Debating whether or not to start wearing your natural hair can be tricky. The internet has made finding tips and tricks for curly hair insanely accessible, but at the same time, the large amount of information can make it all feel really overwhelming. I spend a large amount of time searching in all corners of the internet for tips on how to start and take care of my hair, but I would often find product recommendations that were hit or miss, rather than practical tips that would not make me spend money. Over the years, I have helped my friends and family members start their curly hair journey, and I would like to do the same for anyone who happens to stumble across this article. These are the things I wish I had known when I started taking care of my curly hair:
Stop The Heat Right Away
I had been straightening my hair for as long as I could remember and had my first relaxer at 12. While I was never particularly a fan of the hair salon, that’s all I knew I could do for my hair to look “presentable.” When I decided I would start wearing my natural hair, I would sometimes go to the salon and straighten it again for special occasions. I wish someone would have stopped me every time I did that.
While my hair was progressing in the months I wore it natural, it would revert slightly every time I would straighten it. Two steps forward, one step back. It took me longer than I estimated to fully bring back my hair to a healthy state. So I strongly encourage anyone who is debating whether or not to go for the hair straightener one more time for a one-time occasion to not do it.
Learn Your Hair Type Beyond Its Curvature
4A, 2C, 3B. We all have heard and seen the popular hair type charts that categorize hair by pattern. 1 for straight, 2 for wavy, 3 for curly, and 4 for coily; each with a letter accompanying it to describe the degree of curvature. When I started my curly hair journey, it seemed like my hair changed every single day as it reverted to its original pattern. It started as soft beach waves that turned into soft large ringlets, but now it’s a great mixture of type 3 curls from A to C.
While finding your curl pattern is important to find inspiration and have a better idea of the styles you can rock, what is equally as important is learning about other qualities of your hair, like your density and strand thickness. Density refers to the total number of hairs on your scalp, and strand thickness is the diameter of the individual hair strands. I, for example, have high density, but my individual hair strands are naturally fine.
Another aspect that I consider the most important is hair porosity. This is how your hair can absorb and retain moisture. You could have low, high, or medium porosity. A lot of factors can affect your hair porosity, like constant manipulation and heat or chemical damage. So knowing the current state of your hair and managing its porosity will help you in the long term so you can properly address and take care of your curly hair.
Find Your Curl Twin
Now that you have learned how to type your hair correctly, you can search on social media for the markers that match you to find your curl twin. Your curl twin is the person whose hair most closely resembles yours. This will help you find the right products and definitions that will more often work for you. I used to be left discouraged when my definition would not turn out the same way as the creator, even if our curl pattern matched, because I was not looking for all the right markers to find my curl twin.
You might not know your type until later on because your hair could still be changing. If you are early in your curly hair journey, think about times when you had your natural hair, like baby pictures, to help guide you on what your hair could look like in the future. Keep in mind that a lot of the markers for hair can change because of a multitude of factors like hormonal changes, heat, chemicals, and constant manipulation.
Your Hair Deserves Love at Every Stage
Maybe you only remember ever having your natural hair when you were a baby; perhaps your hair changed one day when you were a teenager, or you simply have always straightened it so you don’t really know your hair. At the start of your journey, you might deal with more frizz; your wash days and definitions would take longer than the curly girls make it seem online, but don’t panic.
As you incorporate new products and slowly stop using heat tools, your hair will transform. While we might be fantasizing about the day when our hair will look picture-ready, the hard truth is it often might not be, especially not at the beginning. It is best to treat and love your hair in its current state.
To Cut, or Not To Cut? That Is The Question
When I started my curly hair journey, I thought the hardest part was the awkward phase my hair would be in while I brought my curls back to life. Unfortunately, that was only the tip of the iceberg.
I had stopped completely using heat on my hair for months now, but I noticed that only the roots of my hair would curl while the rest of my hair would just frizz up or stay in a weird limp, straight state. My hair was so damaged that I was dealing with two completely different textures at the same time, and the straight ends couldn’t be salvaged.
Society places a lot of emphasis on women’s hair and its relation to femininity, so I debated for some time before cutting it really short, as I feared being judged. Thankfully, I had a good support system, but I know not everyone has that privilege. So while I strongly recommend parting ways with the unsalvageable hair, there are still other ways to deal with the two textures.
If you decide that cutting your hair short is not really your style, or you prefer to grow your hair to a length where you would feel more comfortable cutting it, you can wear different hairstyles to protect and grow your hair in the meantime. Make sure to avoid tight buns or braids that pull on your scalp because your hair can break, or you can develop traction alopecia from constantly manipulating and pulling hair.
Establish a Washing Schedule That Matches Your Lifestyle and Hair Needs
I hear a lot of opposing opinions on the frequency someone should wash their hair. Some recommend washing only once a week; others say every day. While that might work for a lot of people, I consider that the right frequency is the one that matches your lifestyle and hair needs.
Someone who works out often throughout the week will be washing their hair more often than someone who doesn’t. While I too wish I could wash my hair and style it more often, what works for me is washing once or twice a week because of the amount of time it takes me to detangle and define my hair. Also, I am able to keep the same definition for about 4 to 5 days and throw it in a bun until my next wash.
Once you determine what works for you, then you can start thinking about the products to include in your routine, but overall, having a clean scalp is the best way to keep your hair looking and feeling good.
Invest In Products That Work For You, Not What’s Popular
Now that you have decided what days you will be washing your hair, you can pick what products will be the stars of your routine.
There is always a new popular product or tool that the curly girls are dying to get; however, more often than not, those products will not work for you unless they directly address the needs of your hair. I prefer to look at what my curl twins are promoting because that helps narrow down the list of options, but I also think critically about what products I already have, whether I am running out, if it is financially conscious to purchase, and if the issue the product is addressing is something I actually need.
From what I have gathered over the years, you will always need shampoo, conditioner, no more than three styling products depending on the look you are going for, and different hair masks for your hair needs like cuticle repair, deep moisture, and protein balance. I would also invest in brushes for detangling, defining, and slicking your hair.
I hope these short tips can help those who are on their curly hair journey or are still debating starting. Have you heard of these tips before?