How to take care of your curls? 5 tips to improve your hair

In television commercials there are girls who sport dreamy curls, while at home sometimes it does not seem possible. In the day to day it is not so easy to obtain defined and controlled curls, wondering what the secret is. Although on television we already know that not everything is what it seems, there are ways to get the perfect curls.

Do you want to know how to take care of your curls? The first thing to know is that this type of hair requires different care than straight. There are some very specific tips that will help you discover the natural beauty of your curls and make them look spectacular.

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How to take care of your curls? 5 tips to improve your hair

Before you should know that the process to reach your ideal and dream curls, there may be a process of up to three weeks to see results. Don't despair, it's worth it! As you will see, it is not only about applying specialized products, there are other tips that you should follow.

Something very important that we must know is that curly hair dehydrates easily due to the characteristics. The main objective is to maintain and increase hydration, so it is necessary to avoid anything that dries it out. The natural fats present in the scalp are difficult to reach all of the hair and more to the ends.

1. How to wash curly hair?

To wash curly hair, you should follow some tips that are somewhat different from those for straight hair., being the first recommendation is not to wash it with shampoo daily. The shampoo removes natural fat and this after a while causes it to dry out. The ideal is to wash it every 10 or 15 days, no matter how strange it may seem.

You should choose a shampoo that contains sulfates but is light. Curl products available for sale do not always meet this requirement. You can get baby shampoos, they are usually more effective; Although they have sulfates, they are not aggressive with the hair. With sulfate shampoo, you should do a deep cleaning every now and then.

If you think that washing your hair every 10 or 15 days is too much for you, you can try using shampoo only once a week, but you must take care that the shampoo does not contain sulfates or alcohol. They are very aggressive with the hair, being ingredients that you should avoid in your curls.

At this point you must be thinking that without washing it often will look dirty, but do not worry. You must use conditioner. Conditioner cleanses it too, but doesn't dehydrate it. Rather, it can provide you with the hydration you need to make you look silky and shiny. Applying it daily little by little you will recover definition if you lost it.

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2. Using the conditioner

One of the most common doubts about how to care for curls is how to use the conditioner. You should choose a conditioner that does not contain silicones or parabens. These two ingredients dry out curly hair when exposed to them for long periods of time. Using the right conditioners will give your hair the properties it needs to make it look healthy and strong.

Products specialized in curly hair do not always meet the requirement of not using silicones or parabens. Silicones make hair look shiny and silky, so in the first applications it makes the curls look good, but then it causes dehydration. It is best to look for conditioners that say they do not contain silicones or parabens.

Having two types of conditioners is ideal. One light and one thicker. The light conditioner is suitable for applying to the roots. The thick conditioner is then applied to the rest of the hair. We recommend leaving it to act for a few minutes and rinse. You can also alternate this procedure with days when you only use the thick conditioner without applying it to the roots.

Another tip to know how to take care of your curls is to use an intensive mask on your hair once a week. Also look for one that does not contain silicone, and use it one day a week in place of the conditioner. It is necessary to let it act longer than you leave the regular conditioner. If you start to feel that your hair is rough or dry, stop using the mask, it may be saturated with protein.

3. Drying your curly hair

Another secret on how to take care of your curls is not to dry it with a towel. This may come as a surprise, but the fabrics the towels are made from dehydrate the hair. We must remember that what we want to avoid with curly hair are those things that dry it out. There are several options instead of using a towel.

The easiest is to wear an old cotton T-shirt. The cotton does not dry out and you can wrap your hair when you get out of the shower so that it does not splash water. If you have the option of letting it dry without wrapping it, you can also try it. It is important that when wrapping your hair in the T-shirt or cotton fabric, you gently squeeze your hair from the ends upwards.

If what you want is quick drying and you are used to using the dryer, you can use it for your curls. The difference is that you must use a diffuser. Usually the dryers include a special part that is the diffuser. It is best to dry the hair with medium heat; this way you don't dry it out.

Something great is that instead of the diffuser you can also use a strainer. Yes, a conventional strainer that you use to drain food in the kitchen! What should be done is to place it in the mouth of the dryer. Using a medium temperature can achieve an incredible result, even better than with the diffuser.

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4. How to comb the curls?

Combing the curls also has a different method than with straight hair. First of all, it is best to detangle your hair while in the shower. Like this, to the jet of water. After applying the conditioner and rinsing, use your fingers to detangle it or a thick comb. With this you will not mistreat your hair.

When you get out of the shower and dry it (remember to dry with your cotton shirt), comb with curl combing product and don't brush it anymore. Curl styling products are usually very effective, but those that do not contain silicones, parabens, or alcohol should be used. You can make a linseed gel yourself and use it to give it hold and shine.

Once you have the product in your hands, distribute it gently on the hair, without trying to straighten it. On the contrary, take the ends in the palm of your hand and gently press upwards as if trying to spring the strands of the hair.

You can also make your curls by strands. You can apply styling product and then define the curls. Try not to touch him again all day, all that rubbing is causing him to dehydrate.

5. Cut curly hair

Cutting curly hair requires a technique that not all stylists know about. Whether you want to wear it short or long, you should know that curly hair, unlike straight hair, is cut dry. You can believe it? They should not wash your hair before cutting it, it is best to cut it while dry and that way they give it the shape you are looking for.

You can choose to bring long, layered hair. This on curly hair looks spectacular. You can also go for short hair. The "bob" and "asymmetrical" cut look amazing with curly hair. However, it is best that you look for specialists in Chinese haircut, so that they give it the treatment it deserves.

Curly hair needs to be cut strand by strand to form the style you are looking for. Also, if they are going to rinse or dry it, they should know what types of shampoo to use. Drying it properly so as not to leave it fluffy and shapeless is also important.

Does everything seem very complicated? Do not despair! Little by little you will adopt the correct routine that will leave your curly hair as spectacular as the ones in the television commercials.

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Bibliographic references

• Cox, C. (1999). Good Hair Days - A History of British Styling. London: Quartet Books.