Curly Hair Care and Textured Hair

Louis Driver, Head Creative and curl enthusiast at Meraki Hair, is on hand to help inspire and give you simple yet effective ways that you can start giving your textured hair the care and attention it needs starting today.

Louis loves a curl and positively encourages people to embrace their natural texture wherever possible. He will also work with a client to come up with a cut or style that suits, and in some cases, is more manageable. He also has curly hair himself, and over the years has experimented and perfected a curly haircare routine, and so shares this knowledge with his clients.

Don’t over-shampoo

Generally, curly haircare is hard, and the hair is prone to being dry, which is the reason why it’s so important not to over-wash it. Excessive shampooing opens the cuticles and strips the hair of its natural oils, which will dry out your curls even more. The less you wash, the better! Lots of brands also now make a co-wash. Co-wash allows you to cleanse, refresh and condition without the shampoo part.

Cleanse the scalp

Shampooing curly hair is still necessary for healthy hair growth, as it gets rid of all the build-up from oils, dirt, and dust. When shampooing, concentrate on rubbing and cleansing your scalp properly with your fingertips.

Avoid alcohols and sulphates

The key is to use products specifically made for curly hair, which are also sulphate and alcohol free. As you may already know from this post, these are the ingredients that really dry out the hair (and are also harmful in other ways), so you want to avoid them at all costs.

Speaking of keeping moisturised, it’s so important to replenish moisture into your curls. Some ways you can do that is by using conditioner every time you wash your hair, as well as performing routine deep conditioning and oil treatments.

Choose the right towel

Reaching for a standard bath towel isn’t the best choice when it comes to curls. Instead, opt for a microfibre cloth or a cotton t-shirt. The aim here isn’t to rub and disturb the curl pattern resulting in frizzy hair. You want to gently scrunch the excess water out of the hair.

If your hair is prone to getting frizzy once it dries, then use leave-in hair products meant for curly hair such as a curl activating cream. No matter what, do not interrupt your curls in any way while they’re drying! Playing with them or running your fingers through them may cause them to frizz up, which, let’s face it, is the first thing you want to avoid.

Air drying is always a preference, but if you’re pressed for time, you can use a diffuser to dry your hair. Flip your head upside down and hold the diffuser steadily to your scalp - don’t move it around too much, because all the escaped wind can make the hair frizz.

Never brush curly hair

If you even own a brush, get rid of it at once! Only comb your hair with a wide tooth comb before you shower, or gently finger comb after the shower. Remember that wet hair is more prone to breakage, so be super patient and gentle if you’re combing it wet.

Avoid hairsprays and mousse

Not only do these products make your curls crunchy, these two products also contain the highest amount of alcohol. There are similar products like texture sprays and foams specifically designed to work with your curls.

Dial down the heat

Excess heat can cause your curls lose their shape, making them look lifeless. If you notice a change in your curl pattern stop using any heat, including the hairdryer and diffuser! For a week or two, focus on rehydrating your curls to give them that bounce back. If you do use hot styling tools, use them on a moderate heat setting and always use heat protectant.

Talk to a curl or texture specialist at the salon

Getting a haircut, colour, or treatment by a professional hairstylist with previous experience in working with curly hair is always advisable. A stylist that truly understands the art and science of working with textured and curly hair can make all the difference to your salon experience.

Walking out of the salon with amazing textured tresses not only looks great but will also encourage you to embrace your curls and give you confidence!