How to Take Care of Curly Hair: 6 Common Mistakes and Ways to Avoid Them

Girls who have curly hair know how hard it is to keep those locks healthy. Unlike straight hair, curly hair needs additional care because it tends to dry out more easily due to lack of moisture. But despite being slightly high-maintenance, curly hair is a head-turner asset if you know how to care for it. In this article, we will discuss how to take care of curly hair, including rookie mistakes and how to avoid them.

Mistake No. 1: Overbrushing

Detangling your locks using a brush is a big no-no. Remember that curly hair tends to become dry so brushing it could lead to frizz. To avoid this, use your fingers to detangle your hair especially after shower. Do not brush your hair when it is still wet as this could cause breakage. If you really cannot resist brushing (just occasionally!), buy a wide-tooth hair brush and keep that bristle brush locked in your drawer.

Mistake No. 2: Ditching conditioner

Curly hair is usually dry so it is only natural for it to crave some moisture. Skipping conditioner could make your precious locks lose its shine and look dull. But as with other things, overdoing it could create more harm. The ideal frequency is to deep-condition your hair at least once per week. When choosing the right conditioner for curly hair, look for products that contain natural oils (jojoba, sunflower, avocado, coconut), aloe vera, keratin, and plant extracts, among others.

Mistake No. 3: Using hot water

Another common mistake that curly-haired gals do is using hot water, which removes the sebum from your hair and scalp. Too much hot water also tends to open up the hair’s cuticle and lead to frizz. If you want to know how to take care of curly hair, make sure to use cold water when rinsing your hair. Mistake No. 4: Using products that contain sulfate

Sulfates are strong detergents that can elevate the hair’s cuticle and wick away moisture that your wavy locks need. When choosing a conditioner or shampoo, make sure that it does not contain sulfates and other toxic chemicals like parabens. As an alternative, you can dilute your shampoo in water before applying it to your hair.

Mistake No. 5: Excessive Shampooing

How much you should shampoo your hair depends on a number of factors such as exposure to dirt, sebum production, and hair volume. But for curly hair, it is not advisable to shampoo your hair everyday as it could reduce the amount of natural oils, which your scalp and locks need to stay healthy.

Mistake No. 6: Bad sleeping habits

Did you know that certain sleeping habits may affect your hair? For example, pillowcases that use harsh cotton fabrics may soak up natural oils and lead to dryness. Experts also advise to do the pineapple style on your hair when sleeping to prevent tangling and avoid creating too much friction between your locks and the pillowcase.