How To Make Black Hair Curly – smartesthairstyles.com – Many people of African descent have textured hair that is more prone to heat damage and dehydration. Unfortunately, many popular curling methods don’t take this into account. They either don’t work on black hair, damage it, or make it frizzy. Luckily, it’s still possible to add curls to black hair. How much effort this takes depends on whether it’s naturally curly or has been chemically straightened or loosened.
1. Bringing out curls with Gel
Wash your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. For even better results, choose a detangling conditioner – this will make your hair easier to detangle. Once your hair is clean, comb it back with a wide-toothed comb, starting at the ends.
This method works best on frizzy or naturally curly hair. It doesn’t work on braids or relaxed hair.
Brush your hair with a Denman brush while it’s still wet to enhance natural curls. With the conditioner still in, detangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb. Always start at the ends and work your way down to the roots.
Apply a styling gel to small sections of hair. Choose a styling gel meant to accentuate curls and apply it to 1/2 to 1 inch wide sections of hair .If necessary, run a wide-toothed comb through your hair to distribute the gel evenly.
When buying gel, look for labels like “For curly hair” or “Curl Defining.”
Focus more on the ends and mid-lengths. The closer you get to the roots, the less product you should use.
Using a comb, straighten your hair starting at the back. Pick up a thin section of hair from the back of your head, right at the nape of your neck. Run a medium-toothed comb or Denman brush through the section, starting at the roots and ending at the ends. Pull the section of hair tight enough to make it longer and the curls smoother.
Repeat this process for the rest of your hair. Start at the back of the head and end at the front.
Mist your hair with water as you work to keep it from drying out. It must be damp.
Dry your hair under a hood dryer to quickly set your style. How long you sit under the dryer depends on how thick and porous your hair is. The thicker and more porous it is, the longer it will take to dry.
If you want your hair to be parted a certain way, create the part before going under the dryer.
You can also use a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment at home. This helps lengthen and set curls while distributing an even flow of air.
Repeat the process every time you wash your hair to keep the style. Because of your hair type, you should wash your hair no more than once a week. However, when you wash your hair, the style comes out . Your hair will still be naturally curly, but the curls won’t be as defined. To redefine them, you must repeat the process in this section.
2. Use of flexi rods
Start with dry, detangled hair. This method is great when going from relaxed to natural hair, as the curls help hide the difference between textures. It can also work on loose hair and micro box braids.
For best results, start with your hair straightened, like a braid.
If you have long hair, first divide it into 4 sections: 2 at the top and 2 at the bottom. Secure each section with a hair clip.
Spray a 1 inch section of hair with water. Pick up a 1 inch section of hair from the top of your head. Apply just enough water to wet it, but not so much that it gets soaking wet. Smooth your hair with a bristle brush.
Don’t get your hair wet when starting out with micro or box braids. Instead, grab several braids and get ready for the next step.
If you want tighter curls or curls, start with a 1/4 to 1/2 inch section instead .
Wrap the hair around a flexi-wand and then curl the ends inward. Place the end of your section of hair against the center of a flexi wand. Wrap your hair around the rod until you get to the roots, then fold the ends of the rod inward to secure.
When curling braids, stop when you’ve pulled your braid halfway up. Don’t go to the roots.
If you want tighter curls or ringlets, use a straw or smaller flexi-wand instead. Slide a bobby pin through the straw and hair to secure.
Flexi sticks come in different sizes. The thicker the wand, the bigger the curl will be.
Repeat this process all over the head. Work section by section around your head. If you plan to deal with big, chunky curls, try to keep each strand a consistent size. However, this is not so important if you plan to break the curls into smaller ones.
Again, when curling braids, only curl them halfway to the roots.
Allow your hair to air dry. When you need to run some errands or go to bed, wrap a silk scarf around your head. This will not only hide the wands in style but also keep them in place while you sleep or walk around.
If you are in a hurry, you can speed up the process with a hood dryer or a hair dryer. Use a low heat setting to avoid damaging your hair.
If you wrapped flexi-sticks around braids, first dip the wrapped braids in boiling water for 20 to 30 seconds. Be careful not to burn yourself.
