I’m a queen crowned in my curls. 

Naturally curly hair is a blessing. It took me roughly 15 years to appreciate what I have, but man do I love my curls! Curls require a lot of TLC, but don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to make sure your curly hair is at its best and that bad hair days are kept to a minimum.

1. Throw out the brush

Brushing your curls can damage and break the hair, especially if you’re doing it dry. Brushing or combing your hair while dry will remove the curl shape and will result in lots of frizz. Yikes! Instead, opt for a wide tooth comb. I brush my hair while in the shower while lathered in conditioner. This makes for better results and less damage. Combing your hair will ensure it is knot-free and will help retain the curl. You can find wide tooth combs at Wal-Mart, Target, or Sally Beauty for less than $2.

2. Shampoo correctly

A lot of articles/videos will tell you to wash your hair every day or every-other day. This advice is not practical for everyone. The shampoo will strip your hair of its natural oils and make it dry, and can be hard on hair. If that’s what you’re currently doing and you’ve noticed your hair is becoming dry and brittle, wait an extra day before you wash-and-go. I typically shampoo every 3-4 days. Another tip: try finding a shampoo that doesn’t lather. This has made the BIGGEST difference with my hair, especially after damaging my curls. My favorite shampoo is the DevaCurl No-Poo Original Zero Lather Conditioning Cleanser, which can be found at Ulta or participating salons.

3. Condition, Condition, Condition!

This is probably one of the most important things you can do for your curls to keep them hydrated and healthy. Find a good conditioner that works well on your hair.Your hair will thank you and reward you with endless amounts of good hair days. Score! Curly hair is naturally dry, as it’s harder for the natural oils to make their way through the curls. Try using formulas for dry/damaged hair, too. My favorite conditioners to use are DevaCurl’s One Condition Original Daily Cream Conditioner or Shea Moisture’s Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner, but what works for me may not work for you.

4. Use a good styling product.

Curly hair can use assistance at times to look at its best (at least my curls do). Whether it’s a serum, cream, or spray, there’s something out there for everyone. A lot of brands that make products for curly-haired girls make sample sizes of their products for you to use. This will allow you to try a handful of different products to see what works best with your curls. I have a handful of styling products that I swear by (I promise I’ll do another post showing you all of them). I typically will swap out the leave-in conditioners I use every few weeks because my hair tends to get used to them.

5. Beat the heat!

Oh my goodness, I cannot stress this enough. Blow drying or straightening your curls will only damage them. That damage will cause your hair to be frizzy, dead, and lifeless. This is how I so-terribly damaged my curls January of 2016 after a straightening debacle (and they’re still recovering as you can see in the photo above). For healthy and frizz-free hair, let your curls naturally dry. But I understand that using no heat can be unrealistic. If you must use heat, be sure to use some kind of protective product for your hair. I typically let my curls air dry as much as I can, and then I’ll grab some aragan oil, take my diffuser and finish it up. Always keep the blow dryer on a low setting to minimize the impact of the heat.

So there you have it, my most important tips to keep your curls in tip-top condition. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve damaged my curls multiple times. Each time it happened, I immediately regret not treating my curls with the love they deserve. But you live and you learn. Hair is hair, and with the right treatment and time you can get it healthy and radiant. What do you do to keep your curls healthy? Let me know!