Top Tips On How To Style Curly Hair

First, determine what is curly hair type. Types of curls are 3A, 3B, 3C which vary from loose to tight curls, and 4A, 4B, 4C which are kinky or coily curls. They are most common in African Americans. Second, understand your hair porosity. This means the ability to absorb moisture. High porosity means your hair loses moisture as fast as it absorbs. Low porosity means the hair cuticles are tightly packed and don't easily absorb moisture. To love and embrace your curls, we will tell you on how to style curly hair naturally. Following our tips will help in achieving bouncy, hydrated curls that you won't stop flaunting.

Sulphates can strip away the natural oils from our scalp and hair. This can cause further dryness and curly frizzy hair. Sulphate-free shampoo and conditioners are gentler and help retain the hair's natural oils, keeping and hydrated and moisturised. Use Love Beauty and Planet Onion, Blackseed Oil & Patchouli Sulphate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner. Made with plant-based cleansers, this shampoo contains onion and blackseed oil that help strengthen hair and nourish scalp. The shampoo and conditioner are also safe for colour-treated curls.

Deep conditioners or hair masks provide intense hydration, nourishment and repair to the hair strands. Curly hair tends to be drier than straight hair and needs to be infused with moisture. Deep conditioners also help soften and nourish the hair, enhancing the natural curl pattern and promoting more defined and frizz-free curls. They also help in damage repair and strengthening, leading to healthier and resilient curls.

Love Beauty and Planet Onion, Blackseed Oil & Patchouli Hair Mask helps reduce hair fall and strengthens the hair. Onion oil is known to reduce hair fall, promote hair growth and add strength to the hair. On the other hand, blackseed oil is known to nourish the scalp for healthy and strong hair.

Curly hair is more prone to breakage and split ends owing to its dry and frizzy nature. Oils are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins and nutrients that nourish and condition the hair. Oiling also improves blood circulation, which in turn promotes hair growth. Do not use heavy oils as they can weigh down the curls.

We recommend using Indulekha Bringha Ayurvedic Oil. This oil is clinically proven to grow new hair and reduce hair fall. The oil contains main ingredients like Amla, Vatadha, Svethkutaja and Bringharaj. Amla contains vitamin C which is known to increase blood circulation and strengthen hair follicles. While svetakutaja is known for its anti-microbial and anti-dandruff properties that promote healthy scalp. Vatadha is a rich source of protein and maintains hair thickness, and bringharaj is rich in antioxidants and minerals that help reduce hair fall.

Moisture retention is crucial for curly hair. Applying styling products like leave-in conditioner, gel or mousse on wet hair helps to seal in the moisture and prevent excessive drying. The products create a barrier that helps to trap moisture within the hair shaft. Wet hair also helps to clump the curls together enhancing curl definition. It also allows better distribution and penetration of the product throughout the hair strands and minimises frizz. Applying products on wet hair enables you to manipulate and shape the hair more easily.

Most of the curly-haired girls struggle to keep the hair intact at night while sleeping. You may want to try the infamous pineapple technique to keep your curls protected at night. Tie your hair into a loose ponytail at the highest part of your head. Either sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase or protect your hair with a satin bonnet or silk scarf before sleeping. This method minimises friction between the strands and the pillow, thus, reducing frizz and breakage. Simply shake out your curls the next day for those voluminous soft curls.

Curly hair tends to have longer drying time due to its density and texture. Diffusers help speed up the drying process by evenly distributing the airflow and heat, ensuring that the hair dries more uniformly. The diffused airflow dries the hair without disturbing the natural curl formation, thus, helps minimise frizz. They also can help add volume and lift the roots of curly hair.

During monsoons, it gets difficult to leave the curly hair open as humidity in the air can cause extra frizz and limp curls. Try out these cute curly hairstyles to flaunt this rainy season.

• Topknot: A topknot is the most effortless curly hairstyle. Gather your hair into a ponytail and tie it with an elastic. Wrap your hair around the base of the ponytail and secure it with bobby pins. Gently tug the bun for an unkempt bun look.
• Sleek Ponytail: Apply a lightweight gel or mousse in the crown section. Use a boar brush to pull the top section of your hair back into a sleek pony. Ruffle or slightly backcomb the hair behind for extra volume.
• Braided Look: One of the most versatile and protective hairstyles are braids. Try Dutch Braid, French Braid or a simple three strand braid for cute yet stylish hairstyle.

A. Comb curly hair only when it is wet, with conditioner on. This will ensure a great slip and will prevent the curls from tugging and pulling. Dry combing can lead to breakage and frizz.

A. On non-wash days, refresh the curls by spritzing them with water or a curl refresher spray and gently scrunch them to revive the shape.

A. Deep conditioning once a week is a must for curly hair. Also, adjust your deep conditioning routine as per your hair requirements. If your hair feels weighed down and greasy, you may be deep conditioning too frequently. On the other hand, if they are too dry or lack elasticity, you may need to increase the frequency of your deep conditioning sessions.

A love-hate relationship with your curls depends on your haircare routine. It may take a few trials and errors to find out what products are suitable for your curls. Once your curly hair style routine is in place, you won't be able to wait to flaunt your bouncy, luscious and vibrant curls.