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October is not only a month of changing weather, it also includes Halloween costumes and trick or treating. With all those things on my mind, I decided to deal with the drier, cooler weather by treating my hair to new products and new product combinations.
1. Use Cleansing Conditioners
My first change was to start using cleansing conditioners for co-washing. I had been using a daily conditioner for this, but with the drier weather I wanted to add more moisture to my hair. I also wanted to try cleansing conditioners and maybe follow up with a conditioner if needed.
At the moment, Ouidad Curl Co-Wash is my favorite. Usually any product that uses the word “cleansing” to describe it immediately makes me hesitate in fear that my hair will have that stripped, dried out feeling after I use it. But this product was a surprise. It was moisturizing and I just did a quick conditioning rinse afterwards with Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner. My curls really have to be very moisturized in the fall and winter, so this doubling up of products worked for me.
MORE: Cleansing Conditioners
2. Modify Leave-in Conditioners
The second change I made was to try and modify Kinky-Curly Knot Today, my favorite leave-in conditioner. I was feeling like KCKT needed a little more moisture, and I really didn’t want to try another leave-in product. Yes, I am ridiculously attached to KCKT. I decided I was going to experiment with adding some oil to it. In the past I have had zero luck with oils. They either weigh my hair down or break up the clumping I have worked so hard to get. I was thinking by mixing an oil in with my leave-in conditioner, I might be able to add some needed moisture to my my curls without having to switch to another product.
I tried several different oils and had the best results with Ouidad Mongongo Oil. I poured my usual amount of KCKT into the palm of my hand. I then sprayed two little pumps of the Mongongo Oil into the center of the the KCNT and rubbed my palms together. I scrunched the mixture into my hair and could tell immediately that it was working. Good clumping was happening, and my hair felt smooth and moisturized. I followed with my favorite mousse of the moment, Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse.
MORE: Leave-in Conditioners
3. Alternate Deep Conditioners
The third change that I made was to start alternating my deep conditioners. I have always deep conditioned once a month with a product that has a lot of protein in it. Curl Junkie Repair Me! is one of my favorites. But I was thinking, why not deep condition twice a month during the fall and winter? I didn’t want to do another protein treatment, fearing that my hair would become brittle. A once a month dose of protein is just enough, so I decided to add a moisture rich, protein free deep conditioner to my routine. The one I had the best luck with was Spiral Solutions Deeply Decadent Moisturizing Treatment.
The thrill of using a good hair product is almost as good as the Almond Joys that I always take out of my kids Halloween candy pile.
What tricks are you using to change up your routine and treat your curls this fall?
You know that feeling when you hear a best-loved song you haven’t heard in a long time or when you put on your favorite pair of jeans that you’ve had forever? Nostalgia with hair products is that same feeling.
Last weekend, in a PMS cleaning frenzy, I went way back in my bathroom cabinet and found two products that I haven’t used in a long time: Curlisto Control I Gel and Curlisto Bio-Gel Mousse.
The memories are all good. Curlisto was the first curly specific brand that I had success with. In 2005, Christo of Curlisto came to Austin for a Naturallycurly.com event.
I remember walking into the salon and everyone waiting had curly hair. I immediately felt relief and was excited to have my first curly haircut. After Christo cut and styled my hair, I was thrilled. I had never walked out of a salon liking my hair. I also had a bag of hair product that I understood how to use. Like most curlies, my haircut experiences in the past had all been borderline nightmares. Racing home to assess the damage and having to wash and restyle my curls was always the post salon routine.
The love for Curlisto is still there for me. After co-washing, I used a nickel sized amount of the Control I Gel for each of the four sections of my curls. I then followed with the Bio-Gel Mousse using two handfuls to scrunch into my hair. I then diffused my hair and had perfect clumping along with well defined, frizz-free curls.
I am always trying new hair products, which I have fun with. But there is something so lovely about rediscovering old friends.
Last Saturday, I went to go see “Brave” with my sons. We rotate on whose turn it is to pick movies. I was a lot more excited than they were to see the movie, but they were good sports about it. I had just gone to their movie choice, “The Avengers” a couple of weeks ago. I wasn’t very excited about that one, but Mark Ruffalo did make things more tolerable — not the Hulk part but the real guy part.
Last week I had heard an interview on NPR where Linda Wertheimer spoke with the producer of “Brave,” Katherine Sarafian. The most exciting part of the interview was when they talked about Pixar having to create new software for Princess Merida’s curly hair. “We’d really worked with the same suite of software since the earliest days.” Sarafian said. “It was definitely time for an upgrade, but adopting new software is highly traumatic for a team. Everything had to be reinvented. But, you know, it was worth it, because the story served up this challenge of this spirited, untamed wild child of a girl. And that hair was part of her design and part of her character.”
