If you have thick, curly hair, you may well be the envy of your fine-haired friends. You have volume naturally.
However, I’ve worked with many clients over the years who just wanted to contain and restrain their curls. Some kept their hair tied back, whilst others were attached to their straighteners.
By tackling the things they didn’t like about their thick curly hair (dryness, frizzy curls, tangles and lack of shine and curl definition), I helped them embrace their natural hair.
I’ve been working with curly hair for over 35 years, and there are three simple things you can do to rock your curls.
Curly hair has dips and lifts, making it uneven. That uneven structure leaves it prone to frizz, breakage and moisture loss.
Thicker hair types need more moisture, so when you add curls into the mix, hair requires a regular moisture boost to maintain flexibility and avoid breakage and moisture loss.
That said, those dips and lifts can become your biggest asset. They give your hair body and movement.
When you get serious about adding moisture to your hair, you’ll have more clearly defined curls, plus your hair will be more flexible, less frizzy and easy to style.
If there’s one thing hair loves, it’s routine. Not dissimilar to your skin. We moisturise our skin to prevent it from becoming dry.
Caring for your hair is based on the same principles. With a routine of adding moisture to your hair you can prevent it from feeling dry and improve curl definition.
If your hair excessively dry, you can use Restore and Shine Hair Masque twice a week for the first two weeks. After that, use weekly as part of your hair care routine to improve moisture balance and retention. You can leave Restore and Shine Hair Masque on for 10 minutes and then rinse. Alternatively, try leaving the Restore and Shine Masque on for a few hours or even overnight to help boost moisture.
Focus on giving your hair nourishment. Restore and Shine Hair Masque combines pro vitamin b5 for moisture, glycerin and cetearyl alcohol to help you hair retain moisture. These natural ingredients are expertly blended in my exclusive formula to balance moisture and give your hair the nutrients it needs.
Heat contributes to moisture loss in hair. I understand it’s not always possible to air dry your hair. So, if you use a hairdryer, try a diffuser. Diffusers improve curl definition and create less frizz.
Always use the hairdryer on a cooler setting and look at options such as partially drying your hair with the hairdryer and then leaving to air dry. I recommend experimenting with different options and seeing what works best for your hair.
If you’ve yet to discover the microfibre towel, you are in for a treat. It’s gentle on the hair and doesn’t rough up the cuticle like a standard towel.
Your hair is like a delicate fabric, and it’s most fragile when wet, so use the towel to squeeze out the excess water. By taking a gentle approach, you can reduce breakage and moisture loss.
A silk or satin pillow is great for protecting the cuticle. Cotton pillows tend to rough up the cuticle, resulting in tangles, breakage and moisture loss. Sleeping on the smooth surface of a silk or satin pillow will reduce friction and breakage.
Restore and Shine Hair Masque detangles your hair as you rinse. As you rinse your hair, use your fingers or a wide tooth comb to gently detangle your curls.
I know that hair salons can be daunting for those with curly hair. There’s always that question about whether someone can really cut curly hair.
Cutting curly hair is a labour of love. With its kinks and waves, it can have many challenges. Find a stylist who loves curls and understands how to work with them and how to get the best from them. Getting the right shape for curly hair is essential for getting the movement and body in your hair. I recommend a consultation with your stylist before you go for the chop.
The Consultation is the perfect time to talk about what you hope to achieve. I passionately believe that every great haircut starts with a great conversation. Talking to your stylist in advance will help them understand what you want to achieve and it gives you the opportunity to understand their approach.
Mid-length and longer styles generally work best for thick, curly hair. But if you want a short style, I recommend keeping the length on top to give you more styling options.
Shorter and mid-length styles give hair more volume. A longer style would work better to reduce the volume of thick, curly hair.
It’s not just about the length of your hair.
Shape, balance and weight are vital when cutting thick, curly hair. You can discuss the best options with your hairstylist.
Ask your stylist where they would recommend more weight in your hair and what changes they can make to give you more movement.
Identifying how to get the weight in the right place to make the most of your natural volume is vital. A haircut should be versatile enough to change the parting or try different styling options when you style it at home.
