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3 Tips for Handling Wavy Hair with Care
3 Tips for Handling Wavy Hair with Care
Image Source: @sumans.waves

About three months ago, I offered to help my best friend do something fun with her hair. As she pulled her super-thick waves out from their daily bun, she brushed her dry waves. Yes, BRUSH them! As she did this, she told me one reason she hated her hair so much: it poofs every time she brushes it.

I think the shock on my face must have been obvious because she started giggling with a tinge of embarrassment. Of course, I wasn’t shocked that her waves poof when she brushes them. I was shocked that she was somehow amazed and distraught at this fact. I probably sputtered out something like, “Well, of course it poofs — you’re brushing it! Dry, no less!”

“Well…you must get through your hair!” she replied.

“Not like that, you don’t! You detangle it,…but you should’ve done that when you finished washing it and maybe with some conditioner still on it.”

“No one’s ever told me that before. I’ve just always hated my hair.”

“You mean…no one’s ever told you not to brush through your waves or anything about detangling it, deep conditioning it, and so on?”

“Nope.”

“Oh, honey….”

Some of you are amazed she’d gone all this time without knowing how to deal with her waves, while others can totally relate to her responses. Did you know that curls and coils aren’t the only hair types you need to handle with care? No matter your hair type, you need to be careful with it! So, what’s a wavy gal to do?

1. Cleansing

3 Tips for Handling Wavy Hair with Care

Whether you’re doing without shampoo or using one regularly, you need to cleanse your waves regularly. Use a lightweight, gentle shampoo that is strong enough to get rid of any product build-up, but that won’t weigh down or stretch your waves.

Have a look through The Best Products for Wavy Hair and choose one that gets great reviews from fellow wavies!

2. Drying

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Image Source: @crownaffairhq

As with any type of curly hair, wavy hair is prone to frizz and damage when wet. To take some of the water off your hair, use a microfiber towel or hair glove rather than a terrycloth towel, which can be rough on your hair.

Another option is to upcycle your old t-shirts and use them to dry your waves!

3. Brush vs. Comb

3 Tips for Handling Wavy Hair with Care

Not all brush types are disastrous for wavy hair, but you do have to be careful. Avoid paddle brushes and any with stiff bristles. Vented brushes are usually fine for waves, as long as you’re gentle and only use them when your hair is wet.

Alternatively, you can avoid brushes altogether and stick with a wide-toothed comb. These will work nicely when your hair is damp, but you may even be able to get away with delicately using it on dry hair as well without causing it to poof.

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Image Source: @sabrinawithlove

In my experience, this depends on how wavy the hair is. I’ve seen and combed wavy hair ranging from barely-there waves (2a) to a curly (2c) with wide-toothed combs on dry hair. Combing through seemed to have the least impact on the 2a and 2b hair types that weren’t overly thick, while the thick 2c, borderline 3a wavy hair I’ve dealt with didn’t handle it too well.

If you’re hearing these tips for the first time, please take them to heart and put them into practice. Your wavy hair will stop being a source of frustration and become a source of wavy, curvy hair pride!

Have you been able to share some valuable textured hair care knowledge with a friend? How have you benefited from a friend sharing their knowledge with you?

Does an Itchy Scalp Equal Hair Growth?

We’ve all had an itch that takes a while to go away, and our scalps are no different. After noticing your fingers constantly making their way to your head, your mother, an aunt, or grandmother may have commented, “Oh, that means your hair is growing!”

Well, it’s true that your hair was growing, but an itchy scalp is not a sign of hair growth. Itchiness can actually signify that your scalp is not at its healthiest, which can negatively impact hair growth. Whether it lasts days or weeks, the cause of an itchy scalp can usually be tracked down. You have to put on your detective hat to figure it out.

Causes of an itchy scalp

A common cause of itchy scalp is seborrheic dermatitis, aka, dandruff, says Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, professor of dermatology at Oregon Health and Science University.

“Often, people complain that their scalp is dry when in reality, it is actually inflamed,” Schwarzenberger says.

Other culprits for itchy scalp include psoriasis, allergy to hair dyes or products, fungal infections, and even head lice.

“Scalp itch can also be a cause of an underlying condition, including diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney disease, as well as some types of cancer,” Schwarzenberger adds.

Does an Itchy Scalp Equal Hair Growth?

