How I Improved the Health of My Naturally Curly Hair
My naturally curly hair has been thoroughly abused. If my hair was a person, it would have a lot of emotional issues. I was always teased about my hair, I was called all sorts of names and had little pieces of paper thrown in my hair almost every day at school.
So, like any young gal would, I listened to the assholes and never went to school with curly hair again. I started straightening, coloring, and processing on a regular basis. DO NOT RECOMMEND.
After years of daily abuse and one really bad experience where I intended to get lowlights and ended up with seaweed green hair and a burned scalp (plz don’t make me re-live it) my hair had finally had enough.
I started transitioning back to my roots (literally), loving the hair I was born with, and actually caring about the health of my hair. It’s never looked better!
Here’s how I did it.
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1. I stopped giving a shit about what other people thought.
My natural curly hair is a huge part of who I am. It suits my face, my body, and my personality. And I like it. Bottom line.
2. I stopped using heat styling tools.
Heat styling tools are the number one cause of damage to your hair (especially naturally curly hair) and once I stopped using them, the health of my hair improved almost immediately.
3. I went for the big chop.
At the same time my hair was going through it’s seaweed green falling-out phase, the lob (long bob) was just starting to be the latest hair craze. It was really convenient. I cut my hair to shoulder length and began the process of growing it long again. This time without the breakage.
4. I stopped bleaching my hair and opted for a more natural blonde.
I wasn’t blessed with gorgeous blonde hair and I wasn’t blessed with beautiful brown hair- my hair color fell somewhere in between. Highlights are necessary in my situation. I stopped highlighting my hair as often, stopped going so light, embraced my roots, and threw in some low lights.
5. I stopped using shampoo as often.
Naturally curly hair doesn’t need to be washed as often as straight hair does, which works for me because I’m lazy af and I’m happy to have one less step in my morning routine. I use shampoo once every 2 weeks (I’ve gone longer and I’m not ashamed) and use a hydrating conditioner every day.
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6. I changed the way I slept.
I utilized a silk scrunchie (major 90’s vibes) and a silk pillowcase to prevent hair breakage while I sleep.
7. I bought a micro-fibre towel.
But you can also just use an old t-shirt to dry your hair. This prevents breakage and seriously eliminates frizz.
8. I focused on the ingredients in the hair products I use.
No sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or alcohol. Ever.
9. I started taking vitamins.
I once stumbled into Costco and found these amazing hair gummies that taste like strawberry and heaven and I haven’t stopped using them since. They have a shit ton of biotin in them (even more than a friends expensive af hair growth pills) and other vitamins that help to improve the health of your hair, skin, and nails.
And that’s it! Go forth and be curly babes.