When considering the shape and balance of a haircut, your hairstylist will consider your head shape, facial shape and features. Plus, they’ll look at your hairline front and back. They’ll look at the texture of your hair and how it will respond to different cuts.
Talk to your stylist about what will suit you. Ask them what they think when they consider those aspects of the haircut.
Due to its natural volume, cutting thick, curly hair is often about reducing weight and improving manageability.
I would approach layers cautiously, as you don’t want to create too much bulk or volume at the sides or on the top of the hair.
The weight has to be evenly distributed and balanced.
That’s why the conversation with your stylist is vital. Because how you cut and style hair depends on the thickness and texture of the hair. It’s not a one-size fits all approach.
Your stylist will be able to guide you on what layers, if any, would work for your hair.
Thick, curly hair can be one of the most challenging hair types to cut but, get it right and, it can look incredible. Investing some time in having a productive discussion with your stylist is one of the best things you can do for your hair.
Deep conditioning hair treatment, Restore and Shine Hair Masque contains emollients, glycerin, avocado and tocopherol (vitamin E). They are the best ingredients for smoothing frizzy hair and improving curl definition.
Building a hair care routine that works for your hair is vital. Incorporate a regular moisture boost and don’t think of deep conditioning as a one-off event.
A weekly deep conditioning hair mask is essential for maintaining moisture and sealing the cuticle to fight frizz, dryness, tangles and leave hair shiny. Opt for a good quality hair mask with nourishing ingredients.
Turn down the heat on your hairdryer and wash hair in warm, not hot water. Use a diffuser.
Reduce dryness and breakage of curly hair by sleeping on a silk or satin pillow, turn down the heat on your hairdryer and wash hair in warm, not hot water.
Invest in a microfibre towel to avoid breakage and damage to hair when it’s most fragile after washing.
When thinking about cutting hair getting the right shape and balance for your curls is vital. This is an important discussion point when you talk to your stylist.
Find a stylist who knows how to work with curly hair. Always have a consultation to agree on the best style for you and your curls.
If you are looking for more information on how to look after your curls, I’ve written a series of blogs on how to care for curly hair.
Discover why curly hair type is a great conversation starter with your stylist and why curly hair density and curly hair porosity matters when hydrating curls.
Norris Ogario is founder and Creative Director of Ogario London. Developed in his London salon, the Ogario London haircare products reflect his belief that hydration is the key to fixing most hair problems. Hydrated hair can be styled with ease. Plus, hydration leaves hair shiny and healthy. Norris has over 35 years of hair know-how. With expertise in all hair types; from dry hair to fine or grey hair, from frizzy hair to damaged or bleached hair, curly hair and afro hair, Norris has created a healthy hair blog to share his expert advice.
I write about all aspects of healthy, shiny hair. From preventing frizzy hair to stopping split ends and styling bob hairstyles I share my experience of how to get the best from hair.
Whether I’m working with hair, writing about hair or developing hair care products I stay true to 3 principles.
This is a principle I have adhered to all my hairdressing career and it gets the best results. I like to minimise the heat stress to hair from heated styling tools and take a simpler approach to styling. Over working the hair can leave it dry, damaged and flat. A simple approach is the best way to add volume to hair and keep hair looking and feeling smooth and shiny.
Moisture is the foundation of good hair care. Hair needs a routine of deep conditioning to stay frizz free and retain flexibility and strength. When it has moisture, hair elasticity is maintained, making hair easier to style.
Holistic in the context of hair care is about making sure we eat a healthy, balanced diet and that we feed our hair with nourishing products. Maintaining hydration in the body contributes to good quality hair growth. Using nourishing hair products ensures our hair can retain moisture.
You’ll see these principles threaded through my blogs. My goal is to share the simplest tools and techniques to give you easy ways to care for and style your hair at home.
Ogario London is a salon developed range of natural hair care products. Because we are passionate about our products, delivering the best results is at the heart of what we do.
If you have a question, please get in touch at info@ogariolondon.com.
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