A female heroine who has curly hair — it is about time! I was also really curious to see how her curly hair would fare by the end of the movie. We have all seen countless movies where the curls are straightened for a happy ending, or where straight hair becomes curly when the story takes a turn for the worst.
“Brave” starts with Princess Merida as a small child, and her hair is amazing. In the next scene, she is a teenager and her hair is still beautiful. Merida’s curls are the most realistic that I have ever seen on a big screen. I was thrilled that the curls never looked perfect. They moved, had texture and she had several different curl types on her head. There were even some realistic looking frizz and tangles. I imagine if she had modern day curly hair products, she would be a dead ringer for Jessicurl’s Jessica McGuinty. Apparently a lot of others were thinking the same thing, including Jess.
The movie continues curly until Merida is forced to cover up her curls as part of her royal presentation to the clansmen. At this point, I was sure this would be the end of her curls, but just then, she pulled a lovely front curl out from under the cloth headdress. Whew, they’re still there! What’s more, they remain with her throughout the entire movie. Her curls were part of her strength and her identity. I was surprised by that and the way the story ends as well. She keeps her curls and her true personality in tact while learning to be a young adult. What a refreshing change from all the Disney movies I grew up with. “Brave” is a Disney fairy tale with a happy ending, but Princess Merida with her curly hair and a bow and arrow offer a twist that is very modern. Disney will be Disney, but they finally let the curls be alive and beautiful.
“Brave” is a movie that every curly can love. It reminds us that there are a lot of ways to be brave. Certainly embracing our natural hair and making curls a part of our identity has required many brave moments of all of us.
Have you seen Disney’s first curly heroine on the big screen? What did you think?
Learning how to dry my curls has been a long process of frizz and frustration. There is so much to consider; towels, plopping, clips, air drying, hair dryers, diffusers, and the actual mechanics of how to position your head. Embracing my curls has taught me that experimentation is part of the process of learning how to get great hair. Through that experimentation and frustration, I have also had many amazing curl revelations. Most poignant was the discovery of my Holy Grail products, finally understanding dew points and becoming an avid ingredient label reader. They were all thrilling curly moments. Drying my curls has been one of the longer learning processes. Only recently, last week to be exact, made it to that moment of wonder with my hair dryer and diffuser.
How Do I Dry My Curls?
It wasn’t a case of being lazy about learning a foolproof method for drying my hair. It was just my assumption that I had already found what worked best for my curls. I would start out with all my styling products in my hair. I would then scrunch my hair with my Curls Like Us Cloth. I thought my next step should be plopping, but I never really felt like I had perfected the plopping method. I would always end up with crushed, crazy curls. I don’t have a lot of hair, and it is cut in a curly bob, so for the moment I knew that I would get better results by skipping the plopping method.
After letting my styling products set for 5-10 minutes, I would be ready to dry my hair. There was a rush of decisions to make and I knew them by heart. The hair dryer temperature settings, the size of the diffuser, how to hold the hair dryer with the diffuser to get my curls to dry without causing too much frizz, and lastly how long to dry my hair.
When I first started trying to use a diffuser, my attempts were comical. The mere mechanics of it defeated me right away. The diffuser kept coming off my hair dryer causing my curls to blow around mercilessly. By the end of the second day I couldn’t take the diffuser crashing to the floor any longer. I bought a new ionic hair dryer that came with a diffuser, a very exciting purchase. I turned that baby on and realized I needed to make some serious decisions. I was going to have to experiment with the hair dryer settings and time management. Too hot of a setting would speed up the drying time but caused a lot of frizz. The same problem happened with the high setting. Too much force and frizz was inevitable. A few bad hair days later I figured out the warm temperature setting on low was my best bet. I was finally winning the fight with my frizz.
I had figured out the first components of the drying challenge, now I was on to what position should my head be in? I decided I needed volume but didn’t want to sacrifice the clumping that I had achieved with my styling products and the Curls like Us Cloth. I was holding my head upside down and gently putting my curls in the diffuser, working my way around my head. I tried to scrunch a little bit, but knew too much touching would cause frizz. I dried my hair until it was about 85 percent dry.
At this point I felt like I was pretty close to getting this process right, but I was still getting some frizz and my clumping was breaking up. It wasn’t so bad that I needed to start over, but I finally got to the point of realizing I was having more bad hair days than I could tolerate. So like every curious curly out there, I started to look on Curltalk and YouTube for drying techniques and tips.
Read More: Can You Pull Off the Pretty Pixie Cut?
After some searching, I found The Pixiecurl Method. Thanks to some Pixiecurl Method threads on Curltalk and Waterlily176 ‘s video, I was seriously tempted to try this new method. Would it work for me, and could it really make a difference? I had read about it before, but never really paid that much attention to it. I decided the experiment was on.
