Growing and living with naturally curly hair involve learning to tame them each day since they are highly prone to turning frizzy, dry, and won’t just curl in the ways we would want. Whenever the climate is just about a little more humid than regular or the sky is showing signs of rain, the curly strands seem to be all ready to puff out in all directions, rendering the hours of mirror work a waste.
The reason these natural waves tend to turn frizzy is their relatively low moisture content that makes them prone to capturing the moisture present in the environment, making the hair poofy, huge, and unruly. And to add to the worse, using a comb in such cases as to tame them will only add to the damage.
“The hair sets perfectly for five minutes, but slowly starts turning terrible as I walk out of the house,” says Anusha Gautam who has spent her teens learning to manage her curls. “Also, I know the necessity of having to preplan hair-showers for any event since washing the strands strips them off the moisture, thus ruining them,” adds Anusha who washes her hair a day before any special occasion and takes time to oil her hair thoroughly every time before washing them.
Deciding on the style according to the climate, setting the routine to wash them, or having them expand in all directions within minutes you set them are the experiences people with naturally curly hair can easily relate with. And in the condition, where combing, or quick-washing, or the humidity in general seem to be the enemy of the hair, fighting the frizzy-fuzzy locks, and smoothening them takes a quite a bit of time and techniques.
Srijana Prajuli, a beautician and hair expert, suggests some natural and accessible ways in which one can tame one’s curly strands.
Pre-wash: Washing strips hair of its natural oil, and since curly hair requires a lot of moisture in order for them to be smooth and gentle, preconditioning them with natural oils or suitable conditioners before a wash is a must. Also, it is good to wash these kinds of hair two or three times a week rather than everyday. That way, the hair retains natural moisture.
Post-wash: letting the hair dry naturally is the best thing to do with curly hairs. However, if in hurry, towel-dry the hair, at least to leave it damp, if not wet, in order for the curls to be protected from being strangled and broken. Blow-drying curly hairs is not advisable, but in case of emergency, one can attach a diffuser to the dryer in order to control the heat, since excessive heat dislodges the curls.
Detangling syrups: It is highly recommended to use smoothing gels and detangling syrups in order to protect curly locks from damage occurring from frictions that come from combing them.
Deep-conditioning: Conditioning is an effective way to prevent frizzy curls. Vitamin E and natural oils, like mustard or coconut, are highly nourishing. Besides, natural homemade conditioners like avocado, egg, honey, or yogurt masks can prove effective in smoothing the frizz.
Is straightening hair a good option?
According to hair expert Srijana Parajuli, “straightening curly hairs isn’t a good option because once the hair starts growing one has curls near the roots and straight hair towards the tips. Making up an awful look, this may cause one to realize that she shouldn’t have tried to straighten her hair, but it’s too late to turn back.”
Indeed, instead of trying to fight and change the curls, it is wiser to learn working with them. And once one has figured out the right products and techniques to smoothen them, curly dangles can give out one of those truly amazing hair looks. Also, it is good to keep in mind the compliments you occasionally get from your colleagues about your hair being amazing!
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