Kristina is the founder of Lockenbox & Lockenexpertin. She has been intensively involved with the topic of curly hair care since her youth, when her straight hair suddenly turned into curls.
Natural curls and waves are beautiful and fascinating, but they also require special care and styling to bring out their full potential.🧴👩🦱
Life with curls can be a little complicated. The care routine consists of a few more steps than for people with straight hair. In this article, we'll look at how and with which products you can ideally care for your curls, which steps you should take into account (and which you can perhaps leave out).
But first - a little bit of background knowledge:
How do curls actually form?
Unlike straight hair, curls are caused by a natural curvature of the hair shaft , which is determined by the arrangement of the keratin molecules . Of course, there is a difference between natural curls , which are present from birth or return at certain hormonal stages of life, and styled curls , which are created by heat or chemical treatments (such as a perm ).
Whether you have natural curls or chemically treated hair, the following curl routine will help you tremendously to keep your curls healthy!
Expert tip: We have tried to make this article very beginner-friendly and not to throw around a lot of technical terms! If you still come across terms from the world of curly hair that raise questions in your head, take a look at our Curly Girl ABC ! 💛

7 steps to your gorgeous curls 🥳
The correct product order👇
As mentioned, curly hair can present some challenges, such as frizz, dryness and breakage.
Moisturizing and protein-rich products are therefore crucial to maintain the natural moisture balance of the curls and combat frizz.
Proper hair washing and drying techniques also play an important role in defining curls and keeping them healthy. If you follow the following 7 steps, your curl care should be perfect from now on!
Your new routine could consist of these products:
(or you can use our curl quiz to create your own personal one)
💡Curly hair care before washing
Optional: The Pre-Poo Treatment

About half an hour before washing your hair, you can massage some oil into your scalp and hair and work it in and distribute it with the Scalp Massaging Brush , for example. You can read how to use this correctly here . The oil is then washed out with a mild shampoo . If you do a pre-poo, you should use a mild shampoo afterwards instead of a co-wash , as the nourishing effect of a co-wash can quickly lead to over-conditioning. There are a variety of other pre-poo treatments besides oil, but pre-poo oils are very common.
A wonderful oil for a pre-poo treatment is the Flora & Curl | Coconut Mint Scalp Refresh Pre-Shampoo Oil . The aromatherapeutic oil blend contains cold-pressed jojoba, lavender, tea tree, rosemary and chamomile oils that provide long-lasting care for the scalp. It will make your scalp happy, especially during the cold season!
Wellness for your scalp:
💡 Curls Washing & Care
Step 1: Gently cleanse hair ✔️

Put a small amount of the mild curl shampoo in the palm of your hand and apply it to wet hair. Focus on your scalp and massage the product in well. Then rinse thoroughly. This will automatically clean the lengths as well.
The Les Secrets de Loly | Perfect Match Superfruit Shampoo impresses with its good reviews from a wide variety of curl types, which is why we can highly recommend it.🥰
Step 2: Apply deep conditioner (1 to 2x a week) ✔️

After shampooing, gently squeeze excess water out of hair .
Now massage thedeep conditioner into the lengths of your hair. Leave it in for at least 5 minutes and then rinse it out . Now detangle your hair with a curl-friendly brush to remove knots.
If you want to increase the moisturizing effect, put on a shower cap and let the deep conditioner work for 15-20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water. One of our most popular intensive care products - suitable for all curl types - is the Pretty Curly Girl | Intense Protein Deep Conditioner
Our deep conditioning essentials:
Expert tip: For waves or curls in the 2-3 range (find out what type of curl you have here ), it is not recommended to use a regular conditioner after the deep conditioner - too many care products often make the waves heavier and more likely to fall out. But here too, try things out and see what works best for YOUR waves and curls! ❤️
Step 3: Apply conditioner (for daily use) ✔️

