Curly hair has a well-earned reputation for being the most difficult to manage hair type. It’s drier, more stubborn, prone to split ends and is ALWAYS FULL OF KNOTS!! Take it from a girl who’s dealt with curly, bushy hair all her life, having curly hair is a love-hate relationship! You will have six days of frizzy hair and one glorious day of beautifully soft, glossy curls, and let me tell you my friend, that one glorious day is worth those six days of crazy! I personally think curly hair is so underrated because it’s difficult to manage, but once you’ve learned how to tame the beast, trust me, it’s worth it! I’m here to tell you a few tips and tricks I’ve learned from my years of maintaining curly hair.

Sulfate and silicones WILL backstab you one day!

Most shampoos and conditioners are loaded with sodium laureth sulfate and silicones (dimethicone) which will temporary clean your hair thoroughly and keep it shiny, however in the long run, these chemicals do more bad than good to your already dry hair as it dries out natural oils and coats your strands in an artificial “plastic” covering, restricting moisture in to the hair shaft. Instead opt for natural shampoos and conditioners and ALWAYS read the ingredients list for sulfates and silicones (anything that ends with “cone”). You will thank yourself (and me!) later on!

Oils are your best friend

It may take a while to figure out what oils work best for your hair type (eg: thinner curls may prefer lighter oils) but with trial and error, you can find out what oils suit your hair the best! Personally, I have thick, bushy, looser curls that love the moisture and goodness of coconut, castor, mustard, sesame and almond oil. Most oils (do NOT use vegetable oil or baby oil) are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that will soon be your best friend! Once a week, warm some oil in a cup of hot water, add a vitamin E capsule and massage your scalp and hair thoroughly with it. Keep it in for a few hours (or overnight) and wash it off. Your hair will be shiny and feel much stronger!

Dry your hair with a t-shirt

Instead of a towel, use an old, cotton t-shirt to soak up the excess water, then “plop" your hair on top of your head and use the t-shirt as a turban till your hair dries.

Stay away from heat as much as you can!

There was a time I used to straighten my hair every other day. At that time my hair was glossy, shiny and so easy to manage, but two years later I noticed a significant amount of hair fall and damage. It was then that I freaked out, chucked my heat appliances and started my curly hair journey and I’ve never gone back! Yes, I occasionally iron my hair for a special occasion but it’s so rare! My hair is back to being thick, shiny and healthy!

Eat healthy and exercise regularly

Your mum wasn’t kidding when she told you that veggies and fruits would make you beautiful, but that alone isn’t enough! Load up on greens, lean proteins, essential fats (eg: salmon, oily fish) and work out at least 3 times a week and you will notice a huge difference in your skin, hair and overall health!

Banish the brushes!

I don’t even own a hair brush! My fingers are my combs and I only break knots in the shower, when my hair is wet and conditioned. Also, always start at the bottom then work your way to the top. This way you will cause less hair breakage.

Check your ingredients

When purchasing curly hair goodies, try your best to get products with natural ingredients that don’t suffocate your hair. Avoid chemicals and stick to products that contain natural oils.

Use silk/cloth scrunchies

Instead of tiny hair ties that cause hair breakage, using cloth or silk scrunchies will help you retain your curly hair style for longer.

Refresh your curls using water

Now this is something your mother might frown on! I usually sleep on my curls by plopping my hair on top of my head like a pineapple. Even then my curls tend to get frizzy in the morning, therefore I mix some conditioner with water in a spray bottle with a drop of tea tree (or peppermint oil) and spritz my hair with it before I go to work. This makes the frizz disappear and my hair is back to being bouncy and shiny.

Never go swimming without protection!

Before going to the beach or for a dip in the pool, soak your hair in conditioner. This may not prevent the damage 100% but it does help avoid chlorine and salt water damage.

By Shenali de Silva