Embrace Your Natural Hair
The sun's shining, temps are in the high 80s, and humidity is at 100 percent. All you want to do is jump in the water, but there is a nagging thought in the back of your mind...I have dinner plans…what's going to happen to my hair?! The last thing you want to do is spend an hour blowdrying it before your dinner plans at 7, only for humidity to ruin it by 10. You have toyed with the idea of wearing your hair in all its natural glory, but when you've tried in the past, it never turns out like the girls on Instagram or TikTok - no matter how many tutorials you've watched!
Hey, I’m Hadar and I'm here to tell you it's possible! Follow along for a few tips and tricks or find me at Salon AKS in NYC for a personalized consultation.
What the influencers on social media don't tell you is that every curly hair journey is going to be different. The journey always starts with the right products. Most curly girls need a cocktail when it comes to products. For me, it took 2ish years to figure out what those were. I always thought that since my hair was frizzy it needed to be continually moisturized. What I didn't realize is that the products I was using were full of silicone. So instead of getting moisture, my curls were being suffocated. Though they were not very frizzy anymore, they were flat and lifeless. My curl pattern is big ringlets and many products added weight to the hair. This only served to stretch and elongate the curl pattern and left me with low elasticity and no definition pretty quickly. Through trial and error I learned that, for me, it is a volumizing mousse combined with a moisturizing curl gel that gets the job done. The mousse helps give me volume while the gel controls the frizz and allows my curls to have definition and resiliency. Once dry, I wear those curls for one week without having to touch them! That’s what setting the right foundation for curls will do for you!
How to Get More Moisture
My daughter has super tight curls verging on coils. For her, moisture, moisture, and more moisture are key to giving her ringlets shine, definition, and bounce. I start with a leave-in conditioner, then add a curl cream followed by a curl-defining jelly. Different curls require very different products to give our curls their best life. Texture + porosity + density are all major factors in product decisions. Pro tip: count on Sephora product sampling to play around with and personalize your very own curly hair cocktail.
No matter what your curl pattern or product cocktail is, let the products work their magic. DO NOT TOUCH those curls until they are dry. The use of a diffuser will add volume and speed the drying process because it adds artificial humidity to the hair. Air drying is usually your easiest option when humidity levels are already high.
How to Find Your Next Hairstyle
Now, let's be honest, even with the best products and time spent on our curls there will inevitably be a bad hair day. Luckily curls are forgiving. Some styling options include:
Throw your curls up in a fun ponytail while leaving the ends forward will give you faux bangs.
Adding a patterned headband or scarf to a head full of curls will make the look playful.
For a more polished style, slick hair back into a tight pony. Leave your curls as the fun main event in the back.
Any of these looks will make it seem like so much time was spent on a look that took 3 to 4 minutes. There are even more simple and beautiful hairstyles to choose from as well!
How to Get a Fuller Look
The best part of curly hair is that it represents your sense of style and a fun attitude without you having to say a word. A full head of beautiful curly hair introduces itself with confidence before you even mention your name. Often as women age our curl patterns and fullness change. This is usually due to changes in hormones and hair cycles that can cause hair loss and weaken follicles. A simple way to battle this hair thinning and loss is a once-daily hair pill that tackles hormone imbalances, helping your hair grow thicker and fuller. Furthermore, getting your hair trimmed regularly will prevent the growth of split ends. So, treat your roots today, cut dry ends off, and keep your curls consistent from root to shaft. After all, what is more confidence-boosting than hair that has shine and bounce!
How to Find Your Color
Color can be your best friend or your worst enemy when it comes to curly hair. A few expertly placed tone-on-tone highlights can add definition and contrast to your curls and still leave your hair healthy and shiny. Too many highlights or lifting your hair more than 2 or 3 shades past your natural tone can lead to damage and breakage. Curls are delicate and rely on the correct balance of porosity and elasticity. Chemical processes can interfere with those. Excessive chemical damage can actually change your curl pattern - leaving dry, brittle strands that will never bounce and shine no matter how hard you try. When using any chemicals, the “less is more” approach is always the best option. If coloring your hair is the route you take, be sure to follow up with a ph balanced and color-safe shampoo and a water-soluble serum.
For years, women have fought their natural hair in exchange for smooth straight hair. We curly girls often forget just how beautiful our natural strands are. There is no better time than the present to lay down the blow dryer and experiment with different products. Allow your curls to live their best life!