my curls

Here are some tips, tricks, and products to help you manage your curls.



First of all, I want to introduce you to a website that will change your life. It's called naturallycurly.com. This website is filled with articles and message boards about all things curly hair. When you first sign up for the site, you take a survey that takes about 10 minutes that shows you images of women with curly hair and you select the one that looks most like your curls.  Then they will give you a number to describe your curls on the site. (Mine is 2B - Wavy Curly.) Then you can communicate with stylists and other curly girls about what is best for your hair type. Check it out! You'll learn so much!

Okay, now let's get into this!
Caring for your curls takes place in the shower. When washing your hair, you should use a sulfate-free shampoo. No sulfate keeps your curls defined because it doesn't strip all of the oil from your hair. My favorite one is the Beyond the Zone Noodle Head 2 in 1 Curl Cleansing Creme (you can get it at Sally's Beauty.) It has conditioner in it too, so it saves space and time.
When you're using this product, apply it like you would any other shampoo. You then need to scrub your scalp more than you normally would because the sulfate isn't there to lift up all of the dirt and oil, causing it to bubble up. Rubbing your scalp will break free that dirt and remove it. (Plus, a scalp massage is nice.) 

**You still need to use a shampoo with sulfate (It's called clarifying shampoo) about once a week just to completely remove all buildup. Buildup causes your hair to go flat. Just use the same process.**

I'd then comb my hair with a widetooth come in the shower to remove any tangles (yes, do it in the shower, not when you get out.) because it will keep definition of the curls better when it is wet being brushed compared to dry later, that causes frizz. And rinse out the product.
When you get out of the shower DO NOT wrap your hair in a towel. Take your towel, flip your head upside down, and pat dry using a scrunching motion until your hair is about 75% dry, or isn't dripping. (I assume you know the word "scrunch" in terms of curly hair..the same motion you use when applying gel.) You can blow dry your hair if you need to hurry, but use a diffuser.
Next you need to put a leave in conditioner on the ends. This keeps your hair moisturized and seals the cuticle of the hair, reducing frizz. like the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy-Tri Wheat Leave in Conditioner spray. You can also get this at Sally's Beauty, but I've also seen it at Walmart.

• Invest in a 100% polyester pillowcase. Cotton smashes your curls and makes them look frizzy the next day. 
• Instead of using a towel to dry your hair, use an old t shirt. It reduces frizz when drying.
• Start brushing your hair from the bottom, not the roots. It makes it easier to handle tangles.
• When you do straighten your hair, use an Instyler. Just trust me, it'll cut you time in half.

(Images courtesy of Sally's Beauty Supply)