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.
Curly hair is something very special and has very specific needs when it comes to curly hair care. The appearance of each type of curl is as varied as the hair care for curly hair.
However, all types of curls have one thing in common: whether waves, curly curls or curly curls, they all love attention and care. But what should this look like?
The Know-How of Curly Hair Care
When it comes to caring for your curls , one thing is most important: know-how ! Without sound knowledge about your own hair structure, your curl type and how to best care for your curly hair, your curls will never be able to develop their full potential and beauty.
That's why we've put together a practical overview for you. We'll explain what points you need to consider and what's really important to take care of your curls .
The tips and tricks are based on the Curly Girl Method by Lorraine Massey – the popular curl care method that has been tried and tested thousands of times.
Why do curls need special care?
Curls are demanding. Neglected or incorrect hair care shows up very quickly in natural curls and waves. Nowadays,
- strenuous styling procedures,
- environmental influences
- and especially harsh care products can quickly lead to a lifeless appearance of the curls.
Incorrect hair care can also lead to a weakened hair structure or even hair breakage .
In combination with incorrect curl care techniques, the whole process usually goes even faster and instead of getting more beautiful hair, curls appear broken and unkempt .
But simply leaving the curls alone and hoping for the best with minimal care is usually not very helpful. The curls show
- dry,
- brittle
- and tend to tangle.
If you want to have healthy and beautiful curls, then you should know how to care for, nourish and style your curly hair.
Discover the exciting world of curly hair care now! Experience the surprise that awaits you when you click on the button. We present you 4-5 first-class curly hair care products & unique accessories from our shop, month after month.
The best part? The value of this box far exceeds the price you would pay for the individual products. What are you waiting for? Click on the curl box now and immerse yourself in a world full of curl care!
Caring for natural curls: Our 6 curly tips
Strengthening natural curls and caring for them properly takes skill. In any case, curls require more special care than just a good shampoo and any conditioner from the supermarket or drugstore.
Products should be individually tailored to the specific characteristics of curly hair, however, the majority of hair care products on store shelves are formulated for straight hair .
The care needs of curly hair are completely different and natural curls are generally much more demanding. This difference is not just limited to the choice of products, but the entire handling and care of curls is different from the care of straight hair.
Below we would like to give you some care essentials that you should consider when caring for curls .
1. Protect your curls when you go to bed
It's a good idea to protect your curls at night from drying out and stress caused by friction and lying flat . If you don't do this, your curls will get caught between you and your pillow while you sleep and will lose their shape.
The tossing and turning and the natural movements while you sleep also mean that your curls are exposed to a lot of friction. This causes the curls to lose their definition and frizz occurs.
In the long run, the friction also puts strain on the hair structure . If your hair is out of shape in the morning, it takes a lot of effort to tame it and freshen it up again. Keeping your hair curled overnight can be very easy:
- At night, tie your curly hair into a "pineapple" hairstyle with a soft hair tie over your head. This sleeping hairstyle is very popular in the curly hair community.
- You can also try other protective hairstyles, such as a loose bun or small twisted buns that you secure with hair clips.
Choosing the right pillow can also make a big difference when it comes to optimizing your hair care. If you choose a pillowcase made of 100% mulberry silk for curls or one made of satin, your hair will glide over the smooth surface of these fabrics with much less friction . This is very beneficial for your curls.
Pillowcases made of cotton are slightly rough and since the hair structure of curly hair is also naturally much rougher than straight hair due to the curvature of the hair, the hair and the pillow literally stick to each other .
The consequences are
- brittle hair,
- frizz
- and lost definition.
To make matters worse, cotton absorbs a lot of moisture and therefore the natural oils from the skin and hair. As a result, the ever-thirsty locks become even drier.
Expert tip: Your hair will retain its moisture much better at night on a silk pillow or satin cover.
2. Use shampoos without sulfates
For curly hair, a shampoo without sulfates is the go-to when it comes to hair cleaning. For many hair types, sulfates are not necessarily a problem, after all, they can be found in a variety of conventional shampoos.
But curly hair reacts very strongly to sulfates because they remove moisture from the hair. Sulfates are the salts or esters of sulfuric acid.
- They have a strong degreasing effect and are used in industry, for example, to clean floors and machines.
