4 Simple Tricks for Managing & Styling Wavy Curly Hair

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I have 3 children with curly hair, and my youngest daughter has wavy, curly hair.

Learning to manage and style her hair has been a challenge because while it is not completely straight, yet not completely curly either.

I have 4c hair. It is kinky, coarse & requires a lot of moisture, while hers is between 2B/2C.

Her hair is a mixture of waves and curls.

Her hair is fine, wavy and gets weighed down easily by products that my hair craves. Learning what to use in her hair has been a bit of trial and error. Here’s what I’ve learned about wavy, curly hair:

It’s Okay To Use Shampoo On Wavy Curly Hair

There are a lot of women who subscribe to the curly girl method–a method that discourages shampoo.

Wavy curly hair often looks limp and weighed down when saturated with products, so for that reason, I don’t like the curly girl method.

Using shampoo cleanses the scalp and hair of product build up, giving you a clean slate for moisturizing and styling.

I typically only shampoo 1-2 times a week.

Most curly girls only use shampoo once a week, but when your child spends a majority of their time outside, or they go to school on a regular basis, I like to shampoo more than once a week.

Avoid Products With Toxic Chemicals & Opt For Products With Natural Ingredients

Sulfates are what give shampoo bubbles & suds and parabens have been linked to cancer. Typically if you are reading a product label and cannot pronounce most of the ingredients, they are not good for your hair. Companies add these products as preservatives, but can be harmful for your skin and hair.

Products with added fragrance are full of hidden chemicals. Plant derived ingredients can help with hair moisture and growth without the use of toxic chemicals.

Detanglers & Leave In Conditioners Are A Necessity

Curly wavy hair needs moisture. A lack of moisture often causes frizziness. I love spray leave in conditioners because it is easier to control the amount that is coming out of the bottle and it adds a nice shine without being too thick.

Using thick butters and leave in conditioner creams weigh the hair down and make it look lifeless.

Some of my favorite leave in conditioners come from the Taliah Waajid kids & Taliah Waajid kids lines & Kinky Curly Knot Today.

Using Gel Minimizes Frizz & Defines Curls

On days that we skip gel, my daughter looks like she has bedhead. Gel keeps her beautiful wavy curly hair defined and polished.

The trick to knowing how to manage and style curly hair is to identify the curl type. Once you have an understanding of what your specific curl type needs, you will be on the road to beautiful, healthy curls!

Are you a total loss when it comes to styling your child’s naturally curly hair? Purchase my e-book, The Frustration-Free Guide to Curly Hair to answer all your curly hair questions + get a guide to products by curl type!