Even though there are many kinds of curly hair, one thing is true: it’s hard to manage. In the summer, high humidity puts even the best of frizz-easing products to the test, but control is more than possible. Once the fall slips away and temperatures sink below zero, it becomes increasingly apparent to girls with curly hair that any and all moisture in the atmosphere has gotten sucked into the black hole we call winter.
We don’t need a weatherman to tell us what it is going to be like outside, because our once-manageable manes of curls have now turned to unmoldable, brittle mounds of frizz. Our hair begins to lose its definition, bounce and shine, and becomes an inevitable downer of our daily beauty routine. Here are a few tips to get you through the next six weeks of this harsh winter…
1. Cut Those Locks
We often love our locks so much, we never want to part with them. But one of the best ways to revive your curls, is by getting rid of some of the hair weighing them down. A shorter length will allow for your curls to hold more shape, and short hair is totally in!
2. Keep it Dirty
A misconception that girls often make is that clean hair is healthy hair, and that we should wash it every day. But I have found that girls with curly hair tend to have drier scalps and it takes longer for it to get greasy. In that case, there is no need to shampoo every day. It gets rid of the natural oils in your hair. Wash every other day and keep your hair naturally hydrated. And honestly, dirty hair is easier to style. It’s a win-win situation.
3. Add Variety to Your Hair Regimen
Like most systems of your body, your hair becomes immune to your hair products after an extended period of time with the same hair care. That mousse you have been using for the past year may be nothing more than a waste of money. Try looking through magazines for the latest and (claimed) greatest hair products, or ask your fellow curly-haired ladies what their product of choice is.
Some of my own favorites are L’Oreal Paris’ new EverCurl line of products, as well as Garnier Fructis’ cream-gel and their extra-strong styling gel from their Pure Clean line. Each of these can be found at your local drugstore.
4. Add Hydration
Another great way to ward off the dryness of winter is to do conditioning treatments periodically to help any damage that may have occurred, and to rehydrate your locks.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to help improve your hair. Many recipes can be found online for at-home creation and drug stores sell relatively cheap ones. Just remember that the product you buy won’t be used every single day, so even if it is a little more on the expensive side, it will last you longer than a daily hair product would and it’s probably worth the splurge.
5. Lay off the Heat
And the obvious tip, try to stay away from curling irons, straighteners, and blow dryers. As tempting as they are in the winter when all you want to be is warm, they are bad for your hair and scalp, and will increase your hair’s dryness.
Plan ahead and try to let your hair air dry rather than using a hairdryer before you head out into the cold. And even though I’m sure we would all kill for pin-straight hair and that straightener is ever-so-tempting, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. That girl with perfect straight hair that you envy, probably wants your hair instead. Own your hair type.
No matter what strategy you use to ride out the rest of this weather, good luck and love your locks!