Over the last thirty years, there has been a marked increase in the amount salon service users pay to get their hair cut, colored or treated. On average it’s estimated that prices may have increased by a whopping 5.2% per year. It’s now more than likely that you’ll shell out a substantial double-figure sum of cash to get professional hair care.
As anybody with curly hair knows, the artificial, non-holistic hair care products on the market don’t always keep your hair very healthy. While there are lots of holistic products out there treating everything from oily scalps to dry hair, there are also some natural methods you can use to protect your curled locks and keep them looking great for a long time to come.
Caring for curly hair is quite different to caring for straighter or wavier hair. It not only needs to be washed and conditioned differently, but cut and styled by someone who truly understands how this hair type functions.
Get the right kit
A big part of the battle when it comes to managing curly hair without resorting to destructive and harmful products is to simply make sure you have the right hair care implements. Hair diffusers for curly hair work by getting the wetness away from your hair, for example. When used in conjunction with the right serums and conditioning products they can reduce frizz, breakage and dryness. The perfect blow dry is possible even if your locks are curly – you just have to make sure you get the right equipment to make it work.
Wash your hair carefully
Washing your hair is about much more than just lathering up with some shampoo and hoping for the best. And when you have curly hair, this is especially true. The risk of it becoming tangled – or worse – is just too great, and that’s why you should always wash it gently.
Some people with curly hair now swear by the ‘no-poo’ method. That is to say either avoiding washing it with anything that foams, or just simply using water and conditioner to clean and style hair. It’s always a matter of preference, and if you think it might work for you, then give it a go. There are many ‘hair cleansers’ on the market now, that is to say – cleaning products for drier hair that work in the same way a cream cleanser would for the face. It’s worth exploring these if you find that traditional shampoos are just a no-go. Remember – don’t forget about your other hair too while working on your curls! Nose Hairsare often a concern by many, but most people don’t know to properly care for nose hair.
It’s a good idea to use lukewarm or even cold water to avoid frizz, because it encourages your cuticles to close up. It’s also worth considering washing your hair in sections rather than all at once because that way there’s less chance it will all get intertwined and lead to that dreaded tangled appearance.
Using hair oils to style and add moisture is a great approach. Argan Oil is a huge buzzword right now – and a few drops of this added to your hair before you diffuser dry or air dry will make a real difference. Think about using the same oil as a pre-cleansing treatment once a week. Simply slather on a generous handful to damp hair, wrap hair in a warm microfibre towel and leave for a couple of hours before rinsing well and cleansing out.
Think about fabrics
When you consider it closely, your hair actually comes into contact with a lot of different fabrics on a daily basis. From the pillowcases you sleep on when tired out at night to the towels you keep in the bathroom to dry off your hair, there’s a lot of hair-on-fabric action happening. Some people recommend using a softer t-shirt rather than a regular towel to dry off after shampooing in order to protect the hair, so that’s something to consider.
Use microfibre wraps to towel dry, as you can pretty much soak up all the excess moisture from your hair without having to rub and tug at it.
Similarly, a pillowcase which is made from cotton can often give your hair a bit of a tough time – especially if it’s curly. But by opting for a satin pillowcase instead, it’s much less likely that frizz will happen. By making small changes like these to items which commonly come into contact with your hair, you can slash the risk that your curls will be beset by problems.
Looking after your hair can sometimes seem like something of a struggle, especially if it’s particularly curly. The good news, though, is that it doesn’t have to be that way, and frizz is certainly not inevitable. With a holistic hair care approach, you can keep it looking amazing without having to even consider using damaging, non-natural products.