The Pixiecurl Method
- I co-washed my curls, added my favorite products, scrunched with the towel and got my hair dryer and diffuser out.
- I put a section of my curls in the diffuser with the hair dryer OFF, and then moved the diffuser up to the crown of my head. I didn’t go all the way to the scalp because that seemed to smash the root volume. It also created a weird bend on the top of my curls — not a good thing.
- With diffuser almost to my head, I turned the hair dryer ON for about 45 seconds using the warm/low setting.
- I then turned OFF the hair dryer. I continued this all the way around my head, stopping when all the sections were almost dry. It took two passes around my head to get my curls 85 percent dry.
If you have super thick hair this may not be for you, because it would take forever. I did not hang my head upside down through out the whole process.
Curl Revelation
This experiment was a huge curl revelation for me. I had no frizz, great clumping and super curl definition. It really worked! Why hadn’t I thought about it before? My hair needed to stay still and have the curls scrunched (kind of like plopping”> and baked gently until almost dry. I still got lots of volume AND kept the precious clumping. A tricky look to achieve with my hair. My life hasn’t been the same since I embraced experimenting and discovering my many moments of curly joy. I really love all my curl revelations, and now the Pixiecurl Method is another great one to add to the list.
What was your most significant curl revelation?
In my curly hair history, I’ve either always had a curly bob and loved it, or I was in the unsatisfying process of trying to grow it out.
Usually a month into my curly bob, I would start getting lost in my long hair fantasy and cancel my hair appointment. As my hair grew longer, my curly bob would start turning into a 1970’s Peter Frampton look, and it was downhill from there.
My hair is fine and very prone to frizz. It takes a lot of work to get my 2c curls defined and relatively frizz free. The longer my hair would grow, the harder it became for me to take care of. Most of the time I would end up wearing it pulled back. It may have been my need for a better haircut or my lack of patience, but I never made it into my long hair dream. I was then always disappointed in myself for not reaching my hair goal. I felt like longer hair was somehow more attractive, sexier and more beautiful than short hair.
Recently, I realized this struggle was exactly like the straight hair vs. curly obsession that I lived through all my teenage years and well into my thirties. What am I doing? I can’t imagine going back to straight hair! When I look at pictures of my hair when I was most vigilant about straightening, I’m always surprised that I liked it. My hair closely resembled straw on a good day. I now like my curly hair thanks to NaturallyCurly.com and my good friends with curly hair. I have learned how to embrace and take care of my curls.
So why am I still struggling with the curly bob vs. long hair issue?
A few weeks ago after my most recent curly bob haircut, I had a few moments of shock. But the moments were fleeting and I realized that this curly bob was the best one ever. It was a spontaneous decision to cut my hair, and I have left my long hair obsession behind. I already made a hair appointment for 8 weeks from now. I’m loving the compliments, but most of all I am thrilled that I like it. I still think long curly hair is gorgeous, but my curly bob is just as fabulous.
My Curly Bob Hair Care Routine:
- I cowash every day. I never get second day hair, and have given up on trying. The time I spent on trying to get second day hair looking like first day hair is now better spent on cowashing and starting fresh. I recommend Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner, Curl Junkie Curl Assurance Smoothing Conditioner, As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner, Sunny Island Lavender Jamaican Black Castor Oil Natural Deep Conditioner.
- Once a week I wash my hair. My favorites include: Curl Junkie Curl Assurance Gentle Cleansing Shampoo, Elucence Mosture Benefits Shampoo.
- Once a week I do a deep conditioning treatment. My favorites include: Mop Top Deep Conditioner, Curl Junkie Curl ReHab Moisturizing Hair Treatment, DevaCurl Heaven in Hair.
- Once a month I do a ACV rinse or use a clarifying shampoo. My favorites include: Apple Cider Vinegar as a cleanser, Alba Botanicals Clarifying Shampoo.
- I sleep on a satin pillowcase and never touch a terry cloth towel to my hair. I always use the Curls Like Us Cloths.
- Next, I use a mousse because I need the volume and definition. I apply the mousse in four sections. I use a tablespoon in each section, gently scrunching it into my curls. All of these mousses have a good hold to them, which I need: AG Foam Weightless Volumizer, Curlisto Bio Gel Mousse, DevaCurl Volumizing Frizz Free Volumizing Foam.
- Then I diffuse my curls with my head upside down until it is almost dry. I follow with gently scrunching and I am good to go. If my hair starts to get a little frizzy midday I always keep a pomade in my purse: MOP C Glisten High Shine Pomade.
Have you learned to embrace your curls, whether they are short or long?
