So you have curly hair and you don’t know how to deal with it. Trust me, I dealt with the same problem in middle school and most of high school. In middle school when my dad stopped braiding my hair everyday, I came to notice that my hair was different than everyone else’s. My hair was not just curly but there was so much of it. No one’s hair looked like mine so I felt like I had to hide it. I was envious of all of my classmates who could let their hair down without a care in the world. My mom had a similar hair type to mine but she would always tell me to straighten it. As a result, I become deeply insecure about my hair. So all throughout middle school I resorted to shoving it in a low bun every single day (no, it was not cute). Then in freshman and sophomore year I went back to the braids. It wasn’t until junior year that I finally wanted to embrace my curls and learn how to maintain them properly. Speaking from my experience, here are some tips on how to live your best life with your curls!
1. Do your research! Something I was unaware of was that there are different types of curls you can have. There’s a scale that usually ranges from 2a all the way up to 4c. Figuring out what type best matches your own hair can help you further learn more about yourself and kind of treatment is best for your hair!
2. Don’t brush it! This one hits especially close to me. When you brush your curls, especially when they are dry, the curls will get brushed out and lose their form. This can make you turn into looking like Hermione Granger in a second. It is best to use a wide-toothed comb to comb after you wash your hair.
3. Conditioner is your best friend! Conditioner not only reduces the friction and improves the feel and manageability to your hair, but it also helps sculpt your curls. It is typical that everyone with curly hair uses a lot of conditioner, so get used to going through a lot of bottles! I use OGX’s Quenching and Coconut Curls conditioner which helps my curls feel smooth and unfrizzy. I know some people with curly hair who condition before and after they use shampoo and others who leave 1⁄4 of the conditioner in their hair. Experiment with what methods of conditioning work for you!
4. Get a spray bottle! What makes hair curl is water so when you feel the curls start to flatten out, you need to wet it some way or another to bring your curls back to life. If you don’t want to hop in the shower the best way to get the moisture back in your hair is getting a small spray bottle and spraying water on your hair. This will help keep your curls defined and looking great!
5. Use product! Of course water is a great and free way to keep your curls defined, but a lot of times we need to go that extra mile and that means using product. I use Oribe styling butter and curl gloss after I wash my hair. I used these products to help keep my curls hydrated and defined throughout the day. These products have helped me out a lot, but if they don’t work for you don’t give up! I have had to go through so many products before I found the right ones that work for me. It just takes time.
6. Embrace your curls! Trust me, it takes time. There are still times when I look at my friends’ straight hair and I wish I looked like them. But I am lucky to have hair so unique and I learn to love it more every day. Even if everyone around you doesn’t look like you in one way or another, you are beautiful and there are so many resources out there to help you accentuate your beauty!