I was eleven years old when my biddable golden waves transformed into a mass of alarmingly frizzy, hopelessly tangled ringlets. I fought my curls for years before slowly learning, from library books and internet articles, how to best care for and appreciate my hair. Hopefully these, the most important lessons I've learned, will help other struggling curly girls and guys to realize just how awesome, beautiful, and manageable their hair is.
1. Throw your hairbrush away.
The first step to letting your curls flourish is foregoing your hundred strokes per night. While that method might work for fairytale princesses, it's a death sentence for natural curls because of their molecular bonding structure. Rather than detangling with a brush, try finger combing your hair in the shower with conditioner or, if you're having brush withdrawals, compromise with a wide-toothed comb that will detangle without separating the natural locks your hair falls into.
2. Cut back on shampoo.
Because curly hair is naturally more dry, it doesn't respond well to the harsh cleansing effect of normal shampoo. Instead, it thrives with cleansing conditioners that bolster your scalp's natural oils to properly moisturize your hair. A good suggestion is to wash every other day for fine hair, or every three days for thicker hair. Not only will setting shampoo boundaries make your hair and wallet happy, but it will also cut back on shower time!
3. Never stop looking for the perfect product.
Because everyone's hair is so different, there is a mind-boggling array of hair products available for public consumption. Sometimes the selection can be overwhelming, but there are excellent products out there if you're patient enough to find them. Believe it or not, there are serums and cremes that give you definition and cut down on frizz without making your curls crunchier than potato chips. Don't settle for a product that doesn't work for you.
4. Experiment with styling.
Get to know your hair. You might not be able to pin it back wet and expect it to look the same dry; second-day curls might not be as workable for braids. You might find that you have the easiest hair routine ever, or you might decide you need a little more time to coax your curls into place. Don't worry about falling into a style rut; there are dozens of awesome styles to try, and if all else fails, you can turn an ordinary ponytail into statement art just by letting your curls do their thing.
5. Hands off!
When advertisers call curly hair "touchably soft," they're not suggesting that you touch it. (Or maybe they are, but you still shouldn't do it.) The more you touch your hair, the frizzier it will be. After a shower, try air drying or a diffuser without getting too handsy; when styling dry, realize that you only have a few attempts before your perfect second-day waves start disintegrating. Like pastry dough, curls can be finicky with too much handling.
6. Embrace uncertainty.
Curly hair is not known for uniformity; it's rare that it will dry the same way twice. After you've explored how it reacts to certain products, you can expect general similarities from day to day, but there are many factors that contribute to its behavior. Temperature, diet, water quality and the infamous humidity can all contribute to erratic behavior. This can be stressful if you're expecting the same thing every day, but if you accept it as a part of life, it might pleasantly surprise you.
Remember: the most important part about loving your hair is, well, loving your hair. Wear your hair however it makes you feel the most beautiful. If that happens to be letting your natural curls spring free, hopefully these tips will help you on your way.
