All over Instagram, women are making a startling discovery—it turns out that the hair they thought was frizzy and wavy is actually curly. Not long ago, there was very little information available on how to take care of curls—we assumed we had brush our hair everyday like our straight-maned sisters. We were so wrong.
To have curly hair meant having the commitment and resources to experiment with hair products. Though it’s no secret that curly hair is stereotyped as messy and unmanageable, the past year has been the year of women embarking on their curly hair journey and embracing their ringlets.
Curly hair has its own rules that, once discovered, are easy to incorporate into your daily life. We got in touch with Vibha from Fuzzy Curls, an Instagram blog that helps people with Indian-textured curls make the most out of their ringlets and spoke about the wonders of the curly girl method and how to own our glorious ringlets with ease. Consider this your bible.
The Starting Point: Finding A Curl Pattern
The first step to knowing if you have curly hair is to understand the texture of your hair. We often ignore the natural curl pattern of our hair—mistaking them for slightly wavy hair and therefore brushing them. This causes our curls to open up, looking extremely frizzy and out of shape. “The best way to find out if you have a curl pattern is to wash your hair and let it air dry, without touching your wet locks. If your hair forms into a wave or a curl, congratulations, you have curly hair!” says Vibha.
How To Achieve The Perfect Curls ft. The Modified Curly Girl Method
In the deep corners of Instagram reels, you might have seen some glorious women showing off their curls while talking about the ‘curly girl method’. This popular hair care routine has garnered the attention of curly heads around the world. The curly girl method is a religiously followed hair care routine for people with ringlets. A routine filled with various steps and products, this will help you get defined curls while nourishing and maintaining the health of your hair. A little different from the traditional curling routine, the modified curly girl method requires much less time and effort. Plus, it steers clear from any kind of sulphate, silicones, and mineral oils to make sure that your curls have a healthy and non-stiffening form.
Step 1: Shampoo
Shampoo your hair with sulphate-free shampoo to avoid any kind of damage to your curls. Your hair washing routine can defer from person to person, depending on how frequently your scalp gets oily.
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Step 2: Condition
Once you have cleansed your hair, apply a little more than a pea-sized amount to your hair. Make sure to comb your fingers through your hair to apply the conditioner equally.
Even for conditioners, it is best to avoid products with sulphate since the focus needs to be on adding moisture to your curls instead of depriving them of it. After leaving the conditioner for a few minutes, rinse thoroughly.
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Step 3: Hair Cream
After you have rinsed the conditioner out, apply two pea-sized dollops of hair cream and run it through your hair. Make sure to not scrunch your hair as this step’s main focus is to help define and smoothen out your natural curls.
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Step 4: Hair Gel
Next, take a pea size amount of hair gel and rub it between your palm and fingers. For maximum definition, run your fingers through your hair and scrunch to add shape to your natural curls.
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Step 5: Dry
You can air-dry your curls to avoid the heat but if you are running late, you can use a diffuser to give your hair more definition and volume to your curls.
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Now that you have tried your way through the modified curly girl method, it’s time to keep some do’s and don’ts in mind that will help you achieve your dream curls. These pointers will make sure nothing stops you from achieving your perfect curls.
A Big Yes
Sleep On A Satin Pillowcase
Satin pillowcases can make sure that your hair doesn’t loosen up and get frizzy as it would on a regular cotton pillowcase. This will help with the longevity of your curls, helping them stay defined for a longer period of time.
Use A Satin Bonnet
Bonnets have been an age-old hack to maintain your gorgeous curls. Using a satin bonnet will help your curls remain in place while you sleep peacefully.
Always Tie Your Hair Before Sleeping
Leaving your hair open while sleeping will only cause your curls to open up. Remember to always tie your hair in a top ‘pineapple’ pony (where your hair flops over the top of your head) with a scrunchie to maintain the curls.
A Big No
Combing Dry Hair
A straight up no if you want to lose all your curls. You can comb your hair while you are in the shower, preferably after you condition your hair.
Buying All The Products At Once
Being a beginner can often cause you to horde products. It is important to not get swayed and buy every product off the rack. Start off by using basic products that you need to bring in definition to your curls like a serum or a diffuser attachment for your dryer. Once you feel like you have gotten used to the routine, you can add on products that will enhance your basic routine.
Are there any tricks that work best on your curls? Drop us a message on our Instagram account @hellomagindia!
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