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Before I had naturally curly hair, I felt like I was navigating in the dark with my daughter’s curls. When I look back at pictures, I realized that I made several mistakes. I looked for resouces online, and I couldn’t find exactly what I needed.
When I decided to stop getting relaxers, finding the right products was really a journey of trial and error. I watched more YouTube videos than I should have, and the mistakes continued. When I finally found what worked for me, I decided to help others so they didn’t have to have bad hair days while figuring out what to do.
If you want beautiful curls, then stop making the same mistakes I did!
Brushing
Unless you are laying down edges for a particular style, using a brush is a big no no. Brushing eliminates definition and contributes to frizz. A wide tooth comb will detangle and work its way through curls without causing major damage.
If you have straight hair and are raising a curly haired child, I know it’s a hard habit to break. But trust me, you won’t be doing the curls any favors.
Combing While Dry
Curls need moisture to survive. Combing hair while dry can lead to breakage and pain! Does your child cringe when you are doing their hair? Do they hate getting it done?
This may be why. Keep a spray bottle on hand.
Seeing a Beautician Who Can’t Fix Curly Hair
If you want to cut your curly locs, I don’t recommend visiting a new beautician for the cut.
Curly hair shrinks, and a beautician who is inexperienced with curly hair may leave your hair shorter than you imagined.
I recommend allowing them to do a simple style on a few occasions before entrusting them with color or cuts.
If they seem to be confused about what to do with your hair, or need some assistance from a neighboring stylist, that is probably not the person you want making drastic changes to your hair.
Overprocessing
Most people turn to straightening when they have trouble taming curly hair. The problem with this is that if the person who is straightening your hair doesn’t know what they are doing, they can cause some serious damage.
If you are going to color treat or add heat to curly hair, it may be helpful to consult a beautician who has experience with curly (ethnic) hair.
Neglecting a Nightly Routine
Curly hair does not need to be washed every night. The longer it gets, the more time consuming that can be, and frankly it truly isn’t necessary. However, curly hair needs to be protected at night.
If you decide to wash late at night and don’t want to dry, be sure to twist or braid to keep the strands from breaking while you toss and turn throughout the night.
Curls can also be protected by wearing a satin scarf and/or sleeping on a satin pillowcase.
After reading this, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed. You have made several mistakes with your curls.
I’m not going to lie to you, all the steps and “rules” to follow can be a little daunting. Once you find a routine that works for you, follow it and you can vary little things.
Most importantly, don’t forget to love your curls.
They make you who you are.
Embrace them in all their glory.
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