Do you have a love/hate relationship with your natural waves? Do you have frizzy hair rather than curly? Do you find yourself reaching for the hair straighteners before a night out or a special occasion?

Are you at the start of your curly hair journey? Then this is the article for you. Rather than fighting your natural curl pattern, embrace it.

How to look after curly hair

If you struggle to control your curly hair and feel frustrated by the frizz and unpredictability, it is likely because you’re not looking after your curls properly. Finding the right curly hair routine for your specific texture takes time and trying different things. To help you get started, here are 3 tips from the curly hairdressers at Corkin and Friends in Christchurch.

1.   Use a conditioner AND a leave in-conditioner

Imagine sliding down a helter-skelter spiral slide in comparison with a straight one. Using the straight slide is quicker and simpler, just like how your scalp's natural oils can easily reach the ends. Curly hair requires additional assistance to obtain the moisture and nourishment it desires. This is because it cannot easily benefit from natural hair oils.

Solution: Use haircare products formulated specifically for curly hair to keep it hydrated and the curls defined. Look for sulphate-free shampoos and choose a conditioner that does not have silicones in them (e.g., dimethicone and amodimethicone). Silicones create a buildup that can only be removed with a sulphate shampoo, which takes away your hair's natural oils. Power up moisturising your curls by using a hydrating mask once a week to replenish moisture and restore curl health.

2.   Don’t comb or brush your curly hair when it’s dry

Brushing and combing dry curly hair is a fast track to frizz. Defined curls are hair strands that naturally stick together. Brushing or combing forcefully separates the strands, causing frizz. Plus, hair has less elasticity when it's dry, so it’s more prone to breakage.

Solution: Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to detangle your hair while it's wet and coated with conditioner. Start from the tips and work your way up to the roots to prevent breakage.

3.   Ditch the towel and use a cotton t-shirt to dry curly hair

After washing your hair you likely use a towel to rub the excess water from it before creating a turban. Using a towel to dry and exfoliate your skin is good, but it can be too rough for your frizzy hair. Towelling curly hair damages the already delicate structure, encouraging it to further split or even break.

Solution: After washing and applying curly hair products, gently plop your hair with an old T-shirt. Plopping is a curly-approved alternative to twisting a towel around your head.

Your curls remain compact and scrunched like an accordion. This keeps the roots volumized, curls clumped together and the cuticle smooth (rather than stretched and frizzy). Use a diffuser on your hairdryer.

Looking after curly hair is different to straight hair. It needs more care but needs less washing, so find the right balance for your lifestyle. To love your curls, start by getting a consultation and haircut from a curly hair specialist.

Cutting curly hair is not a one-size-fits-all solution. They’ll assess your curl pattern and cut your hair to optimise those curls and show them off at their best.

Contact Corkin and Friends' curly hair hairdresser Christchurch team to make an appointment at our hair salon CHCH. We have late nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are hairdressers with Afterpay.