How to Make Your Curly Hair Soft in Three Easy Steps

For years and years, I was in denial about my curly hair. I did anything I could to make it straight damaging my hair in the process. Finally I realized that if I was going to have any hope of repairing my hair, I'd first have to accept that, one, I have curly hair, and two, I'd have to embrace my curly hair. Along the way, I learned how to make my curly hair soft again.

How to make your curly hair soft, step 1: Let your curly hair revert back to its natural state. This is often the hardest step in repairing your curly hair. It means you have to put down the brush, the hair dryer, the flat iron, and most styling products that really only just suck the moisture out of your hair. It means actually letting your curly hair do its curly thing. Don't worry if your hair seems frizzy at first. You're not doomed to frizz forever. In fact, embrace this opportunity to be creative with your hair. Pull your hair back with braids, buns, twists, clips, whatever suits you. Just wash your curly hair, let it dry naturally and pull it up.

How to make your curly hair soft, step 2: After following step 1, you'll be able to see where your curly hair is most damaged and dry. If it's mostly just the ends, then you're lucky. Just have the ends cut off. If it's a good portion of your hair and you don't want to lose your length, then at least try to get a trim every two months. Next, after taking care of the ends, step 2 involves using a leave-in conditioner. I use Garnier Fructis Leave-In Conditioning Cream, Sleek & Shine. After shampooing and conditioning your hair as usual, spread the leave-in conditioner through your hair. Let your curly hair dry naturally. Follow this step for a couple of weeks before moving on to step 3. You'll start to see which parts of your hair need more conditioner and which parts need less.

How to make your curly hair soft, step 3: Using an anti-frizz serum on your curly hair. Although applying the leave-in conditioner in step 2 adds much needed moisture to your dry, damaged curly hair, an anti-frizz serum will give extra frizz control (especially on those humid, summer days), as well as some extra shine. After applying the leave-in conditioner, run a little bit of anti-frizz serum through your damp hair. I like to use Garnier Fructis Anti-Frizz Serum, Sleek & Shine. Let your hair dry naturally.

Although it may take many months to start reversing the damage in your curly hair, after about a month your curly hair will start to feel softer and be more manageable.