Things to Avoid With Curly Hair

If you've got curly hair, you already know that caring for it on a daily basis can be quite a handful. Many factors can conspire to make curls difficult to manage. Whether it’s knots, too much volume, ultra dryness, massive frizz because of the humidity, or just the fact that it's way more delicate than straight hair, curly hair problems can leave you feeling so frustrated that you’d do just about anything not to have to deal with it anymore. Curls generally need a little extra love, and it's important to know how to do right by your hair so it can stay looking amazing. 

Over Cleansing Curly Hair

It doesn’t matter whether your curls are wavy, coily, or kinky, washing your hair everyday is a major no-no. Overwashing curly hair is one of the easiest mistakes to make and among the biggest things to avoid if you have curly locks. By shampooing it frequently, you are actually drying it out and depleting it of the natural oils in each strand, and textured hair needs its natural oils to be great. Consider using D’Haute Silkening Cowash once or twice a week for cleansing—your curls will thank you for it later.

Using Shampoos and Conditioners with Sulfate on Curly Hair

Hair products with sulfates are very drying and should be avoided at all costs. Using a shampoo with sulfates can cause your hair to be greasy or cause dryness and breakage. It’s moisture-stripping properties of sulfate products can also make your curls look dull and lifeless. Continued use can make curl maintenance feel like an uphill battle with consequences like losing your curl pattern. Sulfate-free shampoos help retain the moisture and oils that make your curls bouncy, shiny, and beautiful. We recommend using D’Haute Sulfate Free Shampoo and Conditioner.

Forgetting to Moisturize Curly Hair

Curly hair tends to be the driest of all textures for the simple fact that the way a curly strand spirals makes it difficult for the natural oils produced by our scalp to work its way down the hair shaft. This can lead to split or damaged ends. A good moisturizer is crucial for helping heal brittle ends and rebalance moisture levels, so curls come out looking (and feeling) so much softer and healthier.

Using too Much Product Curly Hair

Most of us have fallen prey to being a product junkie at least once in our lifetime. Over-relying on products can leave your hair damaged, irritate your scalp, or weigh it down which in turn can pull out the spring in your tendrils and leave them limp and heavy. You’re not really gonna know if a particular product is working or not unless you give it a month so try and be patient before rushing out to get something else. In my experience, less is definitely more.

Using the Wrong Type of Comb on Curly Hair

Detangling curly hair can be such a chore, but one thing you never want to do is use a textured or fine-tooth comb to do it. Using a fine-tooth comb on textured hair is the easiest way to disrupt your curl pattern. It can pull on sensitive strands, disrupting a curl’s natural bounce which can lead to knots and tangles, and causes your strands to turn into one giant, unruly mess. Using a wide-tooth comb or even just your fingers to work through tangles can keep hair neat while also avoiding breakage

Using the Wrong Type of Towel on Curly Hair

Fluffy cotton towels, like a terry cloth, are not your friend when you’ve got curls. Their thick texture have tiny nubs that can actually damage and roughen up hair cuticles, leading to frizz. They also absorb too much water out of the hair, which can make it tangle. Using a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt to scrunch dry your hair is your best bet, since they’re much gentler and absorbent. You’ll notice the difference it makes. Your hair won’t look frazzled or matted.

Keeping Curly Hair Up for Too Long

Tight hairstyles/ponytails are never a good idea for our fragile curls. Wearing ponytails or buns throughout the week can alter the definition of your curls permanently, so it’s important to let strands be loose as much as possible. This enables our curls to stay intact for days to come.

Skipping A Trim With Curly Hair

Curls that get wild are often adorable, but that kind of heaviness can also be hard to manage over time. If you don’t snip the split ends off, they will continue to fray and make your hair look frazzled and lackluster. Getting a trim regularly helps reduce volume and promote healthy growth. A simple dusting (the micro-trimming process that rids your hair of the damaged sections that stick out) every few weeks should keep your curls looking bouncy and healthy.

Blow Drying Your Hair Improperly

To keep your hair from looking like one ginormous puffball, you have to be careful about how you blow dry it. While air-drying your hair whenever possible is the safest way to protect and get popping curls, if you’re in a hurry, use a blow dryer with a diffuser attachment. The diffuser attachment helps to circulate the air without disturbing your curl pattern. Shooting hot air directly onto your hair is the quickest way to damage your strands and turn your crown into a big, frizzy puffball.

Not Protecting Your Curly Hair While You Sleep 

Sleeping with a silk pillowcase can benefit your curls too. Unlike cotton, silk doesn’t soak up all the natural oils your scalp produces while you’re asleep. Instead, it can help your hair retain that moisture, making it less likely to feel dry and matted in the morning.

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