Being natural is not easy, and those of us who have naturally curly hair know how unpredictable and moody they can be. A lot of work goes into making those curls look naturally great. We have all experienced how difficult natural curly hair routine can be to manage and extremely unruly at times.
Let not your hair issues put a damper on your curly hair goals; TLP is here to take the edge off all of your concerns. All it takes is an understanding of your hair and what it actually requires to thrive. This is why I have created TLP as a natural hair care platform to show you how to take care of curly hair: right from finding natural curly hair products that suit your hair to hairstyles that make managing your curls easier to establishing a proper hair care regimen and educating you about your hair through our effective hair consults - we have it all covered.
Maintaining healthy, growing curly hair requires numerous steps and actions that we often ignore. The underlying principles of caring for curly hair include nourishing it with moisture boosters, avoiding breakage, and using protective styling to give hair a break and encourage growth.
10 Essential Curly Hair Tips for Managing Your Naturally Curly Hair
1. Say NO to Chemicals
Ignorance is not always bliss. Watch out for chemicals like parabens, triethanolamine, sodium lauryl sulfate, formaldehyde, etc. Try and go for environmentally mindful natural curly hair products for hair to feel happier and healthier.
2. Washing & Conditioning
Water: Hot or cold?
A very confusing question for many is whether to use hot water or cold to wash natural curly hair. Hot water opens hair’s cuticles, which makes it easy for the shampoo and conditioner to seep in well and do their job better. Cold water, on the contrary, seals the cuticle and locks the moisturizer leaving your hair looking shinier, hydrated, and most importantly, frizz-free. So, a mix of hot and cold as per the priority is the best take. Most of us are ignorant that caring for curly hair also includes using a filter at the water source to block metals, toxins, chlorine, and other harmful elements we are unmindful of.
PRE-POO
Establish a pre-shampoo routine. Applying a conditioning oil to your hair before shampooing creates a protective layer that prevents damage or loss of your hair's natural oils. If you're looking for natural curly hair products for a good pre-poo routine, Heaven Scent and Good Thing are great options for a natural, chemical-free pre-poo routine.
Steps
Simply apply the oil of your choice to your natural curly hair and leave it on for at least 30 minutes before shampooing your hair. I recommend my clients only to apply the product to their hair and not the scalp, as it could smother the follicles.
Benefits
It forms a protective layer before shampooing your hair.
It keeps your hair moisturized by preventing dryness after washing.
It maintains the softness and vibrancy of your hair.
It makes detangling your natural curly hair easier.
Increases the effectiveness of your hair conditioner.
Section and Wash
It’s a good practice to gently divide your curly hair into sections (twists are preferred) while detangling and cleansing the hair in this state with an all-natural and pH balancing shampoo like Loving you. This is easy to do due to the application nozzle on our shampoo. Loving You also works best when applied to hair that is still dry. Although the process may take a little more time, it is worth your effort to protect your hair's natural beauty.
Loving you is great for all hair types because it contains natural cleansing ingredients such as African Black Soap, Sea Kelp, and Rhassoul Clay that improve the overall porosity and overall care of your curly hair. It gently removes build-up, excess oil, and dirt without affecting your hair's natural pH balance, thereby alleviating dandruff and itchiness.
Protect The Natural Oil
Curly hair has natural oils to ensure hair health and shine. It is advisable to shampoo only once or twice a week, or else there is a chance of the hair losing its sheen and inner strength. So, in short, over-shampooing should be avoided.
Condition
Deep conditioners are an excellent way to add moisture and a variety of hair-health nutrients to your natural curly hair.
GOOD THING is an adaptable leave-in hair conditioner that repairs, hydrates, and moisturizes your curls while defining them.
WHIP IT, is an organic styling butter that gives shine and definition to your curls while moisturizing skin and hair. It can emulsify your hair, moisturize your scalp, and clear your skin.
3. Detox
Excessive use of hair butter and oils can suffocate the hair follicles, resulting in flaking and build-up. Detoxing your natural curly hair once a month is recommended to remove toxins and build-up for more shiny and better-looking hair and great curl elasticity. Our hair detox NICE THING naturally removes toxins and flakes while maintaining your scalp's pH balance.
The natural curly hair products from TLP to use in the detox method:
Mix three parts of TLP products: 1 part NICE/THING (bag contents) with 2 parts LOVING YOU pH balancing shampoo, and 3 parts NICE/THING (jar contents) in a container.
Allow the mixture to expand.
Apply the mixture to your scalp and then down your hair shaft.
Let it sit for 15-20 mins with a shower cap on. Can use heat at this step for deeper penetration.
Rinse with lukewarm water until water is clear
Follow-up with LOVING YOU and condition with TOUCH OF LOVE.
4. Detangle & Style
Always detangle your natural curly hair with a wide-tooth comb or with your fingers. The goal is to remove tangles from your hair so that styling becomes easier. When detangling our hair, we must be careful not to cause breakage by handling it in a rough manner.
Due to the tightly coiled structure of the hair strands, natural hair is prone to knots. It takes a lot of patience to untangle curly hair without ripping through the tangled strands.
It is best not to leave the hair in a wet state for an extended period of time. Remember, this is when our hair is more prone to breakage. Also, combing from the ends of the hair up and using a wooden comb are known to decrease breakage. Not to forget, finger detangling is the best.
