To have beautiful, bouncy, curly hair, it is necessary to adopt a suitable hair care routine.
Indeed, curly hair, being dry and dehydrated by nature, requires a lot of attention and care.
The origin of curly hair
Genetics determines hair type by influencing the shape of hair follicles.
A hair follicle is an invisible part, under the skin, in which the hair originates.
If it is flat, the hair grows straight; if it is curved or oval, it grows curly or frizzy, if the curvature is very pronounced.
For each curl, the keratin scales lift slightly to create the "spiral" movement. This tends to weaken the hair fiber.
Furthermore, the twisting of curly hair prevents the sebum secreted by the scalp from being evenly distributed throughout the hair. As a result, the hair lacks moisture and becomes even more fragile, eventually becoming dry.
Humidity, the enemy of curly hair
Curly hair is very often prone to frizz. Primarily composed of keratin molecules, hair frizzes when it comes into contact with water. The molecules tighten and fold back on themselves, resulting in the hair becoming frizzy.
To avoid frizz, optimal hydration is key to smoothing the hair cuticles. Once coated, the hair will be waterproofed, reducing the risk of damage from environmental humidity. The curl will be more aesthetically pleasing and better defined.
Curly hair is a hair type that requires a specific routine. Here are some tips to adopt daily to care for your curly hair.
Tips for daily care of curly hair
hydrate them daily
Curly hair tends to tangle due to an uneven distribution of sebum secreted by the scalp. Sebum, rich in lipids, helps maintain the hair's internal moisture. It forms a naturally protective barrier on the hair fiber, thus protecting the hair cuticles and preventing dehydration.
Therefore, it is essential to moisturize them daily with creams based on vegetable oils to maintain and enhance their curls.
Rinse them with cold water
Cold water helps to close the scales of the hair cuticle to give it a smooth appearance, the curls are thus better defined and shinier.
After shampooing, it is therefore strongly advised to rinse curly hair with cold water.
Choose suitable hair products
On a daily basis, you need to use products (shampoo, conditioner, mask, spray, gel…) made with natural ingredients and adapted to the nature of your hair to redefine your curls.
Regarding shampooing, it should be spaced out as much as possible. It's best to wash your hair only once or twice a week, as curls depend on the sebum produced by the scalp.
Another tip: avoid putting too much product on your hair as this can weigh down your curls.
The treatment, especially when it's leave-in, should be distributed throughout the hair and should not saturate it. Otherwise, the excess product will stagnate on the surface and weigh down the curl, creating a stiff, sticky, and greasy effect.
Just two or three dollops of product are enough to properly coat the hair.
Pamper your curls with plant-based oils
Plant-based oils are the best allies for naturally caring for curly hair. They deeply nourish the hair fiber and revive curls without damaging them.
It is recommended to do an oil treatment once a week, distributing the oil throughout your hair. The treatment can be left on for a few hours, or even overnight to maximize results.
The most suitable vegetable oils for curly, frizzy and dry hair are coconut oil, avocado oil and jojoba oil.
Avoid aggressive brushing
Curly hair is fragile and tends to be dry and break more easily. Instead of using a classic hairbrush with stiff bristles, it's better to use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently detangle your curls.
The best detangling technique is to start at the ends of the hair and gradually work your way up to the roots to avoid creating knots.
To "scrunch"
The "scrunch" is a simple technique that allows you to redefine curls during drying.
To do this, you must grasp the lengths of your hair with your whole hand and pull them up to the root using a repetitive accordion motion.
Thanks to this technique, curly hair regains its natural shape.
Choosing a good hairstyle for sleeping
To prevent curly hair from tangling against the pillow, a protective hairstyle is essential. Ideally, it should be tied up in a loose, high bun. Be careful not to make it too tight, or you risk breaking the curls.
Ban the hair dryer
To keep curls intact and prevent frizz, it is best to let your hair dry naturally.
If that is not possible, there is a hair dryer diffuser, equipped with a circular nozzle with many prongs, specially designed for curly hair.
Thanks to its even and gentle heat, the diffuser dries hair uniformly without breaking curls, and gives volume to hair by effectively lifting the roots.
Trim the ends regularly
When hair is too long , it is heavy and tends not to curl from the root.
To give them a boost, the ideal is to trim the ends every 3 to 4 months.
Eat a balanced diet
Finally, for healthy curly hair, a balanced diet is essential.
Curly hair is more fragile and needs nutrients and proteins to preserve its keratin, maintain its natural shape and protect it from breakage.
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