hey i have curly hair - i used to straighten it but i have embraced the curls lately =o) just soo much easier!
i was my hair with herbal essences curl shampoo and conditioner (smells AMAZING!) i put a curl cream type thing through it (still trying to find the perfect one!) and use aussie sprunch spray and mouse it (either a curling one or i found one last week specifically for long hair which i thought was amazing because its lighter and my hair is more bouncy!) and i put a towel back on my head and leave it to dry like that for a bit with product in and it seems to give it more bounce too =o) i neeverr use a blow dryer - i look like a bad throwback to the 80s huge perms!
I have long curly hair. I only wash about 2-3X a week. I use Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner made for curly hair. I let the conditioner sit in my hair for at least 5 minutes. I comb my hair with the conditioner still in it, then rinse it. After I am done, I let my hair hand upside down, then I finger comb it so I don't get the curls frizzy.
After letting it towel dry for 10 minutes or so, I scrunch in some mousse made for curly hair (it's called "Shine" something. It's a gray, pink and black bottle). When it's finally dry, I put in some shine serum.
It seems all very time consuming, but it's not that bad. On days I don't wash my hair, I just throw it in a ponytail or bun.
A few years ago, I shaved my head with a friend who had cancer(she's cancer free now!). Before, I had somewhat wavy hair, but it grew back a lot curlier. I still havent adjusted to the change, and I can only get my hair to look good on days it wants to or when I straighten it. I would LOVE to give my chi a break and be able to go au naturale more often :]
So! Feel free to share your routine, tips, necessary products, etc to get more maintained curls.
If it helps, I keep my hair really long and layered near the ends.
Aww that is soo sweet of you to do. Such a great friend! Tell her congratulations!
I have somewhat wavy hair also but I just try to keep it all natural. No products, no straightening...well sometimes, just for special occasions. I actually want to curl my hair but it never works. My hair and curling iron...we fight!!! hahaha.
I have wavy hair that curls in parts, I currently use cheap hair conditioner to wash my hair. Like sauve, alberto etc. A cheap conditioner that lathers a little bit in your hands. Makes my hair happy and cuts down on frizz.
I have really curly hair. I use this stuff and I love it. It makes my curls so soft and not frizzy. It works well with a difuser too. I usually let my hair dry naturally though.
My hair is getting more and more curly as I get older and the best trick I learned from friends with curly hair is to NEVER ever brush it. Comb through once when wet with a wide toothed comb and then don't try to brush again. Combing if absolutely necessary is ok, but avoid hair brushes and brushing. Doing so can cause/make worse the dreaded frizzies.
I also don't shampoo everyday, but if your hair is really out of control, don't shampoo just use conditioner everyday and shampoo every 2 or three days. I don't use heat on my hair since I never seem to have time, so I can't help there.
It's kind of pricey, and I can't afford it often, but I LOVE the Cibu line of products. They have a great shine serum/frizz reducer that is wonderful.
My hair is really wavy I think (not sure yet) and I still haven't figured out what works, but I think it's honestly different for everyone! I tried 3 months of no poo and my hair was simultaneously greasy and dry all the time, but I'm trying the CG method now and washing my hair often with a silicone-free conditioner and I'm not getting any grease at ALL (haven't used shampoo in 11 days.. the conditioner really DOES remove extra grease if you scrub!) but I'm getting buildup either from the conditioner (Suave Naturals Ocean Breeze) or my water, so that my hair is no longer able to soak up moisture, so I still might have to use a mild shampoo once a week or so for that. I'm not sure! I think we just have to keep experimenting until we find something that works for US. Hair is like fingerprints... no one's is exactly the same!
I never really appreciated my curls until maybe 3 years ago, now i refuse to straighten my hair.
I have a very simple routine.
1. I do not own a hairbrush. I have not brushed my hair in 3 years! I wash my hair every other day (when i have the facilities) and I use conditioner to finger comb through all the knots. My favourite shampoo/conditioner is john friedas curl around. Aussie works well too.
2. Rinse with cold water. This reduces frizz and makes your hair look shiny.
3. While still wet I define my hair strands (I shake my head around for a bit). Seperating the strands gives it more freedom to curl as it dries and so you don't get odd bits of straightish hair.
4. After a short towel dry I apply Trevor Sorbe Curl Cream. Unfortunately i think you can only get this in the UK but it's the only curl defining product that's worked for me. You put a little blob in your palms, rub hands together then crunch your hair whilst coating the strands (i do this with my hair hanging down while i'm upside down)
5. Let dry
No Nos
Do not brush your hair when it's dry ( I don't ever).
Do not blow dry - you'll end up with a hairdo which will bring you back to the 80s.
I would say, find a good hairdresser. All naturally curly hair is different and unique. What works for one will not work for all.
With my hair, the outer layer of hair is curly, and the under layer is wavy to nearly straight. So the back hung weird while I had a frizzy curly mess on top. Hard to explain. My wonderful hairdresser knew what to do with this once I found her! She cut my hair upside down! I flipped my hair over and she cut it that way. Now, the underneath layer lays perfectly with the curlier outer layer.
All naturally curly hair is different and unique. What works for one will not work for all.