Step 1. Add moisture. Only brush curly hair when it's wet, damp, or has a layer of slip between strands and the bristles. Brushing dry hair is an instant recipe for frizz and will loosen your curls right out of shape.
Add moisture: The golden rule of brushing curly hair: only do it when it's damp. Brushing dry curly hair equals frizz, as well as loosening your curls causing them to lose their shape. Apply a leave-in conditioner or moisturising cream as your first step, after you have washed your hair in the shower or bath.
Hair that's wet and filled with moisture is more fragile than hair that's dry, which can result in snapping when brushed. As such, it's recommended to brush hair in a dry state (guide-to-detangling-curls). This may mean allowing your hair to air-dry post-shower before beginning to comb through hair strands.
Brushing curly hair breaks the bonds in your curls.
Curls need a product or emollient to bond into tight spirals.
Since curly and natural hair strands are spiraled and not straight, shed hair (the hair naturally discarded from the scalp in cycles) tends not to fall off onto shoulders, but instead stays trapped in the curl and coil pattern; that means brushing or combing once weekly or on wash days helps keep shed hairs from ...
Frizz-central
This is especially true for women who have curly hair since they feel like brushing wet hair doesn't hold up the integrity of the curl, and can cause it to frizz up more easily.
According to the experts, as our curly hair is much drier and more porous compared to other hair types that take well to being combed through dry, we are not just more prone to frizz, but also breakage. The friction caused by a brush or comb pulling on dry stands can cause hair to go fluffy and split.
If your hair is curly, wavy, or prone to frizz, brushing when it's dry is a big no-no. Brushing lifts the cuticle, creating frizz. Sleeping on a rough cotton pillowcase or vigorously towel-drying can also ruffle the cuticle layer.
You may feel like your hair is rougher or looks matte instead of shiny. Damaged hair is when your hair feels matted or spongey when wet.
1. Do not towel dry your hair before detangling- this applies no matter what your hair type; coily, curly, wavy or straight hair. Friction from vigorously rubbing your hair with a towel can cause damage and more tangles. Instead, gently squeeze the excess water out of your hair once you've finished showering.
If you take just one tidbit away from this post on how to take care of curly hair, let it be this: Never brush or detangle your hair post-shower. Using a fine-tooth comb on textured hair is the easiest way to disrupt your curl pattern, causing your strands to turn into one giant, unruly mess.
Using a brush on curly hair is generally not a good idea when trying to obtain and maintain healthy hair. When a brush is used on curly hair, it can mess up the texture of the curls and cause significant breakage as it pulls on the hair. A comb is highly recommended as they prevent pulling and keep your curls intact.
As mentioned earlier in this post, frizzy curls are often dry curls. Curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair, so it generally needs more moisture. You can achieve well-hydrated and moisturised curls through the products you use to wash and style your hair, and using techniques like 'Squish to condish'.
The better the hair fibre is hydrated, the more relaxed and supple it becomes. That's why a regime of nourishing treatments can work wonders on unruly curls, which by nature very dry. So opt for an intensive regime with a regenerating shampoo and mask duo, complemented by regular oil soaks.
It may seem like a harmless detangling, but combing your curls after the shower while they are wet is NOT optimal. Your curls are fragile when wet and this causes damage and breakage!
During your shower, consider using a wide-toothed comb to work the conditioner through your strands. To minimize damage, Norton suggests using a comb to work out tangles from the bottom, working your way up to the roots. Bottom line: Use a brush only on dry hair and a wide-toothed comb on wet hair.
On top of breakage, air-drying can also increase frizz, build-up, and mildew, especially for afro-textured and curly hair. "Hair that stays wet or damp for a long period can attract bacteria and fungus, especially if you have very dense hair," explains Jennie Roberts, a celebrity hairstylist and texture hair educator.
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.
After letting them sit until they're cool to the touch — about 20 minutes or so — gently let them down and finish with your preferred styling products.
Aging. Aging affects the hair follicles, but it is rarely a cause of curly hair. However, aging does make hair strands finer. This means gravity isn't pulling each hair down as much.