Natural curls are not only a striking part of the look, but also an area of care for the owner or owner. Especially if your hair is long and the curl is strong. In such cases, curl care must be especially well chosen – but if you take care of it, you will certainly enjoy beautiful hair, arousing admiration in everyone around you.
The structure of all hair – straight and curly, thin and thick – is similar. They are covered by scales, the deviation of which from the core of the hair determines porosity and affects the way the hair accepts various substances. There is no strict correlation between hair porosity and hair twist, but it is observed that quite often curly hair is characterized by deviated scales (high porosity) and uneven texture. This determines easy loss of moisture (deviated scales do not retain it) and reflection of light. For these reasons, hair with high curl is often dull, brittle and prone to frizz.
The characteristics of curls affect their condition. Curly hair is prone to mechanical damage, so it requires special care and delicacy during washing and drying. Washing should be done with a mild shampoo, preferably free of SLS, or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. This compound from a great many hair washing products comes second only to water, and is a strong detergent that in most cases should not be used more than once every two to three weeks. Washing curly hair is a good idea to finish by rinsing it with cool water, as this aids the process of closing the scales. The same procedure can be used by those with straight high-porous hair. When drying, it is a good idea to avoid using a hair dryer and, above all, avoid rubbing the hair hard. The most effective way will be to gently press the curls into a cotton material (it can be an old blouse or pillowcase). Owners of curly hair are also recommended to apply conditioner to damp hair, without rinsing. This helps the natural elasticity of the curls.
It is advisable to refrain from using a hair dryer, as hot air adversely affects the condition of the hair and excessively dries it out. It is most effective to plan your hair washing taking into account the time needed for the hair to dry naturally. Importantly, washing your head in the evening, just before going to bed, is not the best solution – if you lie down with wet hair, their contact with the pillow will also negatively affect their mechanical resistance and they will become more brittle and prone to breakage. However, sometimes there are situations in which you need to wash and dry your hair immediately. What to do then? First of all, it’s a good idea to have the right hair dryer – models with an ionization function are best. It is also important to dry your hair with a summer blower, instead of choosing the hottest option. To close the scales (and reduce frizz) it’s worth directing the air stream in the direction of hair growth.
main photo: unsplash.com/Rameez Remy