If you were just starting out embracing your curly / wavy hair

[NorthEastNancy]

What would you do?

I spent 30 minutes dragging my thick hair into submission with a hot brush and it's bushy and shit again already

What are your top tips? What do i need to buy? Help please!

Personally, I don’t do all the curly girl nonsense. I wash my hair daily, comb a bit of curl crème into it in the shower whilst it’s very wet, blot with a towel when I get out, and just leave it to air dry. The curl seems to be better when it dries outside for a bit for some reason, so either a walk to the station on my commute, or five mins deadheading flowers in the garden at home. I never ever brush it if it’s curly. I’m probably a 3a - white Irish background - https://share.google/8GCaessBuNH06yiFE

I’d start simple and then if that doesn’t work research a bit more. You don’t want a long daily regime if you don’t actually need it.

Edit: use curl crème sparingly at first - my hair is a small but loose curl so too much makes it look lank.

Good cut. Lots of conditioning products. Comb wet. Put a bit of serum and cream though the length (not scalp) when wet. Scrunch. Leave it to air dry.

curl crème, diffuse or air dry. Scrunch. Only ever use a wide tooth comb and never ever use a brush.
Curly girl is a load of nonsense.

Curl cream on wet hair.
Try sample slzes eg merwave . Windle curl enhancer. Cantu foam easy for after swimming.

I have pretty curly thick hair.

i wash and condition it (maybe once or twice a week) with curly shampoo and then I leave it as wet as possible (dont wring the shit out of it with a towel). I turn my head upside down and I run my fingers through it with some curly gel, I’ve tried various ones but I really like only curls version. Then use the ‘praying hands’ method and then ‘plop’ into a micro fibre turban thing to get most of the moisture out. Then I let it out after about it half an hour (or however long Ive got) and let it dry by itself (the less touching and messing with it the better) or I will diffuse it if I’m short of time. This is what I’ve learnt over years of experimenting. There are also various things you can do like protein masks and stuff. Dont brush it while dry! That way a frizzy bushy mess will result.

I've just gone curly and it's so freeing !! I wah then comb through Cantu Weightless leave in conditioner and leave it to do its thing .

I think there’s a bit of trial and error to find the right products for you.

I have wavy hair, the type on the mermaid ads. I wash and shampoo as normal, no fancy products. Then scrunch through mousse. I don’t get on with gel. Similar to PP it’s better for me if I air dry vs diffusing but I will do this in winter. Day two it looks a bit shit. Day one is decent. I’m still experimenting and have a cupboard full of products that didn’t work (too crispy, too heavy, too lank, too greasy etc)

Meant to say on day two I spray with water and scrunch through a bit more Cantu. I haven't tried using a diffuser yet but I will do as I have one that came with my hairdryer.

Based upon my hair:

Find a hairdresser who understands curly hair - the best sign is if they have curly hair themselves. As far as I'm concerned, the cut is everything.

Don't brush or comb it - mine hasn't seen either in 50 years. I just run my fingers through it. (Admittedly it's short.)

Wash it as little as you can get away with.

Good hair cut is paramount and I’ve re-embraced mousse. Arkive is great. Curly girl shit is an enormous faff.

Don’t bother with all the business of avoiding sulphates and silicones, or only using conditioner, just use shampoo and conditioner that are moisturising. Use a wet brush in the shower with the conditioner on to get rid of tangles. Microfibre towel turban to get rid of excess moisture then either leave or run through a but of mousse or gel, don’t touch again till it’s completely dry then break up any crunchiness gently. Diffuse in an emergency only. Trial and error with products unfortunately. Never brush when dry, on day 2 use your fingers to tease out any matted bits that have formed overnight.

You lot arr bloody brilliant! I'm off out but I'll be back definitely going to get a micro fibre towel!

Absolutely agree with @livelyparsnipand I have fine curly hair.

My advice is different as my hair hates moisture and is very fine and I can’t use curl cream at all

good haircut
I use protein heavy shampoo and conditioner
mousse and gel
experiment with different types of application, my hair prefers stuff raked through but try praying hands (smoothing it on) and scrunching
try application on damp hair and soaking wet hair to see which you prefer

Sleep with a silky wrap on to reduce frizz. Day 3 I usually spray with merwaves to get another day out of it before I have to wash it.

Where are you based?

I travel an hour for my curly hairdresser in Birmingham. He is an artist 🧑‍🎨

It’s more about the condition / washing of your hair not the styling I find. So stop using sulphates, start squeezing mousse or curl creme in when sopping wet and then adding buckets of cheap gel to ‘set’ the curl / wave as it dries. Avoid all heat wherever necessary

Wash hair. Put it in head towel. Add small amount (toothbrush size) of curl cream (Aussie) while hair is still wet. Do a very minimal amount of hair drying, or none if its hot weather. Comb it through with my wide toothed comb.
Don't comb/ brush the hair much at all.

I do accept that i have good hair days and bad hair days.

You've got some great advice on here op!

I agree with @Floisme looking for a hairdresser with curly hair themselves is great advice. I've done this before with good results. Hair salons that advertise as 'curly salons' seem to be very expensive around where I live. So finding a curly haired hairdresser is a good plan!

Depending on how porus your hair is (my curly hair expands rapidly in humid weather😂) leaving an small amount oil in your hair may work well. I often wash, condition then smooth through a very small amount of coconut oil, concentrating on the mid lengths and ends. Seems to help condition and define the curls.

I’m wavy and have tried lots of products. I wash and shampoo sulphate free. Then squeeze as much water out before combing my hair to get my parting then I rake through curl and wave mousse , red can sorry can’t remember the make. Then air dry. Day 2 I comb knots out run damp hands through in the shower, then comb , scrunch and air dry

Any recommendations for sulphate-free shampoo? I cycle or swim daily so my hair is washed a lot and I should probably pay more attention to my shampoo. My hair twin is the rugby player Ellie Kildunne if it helps.

I'm really liking Aussie Oh My Gloss - easier to find and cheaper than all the "specialist" sulphate free curly stuff.

OP, some jojoba or argan oil (or even just a conditioner containing oils) is your friend for keeping your hair from expanding loads or frizzing out a lot - just apply a small amount to your hair when it's dry (either curly or straight/wavy).

I've just asked AI to analyse my hair and it's given me a 2c

I dried it straight this morning but I've been out walking (Beamish if anyone is local!) And it's gone wild 😜

I've just done the same- thanks for the tip!- I'm a 2C and apparently it suits me very well 😂

I think AI over estimates, it says mine is 3B/C and I’m definitely not!