Three Curly Hair Problems and How to Solve Them

While the world envies our natural curls, most of us who have them can list the challenges that curly hair brings. Curly haired women often complain that their hair simply has a mind of its own and is almost impossible to rein in. While this might not be far from the truth, there are simply ways to tackle your unruly lion’s mane. Here are a few of the most common problems you face as a woman with curls, and how best you can solve them.

Problem: Frizz

You can spend hours together styling your hair, but as soon as you set step outside the humidity turns on you and leaves your hair in a frizzy mess.

Solution: You can eliminate the frizz in a few simple steps. First, wash your hair at least two to three times a week. After conditioning your hair, go through it with a wide-tooth comb. Once you have washed off your hair don’t rub it with a towel. Instead, gently soak out the moisture with an old t-shirt or a micro-fibre towel. Also, invest in a good leave-in conditioner and keep your hands off your hair when it is drying.

Problem: Volume

Curly Hair tends to be big in volume. Often you find yourself walking out that door with a mane of hair around you.

Solution: The simplest way to cutting down volume and avoiding a puffy hair, is to invest in a good salon. A great hair stylist will use scissors to cut down the bulk. When your curls easily fit in with each other and have a smooth fall, the problem of too much volume is automatically eliminated.

Problem: Tangles

Having curly can truly be a knotty affair. Curls are especially prone to knots and tangles because of its inherent follicle structure. When the cuticles of our hair are put through hot styling tools, chemical products and also due to natural wear and tear, it tends to tangle easily.

Solution: Using a good conditioner and gently comb through your hair in the shower. When your hair is dry and it has a particularly difficult knot in it, spray that area with a little extra leave-in conditioner before working out the knot with your fingers. Lastly, tie up your hair in bun when you sleep so that rubbing your head on the pillowcase does not worsen the knot problem.

Four Ways to Rock Your Natural Curls

Many of us, who have natural curls, often have a difficult time taming our wild curls and styling them in fresh, new ways. You might think that giving an exciting twist to your head of curls, on a daily basis, is a tedious task that takes up many hours. But, it really need not be so. There are many ways to be effortlessly fashionable. Here are three styling tips that will help you rock your natural curls.

Free Falling

The easiest and fuss-free look to go with is to just let loose your curls. It’s one hairstyle that looks great with any of your wardrobe choices and with any season. Wash ‘n’ go is a simple yet stylish option that eliminates the use of excessive product and any chemicals, which will benefit you immensely in the long run. Of course, the wind in your hair might mess up your hair, a little bit, but messy and curly are actually a great combination.

Chop ‘N’ Crop

Keep it short with cropped hair-dos. Many women with curly hair fear a short hair style. They simply don’t want to risk a fashion faux-pas. But the truth is, short crops and even bobs can look refreshingly smart on you. Moreover, they are much easier to maintain and can be an easy look to carry during the summers. If you are afraid of going too short, you can experiment with a shorter hairdo, maybe till mid-neck, and then see whether you will be comfortable with going shorter.

Back in Time

Aiming for curl chic? Then a touch of vintage will do wonders. For a dressy affair, adapting the vintage style that rock the 40s is a great idea. The volume, styling and ringlets that are a staple in vintage 40s hairstyles are perfect for your curly hair. You can experiment with waves, victory rolls, or even tie up your hair in a chignon.

Braid Beauty

Loose braids can be a very pretty yet feasible, functional everyday style that you can embrace for your curls. Once you have gotten the hang of them, braids can be very easy to do and you can even try a look that involves multiple braids. For starters, you can try out a single, side braid that is loose. You can add a bit of color and spunk to your hair do by wearing a delicate hair band or even hair clips.

Lazy Girls' Guide To Smooth, Shiny Hair

As much as every girl loves her hair, some would definitely admit that they're lazy at times to give enough attention to their hair. Some days you might not get even an hour to spare, and the other times you may be plain lazy to do anything about your tresses. However, just because you're lazy, doesn't mean you can't have smooth and beautiful hair. Add smoothness and shine to your gorgeous tresses by following these tips:

Use dry shampoo at night

If you know that you're not going to find any time to wash your hair in the morning, use a dry shampoo the night before. Dry shampoo helps reduce greasiness from your hair and scalp. It will work on your hair overnight and allow you to go without washing your hair for a day or two.

