If you have curly hair, you are likely knowledgeable on the challenges associated with its care. One of the unique challenges curly-haired individuals face is a more prominent risk of wear and tear, frizziness and dryness. If you have type 3A or 3C curls, you’ve likely already encountered at least one of these curly hair mistakes. Hey, we understand! That’s why we asked our in-house hair care gurus about the most common mistakes that curly-haired people make and how to avoid them so you can keep your curls looking sleek, shiny, and intact.
1. Over cleansing Your Hair
While when you wash your hair is entirely up to you and dependent on various factors — among them scalp moisture and sebum production — it’s generally considered best to limit shampooing if you have curly hair. Textured hair will benefit from an occasional shampoo, but it should not be done too often. If you wash your hair more than twice a week, the natural oils in your hair can dry out, causing damage and breakage.
2. Skipping Conditioner
Curly and textured hair types usually fall somewhere between brittle, dry, dull, and frizzy. It is crucial that curly-headed individuals keep their locks well hydrated. Particularly: don’t skip out on conditioner! A hydrating conditioner specifically designed for curly hair can provide all the hydration and nourishment your curly locks need. But make sure you’re using products with key ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, avocado oil and aloe vera to aid in hair health.
If your curls are flat on top, rinse your hair upside down. Rinsing just the roots and leaving a little dry shampoo at the crown will make for more voluminous curls.
3. Waiting Too Long to Apply Styling Products
With curly hair, it’s essential to style your locks when they are still wet. Start with a leave-in conditioner or serum while your hair is still damp and before your frizz sets in for best results. If you wait too long, your curly hair may become frizzy and undefined. Keep your hands closed when applying the product, and work the products gently to avoid frizz and breakage.
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4. Blow-Drying Your Hair
Commonly, the best option for girls with curly hair is to let it air-dry. If you can’t avoid drying your hair, use a diffuser attachment on the blow dryer that directs air onto curls rather than directly. A diffuser will help to keep your hair from being tossed around while you blow-dry, thereby reducing frizz.
5. Not Using a Leave-In Conditioner
It’s hard to maintain healthy hair while washing it every day. If you have curly hair, you need long-lasting moisture and protection that are lightweight; use a leave-in conditioner for your hair to stay tangle-free. With so many long-lasting benefits and protection, it’s essential to take care of your hair. Curly hair is very sensitive to different things, such as frizz, breakage and UV damage. Because of this, leave-in Conditioners can form a protective barrier around your curls to help combat these things. Plus, you can choose the hair goals of your unique formula and add stuff like anti-frizz, shine, or curl definition to help give your hair an extra boost of those benefits all day long.
6. Using a Brush to Detangle
When it comes to textured hair, there are several mistakes you should try your best to avoid. One is brushing or detangling your locks after they’ve been washed and dried; this will cause each strand to revert from healthy curls back into its natural state, which could either lead gracefully down the body or become unruly. To stop knots, detangle your hair in the shower. Put conditioner on it and then gently comb while detangling it from the ends to the roots until there are no more knots. To avoid damages and breakage, refrain from combing or detangling your hair (even with your fingers) once it is thoroughly rinsed.
7. Using Products With Sulfates
We always avoid shampoos containing sulfates, but it is vital for those with curly hair. Straight, coiled, or curly hair can benefit from a customized approach to the products you use. While sulfates strip and dehydrate your strands, causing them to become brittle and frizzy (among other problems), moisture-based formulas gently nourish without stripping away natural oils. As well as being free of sulfates, these products can be customized with curl-specific options such as anti-frizz, deep conditioning and definition to keep your curls strong all year round.
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8. Not protecting your hair while you sleep
You might think that protecting your curly hair at night sounds a little high maintenance, but it’s crucial to protect textured hair from damage. That cotton sheet is far too rough for such delicate strands. Cotton has a remarkable tendency to absorb natural oils from your hair while you sleep. Curly hair can frizz up throughout the day and night. To help minimize this, try wrapping your curly hair in silk items before going to bed at night, so it doesn’t get too entangled or exposed to friction during sleep.
