Getting the Kinks Out: Managing Curly Hair
One of the perks of working in the beauty industry is that I’m inspired and even encouraged to experiment with various hairstyles. Most recently I experimented with various ways to wear a mohawk (see images from my past blog post here). It was definitely fun to rock an edgy hairdo. I’m not going to declare myself any sort of bell weather, however I started seeing a lot more mohawks popping up everywhere. Even a few of my friends were shaking things up with various ‘hawk styles! Because I typically don’t like to feel like just another brick in the wall, I decided to lose the mohawk and let my hair grow out and see what I could do with it once it achieved some length.
As a child my hair was wavy, thick and a very light blond. Like many children, it got darker with age due to a genetic switch in hair follicles that produces more pigment with age. You can read more about there here).
FUN FACT: Scientists theorize that curly hair is an evolutionary adaptation that helped to protect the skin and particularly the scalp from UV radiation since it penetrates the human body significantly more via straight hair than coiled or curly hair.
I searched the Internet for information, asked friends and colleagues for tips and even questioned the fans of Hair Cuttery’s Facebook Page for advice on how to manage my hair and I learned some very important things:
1. Don’t shampoo every day. This one was the biggest surprise for me. Shampooing daily strips natural oils out of your hair that are needed to keep curly hair shiny, manageable and frizz-free. Curly hair comes in all types so you need to experiment with frequency. I personally shampoo once a week and condition it daily (a practice called “co-washing”). I don’t condition every day because I’ve found that sometimes just a gentle rinse after a workout is perfect maintaining attractive curls.
2. Don’t “towel dry” your hair. Rather, gently squeeze the water out with a towel and then blot dry with paper towels or a t-shirt.
3. Curls come in all shapes, sizes, and textures. Recognize your hair type and use products that are right for you. For example, it’s possible to have curly hair that is also thin. In that case you may want to invest in a product that gives your curls extra body. Speaking of styling products…
4. When it comes to product, experimentation is key. Because curly hair varies so much in structure, no one product is perfect for everyone. You need to be willing to experiment. Personally, I’ve fallen in love with Redken’s Fresh Curls shampoo and conditioner as well as Tigi Catwalk Curls Rock Amplifier. I’ve found that the combination of the curl specific shampoo and the Amplifier cream does the job of holding my curls together as well as soft, shiny and frizz free.
These are some of the basics of curl control that I’ve learned since I started growing my hair out. I plan to grow it a full year before deciding what to do next. I’ll leave you with 2 questions: 1. If you have curly hair, what products or practices have you found that work for you? and 2. What should I be for Halloween that could incorporate my curly hair? Sorry, but Richard Simmons is out. That was last year’s costume.
Hope to hear from you!
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