Curly Hair Care Tips and Tricks

Beachy waves, tight ringlets, bouncy corkscrews—curly hair comes in all shapes and sizes. But no matter what type you’re blessed with, curly hair is especially delicate and more prone to frizz, so you’ll need to handle it with extra care. Here are all the curly hair tips—and the best hair products for curly hair—you need to know to embrace your naturally gorgeous texture.

How to take care of your curly hair

Curly hair is different from straight hair in a few major ways. Because of the twisty structure, it’s inherently more fragile. It’s more vulnerable to breakage and can be damaged just from brushing. Also, your scalp’s natural moisturizing oils aren’t able to easily slide down the length of your curly strands. That means you’re more likely to battle dryness, especially on your ends. And when your hair is parched, you get curly hair’s arch nemesis: frizz.

The secret to caring for curly hair is pretty simple: It’s all about treating it super-gently and keeping it as moisturized as possible. So the best curly hair products all focus on delivering lightweight hydration. Read on for how to find the right shampoo and conditioner for curly hair.

How to wash curly hair

The best shampoo for curly hair is 100-percent sulfate-free, like L’Oréal Paris EverCurl HydraCharge Shampoo . What are sulfates (or sulphates), you ask? These are detergent ingredients, which are used to give cleansing products—from face washes to shampoos—tons of foaminess.

Unfortunately, sulfates are typically too drying for curly hair. L’Oréal Paris EverCurl HydraCharge Shampoo for Curly Hair has zero harsh sulfates, salts or surfactants, all of which can strip moisture from your hair. But if you still want a creamy, rich formula that lathers, you’re in luck. L’Oréal Paris EverCurl HydraCharge Shampoo  is made with coconut oil, which will help make your curls soft, healthy and happily hydrated.

How to condition curly hair

If you’re looking for the best products for curly, frizzy hair, conditioner is non-optional. If you skip it, your curly hair will be so thirsty, so it will try to absorb moisture from the humid air. As a result, your strands will swell—creating a puffy mop of frizz. L’Oréal Paris EverCurl HydraCharge Conditioner for Curly Hair , just like the shampoo in the same line, keeps frizz at bay with nourishing hero ingredients like coconut oil. But it won’t leave your hair feeling greasy (like that jar of coconut oil from your kitchen), and it won’t weigh your curly hair down. After every shampoo, just apply L’Oréal Paris EverCurl HydraCharge Conditioner  to your curly hair, especially on the ends, and give it a minute or two to work its magic.

How to style curly hair

When styling your curly hair, you want to avoid friction, which can puff up your cuticles and invite frizz. For starters, never aggressively rub your wet hair with a terry-cloth bath towel. Instead, to remove some of the sopping water right out of the shower, just gently press your curls with a microfibre cloth. Then, while your curly hair is still wet, apply an anti-frizz hair product that will coax out your natural definition.

Traditionally, popular curly hair tips have included cocktailing products—mixing a dollop of one formula with a squeeze of another—to get the results you want. Luckily, you can now find innovative hair styling products that are multi-duty.

For example, L’Oréal Paris EverCurl Sculpt & Hold Cream-Gel is the best leave-in conditioner for curly hair and the best gel for curly hair. It gives you another dose of coconut oil for conditioning and hydration as well as the benefits of non-crunchy shaping and all-day hold. Once you’ve worked the cream-gel through your curly hair—rake it with your fingers—you’re ready to dry.

How to properly dry curly hair

After applying the hair styling product of choice, you can reach for your blow-dryer—but don’t forget the diffuser. That nozzle attachment will ensure that your curly hair dries more gently and evenly so you’re not concentrating a harsh blast of heat in one area.

Or, if you want an easier daily hair styling routine, there’s no reason you can’t take a break from your hot tools. As long as you’ve applied a great curl-defining product (like L’Oréal Paris EverCurl Sculpt & Hold Cream-Gel), you can go with the air-dry and embrace your curly hair in all its natural glory.