- In hair care, sulfates are used as foaming agents and for degreasing.
For people with curly hair, whose natural hair structure already tends to be dry, sulfates are therefore detrimental. The hair can become dull and brittle.
Even with sensitive scalps, sulfates increase dry scalp and dandruff . However, shampoos containing sulfates are very effective at removing deposits and could therefore be suitable for deep cleansing of the scalp and hair at intervals.
The Curly Girl method avoids sulfates entirely. You can tell whether sulfates have been added to a shampoo by looking at the ingredients list on the product bottles as “SLS” = Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or “SLES” = Sodium Laureth Sulfate .
At Lockenbox you are on the safe side when it comes to sulfates, because we only offer sulfate-free care products . Take a look at our Lockenbox shop .
3. Heat damages your curls
As a curly girl, you should be careful with heat, such as that created when straightening your hair or using a curling iron. If the curls are exposed to high heat, this can damage the hair structure in the long term.
Styling methods based on heat make the hair
- brittle,
- brittle
- and porous.
Strong heat literally breaks open the top layer of the hair cuticle and the high temperatures also cause a significant loss of moisture . The elasticity of your hair is lost and with it the health of your curls.
To prevent this from happening in the first place, treat your curls to gentle drying and styling techniques .
- For example, use a diffuser attachment when blow-drying and make sure to use low temperatures that are gentle on your curls.
- Ideally, you should avoid using moisture-sapping straightening irons altogether or only use them in moderation and at a moderate temperature. Otherwise, you risk a frizzy look .
4. Avoid the ingredient alcohol in curl care
Alcohol, or its commonly used name ethanol, is an ingredient that can be found in many care products. There it takes on the role of an emulsifier. It ensures that two substances that do not normally mix can combine. This is the case with oil and water, for example.
Furthermore, alcohol has preservative properties and makes products last longer. The cosmetics industry takes advantage of these positive aspects and it makes the additive alcohol so popular. However, alcohol also has significant disadvantages , especially for curly hair . Alcohol compounds , which are often described as
- Alcohol Denat.,
- Alcohol,
- ethanol,
- Ethyl Alcohol,
- SD Alcohol,
- methanol,
- Propyl Alcohol,
- propanol,
- isopropanol,
- isopropyl alcohol
- or phenethyl alcohol, remove moisture from the hair and dry it out in the long term.
Alcohol accelerates evaporation and shortens drying time , which has a negative effect on curly hair . Your curls and waves become brittle and appear dull.
Expert tip: If the ingredients listed above are among the first 5 ingredients, you should avoid the product if possible.
However, there are also less harmful alcohols . These long-chain alcohols from natural sources are also called fatty alcohols and their molecules are too large to penetrate the hair structure. They help products to spread better in the hair and also serve as emulsifiers. This group includes, for example:
- cetyl,
- cetearyl
- and stearyl alcohols
- as well as the well-known glycerin.
5. Don’t brush your curls too often
Maybe you've heard the saying: "100 brush strokes a day for beautiful hair" ? Brushing your hair is said to promise healthy, shiny and strong hair. This may be true for straight hair , because brushing distributes the natural sebum from the scalp throughout the hair.
But natural curls are different! If you brush them excessively every day, it won't improve their appearance, but in the worst case scenario , it will encourage hair breakage and split ends . In addition, combed-out curls are usually bushy and frizzy because the curl structure is destroyed.
Expert tip: We therefore recommend that you only carefully detangle your hair when it is dry, using a wide-toothed comb or your fingers. This does not damage the hair structure as much as conventional brushing.
For curly hair , detangling while wet using a curl conditioner is the best way to get rid of tangles . However, you should also be very gentle here, as wet hair is much more sensitive than dry hair. That's why using a hair conditioner when detangling is essential.
- It makes the hair wonderfully slippery
- and knots can be removed with much less effort because your fingers or comb glide through the hair much more easily.
Take your time with detangling and avoid pulling or tugging when untangle your curls, even if you sometimes wish it were quicker or easier.
Just try to see this procedure as a loving gesture towards yourself and your unique hair. Be good to yourself, because you deserve it! Your curls will thank you and show off their most beautiful side!