The first line of defense

If you don’t already have a skin condition diagnosed by a dermatologist or trichologist, trying different hair products and natural remedies is a good starting point.

One of the most effective initial treatments for an itchy scalp is a thorough shampoo scrub to remove loose and scaly skin, says Dr. Josh Axe, D.N.M., C.N.S., D.C, founder of Ancient Nutrition. After trying that, a popular natural remedy to try is tea tree oil.

“What’s great about tea tree oil is that it provides antioxidant benefits and is antimicrobial, which means it has the ability to fight bacteria, viruses, and fungus,” Axe says.

As with all essential oils, make sure to dilute the tea tree oil by either adding it to your shampoo or mixing it with carrier oil.

Here are five more natural ways to combat itchiness and dandruff. 

When the itch doesn’t go away

If experimenting with different products and natural remedies doesn’t solve the issue, you can try an over-the-counter medicated shampoo.

“There are many good products available, with active ingredients that include selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, and ketoconazole,” Schwarzenberger says. “Tar shampoos may treat seborrheic dermatitis and scalp psoriasis, but some dislike the smell. But people with white hair should avoid using tar shampoos, as it can cause hair to yellow.”

It may be allergies

If you’ve found that allergy is the problem, particularly if there is an associated rash around the neck and or face, Schwarzenberger says to try fragrance-free or “low allergen” hair products. Topical steroids are also an option but require a prescription.

“You should see your dermatologist if your scalp does not improve with the use of medication shampoo or if it is associated with hair loss or skin lesions in the scalp or surrounding skin,” Schwarzenberger says.

Interested in more ideas for alleviating an itchy scalp? Check out this list of detergents that might cause a dry, itchy scalp.

The Skip Curl Method: Everything You Need to Know

If you’ve been hanging out at NaturallyCurly for any amount of time, you know that we love our natural curls and have no intention of doing away with them! For some of our curly readers, amazing curls with no frizz is still a dream they’ve not yet realized. They can admire our curls, but they can’t seem to get past the frizz themselves.

For those of you still stuck on the frizz boat, the skip curl method may be just what you need!

What Is the Skip Curl Method?

The skip curl method is a technique of handling curly, wavy and coily hair while it is still wet that allows you to control your hair, define your curls and prevent frizz. The technique works best with type 3 curlies, but type 4s can also use it to control particularly coarse sections of their hair. Additionally, type 2s may find that the technique gives their waves some added spiral action.

Jonathan Torch of Curly Hair Solutions and the inventor of this method, says that the best way to overcome frizz is to prepare the hair before letting it dry naturally. Torch says that the key is to remove any tangles and loose hairs prior to letting the hair dry; otherwise, those tangles stay trapped in your hair and result in frizz when the hair dries.

How to Do the Skip Curl Method

The skip curl method takes time and a little bit of practice, but the results last for at least a couple of days, depending on your hair type. Torch suggests using Curly Hair Solutions’ Curl Keeper, his own low-pH product that provides slip for your curls while detangling your wet hair. This product gets rave reviews by our very own curly reviewers, and consistently holds a 4 out of 5 star rating across the board for all hair types.

“pouring

Curl Keeper Alternatives

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Step 1. Apply Styler

Apply Curl Keeper (or a maximum hold gel”> to wet hair and then finger comb it through your hair to remove all tangles. Choose a small section of the hair to begin, comb it through one last time to be sure it’s 100 percent tangle-free.

“step

Step 2. Twist Around Your Finger

Begin twisting the hair around your finger from root to end. It’s important to twist in the direction that your curls naturally twist; otherwise, you’ll be working “against the grain,” which can result in frizz and defeat the purpose.

“step

Step 3. Skip Rope

Gently slide your finger out of the twist, hold on to the end, and literally “skip” the hair around a little, sort of like you’re swinging a jump rope. Then, just drop the curl and start on another section. Once you’ve done this to a few sections, you can scrunch those sections together to intensify the curl.

“step

Toss your hair upside down when you’re finished, shake and sit back upright. This will help add some volume to your hair. You can then just let your hair air dry – no dryer or diffuser necessary!

You can watch curl expert and the inventor of this technique, Jonathan Torch, practice this technique himself in this video – it’s an oldie but a goodie.

 
This article has been updated.
Wavy Beginner’s Guide: Applying Products to Wet or Damp Hair
Wavy Beginners Guide Applying Products to Wet or Damp Hair

So you’ve applied this product that’s supposed to help control your curls and tame your frizzies. You read the label and followed the directions explicitly – or so you thought.

