Looking to style your wet curly hair?
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Most people with curly hair understand how hard it can be to maintain perfect curls. You might spend hours washing your hair and applying expensive products, only to see it become frizzy, dry, and flat overnight.
There are so many variables that can impact curly hair, and after all the time and energy you put into your hair, which none of us can spare each morning, it can feel frustrating if the result doesn’t last.
Understanding more about curly hair and how to prevent and reduce bad hair days, is an absolute must for perfect wet curly hair.
Top Causes for wet curly hair going wrong
- Dry, brittle and lack of shine
- Sleeping on your back
- Product build up and not washing your hair thoroughly enough
- Split ends and not getting your hair cut regularly
- Breakage or excessive pulling/brushing
- Humidity or using heated appliances
- Over styling or touching too much
- Using products with alcohol, sulphates, and harsh ingredients
- Dehydration and lack of moisture
- Using the wrong products for your hair type
- Scalp producing too much oils
- Pulling your hair into a tight bun
- Using elasticated hairbands
Sleep routines for your hair
- To avoid messy or frizzy curls, avoid sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your side or on your stomach has huge benefits as this will maintain your wet curly hair in the morning.
- Consider wrapping a silk scarf around your curls or swapping your cotton pillow cases for silk ones to prevent any damage.
- Using a hair mask or leave-in conditioner before going to bed will also add extra moisture to your hair, reducing the risk of frizz.
Stage 1. Washing your hair
- Choose a curly hair shampoo and conditioner to wash your hair
- Thoroughly wash your curls to remove any product build up.
- Once finished spritz a leave in conditioner and pop your hair into a Microfibre towel. Microfibre is a perfect material for naturally drying your hair, this differs from cotton towels as cotton can cause frizz.
- Leave your hair in the Microfibre towel until you’ve finished in the bathroom and ready to dry it.
Stage 2. How to sleep with wet curly hair
Believe it or not, there is a right way to sleep with curly hair, and it’s an important step for awesome curls.
- Brush your hair through with a wide tooth comb, avoiding any brushes that will damage your hair.
- Blast dry your hair, although you’re sleeping with it wet, it doesn’t mean ‘soaking wet’. You need the hair to be damp.
- Apply a holding gel if you’ve got thick hair, or a curl cream to the mid to ends if your hair is thinner, avoiding the roots. This will keep your curls in tact and reduce any frizz.
- Invest in a silk or satin pillow case, this is much softer on the hair. Cotton pillow cases can rough up your cuticles, causing frizz.
- Sleep on your side or belly, but if you must Sleep on your back, ensure your hair above your head, this will prevent any dodgy curls in the morning and keep them intact.
- Invest in a humidifier for your bedroom, this will reduce the risk of frizz caused by humidity
Stage 3. Maintaining your curls
- Wake up in the morning and gently use your fingers to twist and separate your curls.
- Apply a small amount of serum to the ends of the hair, such as; jojoba oil, coconut oil, castor oil or argon oil will help.
Stage 4. In between hair washes
- Always use a wide tooth comb for styling
- Use a water spray bottle or a light leave in conditioner and use your fingers to separate and twist sections of the hair
- Plait your hair before going to bed to retain the curls
- Invest in a dry shampoo to freshen your hair in between hair washes
How to take care of wet curly hair
When it comes to curly hair, always look for products and tools that will help add moisture to the hair to avoid your curls drying out. Any products that are heavy will just weigh your hair down and it’s best to avoid them.
Look for natural ingredients such as; coconut oil, avocado oil, aloe Vera, keratin, jojoba oil and shea butter, products rich in vitamin E will benefit your hair.
Avoiding frizz with wet curly hair
Curly hair is prone to frizz if the hair is damaged or dehydrated. Dry hair can cause the hair cuticles to breakdown which leads to frizzy hair and a lack of curl.
Keeping your hair hydrated is key, and there are some simple things you can do to achieve this.
- Avoid washing your hair in hot water, this can dry out your hair
- Avoid over washing your hair as this will strip the natural oils away
- Use a Microfibre towel rather than a cotton towel to avoid damage
- Avoid any heated tools such as hairdryers that cause damage
- Make regular salon trips for a trim every 2-3 months