Everything You Need To Know About Living With Curly Hair

Tips and tricks for handling curly hair from a curly girl herself.

At some point in your life, you've seen a girl with uncommonly curly hair and thought to yourself: damn, how does she live with that?

Curly hair is beautiful, no matter how much people criticize and stereotype people with this type of hair. It draws attention and gives the person an aura of confidence and boldness. Plus, it's highly versatile! All of this comes for a price, though, as curly hair is not easy to handle; it demands a lot of care and attention, so I'm going to help all of you misguided curly gals make sure your hair is cared for the right way.

1. Resist the urge to wash daily

While it might be common for most people to wash their hair daily as part of their personal hygiene routine, doing that on curly hair is very damaging. Being relatively drier in nature than other hair types, over-washing curly hair does a lot of damage to it. It strips it of the natural oils secreted from the scalp to keep it hydrated, making your hair very dry and more prone to breakage. Instead, wash your hair once every 3 to 7 days, depending on your hair type and how well it holds up between washes. On wash day, make sure your shampoo is free of sulfates and silicone, as these chemicals dry out your hair and damage it. For extra moisture, consider deep-conditioning once a week.

2. Do not comb/brush when dry

Having a comb or a brush anywhere near your hair when it's dry is a huge no-no. The only time you can do this is in the shower, where your hair is wet and soaked in conditioner. Use a wide-toothed comb or simply your fingers to detangle; start at the roots and slowly work your way upwards, gently combing through the knots. If your hair is giving you an extra hard time with the comb, consider sectioning your hair into at least 4 parts, depending on the thickness of your hair. Finger detangle first then go in with your comb.

3. Preserve your curls in protective hairstyles

Curls tend to lose their shape and definition in between washes, so if you're willing to preserve them, opt for protective hairstyles such as braids, twist outs, bantu knots, or my personal favorite, the infamous pineapple.

You're probably thinking what the hell's a pineapple?   The pineapple is the easiest, most practical way to preserve your curls. You can pull it off in literally 30 seconds, and it looks amazing, too! All you need is an elastic, and , well your hair. start off by tilting your head forward. Gather you hair to the front of your head and finish by simply placing the elastic over your hair; you don't have to tie it around twice as this is meant to be loose. 

This helps keep your curls safe on top of your head so they don't flatten out as you sleep. In the morning all you have to do is take out the elastic and fluff for volume; you could spritz some water and conditioner using a spray bottle on days when you hair is feeling a bit on the dry side. After that, you're good to go!

4. Sleep on satin or silk pillowcases

Normal cotton pillowcases disrupt your curl pattern due to the friction between your curls and the cotton. Hairs get stuck in it and this causes frizz, a very undesirable outcome. Instead, switch your cotton ones to either silk or satin pillowcases. The latter are more gently on your hair and cause significantly less frizz so your hair keeps its shape.

5. Pick away!

I don't get curly girls who don't make use of their volume. I mean, do you know how stunning voluminous curls look? For that, an afro pick should be your best friend. For those of you who are not familiar with picks, they're basically fork-like combs made to give your hair that extra volume you desire. 

Start by picking at the roots until you get the shape and height you desire; carry along in your bag for on-the-go picking!

6. Make use of what nature has to offer

The best products for your hair are found all around you in nature. Natural oils are particularly helpful, so make sure you incorporate those in your hair care routine. Personally I like to make my own hair masks using combinations of oils. I use equal parts of olive, coconut, castor, and sweet almond oils and apply to my hair once every 2 weeks. Cover with a plastic cap to facilitate oil absorption by your scalp and leave on for at least one hour. Afterwards, shampoo as usual. Aloe vera gel and shea butter are also very hydrating and nourishing for your hair. Either look up DIY recipes or have fun creating your own!

7. Learn to embrace it

Now this one is for all of you no matter what hair type you have. The most important tip to happy hair is learning to love and accept it. Once you come to terms with who you are and what you've been blessed with, everything else will flow. Shut out the negative comments and criticism and set goals for yourself. Focus on the positives and you'll find yourself happier with who you are than you've ever been. acknowledge that those features are what sets you apart from others and stand out in the crowd!

Although curly hair seems like a lot of work, it'll all become automatic and effortless once you get used to it. Plus, it's worth it! Who doesn't want gorgeous-looking hair that has people staring in admiration? I hope this has been helpful to you. Let me know what you think down below, and if you've got some tips of your own, feel free to share them!