Felice’s Client POV on At-Home Curly Hair Care
So you go to the salon, get a fresh cut and color and your hair is looking amazing! But a few days later, you’re feeling like you need another hair service because you have no idea how to take care of your new do. You’re not alone. This is the problem for most of us. At-home curly hair-care is not straight forward. You’re unique hair texture, chemical processing history and the environment you live in are all factors in how you should approach hair care strategy. It is important to discuss your at-home hair care with your stylist and check-in at each appointment to see how your hair is responding to your treatment so you can make adjustments.
PinPoint #1: How often should I wash?
For instance, I only wash my hair about 1x per week, but I used to do several conditioning treatments each time I washed. Soon, I realized that I was over-conditioning!
I wash less frequently because of my curls so I really only need to do deep conditioning 1x per month. Think about it like this, if you’re only supposed to do a deep conditioning treatment 1x per week, but the instructions for that product is basing that frequency on an average of someone who washes their hair 3x per week then if I only wash my hair 1x per week, I should only deep condition every 3 times I wash which would only be about 1x per month. Sorry for the math there, but you’ve got to look at it that way!
So as soon as I stopped over-conditioning, my hair stopped feeling limp and heavy and was back in business. And when I discussed this with Jeffrey, he confirmed all my theories and helped me adjust my at-home curly hair care routine. The moral of this story is to pay attention to what your hair is telling you and make adjustments based on those observations and whether or not you can figure it out on your own, you should always consult your stylist for advice!
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Jeffrey’s Pro Tips for At-Home Curly Hair Care
Here is a basic overview of my advice for at-home curly hair care that will get curly-haired gals off to the right start in caring properly for their tresses. I mean, you’ve spent all this money to go to the salon and get your hair did, you should spend the time and money to get the right products and use them properly at home!
Establishing a routine with your new products is key and a topic for discussion with your stylist as they are finishing your hair, aka from the time they start shampooing you until they remove the cape at the end to reveal your final look you should be absorbing the information they share. Some items in your arsenal may be for daily use, while others may be weekly or monthly so it’s important to know when to use what and how. I like to show my clients the amount of each product I am using and how to properly apply it.
We, as stylists, want everything to work in harmony for you at home and if you feel as if your stylist isn’t educating you enough, don’t hesitate to ask them questions! It is easy to get caught up chatting with your stylist/client, it’s a valuable relationship, but as important as the gossip is, the maintenance conversations need to be just as important to make sure you’re both on the road to a long, happy hair journey together!
PinPoint #2: Shampooing Like a Pro
Curly hair doesn’t need to be cleansed as frequently as straight hair so when it comes to 
shampooing, the less you wash your hair, the better! Curly hair is prone to being dry and more fragile, so with excessive shampooing, you’re opening up the cuticle and stripping the hair of its natural oils, drying out your curls even more, which is why it’s so important not to overdo it with washing.
When shampooing, concentrate on rubbing and cleansing your scalp properly with your fingertips to promote hair growth and cleanse the scalp from product buildup without dragging the product through your ends.
Another key is knowing your ingredients and to use products specifically made with your hair type in mind, look for things that are sulfate and paraben-free, as these are two of the harshest ingredients on the hair. We recommend washing 1-2 times a week, but it really comes down to creating your own routine that suits your needs.
Shampoo Recommendations –
MARCO® COLOR MOISTURIZING SHAMPOO
OLAPLEX No. 4 Bond Maintenance™ Shampoo
DEVACURL No-Poo Original Zero Lather Conditioning Cleanser
PinPoint #2: Conditioning With Purpose
One of the most important steps in any curly hair care routine is to replenish moisture into your curls. After shampooing, apply a deep conditioner that suits your hair needs. Is it dry? Pick a moisturizing formula that contains humectants and oils. Is it weak? You’ll need protein with silk amino acids or keratin to restore strength. In the shower use a wide tooth comb to distribute the conditioner evenly and then let the conditioner go to work for a bit.
For a deep treatment, place your hair under a plastic cap or cover it with a towel for 20 minutes. If you’re using a moisturizing conditioner, and your hair has absorbed most of it, you may not want or need to rinse it out. But, if you’re using a protein conditioner, rinsing is absolutely essential as these formulas could cause your hair to become brittle and lead to breakage if left in the hair, too much protein is not a good thing! If you feel as if your curls still need more moisture, opt for applying a moisturizing conditioner after rinsing out the protein conditioner and before styling your hair in place of your leave-in product.
Conditioning Recommendations –
MARCO® COLOR HYDRATE CONDITIONER WITH COLLAGEN COLOR GUARD™
OLAPLEX NO. 5 BOND MAINTENANCE™ CONDITIONER
DevaCurl One Condition Decadence Ultra Moisturizing Milk Conditioner
PinPoint #3: Styling Isn’t All About Heat
When you’re ready to dry after the shower, ditch the towel and use an old cotton t-shirt that you’ve already got or a micro-fiber towel. Terry cloth towels absorb too much moisture, which curly hair needs and the harsh fiber and rough grooves of a regular towel will ruffle the hair’s cuticle, causing frizz and additional stress to the hair. The t-shirt allows the water to sink into the material and allows it to slide through the hair instead of roughing it up.
PLOP It Out…
Check out the “PLOP” method for more information on using an old shirt for your wet-to-
dry curly hairstyles (we’ll have our own PLOP tutorial coming soon)! No matter what, do not interrupt your curls while they’re drying! Playing with them or running your fingers through them may cause them to frizz up and breaks the shape, which is the first thing you want to avoid.
LOC It Up
For many curly hair folks, the order for applying styling aids is leave-in, oil, then curl cream — which is also known as the LOC Method as it’s an abbreviation for leave in conditioner, oil, and cream. By layering your products this way, you allow each of them to penetrate into the cuticle, working as intended for maximum moisture retention in the hair.
For the first step, we recommend applying a moisturizing, leave-in conditioner of your preference, we love the MARCO® ANTI-FRIZZ LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER WITH COLLAGEN COLOR GUARD™!
Next up, apply a thin layer of oil to your hair to help lock in the moisture. Argan Oil is best for dry or frizzy hair, Macadamia Oil for extremely dry or damaged hair and Coconut Oil is great for all hair types, it’s important to test and research what will work best for your hair type.
The final step is to apply a creamy moisturizer to your hair to seal the moisture in with this outer layer. This cream can also provide your curls with definition and hold, so pick something that works well with your hair type as well as lending itself to the style you’re looking to achieve. If your curls require more hold than a creamy moisturizer can give, feel free to finish up with additional styling products to enhance your desired look.
Styling Recommendations –
MARCO® ANTI-FRIZZ LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER WITH COLLAGEN COLOR GUARD™
DEVACURL Leave-In Decadence™ Ultra Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner
MOROCCAN OIL HYDRATING STYLING CREAM
PinPoint #4: Maintaining Is All About The Right Tools
When it comes to maintaining your curls, there are a few extra steps you can take to keep those coils intact. To start, invest in the best comb possible and ditch the brush altogether. Use a wide tooth comb to detangle section by section after cleansing and applying leave-in conditioner, starting at the ends of your hair working your way up to the root. The least amount of tension and stress on your curls, the better! Much like a terry cloth towel, rough cotton pillowcases can cause your curls to tangle and frizz so swap them out for a silk pillowcase or silk bonnet to keep your curls intact and frizz free!
And that’s our general at-home curly hair care overview. Learn more about Jeffrey and Felice here. We’ll be doing more in-depth articles soon so stay tuned for more tips coming your way. What are some of your at-home curly hair care tips? We’d love to hear them in the comments below!