This video is an introduction of one of NaturallyCurly.com’s video bloggers, KinkyKurlyQueen.
Pantene’s got a new line specifically designed for those of us with some spring in our strands! Pantene Curly Hair Series tackles the issues curlies face so we can embrace our natural hair texture and curl pattern. From cleansing to styling and even deep treatments, the products in this line work together to give you repaired, moisturized, frizz-free curls every time.
If you love the wash n’ go look, the Curly Hair Series can help!
To start off, cleanse the hair with the Dry to Moisturized Shampoo. It gently removes previous product build up without stripping the hair. Moisturizing ingredients work to reduce the friction and rough feeling we often get after using other shampoos. Properly cleansed hair will be more responsive to conditioner and styling products.
Next, apply the Dry to Moisturized Conditioner. It’s got moisturizing slip, perfect for detangling curly hair. It coats the hair to protect it from damage and drying out.
As a special treat, Pantene Curly Hair Series also has a Deep Moisture Treatment. Work it into the hair from tip to root, and remember to focus on your ends or other damaged sections of your curls. Take this time to detangle with a wide-toothed comb. The Deep Moisture Treatment only needs to sit on the hair for 5 minutes! Rinse with lukewarm or cool water to close the cuticle and increase the shine. Over time, the treatment will add the manageability and definition of your curls!
To style in your natural curl pattern, divide your hair into easy to manage sections. Usually, a combination of products get the desired defined look. Pantene Curly Hair Series Anti-Frizz Straightening Creme and Curl Defining Mousse work together to get smooth and defined shiny curls. Combine a squirt of both products into your palms, emulsify, and run through each section of wet hair from root to tip. The Anti-Frizz Straightening Creme works as a serum—even though you’re not flat ironing your hair, it will smooth down the cuticles and prevent flyaways. The Curl Defining Mousse provides the hold that’ll keep your curls in tact all day.
After applying to each section, use a diffuser attachment to dry the hair without blowing a gust of air and disturbing the curl formation.
The result: shiny, defined and moisturized curls from Pantene!
Hair Color Tips
Deep condition
Two things you can do before you color your hair that will make a big difference in terms of how long your color will last. First, apply a deep conditioner to your hair three days before you have your color applied. Your hair needs to be moisturized to help the color absorb evenly. The better conditioned your hair is, the more the color will take to your hair.
Deep conditioners
- MYHoneyChild Olive You Deep Conditioner
- Curl Junkie Hibiscus Banana Deep Fix Moisturizing Conditioner
- DevaCurl Heaven in Hair
The second thing that will help the life of your hair color before you go to the salon is to not wash your hair. Do not wash your hair for at least 24 hours, 48 hours is even better, before your appointment. The natural oils produced by your scalp help the color adhere and penetrate more deeply into the hair shaft.
The Right Process and Color
Choosing what kind of process and the actual color can make or break the life of your hair color.
Making a decision about what kind of color process to use is another choice that can have an effect on how long your color will last. Highlights are a better choice in some situations than a single all over process. Having your natural color mixed in with highlights helps it not be so obvious when your color starts to grow out.
Next, stick to a color that is two to three shades within your natural color. The bigger the color change, the more obvious your roots will be when your hair starts to grow out. Plus, you will be able to maximize your time between salon visits if you stay close to your own color.
When should I wash my hair after I have colored it?
It is best to wait 48 hours after the color service to cleanse your hair since shampooing can cause major color fading so waiting will help. Also, washing your hair less often is helpful. Only wash your hair when you really need to. The more you wash your hair the faster the color will fade.
Co-washing with a conditioner and choosing the right shampoo will also help extend the life of your hair color. Do not use clarifying shampoos, because they can strip away your color. Cleansers with harsh sulfates fade color and dry your hair out very quickly. Use sulfate free shampoos, or alternate if you have to use a regular shampoo. Always use cool water to wash and rinse your hair. Hot water opens the hair cuticles and allows the color to go right down the drain.
Sulfate free cleansers
For highlights in red hair
- Mix 1/3 c apple cider vinegar with 2/3 c cold water
- Rinse hair with mixture and then rinse again with cold water
For bold undertones in dark hair
- Crush 8-10 walnuts including shells
- Mix with 1 c water and bring to boil.
- Let cool and then strain to remove all shells.
- Pour in spritz bottle and keep in the fridge.
- Spritz on hair to deepen color.
Another alternative to adding vibrancy to your hair color is having a clear color gloss applied over newly colored hair. The gloss will help seal in the new color and add shine to your hair.
Stay Hydrated
Increase the amount of water or liquid you drink. This helps keep your roots moisturized and prevent your hair from drying out. A side advantage is that your skin will also benefit from the added hydration.
