How to Care for Your Curly Hair

Last Updated: October 21, 2021 References Approved

Curly hair requires some special considerations when it comes to care. Curly hair tends to be drier and more prone to tangles than straight hair, so you'll have to be careful about washing, conditioning, and styling your hair. You should limit how often you shampoo, and use products to keep your hair moisturized. When visiting a salon, make sure you request a dry cut and only cut your hair when necessary.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Washing Curly Hair

1
Use shampoo and conditioners designed for damaged hair. Curly hair is dryer than regular hair, and because of this it's more prone to damage. It's a good idea to baby your hair slightly during the shampooing process if you have curly hair. Purchase shampoos made for damaged hair, which include milder ingredients that are less taxing on hair.^{[1]
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- Make sure to buy salon products and not drugstore products; drugstore shampoos and conditioners are often diluted, making them less effective.
- If you can't find a shampoo for dry or damaged hair, some stores sell shampoos for curly hair specifically.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Christine George
  Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
  Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} The formula in these shampoos are similar to the formula in most products sold for damaged hair.
2
Limit shampooing your hair. If you have curly hair, you should not shampoo it every day. Because curly hair is typically also dry, it doesn’t need to be washed as often as straight hair. Shampooing too frequently can dry out your hair and cause it to look frizzier.^{[3]
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Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}^{[4]
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- Shampoo your hair no more than twice a week.
- When you do shampoo, you can expect some tangles afterwards. Curly hair is very prone to tangles. Brush it gently to avoid damaging your hair.
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3
Co-wash your hair regularly. Co-washing simply means conditioning your hair in the shower but not adding shampoo. This can be particularly beneficial to curly hair, as it needs moisture replenished more often than other hair types.^{[5]
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- Read product labels before choosing a conditioner. Products that contain silicone-based ingredients, which are ingredients that end in "-one", should be avoided. Such products will be very harsh on your hair.
- After conditioning your hair, see how it feels. If you hair feels spongy or mushy, you may be overdoing it. You usually only need a quarter-sized drop of conditioner.^{[7]
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- If you have dermatitis, co-washing may make your condition worse. Talk to a dermatologist before you begin co-washing.
- Keep in mind that while co-washing is great for adding moisture to your hair, it doesn’t clean it.
4
Deep condition when your hair feels dry or damaged. Deep conditioning treatments are important to replenish moisture in curly hair that has dried out. If your hair starts to feel frizzy and dry, do a deep conditioning treatment and see if it helps.^{[8]
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- Apply a conditioner to your hair before getting into the shower. Place a shower cap over your head, covering your hair completely. Shower with the cap in place. The heat and steam from the shower helps lock in the conditioner's moisture.
- When you're done, rinse out the conditioner and brush as usual.
- For a deeper conditioning treatment, sit under a heated dryer while the conditioner processes.
5
Use a t-shirt over a towel for drying curly hair. Curly hair may not take well to being dried with a towel. A towel can irritate your hair, causing frizz.^{[9]
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Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} Instead, use a light t-shirt to gently dab your hair dry.^{[10]
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- Ideally, you should go for a t-shirt made out of a lighter material.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Styling Curly Hair

1
Use a diffuser when you blow dry. Diffusers help to evenly disperse the airflow of the blow drier, and also set and scrunch the curls. Place a diffuser over your hair dryer before blow drying your hair.^{[11]
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- You should always apply a heat protectant before blow drying your hair.
- Flip your hair over your head. Start diffusing at the roots, and stop at the midway point between your hair and your roots. This should give your hair some volume for the day.
- Use a lower setting on your blow dryer. Limit blow drying to twice a week to avoid drying out your hair. Curly hair should normally dry naturally.
2
Detangle your hair with your fingers and a wide-toothed comb. Something like a paddle brush is not appropriate for curly hair. Regular brushing can cause split ends and frizz. If you have tangles, start working them out with your fingers and then finish with a wide-toothed comb.^{[12]
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- Never start brushing at your roots. This can cause both pain and breakage. Start the detangling process at the end of your hair and work your way up towards your roots.
- The wide-tooth comb should be able to comb out some tangles. You may have to use your fingers at the same time as the comb to work out more difficult tangles.
3
Use a heat protectant and low heat setting when flat ironing. As curly hair is prone to being drier than average hair, you should never flat iron at a high heat. Excessive use of heat treatments like a flat iron can cause your curls to grow limp. To keep your hair healthy, make sure to spray your hair with a heat protectant before straightening and keep your flat iron on a low setting.^{[13]
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- Never set a flat iron higher than 400 degrees. If your flat iron only comes with a high and low setting, use the low setting.
- Do not flat iron too often. If your curls seem to be becoming limp, or your hair becomes very frizzy, you may want to avoid heat treatments for a bit.
4
Choose gels and creams to style and moisturize your hair. Product can help style curly hair, and it can also keep it from becoming too dry. Stop by a local salon or department store and stock up on products that meet your needs.^{[14]
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- If your hair is becoming coarse, go for a silicone serum. Apply the serum to hair before brushing or styling it. If your hair is getting thin and fair, a silicone spray can work. Spritz only a small amount of your hair, as a little goes a long way.
- To keep your style intact, you have a few options. If you do not want your hair to look too stiff, go for styling lotions and gels labeled "lightweight." If your hair tends to be somewhat uncontrollable, you may need a stronger product. Sculpting-gels and extra strong creams can help.
5
Use only a small amount of anti-frizz serum in your hair. Anti-frizz serum can help your hair look smoother, and may help eliminate frizz after showering or blow drying your hair. However, a little bit goes a long way. You only need a dime-sized portion of frizz serum for it to be effective. Make sure to smooth the serum evenly throughout your hair.^{[15]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Handling Salon Trips

1
Get your hair cut when it starts to flatten at the crown. If you have curly hair, there is no strict number of days or weeks recommended between haircuts. You simply need to keep an eye on your hair. When it starts to flatten out at the crown, you should go in for a haircut.^{[16]
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- Do not style your hair before going to a salon. You want your stylist to cut your hair based on its natural curls.
2
Request a dry cut at salons. You want to know exactly how your hair will look after a cut. Curly hair looks a lot different when it's wet than when it's dry because wet hair shrinks, so ask your stylist for a dry cut. This will assure that you know your hairstyle before leaving the salon.^{[17]
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3
Space out time between root touch-ups if you color your hair. The good thing about curly hair is that it tends to retain color more. You will not need root touch-ups as often as people with straight hair.^{[18]
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- For roots, you only need touch-ups every 6 to 10 weeks.
- For highlights, you will need a touch-up every 10 to 14 weeks.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I properly wash my curly hair?

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.

Christine George

Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Answer

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Look for a shampoo or product that's specifically made for curls since it will be gentler on your hair.
Question

When I co-wash my hair with conditioner, should I leave the conditioner in at the end?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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No, don't leave your conditioner in. After you co-wash, be sure to rinse the conditioner out.
Question

My hair is super knotty. Is it okay if I use a lot of conditioner to detangle it? Or is there a better solution?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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Yes, wet your hair and apply a conditioner to help you detangle and work through the knots. You could also try using a detangling product.

Warnings

Be careful when using clarifying shampoos. The sulfates in them can be damaging to curly hair and will leave the hair itself dry. If you shampoo with one, follow up with a moisturizing shampoo.

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