Either way, the results weren’t quite what you were expecting. Could this be a bad product for your hair type? Or could the solution be as simple as making sure your hair was wet enough or wasn’t too wet for the product to work?

The Dilemma

Almost all of us have experienced this at one point or another. On our quest to get the perfect curls without midday frump or frizz, we apply a product on our hair that promises to keep our curls in check. The bottle said apply to wet hair, but did that mean soaking wet or towel-dried/damp hair?

Type 2s tend to have thinner hair that holds in moisture a lot longer than our coily type 4 counterparts. So the question then becomes, at what point can we apply these products that are meant for a wet application? Should we do it as soon as we get out of the shower, or after our hair has had a chance to dry some?

The Solution

If you’re adding a leave-in conditioner or curl cream to your hair, scrunching it into soaking wet hair and then patting any excess drips with a microfiber towel can actually have amazing results!

However, wavechaser, one of our CurlTalk users, recently shared the results of her experiment, which was to see if the amount of water in her hair made a difference. In her own words, “Who knew scrunching into damp hair would help so much!” For type 2 wavies, applying product to damp hair can be much more beneficial than applying product to completely wet hair.

Overall, it depends on how porous and coarse your hair is. The more porous it is, the drier your hair can be when your apply product. The less porous it is, the better products will work when applied to wet hair. The opposite is true for how coarse your hair is. If your curls are very coarse, apply products to wet hair. If your hair is fine, apply products to damp hair.

And, always remember wavies, DO YOU!

What the Heck is a Denman Brush?
“denman

Kinky coils tend to break or split when you run a brush through them. You know you need to get through the tangles, but it can be a challenge when almost any brush results in puffball frizz.

In fact, if you’re a kinky, you’re probably in the habit of finger-combing your hair and avoiding the brush altogether. Thanks to Denman brushes, however,  you can rest your fingers and pick up a brush again, confident that this brush was made with your hair in mind!

What’s So Great About Them?

Some of our CurlTalk users say that with most brushes, they end up with a poofy mess. For this reason, they’ve sworn off brushes completely. If they do have one that they can trust, it can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes to get through their coils.

With a Denman brush, however, CurlTalkers brag that styling time has gone down to as little as 20 minutes for type 4 hair, and that the brushes leave hair with clearly defined curls, a shiny luster – partly due to the brush’s distributing abilities – and no tangles! The bottom line is that these brushes are amazing for type 4s, and we’re not just reading that on the package label; we’re hearing it from coily ladies who have bought and used one!

Additionally, type 4s tend to experience a lot of shedding. Denman brushes are excellent at getting all of that shedding OUT of your hair.

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Varieties

If you’re thinking about buying a Denman, you might be overwhelmed when you see the varieties available in your local beauty supply store. We’ve done the homework for you on the styling brushes and can explain the different types and why you’d choose one over another.

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The Classic Styling Brush

The Classic Styling brushes like the popular D3 are the most commonly used brushes for styling. Bristles are nylon and are set in a “pin” style, which means they have some space between them. The bristles sit on a half-rubber shaped pad, which is great for smoothing the hair. This style comes in small, medium, large, and heavyweight.

“denman

The Freeflow Volumizing Brush

The Freeflow Volumizing brush is very similar to the classic brushes, only they are skinnier and much lighter. Also, the nylon pins are more spread out than in the Classic brushes.

“denman

The Freeflow Vent Brush

The Freeflow Vent brushes are similar to the Volumizing brushes, except they do not contain rubber padding. Instead, the area underneath the pins is hollow, allowing heat to flow through if you need a quick dry or are diffusing.

The rest of the Denman brushes include the Thermoceramic, Bristle Radial, and the Squargonimic brushes. For specific styling, they also have the Headhugger Hot Curl, Grooming, and Curling brushes, as well as large paddle brushes. However, these brushes probably won’t work well for type 4s as they are likely to cause frizz in coily hair.

Cost

As with anything, you have to pay for quality. The Deman styling brushes are a bit more expensive than generic brushes, ranging in price from about $13 to $19. However, CurlTalkers swear that the investment is well worth it. In addition to being amazing for kinks, these brushes reportedly last a long time.

Have you used a Denman brush? How did it work for your hair?


