๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐: ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ข๐ซ
In a fashion industry where, shiny smooth locks so often dominate the magazine pages, those with natural curly hair are sadly left ironing, pulling, and treating those gorgeous coils.
However, given all the extra time we had at home, what with lockdown and home-based working, we love that so many of you are embracing your natural hair texture. What a perfect time to take a rest from the heat and time to replenish the health of your hair.
Curly hair is known to be somewhat difficult to maintain, and each of you curly whirlies are unique, so what works for one person may not for the next. In this blog post we hope to answer common curly hair questions and to help you get to know your curls in order to understand how best to care for them.
So, we say go for it, embrace your natural hair type!
Know your Curly Hair Type
So, what is your curly hair type? There is an industry curl guide that can be useful in knowing the best way to care for your curls. The spectrum ranges from wavy hair to tightly coiled hair, as illustrated here, the higher the number the tighter the curl.
Wavy Hair โ 2A, 2B & 2C ranging from soft to deep waves. Type 2 hair requires nourishment, whilst needing some extra volume. So, go light when applying styling products.
Curly Hair – 3A, 3B & 3C ranging from soft curls to ultra curly. Type 3 curls come with their own volume, but are more prone to frizz and vulnerable to breakage, so seek out products that hydrate your hair and encourage curl definition.
Coily Hair โ 4A Coiled, 4B Zig-Zag & 4C Tightly Coiled. Type 4 curls shrink when dry and are very thirsty. It is important to seek out products with additional nourishment and leave-in conditioners work a treat.
Why do we have naturally curly hair? What causes it?
Here comes the science bit! Curly or textured hair is mainly determined by the roots – the hair follicle comes in different shapes and sizes and contributes to the curl pattern. Straight hair comes out of a round follicle and curly or wavy hair follicle is oval and often twisted.
The chemical bonds in your hair also contribute to your curl pattern. In wavy or curly hair the cysteine groups (a form of natural amino acid in the hair fibre) are closer together and can easily bond with each other causing more tension and therefore creating curls. Both the follicle shape and size along with the bonds in the hair fibre work together to create your lovely curls.ย ย
Why is my hair so frizzy?
Curly hair is often prone to frizz. The main cause of this frizz is dehydration. When your hair lacks moisture, it will seek out moisture from the atmosphere to find it instead.
So, itโs true that โyou are what you eatโ or rather โdrinkโ in this case! Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and nourish your hair directly with a good hair oil. We love the natural Argon oils of Moroccanoil. Coconut Oil is also known to be great for very curly hair, as it penetrates deep into the hair shaft and helps fulfil your hairโs protein requirements. It adds moisture and makes hair stronger with continued use.
Frizz can also be the result of hair damage. So, protecting your hair from over-processing (such as bleaching and colouring), heat damage and mechanical damage (such as brushing forcefully) will help give you healthy shiny locks too. Be kind to your hair and you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous healthy locks.
Does brushing ruin curls?
Never brush curly hair when dry, unless you intend to embrace your inner-Lion like my daughter here! We recommend only combing your hair when wet. Use a wide tooth comb, a Tangle Teezer or your fingers to comb working from tip to root, to work through the knots.
To enhance and encourage your curls, scrunch your hair using your hands or a diffuser on low heat. Flip your head upside down while you do this to maximise bounce and volume.
How do you keep curly hair curly?
If you have coiled curls, then a curling tongย or chopstick wand can help redefine curls that have been squashed out of shape. Again always use heat protection and a pair of heat resistant gloves.
Or to avoid heat stylers, just spritz with a serum spray, such as Goldwell’s Waves & Curls Serum Spray, and use your fingers to re-coil and separate your curls.
How do you sleep with curly hair?
How many of you wake up with half a head of waves and half a head of curls after squishing them in your sleep? Different tricks work for different curls, but here are a few different options to try overnight to maintain your curl structureโฆ
The Pineapple โ Basically cluster your curls on the very top of your head and secure with an invisibobble, Silk Scrunchie or bobby pins to avoid hair breakage.
ย Sleep on a Satin Pillowcase – Satin is known to reduce friction and therefore reduce frizz as your hair will glide over the silk rather than rub up against it. Itโs a bonus that sleeping on silk also prevents split ends from splitting further.
ย Satin or Silk Bonnet โ By popping your hair in a silk bonnet, you can reduce the friction and hold all those curls as tight as possible overnight.
ย Braiding โ You can use a combination of as many braids as you like, placed where works for you. We find this technique is especially effective if you have type 2 waves as it enhances the wavy structure.ย
What are the best products for Curly Hair?
There are so many great products on the market, and not all will be specifically for curls. But, here we’ve listed some of our favourite tried and tested products and how to use them:
Moroccanoil – Natural oils to hydrate those dry locks.
Infused with antioxidant-rich Argan oil a shine-boosting vitamins, Moroccanoil de-tangles, speeds up drying time and boosts shine, leaving you with nourished, manageable and shiny curly hair.
How to Use Moroccanoil:
- Apply 1โ2 pumps of Moroccanoil to clean, towel-dried hair, from mid-length to ends.
- Blow-dry or let dry naturally.
- Or apply on dry hair to tame fly-aways, condition split ends and smooth hair.ย
ย Moroccanoilโs Curl Defining Cream โ For the Ultimate curl definition.
Define your curls while hydrating your hair. Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream is an amazing product for curly hair. This Argan oil-infused curl styling product has heat-activated technology that provides a curl memory factor to fight frizz and create natural, defined, bouncy curls that last all day!
