How To Tame Frizz | 6 Curly Hair Tips (AD)

(AD) Having curly hair is both a blessing and a curse. Whether your natural curls are big and bouncy, or soft and wavy, there’s a high chance that your hair naturally looks pretty great with minimal styling. There are however issues that come along with curls, like frizz, humidity issues and hair having a more coarse texture. But there are a few things you can do to make it a little easier to manage with these easy curly hair styling tips.  

My hair type: I appreciate that not all hair is made the same and what works for me may not work for your hair, so I thought I’d explain what my hair is like before I share my tips on how I style mine.  

It’s a little bit of everything. My curl pattern is very unruly, some sections, particularly at the front where my hair is slightly shorter, have a tighter, more defined curl. The lengths at the back (thigh length) are more soft waves, with some bigger/ bouncier curls towards the lower half of my ponytail.  

Overall, I’d say my hair is normal in winter, thick in summer. I always experience more hair loss when my scalp is dry. Naturally, that’s more so in winter, so I tend to experience a little seasonal thinning.  

6 Curly Hair Tips 

Straighten before curl 

This sounds counterintuitive, I know. If you already have curly hair, why curl it? But if you’re not blessed with even curls and want to style them to be a more uniform bouncy curl, you may need to take an extra step. I find straightening my hair before I try to curl it the only way it works. It’s almost as if my natural hair resists against the curler and holds its true curl much easier than it takes the one I’m trying to put in. For an even bouncy curl, I have to start with straight hair.  

No/ less heat  

I know, I know. I just said to double up on the heat, now I’m saying use less? If you’re wanting ways to manage and maintain your natural hair rather than styling it, the less heat the better. All I get is a frizzy, puffy mess if I blow dry. Left to air dry, my hair isn’t as dry, and it holds a curl better. Not to mention there’s obviously less damage used in this method too.  

Brush less (& brush wet/ damp) 

Back to the frizz – nothing quite says game over like brushing a dry curl. It’s puffy, the flyaway hairs are everywhere and some of my curls have dropped a little. All things I want to avoid, so I brush my hair damp. I opt for damp rather than wet so I get less fallout and I’m not pulling on my hair follicles when they’re still fragile from the heat of the shower.  

Brushing damp means it’s still easier to get a comb/ brush through it and using detangling products designed to go in wet hair is still an option, but you avoid the dry brushing frizz and the extra loss you get from shower fresh hair.  

As a result, I only brush my hair on hair wash days (unless it really needs it), and I don’t wash everyday as I don’t want to strip it of its natural oils, so it doesn’t get brushed daily either.  

Sulfate Free Shampoo 

I find sulfate shampoos really drying to both my scalp and my hair, curlier hair is often more coarse anyway and we want to do everything we can to keep it soft, so try to avoid using too many harsh chemicals.  

Oils or conditioning treatments 

And speaking of keeping them soft, we need to some moisture back in too. Oils travel down curly hair with less ease than straight hair, so we need to add some extra of our own to maintain moisture levels. The oils also help to prevent frizz and unnecessary breakage.  

Natural Fibres  

You may find your curls easier to maintain if you switch to a silk pillowcase. The natural fibres in silk are more similar to your hair, they cause less friction, resulting in less damage and helps you maintain your natural oils by absorbing less while you sleep.  

Do you have any other curly hair tips or hacks that make it easier to manage day-to-day? 

Until next time, 

Sophie 

 

15