat!
Rule number two: Do NOT wash your hair every day!
I’ve heard this in the past, but never really listened to it. Now I can tell you that I am! Although washing your hair is a good thing and clarifies product buildup, you should not be washing your hair every day if you have curly hair. As I said, naturally curly hair is very dry and washing every day dries out the hair even more. Stick to shampooing and deep conditioning once a week.
Personally, I find it better to wash twice a week since I’m pretty active. One wash is with shampoo and a deep condition. My second wash is either a co-wash and condition or just a conditioning wash, no shampoo. The second wash really depends on how much styling product I have been using and how active I have been throughout the week. I try my best to hold out and only wash once a week, but most of the time it just doesn’t happen.
Rule number three: Add silk to your bedtime routine.
Curly hair should really sleep on satin or silk pillowcases or be tucked away in a satin or silk wrap/bonnet. Although cotton pillowcases are super comfy, they absorb the natural oils from your hair and cause friction, which leaves your hair drier and more tangled in the morning. Silk and satin materials do not absorb moisture and do not cause friction, so your hair retains its natural oils and you wake up with fewer tangles in the morning.
I personally do not like sleeping with a wrap or bonnet on my head, so my satin pillow case has been a life saver! I ordered mine on Amazon. You can find it on my Amazon shopping list on the home page!
Rule number four: Have fun!
There are so many products out there, styles to try, and hair influencers to follow! I have come across some great brands for my hair and some not so great brands. I have been following advice from some great influencers and found some influencers that didn’t really work with my hair type. But I love doing my research and finding what’s best!
Going from heat damaged, dry, or short curls can be daunting, but in the end, your beautiful and HEALTHY curls will thank you! Just remember to have fun with it, try new things, and test out different styling techniques. The more you have fun, the more you will learn to love your hair!
Naturally, Taylor 💙
P.S: Bonus Rule!
This isn’t as much of a rule as it is a personal preference of mine, but I want to clue you in on my routine! I love using products as a part of the whole line and system. Especially when they claim to help in specific areas like moisture, nutrient boosts, protein, scalp and hair growth, etc. There are times when I mix and match, for instance with stylers, pre-rinses, or masks that I love to always use. But for the most part, when it comes to my washes, I always use the whole system! It could be a bit of an OCD tendency for me or the fact that I’m trying a lot of different products and lines at the moment, but I’ve noticed that some of these products definitely work better when used with their sister products.
Helpful Links: https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/kinky-hair-type-4a/silicones-good-bad-the-ugly & https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/ingredients/why-are-sulfates-bad & Manes by Mell: Investigating Sulfate Free vs Sulfate Shampoos to Remove Silicones
TAYLOR LYNN 