Having naturally curly hair can seem like the biggest blessing and the biggest curse all on the same day. I’ve been a natural curly gal my whole life, but I haven’t always been accepting or knowledgeable of my wild and unruly main. I remember struggling with my big frizzy hair as a child to the point of tears, never wanting to wear it down out of fear of being unable to tame it afterward. It wasn’t until I was about 14-years-old that I began to embrace my natural locks and attempt to learn how to “train” my hair. Every curly head’s curl pattern is unique and special to them, some are frizzier, kinkier, wavier, looser, or wilder than others, but all are beautiful. It took years of trial and error to find a great daily routine, but I finally got it down and offer it to all curly heads to try on their own:
- I shampoo once a week, and condition every other day using the Curl Perfection line by Pantene Pro-V, then towel dry a bit using a Turbie Towel. All of these products can be bought at any Target or Wal-Mart.
- I apply oil to my scalp and ends of my hair, constantly rotating the type of oil I use to make sure my skin and hair don’t get “too used to” any one particular product. My top three pure oils of choice are olive oil, Moroccan argan oil, and tea tree oil. There are many different manufacturers of these essential oils and I’ve been open to try them all. I usually find them at any Target, Wal-Mart, beauty supply store, or the beauty aisle of any local drug store like Walgreens or CVS.
- I use Moroccan Oil brand Curl Defining Crème throughout my entire head. I separate my hair into five parts—two on the back half of my head, two on the front sides of my head, and one section at the crown—and work two pumps of product carefully through each part, separating my curls as I go to really add long-term definition. This crème is a bit harder to find than the other products because not all beauty supply stores carry the brand, but I find mine at a chain of beauty supply stores in the East Bay called Beauty Center.
- I apply a handful of gel over the already defined curls in three sections—the crown being one, and the rest of my hair parted down the middle into two sections. I use a really inexpensive gel—less than $5 at Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, and CVS—called LA Looks Sports Gel. I’ve used other gels throughout the years when stores are out of LA Looks and I need gel, and usually, any maximum hold gel will suffice. Tip: LA Looks Sports Gel is blue so I tend to get whichever other blue gel is available when I need a substitute.
Now I understand that what works for me might not necessarily work for all curl types, but I would definitely recommend trying all the products I mention here to every single curly-haired beauty to see what results you get. My curls are always soft, tight, bouncy, and defined for days when I complete my routine. My hair has never looked healthier or more beautiful, and that’s my wish for all my curly-haired brethren around the world.
