How to Care for Your Naturally Curly Hair

We are sure you know that there are different types of hair textures, with everything from straight to majorly tight curls seen around the world. Now with it becoming more and more popular to embrace your natural hair, we wanted to go over how you can take care of your locks and make sure they stay as healthy as possible! Check out our blog below to find out what you need to do to maintain your natural curls.

What Hair Type Do You Have?

The first step when planning how to take care of your hair is finding out which hair type you have. But did you know that there is an actual system for classifying those waves and curls?

Hair Types

• Type 1 – Type A hair is defined as being straight and smooth.
• Type 2 – This hair type is reserved for wavy hair that is most notable for being frizzy and resistant to styling.
• Type 3 – Used to define curls that can either appear as loose “s” shaped spirals to tight corkscrews, curly hair in this type has a definite shape and can be prone to breakage.
• Type 4 – Defined as natural hair, this type of hair faces many misconceptions but is thankfully becoming more and more appreciated! .

With so many hair types, it should come as no surprise that each hair type has a different set of “instructions” you can follow to help it look its best.

If your hair, or the hair of someone you love, classifies as a type 4, this blog is for you.

Not only will we define what sets your hair type apart from others, we will also cover many tips, tricks, and reminders to help keep your hair looking great!

Some Quick Facts to Remember About Natural Hair

• It is the driest and most brittle of all hair types.
• It is broken up into three different curl pattern types, 4a, 4b, 4c.
• It is identified as curls with a tightly coiled or zig-zag pattern.
• It is often defined as having a course or wiry texture.

Now that we know how to define your hair there are some things you are going to want to make sure you do to help you keep looking its best.

Tips to Care for Coily Hair

• Moisturize

  First things first, keeping your hair moisturized is the most important thing. Because type 4 hair is the driest and most brittle of all the hair types, creating and trapping moisture in the strands is vital.
  Deep condition once a week, and moisturize in between washes. If your hair feels exceptionally dry, use a shea butter or natural oil mask to help give it an added boost.

• Protect and Stretch

  Because your hair type is so tightly bound, stretching the hair into styles or braids after moisturizing can help some of those products to absorb into the hair follicle.
  Additionally, using protective styles such as cornrows or box braids can help limit breakage and lock-in product.

• Give Your Hair a Break!

  If you use protective styles on your hair, it’s important to remember to take a break now and then and let your hair be free! Take a break between each style to help your scalp breathe and to give you a chance to hydrate and heal your strands from the tight styling.

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  Wash Without Shampoo

  Strictly speaking, it’s best for your hair if you don’t wash it every day. Limiting the washes can help avoid breakage, and using quality products such as a clarifying shampoo can help limit it further. Just because you are washing your hair with shampoo, however, doesn’t mean you aren’t showing or cleaning your hair. Rinsing with water and using cleansing conditioners can help keep your hair fresh between washes, and keep the moisture locked in.

• Avoid the Cones

  Silicones that is. Silicones of any kind can be exceptionally bad for natural hair, so make sure you are reading labels and avoiding products that could be damaging.
  In addition to silicones, make sure you are avoiding products that also carry these chemical additives and try to buy organic products when possible.

  1. Sulfates
  2. Humectants (Depends on your homes humidity)
  3. Petrochemicals
  4. Anything that ends or starts with ‘one, ‘xane, and ‘onol

  Embrace Your Curls

  The most important thing you can do for your curls is to embrace them! The trend of showing off your natural curls isn’t going away and we’re so excited that people can feel confident showing off their beautiful locks!

In addition to following these steps to help keep your hair looking great, there are other small things you can be doing for your hair that will help make a big difference.

Additional Tips For Kinky Hair

• Oil is not moisture!– While it is important to moisturize, the type of moisturizer you use is important. Oils can be great to speed along the moisturizing process, but they only lock in the moisture that is already there. Make sure you are using oil alongside a moisturizer to experience the full benefits of the product.
• Sleep in style– Sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcases or using a headscarf made out of the same materials can really help to limit the amount of breakage your hair will experience while sleeping.
• Avoid the comb– This one might already be a law in your house, but it’s important so it bears repeating. You especially want to avoid combing your hair when it is dry. Unless of course it is loaded up with conditioner or another leave-in moisturizer.

Want to Learn More About Hair Care?

Taking care of your natural hair can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to! Following these steps and hints can help you to build a routine that can keep your hair looking and feeling great!
If you are interested in learning more about your hair, as well as hair in general, take a look at our cosmetology classes and see if a career in cosmetology is the right step for you.