Curl Crush Season: 5 Ways to Love Your Curls

Oh curly hair, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways… There’s little more gorgeous than a beautiful head of curls. Curly hair can be your most showstopping, jaw-dropping feature… But it can also cause a LOT of headaches. 

Many people with curly hair stress out about ways to take care of their curls. The good news is that curly hair can be just as simple to take care of as straight or wavy hair, once you’ve got a good idea of what you’re doing and a solid routine built in.

Today, we’re breaking down 5 ways to love your curls: everything you need in a hair care routine to keep those gorgeous curls supple, shiny, moisturized, and ready for the spotlight! 

1. Wash with curl-friendly products, but not too often! 

A common mistake people with curly hair make is washing their curls too often. (In fact, over-washing is a major problem across the entire haircare industry!) Most hair types, with the exception of oily hair, actually do worse when you wash them daily. The trick is to wait a day or two between washes — but only go as long as feels comfortable to you. If you’re noticing oily buildup or an extremely itchy scalp, it’s time to hop in the shower.

For curl-friendly shampoos and conditioners, look for products with natural moisturizers, like this CHI Aloe Vera Curl Enhancing Shampoo. Aloe vera and other natural oils are nature’s detanglers, and the light froth associated with curl-friendly shampoo allows you to clean every curl to perfection without leaving buildup or residue behind.  

2. Keep those curls moisturized.

Believe it or not, our hair gets thirsty, too! Curly hair, in particular, tends to be dryer than other hair types. Nourish your curls with moisturizing ingredients like natural oils, cetyl or stearyl alcohol, or coconut milk. The best way to do this is to use a high-quality conditioner in the shower (we love Chi’s Aloe Vera Detangling Conditioner and Biosilk’s Coconut Conditioner). If you’re having trouble detangling your hair, use a light amount of conditioner before you shampoo to work out those tangles, then apply a generous amount of conditioner after you shampoo and let it soak in for maximum moisture. 

After washing, the All About Curls Bouncy Cream is an excellent choice for styling those curls. This styling cream is lightweight, focusing on moisture rather than hardcore control. (Anyone with curly hair who’s ever had CRUNCHY CURLS knows how awful of a feeling that is.) Instead, this moisturizing styling cream keeps those curls light and — dare we say it — bouncy for that effortless, “I woke up like this” stunning look.

3. Protect curly hair from the sun and heat.

This goes for styling heat, too. Curly hair is at high risk for brittle breakage due to heat or sun exposure. Keep those curls looking gorgeous and healthy with plenty of breaks from the sun — it’s a major bonus that wide-brimmed hats look AMAZING on curly-haired folks! Besides covering up, a great way to protect curly hair from heat damage is to use styling products with plenty of moisturizing and heat-defense ingredients. 

You can go a few different ways with this: A maximum-control styling gel like CHI Aloe Vera Curls Defined Control Gel can act as a natural barrier between your hair and the sun on days you know you’ll be on the move. If you don’t want as heavy of a product, a texture spray like this David Douglas addition can add moisture and heat prevention without the extra weight. For a simple, throw-it-into-a-ponytail-on-a-hot-day hair treatment, a natural oil like CHI Aloe Vera Oil adds a delicious touch.

4. Focus on detangling.

All right, hands up if you’ve ever sat with a brush for hours, struggling to get through those tangled curls and just feeling like you’re yanking your hair out at the roots. Yup, us too. The secret to long-lasting curl care is to make sure your hair is detangled every day, even (and especially!) when you’re between washes. You can get this done by simply running your fingers or a wide-toothed comb through your hair a few times a day. 

For more stubborn tangles, try a gentle moisturizing product like this Wet Brush Time Release Detangler. Apply a few spritzes to dry or damp hair, then work through the tangles with your hands or a wide-toothed comb. Seriously, your curls will thank you.

5. Don’t forget scalp care, either! 

Finally, one of the best ways to care for curly hair is to take care of your scalp at the same time. This is especially true between washes — since curly hair shouldn’t be washed more often than every couple of days, curly-haired scalps can start to feel neglected. This leads to gross and uncomfortable things like dandruff, itchiness, and even skin/scalp issues that require a visit to a dermatologist to fix.

The secret is to keep your scalp clean, nourished, and oil-free. Dry shampoos applied at the roots of your hair can nourish dry scalps between washes. We like CHI’s “Vibes” series for this: The lightweight dry shampoo absorbs pesky oil gathering on your scalp and leaves your skin feeling light and refreshed. On the other hand, if you need to use an anti-dandruff shampoo, make sure you’re ONLY washing your scalp with it — let it soak in for a couple of minutes, rinse, and then use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner on the rest of your hair. 

Did we miss any of your favorite curl-care tips? Let us know! We LOVE to see what you’re doing with your BeautySupply123 journey — share your photos and be sure to tag us @beautysupply123 on Instagram!