Monday, September 20, 2010

All About Hair: Calling All Curls! 5 Quick Tips To Enhancing Your Natural Curl Pattern

[source]

[1] Use a microfiber towel or thick t-shirt to dry your hair. Remember to squeeze gently not rub in order to preserve your natural curl pattern and prevent frizz.

[2] Use COLD water when styling. Cold water seals the cuticles and makes for shiny, more manageable hair. If you need to rehydrate your hair while styling it into a wash and go set; drop a couple of ice cubes in a spray bottle filled with cold water and use it to spritz your hair. 

Additionally, you may add a half-teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to your ice water spritz. This is exceptionally useful for those with very thick, coarse highly textured hair as it makes the hair more manageable and helps coils "clump" together/ 

[3] Excessive manipulation while your hair is damp can disrupt the curl pattern causing frizz and curls that are nonuniform-ed. Instead, manipulate hair while soaking wet [using your ice-water spray mixture to rehydrate when necessary] to prevent excess frizz.

[4] Invest in a Denman brush! Something about this brush brings out the best in most curls, kinks and coils. Remember to thoroughly detangle hair prior to using your Denman to eliminate mechanical damage from brushing tangled hair while wet. 

My new method goes something like this: spray wet hair with ice water + "smooth" a 2 inch section of hair by brushing it with a denman. Add gel or curling custard/pudding of choice. Then spritz again with cold water to encourage curls to "clump". This prevents stringy singular curls and enhances thicker more uniform curls. 

[5] Use a shampoo specifically formulated for curly hair. This makes a big difference in the outcome of your wash and go. Especially if it takes a bit of work bringing out your curl pattern like me. I recommend Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Curl Perfecting Shampoo or Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Shampoo; as both are formulated with the needs of curly hair in mind.

Follow MTM on Twitter | Add MTM on Bloglovin'Like MTM on Facebook 

20 comments:

  1. Great post.

    It sounds so obvious now, but I'd never thought of using a shampoo specially formulated for curly hair. That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for this.

    www.collegecurlies.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, cold of cool water is the best medicine. Also, sitting under a cool dryer lessens the dryness and frizz.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is fab!! Im going to try the ice cubes & apple cider vinegar~

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hot or warm water has always worked best for me, but lately the front of my hair is a lot straighter with some stringy curls than in the past so I will try the cold water to see if works:)
    Thank you for all your hair advice. Great blog!
    Tarra

    ReplyDelete
  5. You are making me really want to try the Carol Daughter Hair Milk...it really had your curls poppin for your wash and go

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great tips!!! I just got my Denman, and I can't wait to try this method out:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. You forgot to add, ditching the comb/brush altogether. I have the best definition ever since I ditched combing/brushing. It takes a while, but I've adopted Teri LaFlesh of Tightlycurly.com method of smoothing curls; only I use it to slip out all shed hairs. When I comb or brush my hair turns to poof and I have to coax the curls back in (also I'm more prone to breakage). Since I ditched the comb/brush I have no breakage and definition with little to no effort...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Cold water is a must and it is sooo much better spraying on your hair rather than letting it run over your hair standing in the shower lol tried and fail ;0)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm going to try the cold water and the ice cubes. Thanks for the tip.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you, I will definitely try the ACV coconction!
    What works for me is using truly moisturizing and concentrated products as leave ins, or enough conditioner to clump my curls:my hair likes the Teri LaFlesh method mentioned by the anonymous. An important part in this technique is that conditioners with a lot of cetyl alcohol clump my curls extremely well.

    ReplyDelete
  11. hi,
    i have a question that i hope you can answer im currently transitionaing officially six months as of the seventeenth whoop whoop loll, i would like to know what you think of the hair rules line if you've tried please let me know how it worked for you.
    p.s did you know that urban outfitters is now selling the kinky-curly line now? ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  12. I agree with everything, except I'm still terrified to use a brush in my hair. It's been more than 20 years since I've brushed my hair.

    ReplyDelete
  13. @Jamila Reddy; You're welcome! Give it a shot!

    @Hillerie Camille; I'm going to have to try that! Thank you for the tip!

    @Sing; Let me know how it works for you!

    @Candice; You're quite welcome!

    @Charlotte Smith; Please do, it has worked wonders for me!

    @vonnie; Thank you!

    @Anonymous; Thank you Tarra! I hope these tips work well for you!

    @Takeysha; Give it a try! I believe Sephora has a wonderful return policy!

    @Patrice-The Soap Seduction; You're in luck! Give it a go! I swear by that brush now!

    @Anonymous; I am going to have to revisit that method. I failed miserably when I tried to go without combing or brushing. I will try that out this weekend perhaps.

    @Lipstick Diva; You are not alone! LOL And yes it is a must!

    @Natural Hair Care; You're welcome!

    @TheBestMonday; More affirmation that I need to try this method again! Thank you for the tip!

    @Anonymous; Woop Woop! LOL Congrats chica! - Unfortunately I have never tried the line! I will definitely do a review in the near future though! - And yes! I did hear that Kinky-Curly was now available in Urban!

    @Davina916; Thank you!

    @Napfrocurlzgirl; I definitely understand your pain. I used to avoid my denman like the plague...however I have found the best way to use it is on hair that has already been detangled.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wondering, does apple cider vinegar have an unpleasant scent? I'd hate to be smelling like a fish and chip shop if I were to put this (even if it is only 1/2 teaspoon full) on my head.... :D

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm definitely going to start investing in products formulated for curly hair and stop trying to use products I used for my straight hair. (Seems like common sense right lol) I definitely want to get a Denman brush and I want to invest in Miss Jessie's products.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What can i do to get more volume and what is the best curling pudding?

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails