Brushing tight ringlet curls

[MrsBillyhargrove]

Help! My DN has tight ringlet curls. Really, really lovely hair. However, my DSis is adamant that her hair needs constant brushing when it’s dry, turning these lovely ringlets into a frizzy mass. I’ve told her to talk to a hairdresser about how to style this hair type, but it’s fallen on deaf ears. My DM is also fighting me, saying that the curls need to be brushed every day when dry. Can anyone with experience of right ringlet curls please advise on how best to care for this hair type? Thank you

My daughter has ringlet curls too, we definitely do not brush when dry! Totally ruins the curls. We brush only when very wet in the bath, covered in conditioner. We don’t use any product after, just let it dry naturally. Then no brushing until the following evening. If we want to reduce the tangles we plait it but then you can’t see the lovely curls!

A brush like this will get through the knots without pulling the hair (or you can use this first then after most the knots are out, a tangle teaser)

Brush only when wet! Ideally in the bath/shower when wet. I respray my daughter’s hair in a morning so it’s wet again then brush away her bed head but allow to dry naturally. Cantu curl cream is brilliant to really define her hair too

Never ever ever ever brush dry curly hair. Like NEVER!

It should be combed through when wet and then either dried or left to dry naturally. It doesn't need brushing.

I have very tight ringlets and I have never brushed my hair. Only combed conditioner through when wet.

DD1 is the same and we follow this ^^ approach, although im planning on buying a hairdryer with a diffuser for when the weather turns. I plait her hair for nursery as i HATE headlice so use a wide toothed comb (bought from Only Curls if interested) to pull it into the plait. All totally new to me as no curly hair in my family!

Never brush or comb curls dry! No wide tooth combs, detangling brushes, tangle teezers, step away! Brush or comb only to detangle when wet. If it needs restyling the next day it can be damped down with a water spray and brushed ideally with a curl cream.

You don't brush curls!

Feeling slightly sick at the thought. Also a throwback to the 70s when we didn't know any better but now there is so much info out there about caring for curls and fantastic product ranges.

Wash only with SLS free shampoo, no silicones in products. Look for ranges actually designed for curly hair, there are some lovely kids ranges.

Masses and masses of conditioner when wet. Don't wash it all out. Hair should then be combable with an Afro comb. Wash

If not washing it then just dampen it and then you can comb it again.

I only brush my curls when dry if I want the Crystal Tips enormous hair look!

I comb when wet and with a serum on and wrap in a turban to dry. Diffuser in the winter if it doesn't dry quick enough.

I also find personally that it is better to wash infrequently and like others I plait it at night

Thank you all! I feel like I’ve been bashing my gums for nothing! My mum has just finished brushing DN’s curls and refused to listen when I told her you DO NOT brush dry curls. It looks like a frizzy mess. I will show her this thread. Thank you!!

I used to brush my curls in the 80s and only discovered in my 20s you shouldn't do it. Life altering overnight, would never brush my curls now, don't even always brush when I was as they are often not tangled and I run my fingers through instead.

If you look at CurlCymru on Instagram (a Welsh curl specialist salon), he has some great reels of how to wash and look after curly hair of all types and ages.

Curly hair does need a little extra care. I only really learned how to look after my curls recently, and honestly, once you get the routine right, it's transformational. No frizz, less drop out, lovely controlled volume.

Same @Jigsawpuzzled my hair is wavy rather than curly but the arrival of an Afro comb in my life in the late 80s was a revelation.

Back then all we had was Frizzease. And hair was straight or wrong.

Never, ever brush dry curls. Ever. It really damages the hair. Brush it when wet and full of conditioner, or when just applied leave-in conditioner

This*^^

And this^

As someone who has curly ringlet hair - mixed ethnicity

I have ringlet curls. The worst thing you can ever do is brush them when dry.
You can only brush hair when wet, before putting product on. It's best if it's in the shower.

My son has super tight ringlets, I would never brush it when dry. We brush it through with a wet brush after it's washed and then scrunch it with a towel. Other than that, we only touch it to scrunch in leave in conditioner if it's looking a bit frizzy.

I have very very tight curls. Definitely never ever brush when dry, just turns into total frizz. Thorough brushing when soaking wet is very good, but then don't touch it! I've recently found that the purple tangle teezer brush is much better than the afro comb I used to use.