How I Learned To Tame, And Love, My Big Curly Hair

If you’re a curly haired teen, you can not only manage, but love your curls. (It might take a little work, but it’s still quicker than blow drying!)

Hi! I’m a Between Carpools teen (so shtady), and I have curly hair. Yes, we are at the point where it’s legitimately part of my personality. Whoop whoop. I really struggled in the beginning of my curly hair journey, but Baruch Hashem, I have a curly-haired older sister and Between Carpools to help me out!

However, I was recently looking over my older sister’s curly hair post and I noticed that a lot of the products that were recommended have changed their recipe in the past few years. So it was time for an update!

If you’re looking for more curly hair tips, this tip is great up until your daughter is 9 or 10, and you can find more curly hair tips from hairstylist Mimi Brachfeld over here. 

In my own curly hair journey, I have discovered that more pricey products tend to work better, but buying products with a larger price tag that run out quickly and are used in large quantities (i.e. shampoo, conditioner, mousse) is definitely NOT cost effective.

So I spent a ridiculous amount of time doing research and testing out products, so that you don’t have to! Aren’t you lucky? So after a lot of trial and error (and many tear inducing bad hair days) I have cracked the code (applaud here). So let’s begin. Finally!

So before any products are recommended, you must know your hair pattern and hair porosity.

So take a look at this chart and see which curly hair type you are. I myself am a 3a/3b girly. So  if you are 1 to a 2c or a 4a/4b, I can’t promise that I can help you.

Now onto hair porosity. Now I know that sounds intimidating, but trust me, it really isn’t! All you have to do is take one strand of your hair and stick it in a cup of lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes. If your hair is floating on the top of the cup, your hair is low porosity, meaning you need more moisture (I shall explain later). If your hair is at the bottom of the cup, you are high porosity, meaning you need more protein in your hair. If the hair is floating in between, you need a balance of the two.

To explain it simply, being low porosity and needing moisture means that your hair doesn’t take in water, making it more frizzy. So you will need more lightweight products that will lock in moisture.

While being high porosity and needing more protein means that your hair is likely very damaged, and it needs more heavily moisturizing ingredients to fix up the damage.

If your hair is middle porosity, you just need a balance of the two.

I have low porosity curls, so if you have either middle or high porosity, this may not be the post for you. I will be recommending an expensive product along with a cheap alternative that I also love.

Finally! To the products!

Step 1: Shampoo and Conditioner

I love the Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo And Conditioner, and I also love the Hydrate + Repair Shampoo and Conditioner from Shea Moisture. I only wash my hair every 2 to 3 days. 

Step 2: Using a Clarifying Shampoo

Once a week to every two weeks, you MUST (yes, MUST!) clarify or detox your scalp using a special clarifying shampoo. This step is so important because your hair might get weighed down by the products you apply regularly. Using a clarifying shampoo once every week to two weeks will get rid of that build up and give your hair a fresh start. My favorites are the Kristen Ess Deep Clean Clarifying Shampoo, or the OAUI Detox Shampoo.

Step 3: Leave-In Conditioner

After showering, make sure that your hair is soaking wet (I like to use a spray bottle to re-soak the hair before styling) and apply either a leave-in conditioner or a curl cream. I recommend either the As I Am Leave-In Conditioner, or the Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream. (I like to re-wet the hair again at this point.) Do not use a brush when applying products! Use a wide tooth comb, so as to not create frizz. 

Step 4: Mousse or Gel

Next, add a mousse or gel. Both of my favorites happen to both be drugstore priced. For mousse, my favorite is the Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Curl Defining Mousse, or you can use my favorite gel, the Camille Rose Curl Maker. After you have both of these products brushed through your hair, scrunch the hair (optionally with a microfiber towel) and try to squeeze all the water out of the hair. 

Step 5: Air Dry

I like to let my hair air dry, but that takes about four hours (*blush*) so if your hair is not completely dry before bed (completely understandable), take the hair VERY(!) gently at the top of the head and make a high bun with a few scrunchies. On nights that my hair is dry, I do the same thing. 

Step 6: Silk Pillowcase

I also sleep with a silk pillowcase, and it REALLY does help reduce frizz. 

Step 7: Hair Oil

When you wake up (or if you had the time to wait for your hair to completely dry), apply a hair oil to scrunch out the crunch. Take ONLY 1 to 2 drops of oil, rub across your palms, flip your hair upside down and CLAP your hands on your hair. Yes. You will look nuts. That’s my personal favorite part. I only like the PATTERN Jojoba Hair Serum. It’s a bit pricey, but it lasted me more than a full YEAR.

Maintenance:

If your hair is looking frizzy but you don’t want to wash it yet, use either the CURLSMITH-Shake And Shine 2-Day Refresh Spray or the As I Am JCBO Water to refresh your curls.

Okay, you are all set!