6 Step Curly Hair Routine

From soft waves to tight coils, about 65% of people fall somewhere on the curly hair scale. If you do as well, you know the importance of a curly hair routine to keep your tresses looking soft and beautiful, as well as make them easier to manage. Try this starter routine if you’re new to taking proper care of your curls.

1. Use a Shampoo for Curly Hair

There are hundreds of different shampoos on the market, but not all of them are right to use on curly hair. Curly tresses require a lot more moisture to remain soft and manageable, which means you need to choose a product made specifically for a curly hair routine. 

While traditional shampoos, especially those labeled as “clarifying,” can strip your hair of moisture, products like Davines LOVE Curl Enhancing Shampoo use an all-natural formula that skips the chemicals in favor of ingredients such as olive oil to leave your hair moisturized and shiny. Even on days that you don’t need to cleanse your hair, you should use a product that helps it maintain moisture, such as Aveda Be Curly Co-Wash.

2. Condition Your Hair Properly

Never skip the conditioning step of your curly hair routine. A moisturizing shampoo alone is not enough to keep your curls as gorgeous as they deserve to be. Use a product made specifically for your hair type, such as Davines LOVE Curl Enhancing Conditioner.

After washing your hair, be sure to work your conditioner well into your hair, taking the time to thoroughly coat each strand. If your hair has tangles, use a wide-tooth comb to work through them with the product still in your hair. Allow it to stay in your hair for several minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

3. Dry Your Hair With Care

Always take special care when you dry your hair. Avoid too much blow-drying or towels made from harsh materials. Instead, opt to use a towel made of microfiber or even a soft cotton t-shirt to dry your hair.

The method you use is just as important as the material when drying your curls. Rubbing your hair with a regular towel will cause friction that damages your tresses and creates frizz and tangles. Instead, spritz on a leave-in conditioner and then gently squeeze portions of your hair to remove extra water. 

4. Style Wet Hair

Dry curls are much harder to style than wet ones, so be sure your curly hair routine includes styling before you start blow-drying. You’ll need the right products first, which means you’ll need to determine which type of curly hair you have. Once you do, you’ll be able to choose the right serums, sprays, and other styling products.

One tried-and-true method for many people who have curly hair is to use a water-based mousse because it works on a variety of curly hair textures. However, the thicker and tighter your curls are, the more likely you are to need thick gels and creams to keep them tame. Regardless of how you style your hair, remember to use a frizz-fighting serum to keep tresses soft and curls smooth.

5. Separate Curls While You Blow-Dry

After you apply your styling product, it’s time to blow-dry while separating and defining your curls. Use a diffuser attachment on your blow-dryer and keep it on the lowest setting to ensure you don’t inadvertently create frizz or otherwise dry out your hair.

As you dry your hair, use your other hand to define your curls by separating and scrunching them. Once curls are formed and your hair is dry, set your style with a hairspray made to fight humidity. If frizz begins to form later in the day, a smoothing cream can help you fight it. 

6. Maintain Your Curls

Maintenance is important for your curly hair routine. If you use heat-styling tools on your hair, always use a heat-protecting spray first. On days you aren’t shampooing your curls, be sure to use a curl resetting spray to keep them bouncy and soft.

Long-term maintenance is important as well. Once a week, use a deep conditioning treatment such as Surface Curls Intensive Masque to ensure your hair stays hydrated and easy to maintain. Finally, remember the ends of your hair are always the driest and thinnest. Regular hair trims help to prevent split ends and keep your curls looking healthy.

Visit the LaLa Daisy Beauty Resource Center to learn more about how two take care of your curly hair.

La La Daisy provides a full range of products to help you stay on top of your curly hair routine. Mix and match until you find something that leaves your curls soft, manageable, and ready to take on the world.