How to Useย Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream:
- Apply 1 pump of Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream to clean, towel-dried hair concentrating on mid lengths and ends.
- To activate and enhance curls, diffuse hair.
- For a more relaxed curl, let your hair dry naturally.
- Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream can also be used to refresh curls and reduce frizz throughout the day.
ย Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo & Conditioner โ For quenching your curls’ thirst!
Our number one favourite shampoo and conditioner for a hydrating and detangling boost isย Moisture Recoveryย in the Joico Range!
Moisture Recovery Shampoo and conditioner reduces breakage by up to 55%, it intensely nourishes dry hair and adds softness, smoothness, and shine.
How to Use Moisture Recovery Shampoo & Conditioner:
- Apply a 50 pence size amount of Moisture Recovery Shampoo to wet hair.
- Lather and Rinse.
- Follow with Moisture Recovery Conditioner to mid lengths and ends.
- Leave on for 2-5 minutes.
- Comb through and rinse thoroughly.
Goldwell’s Curls & Waves Curl Splash Hydrating Gel – for curl control without the crunch!
Perfect for leaving your curls dry naturally, the Goldwell Curls & Waves Curl Splash Gel will leave your hair full of body and with incredible shine. It also has UV protectants to condition and protect against daily sun damage and environmental stresses.
How to Use Curl Splash Gel:
- Work into towel dried hair.
- ย Mix Curl Splash with with Curl Control for more moisture, care & definition.
- Leave to dry naturally for natural looking curls.
ย
ย Goldwell’s Rich Repair Serum – Smooth down the frizz and protect your hair from heat
Always protect your hair from heat styling with a good serum like Goldwell’s Dualsenses Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum. This serum protects, polishes and seals the cuticle while restoring internal structure, helping to prevent split ends and frizz.
How to Use Rich Repair Serum:
- Using ยฝ to 3 drops of serum, emulsify in your hands.
- Distribute through damp or dry hair, concentrating on the mid lengths and ends.
- Can also be applied to dry hair to replenish dry locks and smooth fly-aways.
ย Goldwell’s Curls & Waves Serum Spray – Brilliant for 2nd or 3rd day to revitalise curls
Powered by milk proteins, Dualsenses Curls and Waves Serum Spray from Goldwell is incredibly hydrating and strengthens encouraging bounce and spring! A great product for revitalising waves and curls. Added bonus is that it has colour-protecting ingredients and thermal protection, helping to preserve your colour and limit damage.
How to Use Curls & Waves Serum Spray:
- Spray liberally onto damp, towel-dried hair.
- Use on dry hair to refresh and re-define your curls.
Goldwell Unlimitor Spray Wax – pump up the volume with this light spray wax.ย
For casually textured styles with definition. Versatile as a wax, simple as a spray.
How to use Unlimitor Spray Wax:
- Spray on to dry hair.
- For extra volume, hang your hair upside down and spray lightly at the roots.ย
ย Goldwell Rich Repair 60 second treatment – THE quickest intensive conditioning treatment!
Restore and replenish your hair withย Goldwell Dualsenses Rich Repair 60 Second Treatment, a nourishing formula that works to repair damaged hair from the inside out.
Also developed with built-in colour protection to minimise fading. The replenishing treatment rebuilds the hair fibre up to 100% in 60 seconds, and will leave your locks looking and feeling healthy. Weโve seen luscious, smoothing results, without the weight, which is particularly great for curly hair.
How to Use Rich Repair 60 Second Treatment:
- Apply to mid-lengths and ends on clean damp hair.
- Leave for 60 seconds.
- Rinse.
Olaplex Hair Treatment โ All the celebs swear by this!
Olaplex No.1 & 2 is an in-salon treatment that actually fixes broken disulfide bonds and enhances your natural texture – repairing damage from the inside out. You can book this affordable treatment by calling us on 02920461191
Why not use any extra time around the house to pop on anย Olaplex No.3ย home-treatment, letting it soak in for longer for maximum results?
Olaplexย is suitable for all hair types, it is vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and nut-free!
How to use Olaplex No.3:
- Apply a generous amount from root to ends on damp, towel-dried hair.
- Comb through once and then leave on for a minimum of 10 minutes. The longer this is left on, the better the results.
- Rinse from your hair, and then shampoo and condition as normal.
Once all the bonds are intact and in alignment, you have healthy, beautiful, shiny, touchable hair.
What hair treatment will tame the frizz?
The Kerasilk Smoothing treatment is our absolute favourite long-lasting keratin hair treatment to control frizz and make your hair manageable. This professional hair treatment delivers amazing results every time. Goldwellโs Kerasilk range is plant-based with new Keratransform Technologyโขย which fuses the power of three superior ingredients to deliver powerful transformations.
This hairย treatment is customisable so that you can keep your curl structure, whilst still helping to smooth the frizz! Our clients love this treatment especially for the drizzly Autumn/Winter or humid Summer as it lasts between 3 to 5 months!ย ย
Invest in your hair happiness, this treatment costs ยฃ189 including a free home-care shampoo & conditioner (worth ยฃ52.45).ย
Read more about this fabulous treatment here:ย https://www.worldchampionhairdressing.co.uk/kerasilk-smoothing-treatment-cardiff/
Curls can bring real joy, the incredible feeling of them bouncing as you walk, and how they can set you aside in a crowd. Donโt ever compare your curls to anyone elseโs โ You are unique and so your curls are too!
We really hope our advice helps you to enjoy your natural texture. If you have any questions at all, just get in touch and we are always happy to advise.
Check out some curly work from our stylists…
