A good rule of thumb: If your curls feel dry, try washing less frequently. Washing your curls everyday can remove the natural oils of your curls and makes it difficult to retain moisture. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't wet your hair. "Rinse and condition more often; shampoo less," Hallman advises.
Yes, you can wet natural hair everyday, and it is actually advised to do so to maintain moisture. Let's be clear though: by wetting your hair, we don't meanwashing it. We simply mean rinsing natural hair either in the shower or spritzing water over your hair.
This water absorption causes hair strands to elongate under the weight of the water and lose some of its tensile strength. Very curly hair has been found to lose almost 50% of its tensile strength when wet, which is really a quite significant reduction. Water contains things that can GREATLY damage hair.
While it's ok to sleep with wet curly hair when done safely, there are a few reasons why this often isn't the best idea. For starters, hair is very fragile when wet. In fact, this is when it's the most susceptible to damage and breakage.
The experts agree: Only a small group needs to shampoo daily, like those with very fine hair, someone who exercises a lot (and sweats), or someone living in very humid place, Goh says. “If you have oily scalp, then daily washing is needed,” she explains.
For certain hair types, washing your hair every other day is necessary to keep it from getting too oily. For others, excessive shampooing can strip curls of their natural moisture, which can cause frizz and dehydration. Resist the urge to reset your curls every day by refreshing them instead.
It depends on your curl type. Loose and classic curls can lather up two to four times a week. Coily curl types can co-wash weekly, and deep cleanse with shampoo once a month. Tight curls fall somewhere in between - shampoo or co-wash every few days to a week.
This completely depends on your unique curls and how you prefer to wear your hair. If you want more volume you are likely to prefer damp styling, but if you are looking for less frizz and more definition then wet styling will be for you. At Only Curls, we like a combination of both.
Once you get to day two, start your refresh process by applying a lightweight oil or a pomade like the Mimosa Hair Honey. Focusing on curls that look particularly warped or dry, use your fingers to re-twirl or slightly scrunch them until they bounce back into shape.
Your curls are at their most fragile state when they are wet, which is why it is so important to treat wet hair with care. If you overwork your curls while they are wet, there is a bigger chance of damaging and breaking your hair! This means more time spent repairing and that's no fun!
Sebum helps protect your strands from moisture loss. Washing it all away can lead to a tight, dry scalp and dry, coarse strands prone to breakage. Over time, you might even begin to notice some long-term side effects of overwashing, including damaged hair and hair loss.
If your next-day curls still have yesterday's curl cream throughout, then Arriola says a simple water spritz could be all that's needed to reactivate the product. Scrunch the curls before letting them air dry, or you can speed things up by drying them with a diffuser on a cool setting.
Try using a light leave-in conditioner or curl cream to help add moisture back into your hair. All you need is a spray bottle filled with a mixture of water and your favorite leave-in conditioner. Spritzing this mixture onto your hair will refresh the curls and bring out their natural shine.
What is pineappling hair? The pineapple hair technique, a term coined by the NaturallyCurly community, is a way to protect your curly hair when you sleep. Done correctly, the pineapple hair method creates a beautiful pile of curls on the top of your head, which resembles the shape of—yes, you guessed it—a pineapple.
CON: Causes Frizz
Heat causes frizzy hair, and hot water is no exception. No matter what your hair type, the hair needs moisture to stay frizz free. Because hot water can strip the hair of natural oils, moisture escapes the hair shaft and results in frizz.
Cotton pillowcases can such the moisture out of your hair and dry it out which can cause the curls to droop. You can try a satin pillowcase, which won't suck out so much moisture.
The best way to keep long curly hair fresh overnight is to tie it up in a pineapple. Simply grab the nearest non-snag tie or scrunchie and tie hair loosely in a ponytail on top of your head. If you have a fringe or shorter face-framing pieces, use a small butterfly clip to secure them and you're bed-ready.
All you have to do is pull your curls up to the top of your head, then put them in a loose ponytail. If your hair is especially long or thick, you may want to split that tail into two pieces With your hair on top of your head like this, when you're sleeping, much less of it will rub against the pillow.