Remove the sticks once your hair is completely dry. Your hair needs to be completely dry before removing the sticks or the curls won’t hold. If your hair feels damp, wait longer or use a hair dryer to dry it.
Once you take the bars out, use your fingers to separate each curl into 2 or 3 individual curls. This gives you voluminous hair with less frizz.
If you want more volume, comb through your hair with your fingers or a wide-toothed comb. This is a great idea for relaxed hair; however, don’t do it with braided hair.
Repeat the process next time you wash your hair to keep the hairstyle. In most cases, this style is not permanent. If you want the style to go away, just wash your hair. If you want to keep it, you should still wash your hair as usual and then repeat the whole process.
If you have natural hair, the curls should hold their shape until you wash them again. After that you need to redefine them with flexi rods.
When your hair is relaxed, curls can lose their shape by the end of the day, just like naturally straight hair. You have to repeat the process to get the curls back.
If you have braids, the style will be permanent. To straighten your braids, simply dip them back into boiling water and then let them hang straight and loose until they dry.
3. Care for natural curls
Wash your hair with cool to lukewarm water. Heat is the number one enemy of hair, especially of natural hair. Not only can it dry out your hair, but it can also lead to frizz. That doesn’t mean you have to wash your hair in freezing temperatures. Just use the coolest setting you can handle.
How often you wash your hair depends on how quickly it becomes greasy. Depending on lifestyle and hair type, this can take anywhere from 3 to 10 days.
Don’t lean forward when rinsing your hair. When you straighten up again, your hair becomes tangled and frizzy. Stand tall and tilt your head back under the running water.
Dampen your hair with shampoo, conditioner and deep conditioner. Hair oil is only good for locking in moisture. So if there is not enough moisture in your hair to start with, you will end up leaving your hair looking shiny and greasy. The key to soft, shiny curls is washing your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.
Swap out your regular conditioner for a deep conditioner every 1 to 2 weeks.
Do not use oil on your hair while it is still wet. You will apply this once your hair has dried.
Don’t touch or tangle your hair when it’s wet. The only time you should touch your hair when it’s wet is when you’re detangling, patting dry, or applying products. Once you’ve applied the products, leave your hair alone. The more you mess with your hair, the more you break up the curl pattern; this can lead to frizz.
If you want to use the scrunch technique, wait until your hair is mostly dry. It is recommended for people with loose or wavy curls.
You can wrap your hair around flexi rods or twist it in two strands while it’s still wet. This does not count as “messing up”.
Apply oil-free products while your hair is wet. First, pat your hair dry with a t-shirt to absorb excess moisture. Next, apply your desired products while your hair is still wet. This includes things like leave-in conditioners and styling gels.
When applying the products, divide your hair into sections, then run a wide-toothed comb through your hair. This ensures an even distribution.
Do not use oils when your hair is still wet. Instead, stick to water-based products. It would be even better if they had a gel-like consistency.
Let your hair air dry or use a diffuser. Never use a blow dryer on your hair and call it quits as it will cause dryness and frizz. Instead, pat your hair dry with a t-shirt, then let it air dry on its own. If this is not possible, attach a diffuser attachment to your hair dryer. This distributes the heat and gives you nicer curls.
Always use a low heat setting on your hair dryer. Stop when your hair is about 90-95% dry.
Never use a towel to pat your hair dry as this will cause frizz.
Get a haircut that accentuates your curls. In most cases, you’ll want a layered cut rather than a straight cut. Going for the latter can allow your hair to taper into a pyramid shape.
Thinning may work on some types of curls but may not work on others. Ask your stylist for their opinion.
Use quality products. When it comes to hair care, you get what you pay for. In most cases, a cheap conditioner from a drugstore will not give the same results as an expensive conditioner from a salon. This is because cheap drugstore brands tend to contain harsh, drying ingredients that tend to leave hair frizzy rather than curly.
Try salon brands like DevaCurl, Ouidad, ECO or Camille Rose Naturals.
When choosing oils, stick to light, natural oils like argan, coconut, grapeseed, or jojoba oil.
If you must use a cheaper brand, make sure it doesn’t contain sulfates as these can cause hair to become dry and frizzy.