Use leave-in conditioners and UV protectant sprays
Using a daily leave-in conditioner is a great way to keep hair soft, hydrated and protected. Indoor heating, dry cold winter air and the sun are all very drying and damaging to hair as well as color. If you don’t use a leave-in conditioner on a regular basis it is a habit you should get into.
Also when summer arrives months from now, you will benefit from this new routine. Swimming and summer sunshine are more enemies of hair color. A leave-in conditioner will still be very helpful for protection against chlorine and UV rays. It also helps lock in moisture.
Leave-in conditioners
Use a Mousse Instead of a Gel
Gel is not the best choice for thinning hair. Gel binds hair together, making your scalp more visible. Instead use a mousse. It dries softer and can add volume.
My favorite is AG Foam Weightless Volumizer. Along with this, using duckbill clips to add volume at the crown of your head helps. The last step in this process is to dry your curls with a diffuser while hanging your head upside down. This really gets the volume pumped up.
Healthy Scalp, Healthy Hair
Since hair grows from a healthy follicle, your scalp needs to be healthy. Scalp oils or essential oils can really promote a healthy scalp. Layers of product and chemical treatment can take their toll on your hair as well as your scalp.
Massage a few drops of HPO Happy Scalp essential oil blend onto your scalp to stimulate and awaken.
Or you can make your own mixture of oils. Massage them into your scalp at bedtime, and then cover your head. Have a good night’s sleep and then gently cleanse your hair and scalp in the morning. Try this recipe of oils for an overnight treatment.
- 2 drops of lavender oil
- 2 drops of rosemary oil
- 2 drops of thyme oil
- 3 drops of jojoba oil
Semi-Permanent Hair Color is a Good Thing
Semi-permanent hair color is great because it does not contain ammonia or peroxide. It will not damage your hair or scalp. Instead it will give your hair body and volume. This should be professionally applied. Colored hair can easily get over-processed, which damages it, causing further hair loss. If you do not have a stylist check out our stylist and salon finder section.
Gentle Care and Conditioning
Certain styles can cause breakage or root damage. Try to avoid tight braiding, buns, or ponytails. Detangling combs or brushes should have smooth tips and be widely spaced. Sharp toothed combs and brushes can scratch your scalp and cause split ends.
Be sure when you are detangling to use a light conditioner and gently use your detangling comb or brush.
Start from the ends of your hair and work upwards. Use more conditioner on the ends of your hair and a lot less on the crown of your head. A super light conditioner with a lot of moisturizing power that will not weigh your hair down is Jessicurl Aloeba Daily Conditioner
Reduce your stress
Hair loss can be attributed to health issues, heredity and stress levels. If one or all of these are concerns for you, your stress level is the only one you can do something about immediately. Go take a walk or plan to go to a yoga class tonight. Arrange to go out with your friends this week and enjoy their company. Get up from your desk and get a drink of water. Breath and find a calming activity that will reduce your stress level. It sounds so easy doesn’t it? We all know it isn’t but the effort is worth it!
Dear CurlySuzy: I recently had a Brazilian blowout. I live in Colorado where the dew points are extremely low. I have fine hair. I am looking for a conditioner for fine hair. My hair loves protein and shea butter so I would like a moisturizing conditioner with protein. Can you help? Most of the conditioners on here are protein free or have a lot of glycerin, which is not good in dry weather. Help…Thanks in advance.
Dear Cindy: Here are some super-moisturizing conditioners that have protein and shea butter in them, but not too much glycerin (this is a tough combo!”>. They are also sulfate- and sodium-chloride free, which is good for post Brazilian blowout care.
Darcy’s Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Moisturizing Conditioner
This is brand new. I tried it yesterday and it is great. It is a once-a-month treatment. Sadly it does not have shea butter but it is very moisturizing.
Curl Junkie Repair Me! Reconstructive Hair Treatment
This is a great, very thick conditioner filled with moisture.
Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner
This is a good one, too, but you have to like the pumpkin scent.
Darcy’s Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Moisturizing Conditioner
Great one for the price.
Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner
This is a good protein treatment as well.
Spiral Solutions Repairing Protein Treatment
Love this one – lots of shea butter!
Jessicurl Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner
Hope one of these looks good to you.
Best, Suzy
Dear Curly Suzy: I am an African-American female with Type 3/4 (3 in the front and 4″> in the back. I have developed a wheat/gluten allergy recently (found this out when I broke out in hives from Miss Jessie’s Stretching Silkening Creme. Can you suggest shampoos, conditioners and finishing cremes to take away the frizz? I wish I could still use Miss Jessie’s (been buying for 6 years”> but my allergy will no longer allow it.
Dear Natalie: I am sorry that you have to switch from a product that you have been using for so long. I hope I can help with some new ideas for wheat- and gluten-free hair products.
