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Kraken
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Curly hair is relatively simple to maintain and can be a major looksmax, as long as you know how to treat it properly and what to avoid. This brief guide will take you through the basic principles of looking after your curls with some tips and recommendations
1. Shampoo and conditioner
Most contain sulphates and silicones which are fine for straight hair, but dehydrate and lock vital moisture out of curls, leaving them dry, frizzy and prone to tangling. Using sulphate and silicone-free products is essential to allow your curls to retain more of their natural oil and absorb beneficial ingredients
2. Styling
Even with suitable shampoo and conditioner, curls need some protection from frizz from a product that contains gelling agents. Gel or mousse should be applied when the hair is wet: when it is dry, the product will create a cast which can be gently scrunched out to leave your curls soft and defined. As a rule, never brush or comb curly hair, wet or dry; there are some exceptions such as a detangling comb or the Denman brush when dripping wet
3. Drying
You will notice that your curls are almost perfectly defined when wet and covered in gel. If you want them to stay that way, you must minimise disruption during the drying process. The best way to do this is to use a hair dryer on a low setting with a diffuser attachment: it gives you the heat you need to dry your hair quickly without the blast of air that blows curls into nothing. Alternatively, you can air dry without a towel; if you must, use a cotton t-shirt instead of a towel to gently soak up the excess water
4. Treatment and repair
Before the above can properly benefit your curls, you might need to repair any heat damage and remove any build-up of silicones and other ingredients. To do this, begin with a 'reset wash', using a shampoo that contains sulphates but NOT silicones to strip your hair. Then, use hair masks once a week to nourish and improve the condition of your hair
5. My routine
- During my evening shower, I shampoo and condition my hair with Umberto Giannini Curly Jelly Wash and Curl Jelly Care, then air dry or blow dry with a diffuser
- In the morning, I soak my hair under the shower and apply Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly, then blow dry with a diffuser
- I use the ghd Air hair dryer and a ghd diffuser
6. Product recommendations
- Cantu ($)
- Shea Moisture ($$)
- Maui Moisture ($$)
- Ouidad ($$$)
- Umberto Giannini (UK) ($$)
- Boots Essentials Curl Creme (UK) ($)
- LA Looks gel (US) ($)
- Eco Styler gel ($)
- Dyson Supersonic hair dryer ($$$)
- ghd Air hair dryer ($$)
7. Tips
- Hanging your head upside down whilst going through your routine can help with volume
- /r/curlyhair is a good resource if you need more techniques, product advice or information about porosity, protein etc.
- Bri'ish users, Eyal from Love Island uses the Boots curl cream I mentioned
- All of the above applies to coils (Afro hair) too, though a more high maintenance routine will likely be required. I am Caucasian with fine 3A curls
8. TL;DR
- No sulphates or silicones
- No brushing, combing or towelling
- Gel or mousse when wet for curl definition
- Air dry or blow dry with a diffuser to minimise frizz
tagging the minecrafters @Mouthbreath @larsanova69 @mamacookoil @portuguesecel @TraumatisedOgre @ArvidGustavsson @looksmaxxer234
1. Shampoo and conditioner
Most contain sulphates and silicones which are fine for straight hair, but dehydrate and lock vital moisture out of curls, leaving them dry, frizzy and prone to tangling. Using sulphate and silicone-free products is essential to allow your curls to retain more of their natural oil and absorb beneficial ingredients
2. Styling
Even with suitable shampoo and conditioner, curls need some protection from frizz from a product that contains gelling agents. Gel or mousse should be applied when the hair is wet: when it is dry, the product will create a cast which can be gently scrunched out to leave your curls soft and defined. As a rule, never brush or comb curly hair, wet or dry; there are some exceptions such as a detangling comb or the Denman brush when dripping wet
3. Drying
You will notice that your curls are almost perfectly defined when wet and covered in gel. If you want them to stay that way, you must minimise disruption during the drying process. The best way to do this is to use a hair dryer on a low setting with a diffuser attachment: it gives you the heat you need to dry your hair quickly without the blast of air that blows curls into nothing. Alternatively, you can air dry without a towel; if you must, use a cotton t-shirt instead of a towel to gently soak up the excess water
4. Treatment and repair
Before the above can properly benefit your curls, you might need to repair any heat damage and remove any build-up of silicones and other ingredients. To do this, begin with a 'reset wash', using a shampoo that contains sulphates but NOT silicones to strip your hair. Then, use hair masks once a week to nourish and improve the condition of your hair
5. My routine
- During my evening shower, I shampoo and condition my hair with Umberto Giannini Curly Jelly Wash and Curl Jelly Care, then air dry or blow dry with a diffuser
- In the morning, I soak my hair under the shower and apply Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly, then blow dry with a diffuser
- I use the ghd Air hair dryer and a ghd diffuser
6. Product recommendations
- Cantu ($)
- Shea Moisture ($$)
- Maui Moisture ($$)
- Ouidad ($$$)
- Umberto Giannini (UK) ($$)
- Boots Essentials Curl Creme (UK) ($)
- LA Looks gel (US) ($)
- Eco Styler gel ($)
- Dyson Supersonic hair dryer ($$$)
- ghd Air hair dryer ($$)
7. Tips
- Hanging your head upside down whilst going through your routine can help with volume
- /r/curlyhair is a good resource if you need more techniques, product advice or information about porosity, protein etc.
- Bri'ish users, Eyal from Love Island uses the Boots curl cream I mentioned
- All of the above applies to coils (Afro hair) too, though a more high maintenance routine will likely be required. I am Caucasian with fine 3A curls
8. TL;DR
- No sulphates or silicones
- No brushing, combing or towelling
- Gel or mousse when wet for curl definition
- Air dry or blow dry with a diffuser to minimise frizz
tagging the minecrafters @Mouthbreath @larsanova69 @mamacookoil @portuguesecel @TraumatisedOgre @ArvidGustavsson @looksmaxxer234