This article was originally published in 2013, the photos and links have since been updated.

How to Care for Chemo Curls
woman with chemo curls, curly hair after chemo
@jenheckel21, breast cancer survivor who grew curls after chemo

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which gives us the opportunity to celebrate some of the bravest women in our lives. Oftentimes when someone goes through a tough time, all we want to do is help them and ease the pain. With cancer, this is particularly difficult because the right words are so hard to find. So let us do for you what we do best with some advice on one of the beautiful and complicated effects of battling cancer: chemo curls.

It’s common for those undergoing cancer treatments to experience chemo hair loss throughout the course of their treatment. Near the end or after finishing treatment, patients usually start re-growing their hair, oftentimes in a completely new texture. Some straighties even start to grow back curly hair due to the damage done to their hair shaft from the chemo. Finishing chemo is a joyous time for both patients and their family members. Don’t let a new hair texture get you down! Instead, stay flexible and adjust your hair care routine to accommodate your re-growth.

What Are “Chemo Curls”?

When women start growing in a mass of curls following chemo, they start referring to their new hair as “chemo curls.” Chemo curls can be new and exciting if you’ve always wanted curly hair. They can also be a big pain if you’ve never had curls, never wanted curls, and are fighting the urge to press your hair between the plates of a flat iron.

So what causes you to start growing curly hair following chemo?

When chemotherapy enters the body, its intention is to attack the cancer cells. However, it also attacks the cells responsible for hair growth. Since chemo damages the hair shaft, most chemo patients lose hair quickly. Due to the amount of chemo that remains in the body when one finishes treatment, it takes a while for hair to grow back. When it does grow back, it’s usually quite different from the hair you once had because of the damage that’s done to the cells that determine hair texture. Many patients do find that hair eventually returns to its pre-chemo state or close to it. So if you’re dealing with a completely different hair texture, know that it’s possible that they may not permanent.

curly hair after chemo hair loss
@jenheckel21 says "If I have learned anything from this, it's #JillsWish and that's #rockwhatyougot!"

How to care for chemo curls

If you’re a new curly, we have some tips for you! Even though your curls may only be temporary, they can be very enjoyable if you know how to care for them properly.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

One thing you may not realize after a life with straight hair is the need to keep your curly locks thoroughly moisturized. This involves practices such as deep conditioning, using leave-in conditioners and occasional oil treatments or hair masks.

If you’re new to the task of shopping for curly products, this list of our favorites, as chosen by the NaturallyCurly editors, is a great place to start. 

Avoid brushes

Straight hair, after being windblown, can usually tolerate a quick brush-through. Curly hair, on the other hand, despises brushing! Once your hair has been washed, apply a leave-in and a styler, then air-dry and leave it alone. Many curlies opt to use a gel following leave-in conditioner. Choose a lightweight gel that will give you the control you need throughout the day, but won’t weigh it down. Here are a few of our favorite gels for curly hair.

Detangle

This is something you’ll probably carry over from caring for your straight hair. However, detangling is very important in curly hair. Failing to do so can lead to immediate frizz (that culminates in a huge rat’s nest”> and breakage that will ultimately damage your hair’s newfound curl pattern. Many curlies detangle in the shower with a wide tooth comb when their hair is fully saturated with conditioner, this provides your hair with enough “slip” to comb or run your fingers through your hair without snagging on knots.

Curly Support

Congratulations on your new curly locks! To get started on caring properly for your gorgeous hair, start off with determining your curl type. NaturallyCurly is overflowing with type-specific content that will help you navigate this new time of your life. If you have specific questions for the NaturallyCurly community, head on over to CurlTalk, where you now have the largest haircare community at your fingertips. Enjoy!

We want to hear from you! What are some ways you’ve learned to cope with curls that didn’t turn up until after chemotherapy?

Want More?

If you’re ready for more curly hair tips, head on over to the Beginner’s Guide to Wearing Your Hair Curly.

Read about curly hair icon Ouidad’s fight against breast cancer.

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This post was originally published in 2012 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.

Indian Women Have Been Using this Hair Growth Oil for 4,000 Years

Mustard seed oil has a rich, tangy taste that is used by chefs to boost many dishes — especially Indian-inspired dishes. This invigorating oil not only accents foods, but you can also use mustard oil for hair growth.