Wheat- and gluten-free cleansers
- Kinky-Curly Come Clean Moisturizing Shampoo
- Oyin Handmade Honey Wash
- MYHoneyChild Banana Creme Scalp Cleanser
Wheat- and gluten-free conditioners
- Oyin Handmade Hemp Conditioner
- Hair-Treatment-p-943.html” target=”mart”>Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment (this can be used as a daily conditioner or a deep conditioner”>
- MYHoneyChild Organic Shea Butter Light Conditioner
Wheat- and gluten-free leave-in conditioners
Wheat- and gluten-free finishing cremes
- Darcy’s Botanicals Madagascar Vanilla Styling Creme
- Curl Junkie Curl Assurance Aloe Fix Hair Styling Gel
- Blended Beauty Happy Nappy
- CURLS Curl Souffle
I hope these or some of these look good to you. Please email me if you have any questions about this.
Whether you are a new mom or a mom hustling to keep up with your toddler and kindergartner, you’re well aware that this is a seriously exhausting business. That means time slots for going to the hair salon are hard to get on the schedule. Here are some quick curly hairstyles and tips for busy moms.
Don’t skip getting a haircut and color
Of all the things you have to sacrifice because there are not enough minutes in the day, ignoring taking care of your hair should not be one of them. Quick curly hairstyles and styling methods work so much better when your hair is healthy and you have a good haircut. Personally, it helps me gain a little sanity knowing my hair looks good, or at least okay, in the midst of my busy mom lifestyle. If you haven’t found a good stylist, check out Naturallycurly.com’s Salon Finder.
The curly ponytail
Pulling your hair back is always a good option when you are in a rush. Be sure to use fabric-covered rubber bands. Curly hair is fragile and the less stress you put on it the better. You can jazz your ponytail up with decorative bobby pins or a headband. A great product to use on wet or dry hair before you pull your curls into a ponytail is HerCut Ponytail Styling Balm.
It keeps your curly ponytail soft and pliable, while the humectant-concentrated ingredients de-frizz and define curls. This product also adds shine and controls stubborn fly-aways.
In a hurry, co-wash and air dry your curls
Use a good conditioner for co-washing your hair, instead of a shampoo. Washing your hair with a conditioner is a quick way to add moisture to dry frizzy hair. Once you are out of your shower gently pat your hair dry with a moisture absorbing towel. That will cut down on frizz and the drying time. Either of these two are great to use:
Curl Like Us Curl Cloths are smooth-surfaced and very absorbent.
The Hand Dry Hair Glove, a super-absorbent microfiber that soaks up excess water.
Both of these items are huge time savers. They also have another function. When you put your styling product in your hair, both of these are great for scrunching a little bit and then you are good to go. Your hair will dry much faster and look like you actually had time to style it.
Find 30 minutes once a week to deep condition
Deep conditioning once a week for 30 minutes will make styling your hair so much easier for the rest of the week. Your curls will be moisturized and more manageable. The fight against frizz and dryness will be diminished. It really is that easy. The “to-do” list is long when you are a mom but adding a once-a-week deep conditioning to the list is well worth it. Make deep conditioning part of the professional multi-tasking Moms are so expert at. I put deep conditioner on my hair, wrap it in saran wrap (that is what I have handy, no time to hunt for a shower cap”> and then I put on a cap to hold in some heat. I usually vacuum or pick up around the house while the conditioner is doing its job. When my boys were tiny I had to use a timer to remind myself to rinse the conditioner out. And to be honest the timer was also to remind me to not go out of the house on an errand with the saran wrap and hat still on my head.
The messy bun
I am so thrilled that the messy bun is so in fashion right now. I strongly believe moms created this look way before it was chic. The best new accessory that makes this look so effortless is the Goody Simple Style Spin Pins.
They do the job of 20 bobby pins! I use two of them and I have the messy bun ready to go in record time. If you are sleep deprived or haven’t had enough coffee yet, these Spin Pins make life just a little easier.
According to Tonya McKay Becker (aka CurlChemist”>, moisture is the most important thing during dry winter months. Ingredients such as humectants that function really well in humid situations can actually cause dryness in during the winter months. If the humidity and dew points are really low, it is best to limit them. Here are our top winter hair product pics that are low or free of humectants to help your hair stay moisturized all winter long.
Winter Hair Products
Daily Conditioners
Jessicurl Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner is one of the best daily conditioners to use in the winter months. This thick conditioner uses shea butter for its moisturizing properties, adding great softness to super dry hair. It is re-hydrating and restorative for any hair type.
Deep Conditioners
Marsha Coulton of Curl Junkie recommends using products that are richer in oils and butters to seal in moisture and avoid humectant heavy leave-ins and styling products.
