Kinky curly hair lets you style it in different ways, but that does not mean taking care of it is any easier. In fact, this type of hair needs a lot of attention with detangling and providing moisturizer to keep it as healthy and as beautiful as possible.
Since curly kinky hair tends to rest further away from the scalp, which is where your body produces its natural oil, it needs moisturizer and regular attention. So, I have compiled some tips and tricks for taking care of your hair!
Some Basic Tips
1. Moisturize!
I cannot say this enough—if you have curly kinky hair, moisturize! More often than not, kinky hair requires a lot of moisture. You can routinely moisturize your hair or use moisture-rich shampoo and conditioner. Some of the better products include shea butter or coconut oil in their ingredients.
Water and oil also do wonders to keep hair moisturized. Spritzing some water or leave-in conditioner protects your hair. How often you do this depends on the weather and your hair’s needs.
Overall, when selecting your moisturizer for curly kinky hair, you should find what works best for your hair type. With so many hair products out there, it should not be too difficult to find the right one.
2. Wear a Scarf to Bed
The best way to minimize breakage is by limiting friction or contact with your hair. However, when it’s time to sleep, your hair comes in direct contact with your pillow or bed. Wearing a scarf to bed can help prevent damage to curly kinky hair. I recommend a silk or satin scarf over your hair because they are the smoothest materials and do not catch your hair.
Another benefit of wearing silk or satin scarves to bed is that you get smooth edges without using much product and you can preserve your style.
3. Braid or Twist the Hair Before Going to Sleep
While wearing a scarf can certainly help protect your hair, it may not be enough. Each night you should braid or twist your hair before going to sleep. This prevents flattening and tangles. If your hair is coiled tightly, you can bun or pineapple it too to help keep away any unwanted damage.
4. Mix Up Your Styles
From braids and twists to weaves and natural hair wigs, there are so many styles to pick from. Wearing protective styles can reduce the tangling and shedding of your hair. It can also protect the ends and keep them from being exposed.
Though I encourage you to mix up your hairstyles, you should not leave naturally curly kinky hair in the same style for longer than six weeks.
Maintaining your hair in one position or direction for a prolonged time can put stress on the hair follicles that can lead to thinning.
Even parting your hair in the same way for a long time can promote hair thinning. As a solution, change up your hairstyles routinely, ensuring you give your hair about a two-week break period between each new look.
5. Avoid a Lot of Heat
Curly kinky hair needs to be cared for with a lot of moisture, and while you may think it is super strong, too much heat can cause lots of damage. Blow dryers and flat irons can promote hair thinning and can cause deep damage to the strands. What’s more, is that heat damage is irreversible.
If you must use a blow dryer or a flat iron, I strongly recommend you use it no more than once per month. Less than once would be the best, however, I understand that there are times when heat is unavoidable. If you decide to use either heat device, use the lowest setting possible. If you go for the flat iron, stop immediately if you hear any sizzling.
6. Trim Ends Regularly
The ends of kinky curly hair are the most prone to damage since they are the furthest from your body and your body’s naturally produced moisturizer. That means that the ends of your hair can cause issues with knots, frays, and splits. So, rather than fighting your ends with products and brushing, it is best just to remove them.
I recommend going to the salon about once every three months to at least have a trim. Not only does this make your hair look healthy but it also makes it feel healthy.
How to Wash Your Kinky Curly Hair
To start your wash days, you should prep your hair. Use deep conditioner and oil to soften and smoothen the cuticles, which helps a lot with detangling later. The products should stay in your hair for about 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing.
After this, detangle your hair. Start with your fingers so that you begin with more control. Then, switch over to a wide-tooth comb. Next, use a sulfate-free shampoo and apply it at the roots. It eventually runs down to the rest of your hair.
The step after shampooing is to condition. Begin by dividing your hair into different sections. Conditioner should first be applied to the roots and then you can continue down to the tip of that section. Repeat the process for the next section and make sure to detangle as you go. Once the conditioner is applied, rinse with lukewarm water.
How to Dry Kinky Curly Hair
There are three ways to dry your hair—towel dry, blow dry, or air dry. Towel dry is not the best option since it can cause tangling to the curls. If you decide to go with this method, use a microfiber towel to squeeze or dab the water from your hair. Do not rub.
Blow drying also not be the best method because, as mentioned earlier, too much heat can cause damage.
Finally, air drying is probably the safest way to go. Just make sure to avoid touching the curls until your hair is damp. Once it is no longer wet, but rather damp, you can style it as you please.
