It can be very confusing as a curly guy when you are in search of the best products to care for your curly hair, especially when you walk into a store or search online and see all of the many options. Creams, gels, leave-ins, rinse-outs – it’s enough to overwhelm you and stick to your 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash, but the truth is that this product will do your curls no favors.
It’s important to build a basic hair regimen that is simple enough to maintain, so I’m sharing the bare minimum that a curly guy needs. I’m also sharing my favorite products in these categories, and my hair is predominately type 4b with 4c in the crown, high density & medium porosity, so if you have a similar hair type these may work for you too. If you have a looser curl pattern, you will still need to use a moisturizer and sealant, you may just want to opt for a lighter formula.
1. A gentle cleanser
I like Jason Dandruff Relief Shampoo because it does not contain any hash or stripping chemicals and it leaves your hair soft and manageable. The active ingredient is Sulphur which controls dandruff and is integral for the health of your cells, but the great part is that it is naturally found in nature. It also contains salicylic acid which controls seborrheic dermatitis, so it definitely is scalp and hair therapy in a bottle! Keep an eye out for these ingredients when you’re shopping for a cleanser that will treat an itchy scalp.
2. A conditioner
Many men don’t bother with conditioner, but if you have curly, coily or wavy hair then your hair needs the moisture. I like KeraCare Dry and Itchy Scalp Conditioner because it’s great at penetrating the hair shaft and making your strands feel smooth leaving your hair shiny and soft. This is achieved via the PH of the conditioner being at a healthy recommended number of 4. With active ingredients such as glycerine, menthol, and castor oil your hair receives moisture and scalp stimulation to encourage balance and hair growth.
3. A moisturizer
After we have balanced our hair with our wash-out conditioner we need to add a cream or hair butter to keep the hair soft and allow us to style the hair in whichever way we choose. My favorite is the Qhemet Biologics Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee. When you rub this cream in your hands and smooth it through your hair you can instantly feel how easy it is to work through your hair. It can be used on wet or dry hair and leaves the hair smelling lovely and gives your hair a natural shine. For looser curl patterns look for a light, water-based formula (meaning water is at the top of the ingredients list”>.
4. A sealant
Our scalp naturally produces oil but for curly or highly textured hair it can be difficult for that oil to make its way all the way down the hair shaft to our ends. I like to use Sunny Isle Extra Dark Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO”>, but a little goes a long way so try not to be heavy handed. With curly hair we tend to suffer from dry ends which can be avoided if we lightly oil our ends when we finish styling our hair. You can also lightly massage this oil into your scalp to promote hair growth and to calm an itchy scalp. As the oil is on the heavier side it definitely helps to protect your hair from friction caused by clothing and the harshness of the elements. A lighter oil for looser curl patterns is almond oil.
From these suggestions we can be sure that we have created a basic four point regimen that will help get your hair on track to becoming healthier and to flourish. Always try to cleanse, condition, moisturize, and seal to keep your hair in top tip shape.
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