Mustard oil & hair growth

The method of massaging the scalp with mustard oil dates back as far as 4,000 years ago with the practice of Indian scalp massages. Massaging the scalp can help firm the skin and strengthen muscles in the head. This practice started in ancient India as a method for keeping long hair healthy. In the 1970s, this practice became well-known in the UK and has since spread to other parts of the world.

Read more: How to Give a Scalp Massage

What’s in it?

Mustard seed oil is loaded with vitamins and minerals such as zinc, selenium, and beta carotene. Beta carotene converts to vitamin A, which is excellent in stimulating hair growth. The oil also has a lot of fatty acides, iron, calcium, and some magnesium. Thus, it conditions and helps encourage hair growth in all hair types.

2 ways to use it

You can find mustard oil in Indian grocery stores or on Amazon. Once you have it, it is very easy to incorporate into your regimen.

DIY deep treatment

On dry hair, massage mustard oil into your hair and scalp, then cover it with a shower cap. You’ll want to leave this on for around three hours, so make sure you have plenty of time at home. After three hours, shampoo the mixture out, then condition as usual. Some CurlyNikki forum users leave it on overnight, then shampoo and do a deep condition (leaving it on for an hour”> the following day.

Mustard oil pre-poo

If you don’t have that kind of time, you can also just leave it on for about 10 minutes, using a blow dryer to generate heat and help the hair absorb the oils, then shampoo and condition your hair as usual. Do this at least once a week, but as much as three to four times a week if you’re suffering from hair loss issues.

Yes, it does smell like mustard, but for both of these treatments using shampoo and conditioning afterward will get rid of any odor.

Have you used mustard oil for hair growth, and does it work?

Pumpkin Spice Homemade Hair Mask

If your hair is growing dryer as the weather turns cooler, then it is time to boost your moisture with a deep conditioning treatment. If you cannot get enough of all things pumpkin spice right now, then you will be happy to know that pumpkin has amazing benefits for your hair too!

Pumpkin is rich in vitamins A, C and potassium. Vitamin A is an antioxidant and is excellent for the scalp. Vitamin C helps for overall hair health and growth. In addition, potassium can promote re-growth of hair.

“Pumpkin hair masks are good for all hair types,” says Mo from Modern Rosies and creator of Madd Science Cosmetics. “But they are especially helpful for dry or damaged hair.” Mo also suggests adding about 1/8 cup of apple cider vinegar if you’re concerned about over-moisturizing your hair.

These measurements will vary depending on your hair length and density, if you have very long hair or very dense hair you may want to increase these amounts. Just be sure to stick to the same general ratios.

What you’ll need:

  • 1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree – or raw pumpkin, if you prefer
  • 2 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil – it is one of the few oils that truly soaks into your hair
  • 2 tablespoons honey – it is a natural humectant, meaning it attracts water or moisture to your hair 

There is little to no significant difference between using raw pumpkin and canned pumpkin for this. If you prefer to use raw pumpkin (or have a spare that you want to put to good use”>, follow these steps to prepare your pumpkin:

  • Cut a medium-sized pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds. Chop the pumpkin into smaller chunks and place the chunks in a microwave-safe bowl.
  • Spray the pumpkin chunks with cooking oil, cover, and heat on high for approximately 15 minutes.
  • Measure 1/4 cup of your freshly cooked pumpkin and use it in the recipe in place of canned pumpkin.

Directions

  1. Mix all three of the ingredients together in a bowl until fully incorporated
  2. Apply the mixture throughout your detangled, cleansed hair
  3. Cover with a shower cap, and let the mixture sit on your hair for 15 minutes
  4. Rinse with cool water and style as usual

Watch the Video

Quick Tips
  • A few drops of peppermint oil will create a sensational fragrance for your hair as well as a soothing feel on your scalp.
  • If you have any allergies to pumpkin or other squash foods, do a test run on a small section of your hair before applying the homemade hair mask to your entire head.
  • Vegans may substitute agave nectar or vegetable glycerin for the honey

To see more of our videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel The Twist!

5 DIY Homemade Hair Rinses

We curlies put a lot of time and effort into achieving that perfect balance between looking good and keeping our hair healthy. Over time, however, products can cause unhealthy, growth-stunting build-up. In addition, you have undoubtedly experienced breakage at some point–a common problem for those with naturally dry hair. If you have trepidation about adding something else to your hair while trying to remove product build-up or prevent breakage, consider making your own hair rinse. This way you will know exactly what’s in it.

