As a stylist, I cringe whenever one of my naturally curly clients asks me to straighten her curls. Why are so many women, who are blessed by goddess like natural curls straightening them out? I believe it’s time for a curly #HaiRevolution. I’m on a mission to convince women to embrace their Aphrodite locks and ditch the flat irons. It’s high time the world sees that curls are where it’s at!
I think one of the main reasons so many women abandon their natural curls is they have always believed that curls are a curse instead of a blessing. If you learn the tricks of how to maximize the true nature of your naturally curly hair, you can end the battle of trying to get your hair to do things that nature never intended. Never fear, with these pointers you will be frizz free and curl gorgeous.
Did I mention moisture? Naturally curly hair, by its very nature will always be drier in texture, because all those twists and kinks in the hair prevent the natural oils from the scalp finding their way to the ends of the hair.
A naturally curly girls best friend should be her hair care routine. If you get the foundations wrong, you’re doomed to a life of frizz but get it right, and gorgeous, jealousy provoking curls are yours to own forever.
Look for a shampoo that is sulfate free and moisturizing. Sulfates and parabens remove the natural oils from your hair, naturally curly hair needs those oils. Always follow with a moisturizing conditioner. Look for descriptions such as replenish, quench and revitalize. A deep conditioning treatment once a week will rehydrate naturally curly hair, eliminating frizz and helping your curls to form into their natural coil.
Styling products specially formulated for naturally curly hair will be packed full of frizz busting, moisture boosting ingredients. Try layering a couple of products. For a natural look, a serum mixed with a hydrating curl cream will allow curls to form into their own beautiful organic form. A serum worked through, followed by a moisturizing sculpting foam will add definition and separation to curls.
Hair dryers aren’t great for naturally curly hair. They tend to make the curls look frizzy, resulting in both your curls and your nerves being frazzled! Whenever possible, allow curls to dry naturally, just a little scrunch in the palm of your hand every now and then will help the curls to form. If you need to use heat, use a hair dryer with a diffuser and simply place the hair into the diffuser and allow the warm air to do its magic. To help eliminate frizz, keep the dryer on medium heat and a slow speed setting. Leaving the hair just slightly damp will also help with the frizz fight.
Naturally curly hair will always look dull and frizzy if the ends are split so regular trims are essential for maintaining beautiful curly hair. However, it’s worth choosing your hair stylist carefully. Ask if there is a stylist who specializes in curly hair as naturally curly hair that is cut wrong is a nightmare. There’s nowhere to hide if layers are cut into the wrong shape. You can feel like you’ve got a triangle, or worse, a sheep stuck on your head!
At school I was great chums with a girl whose mother kept her blonde natural curls cropped close to her head, around 3 inches in length overall. My friend spent her school years answering to the nickname ‘Sheepy’. I’m guessing school probably wasn’t her best time. However, when she reached sixteen and started to take control over her own appearance, she grew her hair out. The result? Beautiful! Her long mane of golden ringlets were ‘stop you in your tracks’ stunning. My friend transformed into Rapunzel and was never known as ‘Sheepy’ again.
The moral of this blast from my past? Naturally curly hair is best left at a length where the curls can show off their glorious form. Too short and it’s just a ball of fluff. Don’t for one minute think that shorter hair means less work, as with naturally curly hair this is rarely the case.
If you’ve spent a lifetime straightening your hair, its going to take a few weeks for the curls to come back into their own, so choose your return to the curly world carefully. You will need time to put in place all the above steps. It will probably look horrendous the first few times you attempt to wear it curly. Perseverance is crucial, so keep following the steps and, I promise, it will pay off. Each time you shampoo, moisturize and allow your hair to dry curly, you will be a step closer. Low maintenance, beautiful curls are within your reach I promise!
Now you’ve successfully embraced your curly locks, leaving all your straight haired girlfriends green with envy and reaching for the curling wand, share your knowledge. Don’t keep it to yourself. Keep the curl #HaiRevolution going. After all, looking good is feeling great. Shake it, toss it, flick it, work it! Walk along the street with your head held high and your curls big.