Having naturally curly hair has been a huge part of my identity for as long as I can remember, and yet it’s something I hardly ever talk about with other people, especially on my blog. Because most of my friends have pin-straight hair or gorgeous waves, it’s nearly impossible to find anyone who relates to my struggles of not knowing what kind of look I’m going to wake up with! Apparently I’m not alone though, because only 10% of women in the U.S. with curly hair feel proud of their hair. That’s crazy considering one in three women in the US have curly hair!
Despite the hassle curly hair can create, I’ve never been a fan of using hot tools on my hair. I would rather deal with my natural hair than spend an hour or more putting a straightening iron on it, because I almost never have that much time to devote to my hair! Because of that, I’m always searching for new tips and tricks for managing curly hair, and I’ve discovered a few that work wonders.
1. Take A Break From The Heat
One of the reasons I try to avoid hot tools is the effect it creates on my curls. After washing my hair post-straightening, my curls look dry and frizzy for about a week. Taking a few weeks off between straightening days really helps my curls replenish themselves and get that moisture back. For those first few days though, I like adding some extra moisture with a serum. Recently I’ve been loving Dove’s Quench Absolute Supreme Crème Serum! It’s a lightweight and creamy serum that absorbs quickly into your hair, leaving it nourished and ready for the day. The best part? You can use it on dry or wet hair!
2. Moisturize!
This is like, the number one rule to managing curly hair in my book! Whether you’re using hot tools or not, curly hair can become very dry, and needs a constant source of moisture. Finding a great conditioner can really help with managing dry, frizzy curls. One product that’s been saving my curls this summer is Dove’s Quench Absolute Ultra Nourishing Conditioner, which makes your curls more manageable while reviving and strengthening them from the core. I can’t get over how smooth my curls were after using this!
3. Shampoo Less Often, With The Right Product
I’ve always struggled with my shampooing schedule, trying to find a balance between shampooing every day and not using any at all. The no-poo method really didn’t work for me, and I just felt kind of gross doing it in the first place, so instead, I try to shampoo twice a week at most. This gives my hair enough time to get those natural oils flowing! When you do shampoo though, make sure your product is providing lots of moisture. Dove’s Quench Absolute Ultra Nourishing Shampoo does just that while gently cleansing curly, leaving you with that fantastic soft and smooth feel!
4. Deep Moisturizers Are Your Best Friend
I don’t know why it took me so long to discover deep moisturizers and hair masks, but they seriously save my hair when it’s at its worst. They’re usually meant to be used less often than your normal conditioner, and I like to think of them as a special treat for my curls! If you notice your hair is becoming dry even after conditioning, it probably needs something more powerful to knock that moisture back in. I’m loving Dove’s Quench Absolute Intensive Restoration Mask, which envelopes each curl to deliver intense nourishment for ultimate smoothness and hydration. It has a rich, creamy feel to it that just screams moisture, and your curls will definitely thank you for it.
5. #LoveYourCurls
All the products in the world can only do so much if you don’t love your curls in the first place, so embrace them! You’ll always have to deal with those unwelcome frizzy days, but putting more focus on how you treat your curls and letting yourself go natural more often can really make a difference in how you feel about your curly hair. This summer is the perfect time to start embracing your curls and putting away the hot tools, and before you know it, you’ll want to keep them that way!
Dove recently launched a “Love Your Curls” campaign that’s all about encouraging women to celebrate their curls and inspire future generations to do the same, and their new Love Your Curls book is a poetic tribute to curly hair. Dove Hair was inspired by the thousands of stories from women with curly hair, and the real stories from real women inspired the poems in the book written by best-selling author, Taiye Selasi and illustrated by Annick Poirier. It’s intended to represent and inspire curly girls of all ages, considering only 4 in 10 little girls with curly hair think their hair is beautiful! You can download the free e-book here, and even personalize it with a custom dedication and illustration for a curly girl in your life (check out mine here!).
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.