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From creams to shampoos, add these to your haircare arsenal
There is a complexity to curly hair that most people often forget. What separates curly hair from straight tresses isn’t just based on the visible appearance. The complexity is rooted deeper than that, and it’s also down to the molecular structure.
As curly hair doesn’t grow straight or evenly from the root, it requires extra care and attention. The amino acid and lipid production (lipids prevent humidity loss and act as a barrier to water diffusion) ensures that curly hair can often feel dry, brittle and in some cases easier to split and break.
Not only that, the cuticle of the hair lifts at each bend, which means the lipid distribution is uneven resulting in less shine and hydration across the hair completely. If the molecular structure wasn’t complex enough, the curl pattern also ranges from curly, wavy, kinky and coily.
In industry terms this starts at Type 2, wavy and goes right up to a Type 4, coily and kinky, which is otherwise known as as afro-textured hair. We’ve broken this down here:
Type 2 (wavy) where waves are bendable, ranging between fine and course, and have a definitive “S” pattern laying close to the head.
Type 3 is often referred to as curly and can range from loose and bouncy loops to tight corkscrew curls.
Type 4 is known to be coily and kinky or otherwise known as afro-textured hair. Naturally rather dry and sponge-like in texture but is also extremely soft, with a range from tight and small curls to zig zags.
With common properties (across type 2 to 4), such as frizz, lack of moisture and hydration as well as a lack of definition and vibrancy, it can be difficult for those of us with curly hair to maintain healthy and happy tresses and considering our hair and scalp health, the journey with our curly hair can be a long one.
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We put products and routines to the test to see what would help us in maintaining the moisture, hydration and definition in our curly hair and reduce the frizz all in one. From styling creams to silk hair ties, we tried and tested the products that those with curly hair need in their arsenal.
While each curl journey and pattern is different, it really is about finding the right routine and products that work for you. The Davines love curl cream was truly game-changing in our routine as a serum to hydrate and treat our hair before introducing any cream or curl enhancer.
To minimise breakage we recommend introducing LilySilk’s silk scrunchies into your mix and Afroani’s shower comb for daily use. And to magnify the beauty of your curls you can’t go wrong with the Aveda be curly curl enhancer too.
For the latest offers on beauty and haircare, try the links below:
Nourish and protect your curly hair with the best afro and multi-textured shampoos