8 Tips to Help You Take Care of Your Curly Hair

Think of your hair in its natural state — no heat styling or blow-drying. If you have naturally curly hair, you may be wondering if you truly know the best way to take care of your strands. While the hairstyles for naturally curly hair are essentially endless, there is a certain hair care routine that you’ll want to stick to in order to maintain healthy, hydrated strands. Keep reading for the ultimate guide on caring for naturally curly hair, including the best products for curly hair.

The Best Hair Care Tips For Naturally Curly Hair

In order to maintain a healthy mane, you’ll want to follow a hair care routine meant for natural curls. Behold, our best hair care tips for naturally curly hair.

1. Use a Shampoo and Conditioner System for Curls

If you usually reach for the first shampoo and conditioner you see at the drugstore, it’s time to change that. In order for your natural curls to be as healthy and hydrated as possible, you’ll need to use a shampoo and conditioner system that is specifically formulated for curly hair. 

Try the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Moisture Push Shampoo and L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Moisture Seal Conditioner. The duo works to re-nourish and replenish curly hair  with moisture, revealing bouncy, defined curls with continued use over time.

Saturate your strands completely with water before reaching for your shampoo and sudsing up. Rinse your shampoo out thoroughly, then apply conditioner to your lengths and ends and rinse out, making sure not to skimp on the product. Curls tend to lose moisture more quickly than straight strands because of their shape, so it’s important to condition them regularly and thoroughly.

2. Use a Hydrating Hair Mask

Using a hydrating hair mask in your regular hair care routine can go a long way in helping to restore moisture and eliminate dryness from your curls. Try the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Signature Masque, Color Care Hair Mask, which enhances shine and provides intense hydration. It’s also a great pick if you have color treated hair. apply the mask to wet strands post-shampoo. Leave it on for three to five minutes, then rinse it out completely.

3. Keep Your Scalp Healthy

Your scalp is where your hair comes from, so keeping it clean and healthy is of the utmost importance for all hair types because over time, excess product, oil, and dead skin cells can accumulate up there. 

Using a clarifying scalp treatment like the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Scalp Care + Detox Scrub in your hair care routine can help remove any unwanted buildup.apply the scrub onto wet hair before shampooing and gently massage it onto your scalp. Then, rinse out and proceed with a shampoo and conditioner like the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Micellar Shampoo and L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Moisture Seal Conditioner as usual.

4. Use a Leave-In Serum

After you get out of the shower, seal in moisture by applying a hair serum to the lengths and ends of your curls. Try the L'Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump Moisture Plump Serum, Paraben-Free, which will help polish and smooth the hair’s surface, while also locking in moisture. Simply spray the product on your curls and leave it in.

5. Use a Cream-Based Hair Gel for Definition

When you think of hair gel, you probably think of the crunchy, goopy products of decades past. If so, then we have good news for you — today’s gels, which combine a treatment and styling product into one, won't leave your locks hard or sticky. 

The L'Oréal Paris Studio Line Mega Gel, provides long-lasting control, structure and definition for hard-to-hold styles without any weigh-down or hardness. dispense one to two pumps of product evenly throughout towel-dried hair, then let your curls air dry or style as usual.

6. Avoid Heat Styling

Sometimes, heat styling is inevitable. In these cases, just be sure to use a heat protectant, such as the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, Heat Protectant, before picking up your hot tools. And whenever you do need to use a blow-dryer, be sure to use the diffuser attachment that came with it to avoid frizz or tangling.

7. Don’t Brush Your Hair While It’s Wet

Instead of brushing through wet hair, invest in a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle wet strands, as your natural curls are most delicate when wet. Try working in small sections from the bottom of your hair upward, using patience and a comb to detangle gently and slowly.

8. Turn Down The Heat

This is another hair care tip that can benefit all hair types, natural curls included: Turning down the water temperature when you wash your hair. Hot water can strip your strands of their natural oils, which can lead to dryness and damage. To avoid this, simply wash your hair with water that’s milder in temperature, rather than scorching hot.

Next: 10 Super Stylish Ponytail Upgrades for Curly Hair

Edited by: Témi Adebowale, Photo: Lilli Schaub IG/@lillischaub, Design: Sarah Duvivier