You’ve styled your hair, applied your make-up, and are ready to slip into your partying, work or church outfit. Then you take one last look at yourself before walking out the door, and immediately wish you hadn’t. The mirror is greeting you with the sight of your poofy roots, resembling someone who stuck her finger in an electrical socket!
What makes this so aggravating, besides the fact that it totally changes the way your style looks, is the fact that it’s just the roots. The rest of your hair is still exactly like you styled it.
You may not have time to do anything with your kinky roots this time, but you don’t want this to happen again. Here are some curly hair tips to tame your kinky roots and stop fearing the mirror.
Wrap Your Hair
Yes, turban style!
You may want to consider wrapping your hair in an absorbent towel or turban immediately after washing it to see if that will help your kinky roots lay down. Keeping in moisture while maintaining shape is essential for curly hair, especially for those who’s roots refuse to stay put. Apply your product to soaking wet hair, wrap your hair in a towel and let it sit. The amount of time you have available will determine how long you leave your hair in the towel, but the longer, the better.
You can even opt for more fashionable hair wraps like scarves. This way, you can leave your hair in the scarf all day while it dries and not be stuck in the bathroom. Come nighttime, your roots will be set in place! Make sure to choose a soft nylon or silk scarf since cotton, or similar materials, will pull at your hair and mess up your style.
Always use a t-shirt or microfiber towel on your hair. »
Avoiding frizz is easy with our top no-frizz tips! »
Hydrate your curls and keep them down with deep conditioning. »
Ask Your Stylist
She usually knows best.
One of the best things you can do is to just simply ask a professional — your stylist – for her curly hair tips. This can be especially helpful if you’ve been going to her for quite a while. She knows your hair type and can take that into consideration when offering you advice.
Don’t be afraid to ask her if certain things may help. For example, cutting or thinning your hair just enough to make it more manageable, but still leave it long enough so that you can change styles when you want to, might help. The weight of your hair or the growth pattern may be what’s causing your kinky roots problem, and trimming your curls may just be the solution.
Do you wear your hair in pretty much the same styles, even though you swap them up depending on the occasion? If so, these styles may be causing damage to the roots of your hair, even if you don’t wear them that often or for that long. For example, constantly wearing your hair up and pulled back will cause creases and, ultimately, breakage at the root.
This is something else your stylist can help you with. She can look for damage and determine if it is being caused by the styles you wear. If it is, she will most likely be able to suggest some other styles that will be less damaging.
Need to find a good curl stylist in your area? We can help! »
Stylist consultations are SO important. Find out how to rock it. »
How to know if your stylist is clueless about curly hair. »
Protect Your Hair From Heat
Heat equals damage, always!
If you are still using heat appliances multiple times a week, you may be damaging your hair. In its natural state, the damage becomes much more apparent, and as the oils from your head reach your damaged locks, they will inflate.
For a long-term fix, put the straightening iron down and transition out to a permanent natural look that is much healthier for your curly hair! For a more immediate fix, use styling products that will protect your hair from heat. These can include shampoos and conditioners, so that protection will start right away, even before you start styling your hair. Even though you will rinse these products out, some protection will remain behind.
When you are ready to style your hair, look for leave-in products that don’t add weight or alter the sheen of your hair. In other words, avoid products that will make your hair look too oily or too dull, but find ones that do protect your hair from heat. Use these products only on the roots and perhaps the first one to two inches of hair away from the roots. These are probably the only places they need to be applied anyway.
Get straight facts about straightening your locks. »
You can do it! Resist the urge to straighten! »
If you must straighten, do it properly, and without causing damage. »
Share what you know!
- Let us know which curly hair tips work best for your kinky roots!
- Everyone’s hair, despite type, is completely different. Even the hair on your own head is different from one area to the next.
- What works best for one person may not work for another. Put these methods to the test, find your solution, and tell us about it!