After shampooing, gently squeeze excess water out of your hair . Now massage the conditioner into the lengths of your hair. Allow the conditioner to absorb and then detangle your hair with your fingers or a suitable curling brush or comb. Be very gentle on your hair; it is most unstable when wet. Leave it in for a short while and then rinse well. If your hair is very dense and thick, divide it into two or more sections ( sectioning clips are ideal for this) and work the conditioner generously into sections until the hair looks “milky”. Use more on particularly dry areas such as the ends of the hair and the area around the neck to loosen any stubborn knots . When working in the conditioner, you can use the “squish to condish” method, for example.
A highly recommended, non-weighty conditioner with a lot of detangling power is the Kalia Nature | Sapote Conditioner
Not sure which products to start with? We got you!
💡Curl styling 🪮
Step 4: Detangle hair ✔️
After washing, while theconditioner is working , do not wrap your hair in a towel or dry it, but untangle it again thoroughly with a wide-toothed comb or a curling brush to separate the individual curls from one another so that they do not stick together but form so-called bundles . Also, make sure your hair is still quite wet after rinsing before applying styling products.
Step 5: Nourishing styling product ✔️
Your basis for definition and shine is a leave-in product . To do this, work a small amount into the hair using your preferred styling method (e.g. praying hands , raking, scrunching) and ensure that it is evenly distributed . Start with a pea-sized amount and use more as you feel comfortable. For more definition, hold the product at the roots for a few seconds and knead the hair vigorously in your hands into shape. If the hair is wet enough , a "squish" sound. If this is not the case, then it is a good idea to wet the hair again with a spray bottle . Trust your own instinct as to how much moisture feels right for your hair.
We recommend the delicately scented, light Lemon Buttercream by Ecoslay - ideal for all curl types.
Our favorite styling helpers:
Step 6: Hold styling product ✔️
Finally, knead agel and/or mousse into the hair, which seals in the moisture previously worked in and holds the shaped and defined bundles together firmly. To do this, put a small amount in the palm of your hand and work it evenly into wet hair . To enhance the curls, knead the gel into your hair. The amount to use depends on the individual hair. We recommend starting with a smaller amount and slowly working in more as needed. The gel creates a cast (a hard gel layer). Break this up using the Scrunch Out The Crunch (SOTC) method as soon as the hair is 100% dry . SOTC = breaking gel cast by scrunching to create soft and defined curls.
A great gel for both definition and hold is the Orange Marmalade Gel from Ecoslay. Once you try it, you can't help but love it ❤️
Step 7: Air dry and/or diffuse ✔️
Dry your hair in the air or with a diffuser on a warm or cold setting. The correct blow-drying technique is also important. After it is completely dry (preferably 110% dry!), knead out the gel cast (SOTC method), if one has formed. Finally, you can go upside down and gently shake your hair directly at the roots so that you get more volume there. You can also do this with an Afropick .
Not sure whether air-drying or blow-drying is better for you and your hair? Perhaps our blog post will help you!
Optional: For more shine, you can finish by applying a serum or rubbing a few drops of oil into the palm of your hand and scrunching it into your hair. This will seal in the moisture at the end.
Dream duo for hold & shine:
Conclusion
With the right care and styling technique, curls can unfold their full beauty. It is important to understand the individual needs of curls in order to choose suitable products and routines. For this purpose, we have put all our experience into our curl quiz . With just a few questions, we can put together your perfect curl routine . Regardless of whether your hair is slightly wavy, curly or very curly - our curl quiz finds the right products for every hair type . Try it now and start your curl journey! ❤️
Curls FAQ
What different types of curls are there?
Curls come in a wide range of types and structures. From soft waves to tight spirals, there are countless variations. This variety is determined by genetic predisposition, with different genes being able to influence the curl structure. Knowing your own curl type is crucial for proper care and styling. Do you want to find out your curl type? In this article, we will discuss the topic of curl type .
How do you style curls correctly?
There are various styling techniques to define curls, create volume or achieve a certain curl structure. With special styling products, there are many ways to emphasize the natural beauty of curls. In this article, we will discuss the topic of curl styling .
Do you already know our other curl tips articles? Be sure to check it out.