6. Use a good conditioner
A high-quality conditioner suitable for caring for thirsty curls should have moisturizing properties . This helps
- to define the curls,
- to give suppleness
- and reduce frizz.
The hair conditioners for curls are also based on recipes that provide curls with plenty of nutrients and vitamins. The conditioner's formula seals the hair cuticle and thus improves the appearance of the curls.
A conditioner is an essential care product, especially for people with curly and wavy hair, because it makes it easier to detangle hair using the Curly Girl method.
- To do this, the hair is freed from tangles using plenty of conditioner while it is wet.
- The conditioner makes the hair nice and slippery and easier to comb - which is also called slip.
- With a lot of slip, the hair slides much more easily through your fingers or a comb and knots can also be undone more easily without putting too much strain on the hair.
The optimal conditioner for curly and wavy hair is free of silicones , drying alcohols and sulfates . If you are new to curly hair and don't know what a conditioner is , then take a look at our separate guide :).
How often should I wash my curls?
The question of how often you should wash curls cannot be answered in general terms, because every curly hair differs from type to type. Much depends on the
- individual curl texture ,
- the hair thickness, the porosity of the hair
- and your own body and hormone balance , which causes hair to get greasy at different rates from person to person.
- Your lifestyle also influences how often you personally feel comfortable washing your hair on a daily basis.
Basically, there is only one thing that can be said: try not to wash your hair too often! As a rough guide, we recommend washing your hair 1-2 times a week . If you are a very active person and sweat a lot or feel uncomfortable without the refreshing feeling of washing your hair, then you can wash your hair more often.
You should give priority to your well-being, because in our opinion the quality of the products you use to wash your hair is much more important than how often you wash it. Shampoos specially developed for curly hair with good and natural ingredients do not harm the health of your hair, but even offer nourishing properties.
You can also alternate a good curly hair shampoo with a co-washing product or occasionally wash your hair with just a conditioner for curly hair . If you want to know more about the topic, we also have a suitable guide for you on the subject of washing curly hair.
Which care products are best for curls?
The optimal hair care for curls depends entirely on your curl type and the condition of your hair. Basically, the best products for curls are
- a mild, sulfate-free shampoo,
- a moisturizing conditioner,
- a nourishing hair treatment,
- a nourishing leave-in
- and a defining curl gel.
The more natural the ingredients are, the better. According to the Curly Girl method, the right products should be free of
- sulfates,
- parabens,
- phthalates,
- non-washable silicones
- and drying alcohols
- and without synthetic oils
- and petroleum-based waxes.
Discover the exciting world of curly hair care now! Experience the surprise that awaits you when you click on the button. We present you 4-5 first-class curly hair care products & unique accessories from our shop, month after month.
The best part? The value of this box far exceeds the price you would pay for the individual products. What are you waiting for? Click on the curl box now and immerse yourself in a world full of curl care!
Here are some of our favorite products that we highly recommend to all curly-heads :
1. Fix My Curls | Cleansing Shampoo / 100 ml
The Fix My Curls Cleansing Shampoo is particularly mild and gentle on curls . It contains no sulfates at all and frees the scalp of residues without disturbing its natural balance.
2. Curl Girl Nordic | Conditioner /200 ml
The Curl Girl Nordic Conditioner softens and controls your curls . It contains Sacha Inchi and coconut oil as well as mango oil , which is exceptionally rich in
- essential fatty acids,
- vitamins
- and minerals that are wonderful for maintaining healthy hair.
This soothing oil moisturizes and strengthens your hair and can even help prevent hair loss.
3. Rawkyn | Silkening Protein Mask /177 ml
The Rawkyn Silkening Protein Mask hair mask offers a good and balanced mixture of protein and moisture . It is suitable for all curl types and gives elasticity and radiance.
4. Ecoslay | Rice Pudding /473 ml
The Ecoslay Rice Pudding Leave-in Conditioner is perfect for detangling and untangles curls. The rice water it contains gives the curls important nutrients and makes them look strong and healthy. It is a purely natural product .
5. Pretty Curly Girl | Magical Flaxseed Gel / from 100 ml
The Pretty Curly Girl Magical Flaxseed Gel is one of the favorites when it comes to gelcasting. It gives curls a wonderful structure , but does not weigh the hair down. This guarantees maximum volume .