Here is a Curl Junkie product that is moisturizing in all the right ways for the winter months. Deep condition with Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment. There is lots of healing butters and oils in this one, and it’s great for all hair types.
Coily Styling Products
Winter styling products should be moisturizing and humectant free if you are in a very dry climate. For type 4 hair, try Darcy’s Botanicals Madagascar Vanilla Styling Crème. It is an all natural hair butter for moisturizing, styling and conditioning your natural coils.
Curly Leave-in Conditioners
Kinky-Curly Knot Today is a leave-in conditioner and detangler designed to smooth the cuticle and remove knots, snarls and tangles from hair. If you haven’t tried this product, it is hard to imagine how amazing it is. If you have tried it, you know that its moisturizing powers are beyond all expectations. It is ideal for 3c hair but it works beautifully for all hair types as well. Your winter curls will love this one!
Curly Moisturizing Finishing Products
Aubrey Organics NuStyle Organic Hair Smoothing Serum is for smoothing down the hair cuticle to reduce frizzing. This silicone-free serum will have your dry winter hair shining and manageable. Replenish moisture that the chill of dry winter air is taking from your curls.
Wavy Styling Mousse
Need extra moisture for your waves and curls? Elucence Volume Designing Foam is your answer. This styling mousse is enriched with nettle and rosemary to produce natural shine and feel.
Dear CurlySuzy: I was hoping you could help me out: I live in Maryland, and as the temperature is dropping, I am seeing more and more articles about shelving my products that contain humectants because of their counterproductive effect in the drier air. Oyin’s Burnt Sugar Pomade is a holy grail for me right now but I have seen it advertised as a humectant. I use it mainly to keep my edges slick for flat twists and corn rows and my “pigtail plaits”.
The ingredients don’t seem to list any strong humectants, but should I be worried about using this as it gets colder? I have the list below for you to review any and all suggestions are welcome.
Burnt Sugar contains: castor oil, soy wax, organic virgin coconut oil, mango seed oil, olive oil, unrefined hempseed oil, cocoa butter, broccoli seed oil, and fragrance.
Please help! Thanks!
A: Here is a list of humectants. I think you are fine continuing to use the Oyin pomade. Just be sure you are very aware of how your hair is feeling. Major dryness is the first symptom of humectants not performing like you want them to when the dry winter air blows in. I hope this helps. Please email me again if you need more answers or help.
Burnt Sugar contains: castor oil, soy wax, organic virgin coconut oil, mango seed oil, olive oil, unrefined hemp seed oil, cocoa butter, broccoli seed oil, and fragrance.
Examples of Humectants:
1,2,6 hexanetriol
Butylene Glycol
Dipropylene glycol
Glycerin
Hexylene Glycol
Panthenol
Phytantriol — enhances moisture-retention, increases absorption of
vitamins, panthenol, and amino acids into hair shaft, imparts gloss
Propylene glycol
Sodium PCA
Sorbitol
Triethylene glycol
Polyglyceryl sorbitol
Fructose
Glucose
Polydextrose
Potassium PCA
Urea
Hydrogenated Honey
Hyaluronic Acid
Inositol
Hexanediol beeswax
Hexanetriol Beeswax
Hydrolyzed Elastin
Hydrolyzed Collagen
Hydrolyzed Silk
Hydrolyzed Keratin
Erythritol
Capryl glycol
Isoceteth-(3-10, 20, 30″>
Isolaureth-(3-10, 20, 30″>
Laneth-(5-50″>
Laureth-(1-30″>
Steareth-(4-20″>
Trideceth-(5-50″>
Dear CurlySuzy: While reading about dew point and humectants and looking to test out products without humectants for this winter (because in some climates, there is some risk of the humectant actually removing moisture from the hair, creating the problem it was intended to prevent— read more here“>, I found myself in doubt about this: is glycerin and vegetable glycerin the same thing? Do they perform the same way?
Dear Cíntia: Yes, glycerin and vegetable glycerin are usually the same thing. Some hair care companies will specify where the glycerin is derived from and list it as vegetable glycerin. In most cases when it says glycerin, it is vegetable derived. This is because vegetable glycerin is the cheapest and the most readily available to manufacturers. In vegan products, the glycerin would be derived from a vegetable base, as well.
Animal-fat based glycerin is not used as much. The soap-making process, from which glycerin comes, is almost always vegetable-based instead of animal-based.
The big time manufacturers could use petroleum-based glycerin. I am not sure which ones and what products those would be. Some companies list the ingredients, some don’t.
Glycerin—any glycerin—is a humectant in most products. The only time it is not a humectant and can be an emollient is when it is used in very, very small amounts.
I hope this helps. I was confused until I got all the facts straight—hope it make sense to you!
