Growing up with curly hair has been a blessing and curse. Sometimes I wake up and I’m in awe of the fullness , curves, springs and volume. Other times, I wake up and look in the mirror and all I see is a scared poodle. Things don’t always work out the way I want. I’ve come to love my curls and the variations that it gives me. Being a curly girl gives me the opportunity to be many women by simply, changing a style, blowing it out or using a flat iron. Whether going natural with rollers to using a wrap technique called the dooby to smooth it out. Whatever technique we curly girls have used, one thing is certain, the struggle is real.
Curly hair girls do’t just wake up and go! That’s not an option unlike what many people think. There’s thought and techniques involved. I have learned to embrace my hair in no matter what state it’s in. I’m also not bound to curls only. There are times I want my hair to feel a brush and smooth it out and there are times I want to set it free and be wild.
Being a curly girl to me means that I have options. No rules set in stone.
I have come to terms that are non-negotiable, the health of my hair is a priority. My hair is like a plant. It needs love, sunshine, and water.
So what does that mean? It means I want a simple product to aid in its beauty. Why do I have to use 3 to 4 different products, brushes, add techniques and diffuse the hair too. Can my hair be just as beautiful with 1 product? Do I need various brushes when I don’t even brush my hair. So here I am, breaking up with the standard and embarking on my hair journey to reduce breakage, to embrace my natural curls with 1 product.
I’ve decided to use a conditioner and finish with a few drop of grape seed oil with peppermint. I’m setting my hair free! Free to be be wild, bold, and beautiful. So what did I do: Tips & strategies (my hair type is 3a maybe some 2 C there as well blended.
#1 Your hair grows but you’re having a difficult time with hair retention: use conditioner first when you get in the shower, rinse, shampoo, condition, rinse. Comb hair in the shower only while using a slippery conditioner. I have noticed such a retention of hair doing this. I use to have lots of hair fall out during the process of washing because I was not gentle. Curly hair can break off easily because it gets tangled. This has been a game changer for me.
#2 Use 1 product: a leave in conditioner or conditioner with a slip in the shower with wet soaking hair. Use your fingers to apply all through out your hair. Start scrunching away excess. (And yes a good slippery conditioner works just like a leave in conditioner in my book.)
#3 Wrap a towel around your hair (any towel will do) put on your clothes and release the towel gently. Scrunch out extra water as this stimulates your curls.
#4 Let air dry , go outside in the sun and wind for a bit. The sun will give you vitamin D and or use a diffuser on low heat toward the end of drying your hair for a limited short time to speed the process.
#5 Minimal hair manipulation. Wear you hair down or in a low loose pony with a stretchy plastic band that doesn’t break your hair or wear a claw clip. Your hair doesn’t always have to be free and exposed.
#5 Sleep on a silk pillow case. Up loose or down but lift over pillow to rest. I personally do not like bonnets but you do you. I just don’t like it and the thought of it already makes me feel hot!!! No rules.
#6 Embrace some frizz. It’s beautiful. Try various styles to meet your needs. But you can always tame it with a spray bottle with water when you wake.
#7 Live, Love, and Laugh. You were designed to be different. Go shine curly girl, Go shine bright!
Love, Karly
A Curly Girl with Goals for natural beauty, strength, length, and hair retention while using 1 hair product and a few drops of oil.