Why Rinse?

The fact is, rinsing your hair with more than just water can have many benefits! For one thing, rinsing your hair with a light, acidic product, such as apple cider vinegar, can help balance your hair’s pH after washing to remove product build-up. Additionally, it will cut down on the amount of shedding you’ll experience. This is especially true during the drier winter or summer months. There are varieties of hair rinse recipes. Start researching which natural ingredients will combat your specific hair problems, and go from there.

Tea Rinse

Try a tea rinse–it is both simple and economical. It’s great for itchy, inflamed scalps and can help maintain hair color, too. Some people use tea rinses for alopecia and other hair related complications from chronic illness. Simply make tea as usual and then let it cool down before pouring over your hair. After the rinse, put on a shower cap and then wrap your head with a towel for at least an hour. Try one of these easy DIY tea recipes:

Beer Rinse

Yes, beer! Surprisingly, rinsing your hair with a flat beer about once a month can give your hair some added body, bring out your hair’s natural shine, and enhance elasticity in your curls. Hops contain oils that pair well to combat weak, damaged curly hair. Watch this DIY beer rinse and see just how easy it is to do one at home.

Coffee Rinse

Coffee beans provide extra shine to darker hues (specifically brunette, redheads, and black hair”> and also promotes hair growth by stimulating the scalp. Read this simple DIY “latte” rinse with coffee for healthier, stronger curls that bounce. For this rinse, focus on coating your roots, massage it in, let sit, and then rinse out and follow up with your favorite co-wash and moisturizer.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

To soften your curls and blast product build-up from your scalp, rinse your hair with a ACV and distilled water mix. After doing your usual shampoo and conditioning regimen, pour the ACV into your hair and let it sit for about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much your scalp needs to be clarified. Rinse with cool water and scrub well to get the vinegar scent out.

Vodka Rinse

If you have frizzy hair, vodka will be your new best friend. It has a low pH level and is naturally acidic. When added to conditioner vodka can help maintain and lower a high pH level found in the hair. Try it for yourself with this DIY recipe. It also works for certain skin issues and can prevent hair loss, too.

Have you tried other recipes for homemade hair rinses?


This article was originally published in July 2012 and has been updated for grammar and clarity. 

How to Get Curl Definition

You find someone online who identifies as the same curl pattern as you–so why won’t your hair do the same thing theirs does? Why does your hair seem to have no definite curl pattern? Maybe your hair does have a curl pattern, or three patterns that are just all over your head. You may even have hair that’s straight at the roots and only curls somewhere from the middle on downward. Is there anything you can do about this?

Why me?

Before addressing what you can do to get more defined curls, it will help to explore some of the things that may be causing this lack of curl definition.

  • Transitioning:  If you are transitioning after years of relaxers and have not done a big chop yet, most of your hair is still post-relaxer hair. The ends may be chemically straightened while your natural texture may show up at the roots. This usually leads to hair with two or three curl patterns.
  • Hair Length: Long hair weighs more than short hair. Therefore, it makes sense that the sheer length of your hair is what’s pulling it and causing it to be straighter near the roots. This is even more likely if you have thick and fine hair.
  • Nature: If you have never received a relaxer, or chopped off all of the damaged hair and your hair is on the short side, yet you still have hair with different curl patterns throughout, that could just be the way your hair grows naturally. Many people have multiple curl patterns and porosities throughout their head naturally.

Your hair crushes’ secrets

Once you have figured out the reason your hair seems to have multiple curl patterns, you can decide what you want to do about it. You may just need to adapt to styling the different textures of your naturally diverse curls, but if not one of these methods might work for you.

  • Braiding or Twisting: You may not be able to get maximum definition and “clumping” without braiding, twisting or doing bantu knots. Add your favorite leave-in or twisting product and divide hair into smaller sections all over your head, two-strand twisting, braiding or twisting into a bantu knot for each section. Leave it in overnight or until it is completely dry, then take it out and carefully separate each section for great curl definition!
  • Clipping: Clipping is simple and you may even be able to do it as part of a wash-and-go technique if your hair is not super porous. Clipping will help lift your hair at the roots and can create an artificial “curl,” which will give your hair more volume.
  • Plopping: You may tie a t-shirt around your head like a turban; this is fine to do while finishing your morning routine.
  • Scrunching: When you scrunch, you gather a chunk of your hair in your hands and hold it and then you release it. With scrunching, you literally squeeze those handfuls of hair several times before releasing it.