Use sauna time to deep condition

We understand that you may not be up to working hard on managing your tresses. However, if you like to spend your lazy hours in a sauna, use that time to deep condition your hair and surprise yourself with the results. Massage your hair with a natural hair conditioner and put on a shower cap. The heat from the sauna will help the conditioner penetrate into your hair better.

Put on a cap

If you don't wish to use a pile of products on your tresses or if you don't have the time to do that, cover your hair with a hair net while you blow dry on a low setting. The net prevents frizz and helps your curls stay intact. 

Do this for smooth hair

For moisturized and smooth hair, prepare a mixture containing one cup of water with one tablespoon honey in it. Apply it to your hair and leave it overnight for amazing smooth hair after you rinse it the next day. 

Make pillows work for you

If possible, use a silk or satin pillowcase while you sleep. Don't forget to wash the covers regularly. It will prevent hair dryness and allow your smooth hair to stay the same effortlessly. 

What to avoid

Here are few things you must avoid to ensure that your hair stays protected: 

• Non-organic chemicals for styling your hair 
• Washing off the conditioner completely – try leave-in conditioners for a change 
• Overusing heating tools like straighteners and curlers as they can leave your hair dry and brittle 

Stick to these tips and get healthy, shiny hair effortlessly!

Four Less Known Hair Care Tips

If you're searching for some lesser known effective hair care tips, then look no further. We have just the right list for you to take care of those gorgeous tresses. With hair tips that you probably were not aware of yet, we give you some simple yet effective solutions to manage your hair better :

1. Condition the ends and shampoo the roots

Hair care is not just about the products that you use, but also about how you use them. Even though getting the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair is important, learning about how to use them is crucial if you want better results.

Hair close to the scalp is much healthier and rich in keratin. A small amount of conditioner would work just fine if you apply it to your tips. Also, putting too much shampoo on your tips will make them dry and prone to breakages.

2. Consider co-washing

Co-washing is washing your hair with just conditioner instead of shampoo. It keeps your hair well hydrated. Although oily hair might not benefit from this as much as dry hair, many women with curls have been doing this for a long time.

3. Try baking soda on your oily hair

There are countless uses of baking soda when it comes to enhancing your beauty. You can occasionally use it as a scrub or to brush your teeth as well. If you're looking for a natural way to get done with your oily hair, baking soda is just the right thing for you. By adding one part of baking soda to three parts of water and applying it to your hair, you can certainly cleanse your oily strands and scalp. Use it like a shampoo whenever you want since it is an inexpensive and highly effective way to get clean tresses.

4. Use some vodka

As it turns out, vodka has some amazing beauty benefits. Cut a jalapeno in half and soak it in vodka inside a ceramic bowl for a few days. If you don't have time, add a shot of shampoo to it as well. Later, rub the jalapeno pieces on your scalp everyday for smoother, shinier hair. But don't use vodka too often on your hair because it may lead to dryness. However, make sure you don't get the jalapeno near your eyes and do expect some mild tingling when you rub it on your scalp.

Always make it a point to deep condition your hair once a week to keep it healthy.

Friz-free Curly Hair – Natural Ways to Tame Friz

With African American hair, frizz is usually inevitable; but if you’re one of those women who loves wearing her hair all silky and shiny, taming your frizz is one of the first places that you may want to start. Frizz can be as a result of humidity or heat. Using heat-styling tools on your hair can also make it frizzy. Blow drying your hair is yet another cause for frizzy hair. Yes, we understand that it does seem like a long list of things that you have to keep away from to make your hair frizz-free, but before you get to that, here are some natural ways through which you can achieve the same!

Beer

Beer is a good pick for a rinse if you’re looking to anti-frizz your hair. Beer can restore the moisture lost in your hair so it appear more hydrated and nourished. In fact, choose dark beers if you’re looking to try the beer rinse as these are seen to be packed with moisture and nourishing nutrients. Coat the hair with a beer rinse solution and let it rest for a couple of minutes. Rinse it off with cold water, and watch your hair turn smooth and frizz-free.

