So, you've decided to embrace your curls and wear them out in cute hairstyles but every time you try styling your hair, you end up with a frizzy mess instead of the big beautiful curls you imagined. Trust us, we get it. Everyone with curly hair has had a few styling mishaps but once you figure out how to fix your mistakes, you'll never have to worry about failed hairstyles again.
Lucky for you, we're here to help you do just that. In this article, we'll be discussing the dos and don'ts of styling curly hair. Plus we'll be revealing some expert tricks for getting definition and volume. Read ahead to discover our top styling tips for curly hair.
Dos
Do Wash Your Hair Before Styling
A good curly hairstyle starts with clean hair and scalp. If your hair is weighed down by dirt and oil, your styling products will not be properly absorbed and you will end up with the wrong results. However, since curly hair is prone to dryness, using a hydrating shampoo like our Manuka Honey Shampoo is key for maintaining the health of your strands. If you use a harsh shampoo with harsh ingredients, your hair will turn out frizzy and dry. Additionally, it is very important to follow up your wash with a conditioner like our Moisture Rich Conditioner or Manuka Honey Deep Conditioning Treatment to smoothen your cuticles and replenish your curls with moisture.
Do Moisturise Your Hair Before Styling
Trying to style curly hair when it is dry often results in frizzy and lacklustre results. Additionally, if you are doing a hairstyle like braids or twists that require a lot of manipulation, styling your hair without moisture can even result in a lot of breakage. To make your hair more manageable and easier to style, moisturise with a nourishing leave-in conditioner like our Manuka Honey Leave-in Conditioner before styling. This is especially important in the winter when the harsh weather can make your hair very brittle and prone to frizz.
Do Use A Diffuser
Using a diffuser to dry your hair is a great way to cut down on your drying time and minimise shrinkage. This is especially important if you live in an area with a lot of humidity or during the winter when you don’t have enough time to wait for your hair to air dry completely before going outside. Exposing damp hair to such weather conditions can result in a lot of frizz so it is better to diffuse your hair to prevent this.
Do Work In Sections
When styling your hair, divide it into small or medium-sized sections to allow you to reach every hair strand and properly coat it with your styling products. This will ensure you get the best curl definition and shine.
Do Detangle Your Hair Thoroughly Before Styling
Knots and tangles can your hair feel extremely unmanageable, making it significantly harder to style. Before styling your hair, use a comb or brush to thoroughly detangle from ends to roots. Additionally, if you have very thick or coily hair, it is better to detangle it in small sections instead of trying to detangle all the hair at once.
Do Define Your Curls Based On Your Hair Type
Curly hair comes in many forms, each with its unique features so each one may require slightly different techniques to achieve defined curls. If you have loose curls or waves in the type 2 or 3 range, you can define your curls by simply scrunching and brushing your curls after applying a curl-enhancing styler like our Curl Elongating Gel, Curl Activating Smoothie, or our Curling Mousse. However, if you have tighter type 4 coils, finger curling your hair in sections or using curling tools like perm rods will give you the best results.
Do Fluff Your Hair For Volume
After styling your hair, it is very important to fluff your curls to achieve more volume. If you are worried about the possibility of messing up your curl definition, don’t worry. As long as you gently fluff only a few sections, your definition will still remain in place.
Do Layer Your Styling Products
If you want to achieve good results, then you need to layer your hair products. If you’re depending on only one product like a curl creme, you may not end up with the results you want. After enhancing your curl pattern with our Curling Creme or Curl Activating Smoothie, follow up with something like our Flaxseed Oil Mousse or Curl Elongating Gel that will give you long-lasting hold while further defining your hair.
Do Finish And Seal Your Hairstyles With An Oil
Applying a little bit of oil on your hair after styling your hair is a great way to seal moisture into your hair and improve its overall shine. However, it is best to do it before fluffing your curls. Once your hair is completely dry, pour some of our Hair & Scalp Oil on your fingers and rub it down the length of your hair as you fluff and separate your curls.
Don't's
Dont Touch The Hair While It Is Still Wet
Once your hair is wet and coated with styling products, do not touch it until it is completely dry to avoid causing frizz and messing up your curl clumps. Whether you want to fluff or separate your curls, wait until your hair is 100% dry before touching it.
Don't Go Overboard With Heat Styling Tools
Using excessive heat on your hair while styling can result in a lot of damage and breakage over time. So, although it may be tempting to grab your flat iron every chance you get, it is better to keep the heat styling to a minimum.
Don't Style Your Hair When Harsh Products
Using styling products that contain harsh ingredients like alcohol can dry out your curls and result in extremely frizzy hair. They may give you decent results immediately after styling, but after a day or two, your hair will start to look rough and frizzy. Instead, opt for effective and nourishing styling products with healthy oils and humectants like the formulas in our Stylers Bundle.
Don't Go To bed Without Protecting Your Hair
If you want your hairstyle to last long, never go to bed without protecting your hair with a satin bonnet or scarf. Leaving your hair open when you go to bed exposes it to a lot of friction since it will rub against the fabric of your bedding and get frizzy and dry as the days go by.
Now that you know what mistakes to avoid when styling your curly hairstyles you can focus on perfecting your favourite hairstyles and creating some beautiful looks with your curls. However, beyond styling techniques, your styling products are equally important. If you want flawless shiny curls that last for days be sure to use the nourishing products in our Stylers Bundle.