Caring for curly hair

Those of us with curly locks know that it can be both a blessing and a curse. For every good hair day when our cascading ringlets are behaving, there are days where we battle with frizz and tangles.

Caring for curly hair does come with its own set of requirements, but – get these down and we promise more good hair days. Take a look at the following tips from hair experts Errol Douglas and Sabrina Kidd:

Wash your hair the right way

Yup, there’s a ‘right’ way to wash your hair. “Gravity helps when washing tangle-prone, textured hair, especially if it is long, so opt for a shower rather than a bath”, advises Sabrina. She says it’s helpful to section the hair, to ensure the product is cleansing the scalp and hair properly, rather than just coating the surface layer. Use the balls of your fingers to massage the product into the scalp and follow with downward stroking motions to cleanse the lengths.

Embrace the co-wash

Co-wash is a term that means washing the hair with conditioner only. As the sulphates in shampoo can dry out curly hair, swapping one of your usual washes with a co-wash can refresh and hydrate the hair.

Up those hydration levels

Errol says due to curly hair’s naturally porous nature, the number one priority is to constantly replenish moisture. “Choose each product you use based on what it can contribute to increasing or maintaining moisture levels.”

Detangle when wet

Brushing curly hair when dry can cause damage. Instead, curly girls should detangle when wet. Errol says a wide toothed comb can help to work in a hydrating hair mask while detangling.

Sleep on silk

Cotton pillowcases can actually absorb moisture from your hair, contributing to frizz. To avoid this, try wrapping your hair in a silk or satin head scarf – this will help to maintain your style. Alternatively you could try a silk or satin pillow case.

Go multidimensional with colour

Errol’s final tip is to avoid block colour, “The textures and shapes of curly hair mean you need face-framing, bespoke colour to really celebrate the texture with different tones.”