We love a thick, curly hair moment here at Tangle Teezer. There’s nothing more uplifting than a head of gorgeous curls and the beautiful bounce that comes with healthy, natural hair. But just because something’s naturally beautiful - doesn’t mean it comes easy. At Tangle Teezer we know that curly hair needs gentle care and affection to stay looking shiny and defined. Here are our top tips for keeping your hair type happy and healthy - from wash day to every day!
Tangle Teezer’s 10 Best Curly Hair Tips:
1. Get regular trims to avoid split ends
One of the easiest ways to keep your curly hair healthy and happy is to get it cut regularly. Notice your curls are getting frizzy no matter how many conditioning treatments you treat it to? That will be those split ends (and your hair’s way of asking you to book an appointment at the salon). Even if you’re on a mission to grow your hair out, regular hair trims are still necessary. Not only will they make sure your hair looks on-fleek at all times, but haircuts can actually promote hair growth and encourage it to grow faster!
2. Embrace Pre-Shampoo Treatments
Anyone with curly hair knows that wash day can be a mammoth task - which is why it’s great that you don’t need to do it all that often. Daily washing is not necessary for gorgeous curls, but it’s important to find a routine that works for you - it could be anywhere between twice a week to twice a month. A good rule of thumb is that if your hair feels dry - you’re probably washing it too much. When you do wash your hair, make sure you do your research and invest in products that are specially created with your curls in mind. You should also embrace the ‘pre-poo’ trend of applying an oil treatment - like coconut or olive oil - to your hair before embarking on your wash. This will not only protect your hair’s natural oils but will also keep your scalp super healthy - and we all know that a healthy scalp = fabulous hair.
3. Incorporate a conditioning treatment into your routine
Moisturising and conditioning is an important step of any hair care routine but let’s be real - curly hair is seriously thirsty. If you’re rocking curls and coils, make sure your hydration station is stocked up with super nourishing conditioners. Both leave-in conditioners and deep conditioning treatments should form part of your routine - and they play equally important, but different, roles. Deep conditioners are perfect for when your hair needs some serious self-care - and you can even go au naturel with coconut oil, but make sure you rinse out to avoid greasy, lank curls. Lighter, leave-in conditioners, can be used daily to give your hair that healthy shine and keep dry, tangled hair at bay.
4. Section hair for tangle-free washing
When it’s time for washing and detangling, our best tip is to section your hair before getting your brush involved. Thick, curly hair needs to be handled with care and consideration, otherwise, it can end up more knotty than when you started! Splitting your hair into sections makes this task more manageable and means all of your hair can get the care and attention it deserves. The smaller the sections the better! If you have a lot of hair, to make this process even easier - sectioning clips are your new best friend. Part your hair as many times as you need to and clip the sections you aren’t washing out of the way so you can focus on one small section at a time. The key to perfect curls is patience, so take your time with each section and you’ll be rewarded with a head of gorgeous, tangle-free curls!
5. Apply a styling product to your hair quickly, don’t wait too long
Once you’re done washing your hair you want to add product and start styling straight away, whilst it’s still soaking wet. And yes, that means there’s no time to be sat, wrapped in a towel on the edge of your bed staring into space (that can’t just be us right?) Your hair will absorb product much faster if it’s wet and you’ll also find your hair is easier to style. Trying to style dry hair can not only be a huge pain but could also result in frizziness - not the shiny and defined curls you are after. Finding that your hair is drying out before you’ve had a chance to detangle and style? Don’t panic! Just read our next tip...
6. Use a spray bottle to add moisture
Whilst we recommend styling and detangling your hair as soon as you get out of the shower - we know that life can sometimes get in the way. That’s where spray bottles come in. Fill up with water and you can use it to give your hair a continuous hydrating mist before that will stop it drying out whilst you style. But a spray bottle can do way more than just keep your hair wet. It can also be used to distribute products that revive and moisturize, like a detangling spray or even your hair’s favourite homemade mixture of natural moisturisers!
7. Use a Wet Detangling Brush
We know that brushing curly hair can get a bit of a bad rep, but it’s all about finding the perfect hairbrush for your hair type - and using it in the right way. Our Ultimate Detangler has been created to be kind to vulnerable, wet hair but tough on your tangles! The two teeth technology works through your hair gently but effectively - reducing breaking and increasing shine. Coming into sizes, you can find the hairbrush that works for you - many people with curly hair love our Larger detangler - super-sized for super impact.
8. Always comb your hair from the bottom up
At Tangle Teezer, our golden rule for all hair types is to start brushing from the bottom and work your way up to the top - and that’s certainly just as important for those with curls and coils! This not only protects your hair from snagging but also helps to keep your cuticles nice and smooth, so your curls shine bright like a diamond. Taking the time to carefully brush your hair in this way will help to maintain your natural curl pattern and ensure your curls are defined, full of bounce and most importantly - tangle-free.
9. Refresh curls with a curling iron or wand
Look, we love natural curls when they’re natural! But sometimes you just need a little helping hand getting that perfect bounce before you bounce out the door. Curling irons and wands give you that perfect shiny curl you’re after, especially if some of your curls are straighter than the rest of your hair. But hot tip: don’t use them too often otherwise your hair could get heat damaged. Save them for a special occasion and always use a heat-protecting spray whenever you style your precious curls.
10. Try the “pineapple trick” to keep curls defined overnight
Curly hair care never sleeps - (but don’t worry you still can!) Overnight, your hair will inevitably rub against your pillowcase - and this can not only cause your curls to get tangled and undefined, but it can also cause serious hair breakage. You want to protect your curls at all costs and one of the most popular methods for putting your curls to bed is the ‘pineapple trick’ - but this doesn’t involve Pina Coladas or getting caught in the rain. Simply pile your curls on top of your head and loosely fasten in a bun or a pony with a snag-free hair bobble. And that’s it, that’s the trick, super easy and also a super comfortable way to sleep. For extra curly hair care points, invest in a silk pillowcase so that your curls (and you) get a luxurious and friction-free night’s sleep!
