Why is it that we always want what we haven’t got?
As Hairdressers we see this everyday. If you’ve got dark hair you want blonde hair. If you’ve got curly hair you want straight hair.
Garbo’s would like you to stop fighting and embrace you curls. Here are a few tips to help you get there.
Avoid over-shampooing
Shampooing every day isn’t a good idea for people with curly hair. Shampooing can strip the hair of its much-needed natural oils.
You may need to experiment with a cleansing schedule to see what works best for you. In general, try shampooing every other day or ideally every 3 days.
Choose the right brush or comb
Curly hair is often dry and brittle and can break easily when combed or brushed. Try brushing or combing curly hair in the shower to avoid breakage.
Start with a wide-tooth comb to break up any knots. You can also comb while the conditioner is still in your hair to make it easier and to ensure the conditioner coats all your strands.
When choosing a hairbrush invest in a high quality brush with natural bristles instead of plastic. A boar bristle brush can help spread natural oils from the scalp through the ends of the hair.
Another option is to not use a brush or comb at all. If you have particularly springy curls, try applying a leave-in conditioner and then raking through wet hair with your fingertips.
Avoid split ends
Split ends are hard to avoid completely. Also, there’s really no way to repair them except cutting them off.
The best way to avoid split ends is to be very gentle with your curly locks.
To prevent split ends:
- Use a de-tangler when brushing to avoid pulling and yanking.
- Try not to tie your hair back into tight ponytails or buns.
- Make sure to use a wide-tooth comb.
- Stay away from heat tools.
- Get a trim from a Garbo’s stylist roughly every 8 weeks
Heat styling curly hair
Most stylists will recommend that you let curly hair air dry because using a blow-dryer can make it frizzy and damage it.
If you want to use a blow-dryer or straighteners every once in a while with a straightening iron, it’s important to use some sort of heat protecting spray or treatment before you do so. Look for a spray containing silicone or keratin to seal the cuticle and make it more resistant to heat damage.
You can add a diffuser attachment onto your blow-dryer to help limit how much direct heat hits your hair.
What not to do if you have curly hair
Curly hair is delicate, so avoid the following:
- products containing sulphates, alcohol, harsh chemicals and fragrances
- using clarifying shampoos more than once a week
- sleeping on your back
- using heat styling tools more than once or twice a month
- rinsing with hot water in the shower
- pulling your hair into a tight ponytail or bun all the time
- fine-toothed combs
- trying to detangle dry hair