With these home remedies you can care for your curls
Curly hair can also be cared for with home remedies if you like it completely natural. To moisturize your hair, you can add a few drops
- Linseed-,
- jojoba
- or rub coconut oil in your hand and then apply it to the ends and lengths.
The high-quality ingredients of the oils nourish your hair. Use vegetable oils for
- refresh,
- as a finish after hair styling or
- as a leave-in overnight.
In the latter case, rinse it thoroughly the next morning.
Make your own hair gel from household products
For example, you can also make your own curly hair gel from flax seeds .
- Put 30g of flaxseed together with 250ml of water in a saucepan and bring to the boil over medium heat.
- Stir until it reaches a gel-like consistency. This should take about 4-5 minutes.
- When the mixture has thickened and runs viscously from the spoon, the gel is ready.
- Pour the mixture through a sieve, pressing out the flax seeds well, and store the gel in a sealable container in the refrigerator. It will keep there for about 1-2 weeks.
Expert tip: Be careful when experimenting with homemade hair masks etc. Not so sophisticated recipes can quickly backfire, especially when it comes to curls.
Shelf life of household products
Also keep in mind that homemade mixtures tend to spoil quickly and usually do not take the pH value of the product into account and can therefore be damaging to the hair.
Many oils are also too heavy for finer hair and are difficult to wash out . The curls become oversaturated and lose their bounce. A large amount of oil should therefore not be left in the hair for too long.
- Hair care recipes that contain eggs can curdle and become a pain if you use water that is too hot when rinsing them.
- The addition of essential oils or ingredients such as coffee grounds, lemon, salt, etc. can also irritate the scalp or, in the worst case, even damage the hair.
We therefore recommend that you proceed with caution when experimenting or play it safe and use Curly Girl Method-approved products specifically designed for curls .
We'd be happy to advise you. You can also try out our curl box. Every month you'll receive great products from our range for your dream curls.
FAQ on the topic: Caring for curls
Do you have any further questions about curls? We have the answers for you here!
What can you do about frizz in curly hair?
The word frizz translated from English means “ frizzy ” and describes the undesirable condition of hair well. Unfortunately, the uncontrolled sticking out and frizzing of hair occurs primarily in curly hair.
The reason for frizz is the naturally dry hair structure of natural curls and waves. Especially when the outside air is very humid , the hair literally fluffs up and stands upright in order to absorb the moisture from the surrounding air.
Caring and nourishing conditioners , leave-in care products and a holding gel for curls can be of great help in this case and provide relief.
- Conditioners and leave-in conditioners moisturize your curls and keep frizz under control by closing the cuticle.
- The curl gel seals in the moisture that was previously worked in and keeps the curl bundles together. This means that annoying frizz no longer stands a chance!
Caring for dry curls, what do I need to pay attention to?
Since curls tend to be dry by nature, you should pay attention to nourishing ingredients when choosing your hair care products. Avoid ingredients that "robber" the hair of moisture, such as aggressive detergents (sulfates) and drying alcohols .
You should also avoid non-washable silicones if your hair is already brittle. Silicones promise immediate, quick results after the first treatment because they form a shiny film around the hair, making your curls look prettier and healthier in no time.
However, this improvement is deceptive and only short-lived. Under the silicone coating, your hair can no longer absorb nutrients and moisture and after a certain time, the hair literally withers away.
To prevent this from happening, you should prefer hair care products with natural and gentle ingredients . A combination of good plant-based oils or moisturizing ingredients such as aloe vera or linseed is like a power drink for your curls that need care.
How do I care for frizzy curls (curl type 4a - 4c)?
Curly curls and type 4 hair require a lot of care and moisture as they are more prone to breakage. Their structure requires care products with a high proportion of moisture and lipids and, if necessary, protein.
Natural oils such as argan or coconut oil also help to make the hair soft and supple . Curls of this type generally tolerate generous care and love leave-ins and nourishing hair treatments or hot oil treatments, for example.
Conclusion
It's not always easy, but with the right care products you can create a healthy head of curls. All it takes is a little attention, patience and the right tips and care tricks to transform stubborn, frizzy and brittle hair into a beautiful mane of curls that you can be proud of. The world has been waiting for you and your curls!