5. Trimming or Dusting
It's a must to ensure that your natural curly hair is trimmed or dusted regularly. Our hair on the ends is the oldest hair on our heads. It has gone through all of the self-inflicted and environmental changes we have exposed it to and therefore it is the weakest part of our hair.
Regular trims reduce the tendency of hair not to show any growth by preventing premature breakage and split ends. It also ensures that your hair thickness is maintained throughout the hair strand. Wet hair trimming can lead to a loosened curl pattern and cutting curly hair with clippers can actually cause more split ends/ breakage. So, for best results, wait for it to dry before grabbing your scissors and if you are trying to grow it out- stop the use of clippers and have it scissor cut.
Dusting is appropriate between trims to remove single strand knots and is best done when doing intricate styles such as styling the hair in medium to mini twist or braids.
6. To LOC (Leave-In Conditioner, Oil, and Cream) or Not!
This is the recommended method for applying moisturizing natural curly hair products to your hair. It is the layering of natural products to maximize your hair's moisture retention capacity.
Step 1: Apply a liquid/ leave-in conditioner as the initial layering of hydration. We recommend BOUNCE BACK or GOOD THING based on your natural curly hair type.
STEP 2: Apply oil to lock in moisture. HEAVEN SCENT from TLP is just the oil you’d need.
Step 3: Apply a butter-based creamy moisturization to seal moisture, define curls and provide hold. WHIP IT OR XXIVK are best recommended for this.
However, when experiencing active hair loss, this method can be a bit excessive and too heavy for some. We recommend the HMS (Hydrate- moisturize- Seal) method, which includes applying lighter products to improve circulation and perfusion and reduce inflammation.
The use of products such as BOUNCE BACK to detangle and hydrate the hair, HEAVEN SCENT applied to the scalp to decrease inflammation, and GOOD THING to lock in moisture and style hair is a recommended combination during this time.
7. Product Cocktailing
This simply means combining two or three natural curly hair products for styling for more personalized curl management based on your hair type's needs. Here are some TLP cocktails for you.
Best Tips to take care of naturally curly hair
CONTROL (our flaxseed styling gel) + XXIVK ( our styling cream) for styling twists & braids or for wash-and-go styles.
CONTROL (our flaxseed gel) + BOUNCE BACK (moisturizing spray) + HEAVEN SCENT (our hair growth oil) to add shine, definition, and moisturization to natural curly hair.
Warning! Product combinations should always be tried on the skin before applying them to your hair to reduce product rejection which can lead to build-up and flakes.
8. Scrunching
It is a hairstyling technique for natural curly hair in which you cup and squeeze your dripping wet hair towards your scalp, from down to up, to help shape your curls.
Scrunch with a towel when your hair is soaking wet with your head bent forward and hair falling on your face for 8-10 mins till your hair is 80% dry.
Use your hands to scrunch in the accordion pattern once your curly hair is relatively dry for more precision and definition.
Types of Scrunching 1. Hair Scrunching With A Towel
This one gives quick results without using too many products or styling tools. I recommend a microfiber towel or a towel to minimize frizz or breakage.
2. Hair Scrunching with Clips
For a more precise curl pattern, make use of clips for scrunching. This technique is perfect for doing the night before.
3.Hair Scrunching with A Blow Dryer and Diffuser
If you don't have the time or desire to spend an hour or so styling your hair, the simplest solution is to scrunch your natural curly hair with a diffuser for perfectly defined, super bouncy curls in just 10-15 minutes.
9. Pineappling
This simple and easy overnight natural curly hair regimen allows you to naturally extend the after-shampoo curl definition by preserving your curls while you sleep. This method of caring for curly hair also protects your curls from friction while you sleep with your head on a pillow.
Bend forward and gently gathers your hair on top of your head.
Tie a loose high ponytail on top of the head.
Allow the curls to flow freely over the top of your head.
You can also wrap your pineapple in a satin scarf or bonnet to prevent your curls from rubbing against the pillow.
10. Hair Plopping
Hair plopping is a heat-free styling technique that entails drying your natural curly hair with a cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel tied into a mound on top of your head.
Steps:
Remove excess water from freshly washed hair by scrunching it.
Use a natural leave-in conditioner.
Place your tee on a flat surface.
Bend your waist and flip your hair forward.
Fold your hair into a turban and place the t-shirt at the nape of your neck.
Leave it on for 20-30 minutes or overnight for more defined curls.
There is a basis for caring for natural curly hair that is frizz-free and hydrated and that appears as healthy as it feels. Though the technique that you choose to use heavily depends on your curl pattern, styling habits, and the natural curly hair products that you use, the methods and practices mentioned above help you with the basics that will go a long way to nurture, nourish and define how you care for your natural curly hair in the most natural way.
So, if you get these natural curly hair care fundamentals right, managing natural curly fhair shall no longer be a fight! Shop all our natural hair care products at The Love Of People.
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About The Author: Paula Bland
The founder of TLP, Paula Bland, is a medically qualified Nurse Practitioner, Hair aesthetician, and psychiatric Nurse Practitioner known for her highly effective hair consultation. Paula has a non-traditional approach to hair care and advocates a chemical-free, natural, and holistic approach. The Love of People is her brainchild, and its products reflect her approach to hair health and have helped women with naturally curly hair manage their curls in a chemical-free and organic way.