Curls are about as unique as the individuals sporting them! Even though we can categorize most curl patterns, nobody’s hair is a textbook hair type.

Pictured: Vic Styles. This article was originally published in October 2012 has been edited for clarity.

Hair Loss vs. Hair Breakage: What Do YOU Have?

If you’ve been diligently measuring and monitoring your hair growth since going natural, you may be discouraged by each strand you see collect on your comb when you detangle. Many women are distressed by the amount of hair they shed in the shower daily. But, are you losing your hair or are you experiencing hair breakage?

What’s the difference between hair loss and hair breakage? Understanding this difference can be the key to solving the problem.

What is hair loss?

When your hair naturally falls from the root, you are experiencing hair loss. Some amount of hair loss normal and to be expected.

In fact, while you may not be aware of it, you’re likely losing up to 100 strands each day. The “100 strands” theory is based on the assumption that we have approximately 100, 000 hairs on our scalp and lose around 1% of them daily.

Additionally, the rate at which you’re losing hair can vary based on gender, diet and genetics.

What is hair breakage?

Curly hair is especially prone to breakage. You may experience breakage when combing, detangling, or styling your curls. Breakage is most noticeable when brushing or combing your hair, removing a hair band, or in the shower.

Which do you have?

If you look closely at a strand of your hair, hair that has been lost through the natural process of shedding will still have the root attached. Hairs that have suffered from breakage will be in shorter sections, and will not include the root.

How to prevent both

One way to decrease both hair loss and breakage is to take extra care in the detangling process. Be gentle with your curls, use a wide toothed comb, and determine the method which works best for you. For some this will involve coating your strands with a high slippage conditioner and combing in the shower, for others this may be finger detangling after your shower.

Alternatively, focusing on the overall health of your hair can prevent excessive breakage. Give your hair weekly deep conditioning treatments to help strengthen your strands.

3 ways to treat them

1. If you missed the boat on prevention, there are several techniques that can help remedy the situation.You can start by using a conditioning shampoo that works to moisturize the scalp as well as cleanse. We recommend Kinky Curly’s Come Clean, which gets amazing reviews from curlies of all hair types. You’d use this in addition to your regular conditioning routine.

2. Also be sure to trim your split ends at least monthly. Split ends travel right up your hair shaft and if you don’t tackle them at the ends of your hair, they’ll cause your hair to split and break several inches from the tips.

3. Finally, make sure you’re giving your hair a deep condition at least once a month. Your hair will soak up this soothing treatment and will thank you by staying in place!


This article was originally published in April 2013. 

Curly Hair Styles for Round Faces

Managing your curly hair can be a challenging task in and of itself, what with its individual curl pattern, porosity, width and so on. Add to that formula your face shape and you have a unique set of factors to cater your haircut to.

Round faces present themselves as full on all edges. Cheeks and jaw lines tend to look “puffy” with the wrong hair style. The good news is that even curly girls can achieve a look that is perfect with a round face. You just have to make sure you choose curly hair styles suitable for your unique shape.

Short Curly Hair Styles

Some will argue that short curly hair styles are not the best choice for round-shaped faces. Depending on where the hairline ends, short curly hair styles can actually accentuate your round shape and add width to your face—something you are not likely to want to do.

However, if you don’t have the patience to grow your hair long, you can still make your hair style work. Choose a style that keeps the ends of your hair above your jaw line, creating an illusion of a longer face. Keep the emphasis on moving your hair upward, instead of outward (such as an inverted bob”>. In this picture of Halle Berry, the volume is at the top of her hair, specifically near the crown, which adds length to her round face.

Medium Curly Hair Styles

If you have a medium length of hair, there are a couple of curly hair styles that can accentuate the natural beauty of your face without drawing attention to its curved shape. Go for volume—off the scalp and outward somewhat—if you prefer wearing tighter curls. With a little bit of mousse or gel to scrunch your hair after you have combed it out, this hair style is ready-to-go straight out of the shower.

For a softer look, opt for larger curls and let them lay gently on your shoulders. You won’t need as much volume as you would for tighter curls since the larger curls add some length by themselves.

Alternatively, you can create the look of longer hair by wearing your hair in a side-swept ponytail. The off-balance look will definitely work in your favor and give you some of the advantages of longer curly hair.

