But because of its unique structure that makes hair dry and frizzy, it can be hard to style and keep up with. If you know how to style curly hair correctly, you can show off your natural texture, whether you have loose waves or tight coils. This blog is going to talk about how to style curly hair. This guide has all the information you need to make your curls look great.
Important Steps for Curling Hair
- Gently clean
Use a sulfate-free shampoo or cleansing conditioner from Controlled Chaos. Avoid harsh cleansers that take away natural oils from curly hair. - Deeply condition
Hydration is key. Use a rich conditioner and let it sit for a few minutes. Detangle your hair in the shower with a wide-tooth comb or fingers to prevent breakage. - Dry with Care
Avoid rough towel-drying. Instead, use a microfiber towel or a cotton T-shirt to blot excess water. This reduces frizz and maintains curl definition. - Avoid Heat
Air-drying is ideal. If you must use a blow dryer, attach a diffuser to protect curl shape and reduce frizz. - Apply Styling Products on Wet Hair
Curly hair styles best when wet. Apply the Controlled Chaos leave-in conditioner spray to style your hair. You can also use the products below to enhance the hair texture. - Define Curls
Use styling techniques like: Finger Coiling: Twirl small sections around your finger to encourage the curl pattern. - Diffuse or Air Dry
To dry your hair with volume and shape: Air Dry: Best for preventing heat damage. Diffuse: Use low heat and speed to minimize frizz, then gently lift the roots for added volume. - Fluff and Style
When your curls are completely dry, gently shake or fluff them at the roots with your fingers or a pick to add volume. Do not brush dry curls; it makes them frizzy and breaks them.
Things to Remember
- Don’t brush curls when they’re dry. Always use conditioner to untangle when your hair is wet.
- To keep your hair from getting frizzy, sleep on satin pillowcases.
- Don’t use too much product. Start with a little bit; you can always add more.
- Cut your hair regularly to keep it looking good and get rid of split ends.
- Use anti-frizz gels or serums to keep hair safe from humidity when the weather is humid.
Easy Curly Hairstyles to Try:
- Pineapple Updo: For a casual or sleep-friendly look, loosely gather curls at the top.
- Half-Up Puff: Put the top curls into a bun or puff and let the rest of your hair hang down.
- Twist-Outs/Braid-Outs: Braid or twist your hair before bed and then take it out in the morning for longer curls.
- Curly bun or ponytail: The best way to keep curls neat without heat.
Things You Shouldn’t Do
- Using Silicones and Sulfates: Sulfates take moisture out of hair, and silicones that don’t dissolve in water can build up and weigh down curls. Choose hair products that are “sulfate-free” and “silicone-free” and are good for curly hair.
- Washing Your Hair Too Much: If you wash your curly hair too often, it can dry out. Most types of curly hair do better when they are washed once or twice a week. In the meantime, use water and leave-in conditioner or a curl refresher spray to keep your curls looking fresh.
- Not using leave-in conditioner: Leave-in products help keep moisture in and get curls ready for styling. If you skip this step, your hair will often be dry and frizzy.
- Protection from high heat: Always use a heat protectant when you use a straightener or diffuser. Curl patterns can be permanently damaged by high temperatures.
Advanced Methods for Curl Styling
- The LCO or LOC Method: This is a way to keep moisture in by layering: L = Liquid (like water or leave-in spray), O = Oil, such as coconut, jojoba, or argan oil, C = Cream (curl cream or butter)
- Curl Clumping: Getting hair strands to group together into defined curl clumps can make your hair look more polished. Use the “praying hands” method to put on the product. You can also gently scrunch curls up.
- Cutting curls when they are dry: You might want to get a dry cut from a stylist who knows how to work with curly hair. Cutting curls when they are dry helps keep their shape and stops them from shrinking in ways you don’t want.
- Styling with steam: Use a handheld steamer or steam cap to make curls look fresh again without using direct heat. Steam brings back the product and moisture, bringing back limp curls between washes.
How to Take Care of Your Hair
To make your style last longer, you need to keep your curls overnight:
- Pineapple: To reduce friction, pull your curls up into a loose high ponytail on top of your head.
- Silk Bonnet or Scarf: Keeps curls safe and stops them from drying out.
- Satin Pillowcase: A second layer of protection against tangles and frizz.
- Twists or braids: These help keep curls in place and stretch them out overnight.
Curls that feel good
Curls can lose their shape when you sleep or when the weather is humid. This is how to bring them back to life:
- Light Water Mist: Mist hair lightly to get the product going again.
- Leave-In Spray or Curl Refresher: Helps reshape and add moisture.
- Scrunch or Finger Coil: Gently reshape to bring back definition.
- Diffuse Again (Optional): Use low heat to dry and set curls again.
Hair Care Tips for Each Season
It’s important to change your routine because curly hair reacts differently to the seasons.
Taking Care of Summer
- It’s important to stay hydrated because saltwater, chlorine, and the sun can dry out curls. Deep hydration masks and leave-in conditioners are great for your hair.
- Buns, braids, and headwraps are examples of protective styles that keep your hair safe from UV damage.
- After spending time at the beach or pool, use apple cider vinegar or a clarifying shampoo to rinse off any leftover dirt.
Taking Care of Winter
- Fight dryness: Cold weather and heating up the house can make hair weak. Use creams and oils that are thicker.
- Protective styles like twists or braids can help keep your hair from breaking when you wear scarves, hats, or when it’s static.
- Don’t go outside with wet hair. Cold, dry air can make hair dry out and even break.
Last Thoughts
In short, you now know how to style curly hair. When you style curly hair, you don’t want to make it behave; you want to learn how to work with its natural texture. Curls can do well, look great, and be full of life with the right care. You just need to use the right hair care products to get started. Controlled Chaos has the best line of hair care products for curly hair. These will help bring out the natural curl pattern.
You shouldn’t brush curly hair when it’s dry because it can make it frizzy, break it, and change the curl pattern. Instead, use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently untangle the hair while it is wet and covered in conditioner.
