By Kate Sowerbutts | 6th June 2023
If you’re looking for a curly hair ritual that’s easy to follow and keeps your hair healthy, then you need to follow our low-maintenance five-step routine. Suitable for wavy hair to coily patterns, we’ve got all the tips and products you need to keep your curls looking and feeling their best every single day. So get your hauls ready, turn that shower on, and get ready for a routine that will transform your hair game.
1) Pre-Wash
Start by using a gentle pre-wash treatment to reset your hair at the start of your curly hair routine. You might be wondering why you need to cleanse your hair before you shampoo it, but it’s an essential step for your hair to stay healthy.
Pre-washing removes any oils, build-up, or grease from your scalp and strands in one quick, easy step. As a result, you won’t get heavy product build-up over time, your hair will be healthier, and the next four steps will be way more effective.
2) Shampoo
Now we’re getting into the low maintenance steps that you’ll be familiar with. Once you’ve pre-washed, it’s time to shampoo. It’s best to choose a formula that’s specifically created for curly and coily hair types. Sulphate-free is a must so as not to dry out your curls and opt for a hydrating formula to lock in moisture.
Massage the shampoo onto the hair, focusing on the scalp to stimulate healthy hair growth and give yourself some TLC. Rinse with warm water and try to stick to only washing your curls 2-3 times a week. That way, your natural curl pattern will be stronger and you’re less likely to experience frizz and dryness.
3) Condition
The next step in your low maintenance routine is to condition. It’s one of our fave steps as it gets all the moisture back into your hair and revives the natural curl pattern. Moisture means everything for keeping curly hair protected against frizz, stopping breakage, and keeping tangles at bay. But like shampoo, the right conditioner means everything.
Opt for a moisturising formula and rake through the hair with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb. Then, scrunch your curls towards the root to really get the product into every strand. The scrunching motion will encourage your natural curls to form. If your curls are tighter or coily and are extra dry, we’d recommend choosing a leave-in formula.
4) Style
Now it’s time to step out of the shower and layer up those all-important styling products. Styling products are the part in your curly hair routine that’s the difference between your best curls versus a frizzy finish. Whether you’re using a leave-in conditioner, curl activator or styling gel, you’ll want to apply evenly through the hair and scrunch towards the root to boost your natural curls.
We’d always advocate reaching for a styling gel, as this is what helps your perfect curls last. When it comes to drying your hair, you have multiple options. Either leave to air dry, scrunch up in a t-shirt or microfibre towel, or use a diffuser on low heat. Once your hair is dry, scrunch your hair again to remove the ‘crunchiness’ of any styling products.
5) Hydrate
We know we’re going on like a broken record, but we can’t stress enough how important hydration is for your best curls. We love using oil to set curly strands and tame frizz. Leave-in conditioners are perfect for dryer hair types and hair masks are essential for a boost of moisture in any routine. They’re great for protective hairstyles too.
Whatever you choose to go with, choose the option that’s easy and low maintenance for your lifestyle, so keeping on top of your curls doesn’t become a chore.
Extra Tips
Plopping
Plopping has long been a go-to trick for curly hair types and it’s a must-have for your routine. Once you’ve finished your shower routine and applied your styling products, ‘plop’ your hair on the top of your head and wrap it in a t-shirt or microfibre towel to dry. The result? Your best curls yet.
The Bowl Method
We’ve seen this one all over TikTok and it helps you get the most out of your hair products, which we’re always a big fan of. It involves wetting your hair in a bowl, running styling products through, scrunching, and then dunking your hair back in the bowl before drying. Repeat five times.
Why? Every time you scrunch your hair, product falls back into the water ready to be applied on the next dunk. The product will be evenly distributed so your curls are unified and healthy.
Don't Overwash
Perhaps the biggest danger to your curls is overwashing. Washing your hair every day will strip it of the natural oils and moisture it needs, leaving your hair frizzy, lifeless, and brittle. Stick to washing your hair 2-3 times a week to protect your curls.
Know Your Curl Type
What works for tight, coily curls won’t necessarily work for waves. Identify your curl and hair type, then buy the products that are specifically formulated for your style. That way, you won’t end up with too much or too little moisture.
Hydrating, Not Heavy
Which leads us to our next tip — when it comes to moisturising products, it’s about getting the right balance. Your hair products need to be hydrating enough to enhance your natural curl pattern and tame frizz, but not so heavy that they weigh your curls down. Find the happy medium for your curl type and you’ll unlock the secret to the best curls.
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