Long Curly Hair Styles

Long hair gives you the largest choice of curly hair styles for round faces. In addition, long locks will help your round shaped face with what it always does best: keep you looking youthful. Keep the forehead free of bangs (aside from perhaps a few wisps”>, and use a definitive part when styling your hair. Your long locks will instantly add length to your face since the vertical shape of your hair competes with the width from your face—and the hair will dominate every time.

With length on your side, you can even get away with wearing your hair pulled back and down for a more formal look. Another option that works for both formal and casual looks is to add some subtle layers. The layers will help to highlight your naturally curly and beautiful hair, while wearing it down and in front of your shoulders will create the look of a more narrow face.


This article was originally published in July 2011 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.

Your Worst Knots, Detangled!

One of the trademarked tragedies for Curlies (aside from frizz”> is tangled knots. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to go from shimmery locks to lockdown knots. Thankfully, there are things you can do to get rid of knotty tangles, even the most persistent ones, in your hair.


Your Worst Knots, Detangled!

Next Generation Hair Salons

In the late 19th century, Martha Matilda Harper believed her homemade hair tonic was much better than anything available in stores at the time. Harper, the inventor of reclining shampoo chairs, opened one of the first hair salons in 1888. At the Harper Method Shop, she could market her hair tonic and provide cutting services to her clients. The salon also used Harper’s own floor-length hair as a form of advertisement for her tonic.

Fast-forward about 300 years: today’s salons have multiple stylists who specialize in a vast variety of different services. While many stylists today still offer your standard cutting and styling, in the 21st century we also have salons offering everything from (fake”> bangs, “animal style” hair masques, and gemstone blowouts.


Unique Hair Salons

How to Deep Condition Low Porosity Hair

When you buy new furniture, applying Scotch Guard will keep spills and liquid from soaking into it. Having low porosity hair is equivalent to having Scotch Guard on your hair, as low porosity doesn’t absorb moisture the way high porosity hair does.

This makes it difficult to apply products like deep conditioner to low porosity hair. These simple methods will help your hair accept the products and treatments it needs to stay moisturized.

MORE: The 411 on Hair Porosity


Deep Condition Low Porosity Hair


MORE: The 411 on Hair Porosity


How to Tell If a Product is Working

According to our market research, the average curly spends over $30 per month on hair products – just imagine what Product Junkies must spend! With all of the money being spent, it is a valid concern to wonder whether these products are working on our hair. Do they make a difference? And how can you measure the effects?


Is Your Product Working

Hair Growth Boosters

You finally built up the nerve to do what you’ve known you needed to do for a while: a big chop. You know you’re on the road to healthier hair, but you’re dying to have your hair back! Natural girls know that re-growth can take some time, but that doesn’t stop you from obsessing about the length of your hair–even pulling out the measuring tape to monitor growth. Fortunately, you can do several things to thwart hair loss while simultaneously encouraging growth!


Hair Growth Boosters


MORE: How to Grow Long Hair Fast

How to Braid Out Unwashed Hair

You may think that you can only do a braid out on freshly washed hair, but that’s not true! You can actually do it on hair that you haven’t washed in days. So if you’ve been waiting until your next wash to do a braid out, wait no longer — get things together and get ready to do a braid out today!

What to do

Things you’ll need

  • Curl Cream
  • Water in a spray bottle (since you’ve not washed your hair in days”>
  • Misting Spray
  1. Section your hair into about six sections. Divide it in half, then divide each half into a top, middle and bottom section. Plan to make medium-size braids and section your hair accordingly.
  2. Lightly spritz one section with water.
  3. Apply a small amount of curl cream then braid that section.
  4. Repeat for each section, then wrap your hair in a silk wrap or head cap (or whatever you usually wrap it in when doing braid outs and twist outs”>.
  5. After a day (or even two”>, remove the cap and begin unbraiding your hair.
  6. Spritz your hair with the misting spray, gently maneuvering your hands throughout the hair for good coverage.
  7. Massage your scalp while at the same time lifting your hair at the roots.

If needed, you can also lift your hair with a pick or wide-toothed comb. Wear your hair as is or style as desired (clips, headbands, pins, etc.”>. For more tips and to see how JamieeStarr101 does her braid outs on six day old hair, check out this video!


MORE: Braid Out Hairstyle Gallery


Braid Out on 6 Day Old Hair