Hot oil

Oil is probably one of the best natural remedies for fighting frizz. Oils have conditioning effects and seal in the moisture when applied to the hair. Olive oil or coconut oil have deep hydrating effects on the hair. Warm coconut or olive oil in a jar, and apply it evenly on your hair. Then wear a shower cap over it, and use a hot towel to wrap around you head so moisture is easily absorbed. Leave the hot towel on for about half an hour or so, and rewarm it if required. Rinse with shampoo and cold water to finish.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar does double duty taming frizz and giving your hair a lustrous shine when used as a rinse. Wash the hair first (try the no ‘poo method, if you like) and then use a rinse solution that contains apple cider vinegar and water in equal parts on your hair. Let it rest for a minute. The acidic component of apple cider vinegar smoothens out the frizz and makes your tresses appear shiny. You can go about conditioning your hair, as you normally would after washing off the apple cider solution rinse.

4 Hair Care Tips to Follow in Winter

Winter brings with snow, cold winds, and an icy weather that can damage your hair, turning it brittle and dry. The winter season calls for some additional maintenance tips to ensure that your locks remain beautiful and healthy throughout.

Hair wash

Your hair has a tendency to turn dry during winter. If you’re accustomed to using hot water to wash you tresses, you’d want to switch it up with moderately warm or lukewarm water, as hot water may strip off all the natural oils that are present in the hair. Also, once you’re done washing the hair, take some cool water to rinse just the hair without the scalp, so the pores are closed and the moisture stays locked in. Go in for hair washes less frequently during winter than you would during the summer. Do not forget to condition your hair, and make sure you don’t rinse it off completely.

Styling and products

Air-drying is recommended over blow-drying hair during winter. If you are using a blow-dryer, set it to the lowest heat setting as possible. Curl and flat irons are another big no-no. Swap your plastic combs with wooden ones to prevent your hair from turning static. Stay away from haircare products that have alcohol as it has a tendency to dry out the hair. Same goes with hair spray perfumes, as they may lead to hair breakage. Keep you tresses moisturized at all times with the help of a hair cream or serum.

Winter fashion

Make sure your hair is protected from the cold winds and snow during winter, by covering it when you head out. Sometimes cotton may make your hair go static; try on a silk scarf instead, and then wear a hat over it, so your hair does not turn static and stays protected at all times. Make sure your don’t tightly wrap it around the head, or it can be harsh on your hair.

Hair nourishment

Treat your scalp to a gentle massage using olive oil at least once a week. This helps enhance the blood circulation and make up for all the natural oils that lost during the winter season. You can even try using jojoba or avocado oil for a scalp massage, and leave it on overnight to wash it in the morning. You can visit a hair salon for a protein treatment or a deep conditioning treatment to nourish dry hair. 

Quick Hairstyles for Kinky Hair

Curly, kinky hair allows you to experiment with many new and interesting styles, many of which require little to no heat, and little to no time as well. Whether you have long wavy hair or short curls, here are some fun, quick and easy hair styles that you can try while you are on the go!

Side part style

We suggest this one for TWAs (teeny weeny afros) looking to give their hair a touch of sophistication. Untangle your hair and moisturize it, and start styling it while it's damp. Make sure you have styling gel and bobby pins at hand. Take a comb to part your hair to the side with the skinny tip, dividing the hair just under the forehead. Use the styling gel and secure the hair with bobby pins on either sides to lift the hair roots. Then gel the sides and top of your hair to give it a better definition, and gently brush the hair on the sides to smoothen it. Take of the pins and you are good to go!

Curly ponytail

Wear your hair in a messy pony, if you want to sport a cute and laid-back look. Simply gather the hair using your hands into a pony tail at the center of the head with the help of an elastic. If you have a layered haircut and some of the shorter tresses tumble down, do not tie them back, leave them as it is as they can frame your face nicely. If a messy ponytail is not your thing, and you're looking for a more polished look with the ponytail, simply smoothen the sides using pomade. Black hair moisturizing products with jojoba oil work out great when compared to ones that are alcohol-based, as the latter tends to make the hair frizz by causing it to dry out.

Front twist

This front twist helps draw attention to your facial features, while styling the hair away from the face. Separate the hair into two sections. Then twist each of the hair pieces upward in a horizontal manner until its is tightly secured (be careful to not twist the hair strands very tightly or it can damage them). Pin the twist in place. Do the same on the other section as well. Wear your hair half up-half down. To add more definition to your curls, use a good finishing spray!