Please email me if you have any more questions.
Do you have a date tonight, but your good hair day is turning into a bad hair night? We’ve got great curly hair tips for emergency date-hair fixes!
No time to fix your curls?
We have all had days when nothing is happening on time and feel like you are falling behind schedule from the minute you wake up. The worst part of this kind of day for me is at 7:00 pm when I have a dinner date. My curls are not in top date-night condition. And you guessed it—I don’t have time to go home. My emergency solutions to making my curls date-ready are hair accessories, aka hair candy. Headbands and decorative clips and combs are all great ways to make your curls look great.
I am having a great dinner date. My new hair product that I used this morning worked much better than I thought. I am sipping my wine wondering why he has not complimented my curls yet?
A few minutes later, looking in the bathroom mirror at the restaurant, I understand why. My hair looks terrible. My new hair product has not lasted all day. My bouncing curls are now a stringy, frizzy mess.
Thank goodness I have my emergency hair products stashed in my purse:
- For sad droopy curls I have Kevin Murphy’s Powder Puff. Use a few sprinkles at the roots to create volume.
- For stringy, frizzy curls I have a little bottle of leave-in conditioner. My favorite is Kinky-Curly Knot Today. I use a small amount and gently scrunch it into my curls. Then I use a paper towel for one final scrunch to absorb the last bits of the conditioner.
- If the curls are beyond repair my third and last option is to put the curls up. The Goody Simple Styles Updo Maker is always somewhere in my purse.
Panic situations
I’ve spent time making my hair look perfect. I’ve used my favorite combination of products and done all the styling tricks that make my curls just right. There are only three things that can ruin this effort and cause a hair panic attack:
- I get a text that he has rented a convertible for our special night out.
- We have had a nice dinner. It is still early and he wants to go for a walk on the beach.
- We are walking to a favorite restaurant and the weather changes. It starts to mist and get windy and we still have many blocks to go.
All of these situations are going to destroy the curls. A favorite hat or scarf is a safe solution. Pulling my hair back in messy bun or a ponytail are good too. I can imagine a nice wind blown look as well, but the curl reality is never as good as what I imagine.
Your purse might be heavy, but with these curly hair tips and fixes, you’ll be ready for any date hair emergency.
Dear Curly Suzy: I was recently reading about clarifying for the shampoo free method.. and well, with my last purchase I bought the Elucence moisture conditioner and shampoo. Is that shampoo OK for clarifying?
Dear Jeannie: The Elucence Moisture Balancing Shampoo isn’t really a clarifying shampoo. It is a great cleanser but will not remove huge amounts of build up.
Here are some clarifying shampoos that we carry:
- Carol’s Daughter Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
- CURLS Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo
- Elucence Volume Clarifying Shampoo
- Hair Rules Aloe Grapefruit Purifying Shampoo
You can also do an apple cider vinegar rinse. Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the buildup. Here is a recipe:
Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml”> of apple cider vinegar into 1 cup (250 ml”> of warm filtered tap water. After shampooing you can rinse with this.
It is still hot in Texas. The only hints of fall are the apples and pumpkins at the grocery store. Putting a pumpkin on my front porch is not going to work at the moment. It would be a baked, mushy pumpkin in a matter of days. So, to embrace fall, and in honor of October being apple month, I am buying all the varieties of new apples. They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. An apple a day can also keep the frizz away.
Here’s a few reasons why apples are good for you and a few more reasons why they are good for your hair.
Reason #1
Products with Pyrus Malus:
- Dessert Essences Green Apple Ginger Shampoo and Conditioner
- Suave’s Juicy Green Apple Shampoo and Conditioner
- Paul Mitchell Flexible Style Super Sculpt Quick-Drying Styling Glaze
- Mop Top Leave It In Conditioner
- MyHoneyChild Hair Reformer Conditioner
- Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Curl Perfecting Shampoo
The apple-derived ingredient Pyrus Malus (apple”> fiber is used as a conditioning agent in hair products.
Reason #2
Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove any buildup on your hair shaft. Rinsing will also close the numerous cuticle scales that cover and protect the surface of each hair shaft. The result is a smoother surface, which reflects more light, and so your hair is shinier, smoother and easier to manage.
For recipes and more information about apple cider vinegar, click here.
Hair Products with apple cider vinegar:
Reason #3
Apples contain an essential trace element called boron. Boron helps with bone density and can therefore help to prevent or to decrease the effects of osteoporosis.
Reason #4
Apples contain phytonutrients, which are antioxidants that can help to combat the effects of bad LDL cholesterol.
On average, apple contains more antioxidants than a large 1,500 mg dose of vitamin C.
Reason #5
As well as being full of goodness, apples contain no sodium, no fat and no cholesterol.
