Curly guys and gals have dealt with the difficulties of textured hair their whole lives, with varying results. Maybe you simply pull it into a tight bun on the daily, or you’ve opted for the famous Felicity mega-chop after years of growing it out and trying to tame it. Perhaps your solution is to hide it under a hat during extreme dry or humid weather conditions (or all the time). Or maybe you’ve just given up on fighting frizz.
The good news is, it’s not too late to learn how to manage your special mane and transform your curls into a glossy, frizz-free coif. Here are some tips and tricks to achieve smooth, enviable curls each and every day.
Laser Caps
A laser cap for hair growth is an FDA-cleared medical device designed for men and women suffering from hair loss and/or looking to improve the overall health of their hair. This all natural treatment stimulates the hair follicles on the scalp using low level light therapy and medical grade laser diodes.
This treatment does not involve any invasive surgeries, or in-clinic treatments. These caps are completely portable and allow you to improve your overall hair health in the comfort of your own home with just a push of a button!
Consult with a Trichologist
If you’ve never heard of a trichologist, you’re not alone. Many people will never have to visit such professionals, who specialize in diagnosing and treating issues with the scalp and hair. As someone with curly hair, you might not think dryness and frizziness qualify as valid reasons to see a doctor, but problems like breakage and oily or dry conditions are exactly the type of cases a trichologist can help with, along with more serious problems like thinning and hair loss.
Whether your curly mane has always been subject to frizz, it’s a seasonal concern, or you’ve only just started experiencing this issue, a trichologist can examine your hair and scalp, take blood samples, discuss your medical history, and help you understand potential causes and cures for your follicular frustrations. With professional advice and possibly a treatment plan, you have the best opportunity to learn how to tame your tresses and ensure smooth, curly locks.
Skip Sulfates, Silicone, and Other Problematic Ingredients
Curly hair tends to naturally have a drier texture, which means you’re generally waging an uphill battle against breakage and frizz. Choosing the wrong products, or more to the point, the wrong ingredients, can only exacerbate your problems. What should you be on the lookout for?
It starts with your shampoo. In the first place, you shouldn’t shampoo every day. Try to stick to no more than three times a week. With the right products, this is doable, so you’ll want to steer clear of ingredients like sulfates and alcohol that strip away natural oils, leaving your hair even drier than normal and promoting frizz.
While you definitely want to use conditioner to help hydrate the shaft and seal the cuticle, adding smoothness and shine, it’s best to avoid products that contain silicone, which can leave heavy residue that requires sulfates to remove. As for leave-in conditioners, you should be aware of how glycerin works. It can help immensely in dry weather, but when conditions are humid, it’s better avoided.
Finish with Gel or Oil
So, you’ve washed and conditioned your hair, and added your lightweight, leave-in conditioner. What’s next? For smooth, shiny, springy coils, you can add any number of other products, but the ideal option is to finish with a gel or oil. Lightweight gel helps curls to stay springy and manageable, while defining curls and putting the kibosh on frizz.
If you want a softer, more natural look, hair oil is also an option, and your best bet is natural oil like argan, jojoba, almond, and so on. The trick with both gels and oils is to use them sparingly. A little goes a long way! The amount you use may depend on the condition of your hair in the moment, as well as external factors like weather conditions, but if you use too much product, it can weigh down your hair and necessitate more frequent shampooing, sending you back to square one in the frizz fight.
Never Dry Brush Curls
There’s something soothing about brushing hair, but when you do it dry, you increase the odds of breakage, especially with curly locks. Your best bet is to detangle and comb it wet, ideally after applying conditioning products. A wide-tooth comb should slip through strands the easiest, minimizing tension and reducing the chance of breakage that can exacerbate frizz.
Switch to a Microfiber Towel
The towel you use to wrap your head may not seem all that important, but the coarse, dry texture of typical towels in cotton or terry cloth can actually prove harmful to hair, especially if you’re already dealing with dryness and frizz.
Your best bet is to switch to a soft, absorbent, microfiber wrap that soaks up water without abrading your hair, and gently scrunch if needed. You might also want to switch to satin pillowcases, instead of cotton, to protect the integrity of curls during slumber.
Avoid Heat
There are going to be times when you need to dry hair in a hurry, and this can be problematic with dry hair because of the damage heat is known to cause. The solution? Spring for a high-end hair dryer with a diffuser attachment and always dry on the cool setting. For curly-haired folks fighting frizz, this investment is worth every penny.