The Ultimate Guide to Styling Curly Hair

Styling curly hair can be a real challenge, but armed with the right products and techniques, anyone can have a head full of frizz-free locks. Products by Ouidad, Mop Top, and Curly Hair Solutions will give you the best results because they are tailored to the special needs of curly hair. However, a good product's potential can never be realized without a proper routine. To keep your hair at its best, your hair routine should consist of four steps: cleanse, condition, style, and finish.

First, cleanse your hair using a mild shampoo. If you have loose curls, don't shampoo more than four to five times a week. For medium and corkscrew curls, no more than three times a week. Those with kinky or tight curls should avoid shampooing more than twice a week since this hair type is fragile. Choose a shampoo that has a low amount of sodium laureth sulfate and instead has ammonium lauryl sulfate.

To begin, put a dime-sized amount of shampoo in your hand. Rub your hands until the shampoo lathers. Then, run your hands through your hair. Do not pile your hair on top of your head and never pour shampoo directly on your hair. Massage your scalp gently with your fingers (not your nails) for a minute and then rinse. There is no need to repeat the shampoo process.

Conditioning is the most important part of your hair care routine in addition to bi-weekly or monthly deep conditioning treatments. The most effective treatments require heat such as Ouidad's Deep Treatment. Avoid products that do not require heat because there will be little to no effect on your hair's health or condition.

If you are not due for a deep conditioning treatment, use a daily conditioner that best fits your needs. For example, dryness is common complaint among curly heads because the oil from the scalp has a hard time traveling down the spiral of each strand. In this case, a conditioner for dry hair would be a good choice.

Start with a quarter-sized amount of conditioner and begin applying it to your hair beginning at the ends and using more conditioner as needed. Move your fingers through your hair as if they were playing a piano. This motion ensures a thorough application of conditioner. After distributing the conditioner, use a wide-toothed comb remove tangled, matted, and excess hair. Slowly run the comb through your hair beginning from the bottom and working your way up. If you find a lot of hair in your comb, do not be alarmed. The average person loses over 100 strands of hair a day. However, with curly hair the strands stay "locked" in the curl shape and do not fall out like straight hair. Combine this with not brushing or washing hair everyday, and those hairs add up. By the time you comb out your hair in the shower you will have an accumulation of about 300 strands in your brush.

After your hair is free of tangles, dry your hair with a microfiber towel or t-shirt. The tight knit of the t-shirt or microfiber do not contribute to frizz like the loops in regular terry cloth towels. Start at the ends and gently squeeze your hair with the cloth working upwards. Do not rub your hair with the cloth. You are now ready to style your hair.

Finding the right styling product for your individual hair type and climate is a must. If you live in a humid area, finding a high humidity gel will be your best asset in fighting moisture in the air. A moisturizing gel can also be a good choice, especially for those with corkscrew and kinky curls.

To apply gel, begin with a dime-sized amount and distribute it through your hands by rubbing them together. Smooth your hands over your hair to quickly get rid of any frizz that might be caused by the humidity in the bathroom. Then, apply another dime-sized amount of gel, this time focusing on a section of your hair. Depending on how much hair you have you could have anywhere from three to four sections or more. After applying the product to a section, rake your fingers through. The space between your fingers will determine how large or small the curls will be. Rake from roots to ends and hold on to the ends with your hand and shake the strands once. This will lock in the curl size. Continue until all of the hair has been raked and coated with product.

To finish, use duckbill clips to lift your roots. This will prevent the roots from laying flat on your head and will speed up drying time. Open the clip no more than half an inch and guide it through your hair either from the front or from the side. The amount of clips needed varies from person to person, but after a few tries you will find the right amount necessary to lift the hair from your scalp.

At this time you can choose to let your hair naturally dry, or use a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment using low heat. If you choose to use a dryer, do not completely dry your hair, leave it slightly damp to prevent frizz.

Curly hair can be a real challenge, but following a routine that respects your hair will leave it healthy and frizz-free.