Curl Care 101

Being someone with moderately curly hair, I too have felt out of place every once in a while. In a country where long, straight and shiny hair is the ideal beauty standard, having curls can definitely be a challenge and we do understand how you feel. The thing is, your hair texture is just as unique as you are. It is a part of who you are as a person, and no amount of pin-straight hair that is the trend in product commercials and salon ads should lead you to hate what you have been blessed with. To put it more easily, only 11% of the world's population has curly hair so you are one of those gems that have been chosen to deserve curls.

We do understand that hair that ends up rough, messy and tangled is a nightmare to deal with and amidst the trend of straightened waist-length hair, it can make you feel insecure that your hair springs up to look only half the length of what it actually is. It can be tempting to pick up a straightener or just rush to the nearest salon and get the entire hair rebonded to look like those commercial models, but let's stop you right there. If you are dealing with dry, brittle, tangled hair or curls that just make your hair look bushy, there are two things you're doing wrong: one, you're not following the right methods and two, you're not using the right products. So in this post, I'll give you a detailed insight into washing, caring and enhancing your curls along with the best curly hair products available in the Indian market as of 2022 to keep your curls looking fabulous.

• The right way to wash your curls

The right shampoo: The first thing you should change about your hair care routine is to switch to a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfate or SLS is the detergent which is common in most easy available shampoos on the market and is responsible for your dry and bushy curls. Your goal should be to clean dirt and excess oil from your scalp and nothing more. Your curls need the natural oils present in your hair to look shiny and bouncy. Use shampoo to massage onto your scalp and leave the ends of the hair as they are. Switch to a sulfate-free shampoo which will keep your hair nourished and hydrated and do not use hot water on your hair. Do not shampoo more than twice, at most thrice a week if you want your curls to look alive.

Some of the best sulfate-free shampoos for curly hair available in the Indian market as of now are:

1. Curl Up - Curl Moisturising Shampoo

Although the shampoo is a bit on the expensive side, we cannot ignore the quality of cleansing and hydration it provides. It is a mild coconut-based cleanser which provides a gentle cleaning to the scalp without drying out the natural oils of your hair. It contains argan oil, chia seed extracts and vitamin E which provide moisture to your hair and revive your curls. It is also perfectly suitable for wavy hair.

Price - INR 575 (200 ml)

2. St Botanica - Go Curls Shampoo

A little less expensive, this shampoo is a great alternative, it is free from SLS, silicone, paraben and mineral oils. It contains Avocado oil, flaxseed oil, pea protein and vitamin E which are all ingredients that are simply amazing for your hair. The formula is gentle and hydrating and will visibly reduce breakage and frizz. It is also gentle on your scalp and won't overdry it.

Price - INR 475 (200 ml)

3. WOW Skin Science - Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo

I have no idea how well this shampoo will work on each kind of curly hair but it has worked for me and is my go-to sulfate-free option because, well, I'm broke on most days. I wouldn't say it is the best thing ever for curls but it does make a difference. It contains red onion seed oil, black seed oil, sweet almond oil and pro-vitamin B5 which are all great for nourishing your hair. While this doesn't claim to do anything specific for curls, it is however great for any hair type as long as you follow it up with a good conditioner. It is extremely affordable and comes in a variety of sizes for you to choose from depending on your requirement and budget.

Price - INR 149 (100 ml), 249 (200 ml), 374 (250 ml), 499 (300 ml), 575 (500 ml), 999 (1000 ml)

• The right way to condition your curls

The right conditioner: Opt for a conditioner meant for damaged hair, even if it doesn't specifically target curls. Curly hair tends to get dry which is why you should go for maximum hydration and nourishment for your curls to look defined, tangle-free and shiny. I would also recommend not getting bleach or dye jobs done to your hair as they make curls even more prone to damage and just throw off the curl pattern entirely in some cases. Conditioners are your best friends. Look for conditioners that do not have sulfate in their ingredient list as that is the main ingredient that can destroy your efforts of caring for your curls entirely. Also, apply conditioner to the length of your hair and not the scalp.

Some of the best conditioners for curly hair as of now are:

1. StBotanica - GO Curls Hair Conditioner

A bit on the pricier end, this is probably the best conditioner you can get for curly hair. It contains Vitamin E, flaxseed, pea protein, shea butter, avocado oil and Moroccan argan oil which are all moisturisers made up of dreams. It is free from sulfates, parabens, silicones and mineral oil. It provides maximum hydration for curls and makes them soft, shiny and bouncy.

Price - 449 (200 ml)

2. Plum - Olive & Macadamia Rich Nourish Sulphate Free & Paraben Free Conditioner

Although not meant specifically for curly hair, it is still a very intensely moisturizing conditioner. It is sulfate and silicone-free which is satisfying enough for me, personally. It contains moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, plant-based keratins and olive, macadamia and almond oil. It is however kind of expensive which I, being broke do not appreciate but if you want to invest consistently for fabulous curls, go ahead.

Price - INR 520 (200 ml)

3. Tresemme - Pro Protect Sulphate Free Conditioner

Yes, it doesn't mention anything about curls, yes, it is a cheap and easy available conditioner but if you're the kind to wash your hair every day, then I do recommend only conditioning it and avoiding shampoos for at least 4 to 5 days a week. If that is your routine, however, going for premium curly hair conditioners will totally throw you off budget, in which case, you can opt for this one as it is pretty affordable. It does claim to be sulfate-free however, I cannot guarantee if it is alcohol-free as of now as I couldn't find the ingredient list.

Price - INR 300 (190 ml)

• Masks and deep conditioners

This is something a lot of people with curly hair completely ignore. You don't need expensive hair spas or professional treatments that cost you thousands that the parlour wali didi suggests. Instead, invest that money into consistently buying a quality deep conditioner or hair mask and use it once a week. Your hair will be looking fabulous and will be thanking you for giving them the right food.

Some options for masks and deep conditioners that you can consider are:

1. Curl Up - Intense Hydrating Hair Mask

Made especially with curly and wavy hair in mind, this mask intensely conditions your curls and revives them. It contains deep-moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, mango butter and avocado butter that leave your hair feeling soft. Although it is pricey, again it is up to you how much you want to invest in your curls and choose what product suits your hair the best.

Price - INR 750 (200 gm)

2. Streax - Professional Spa Nourishment Olive Oil & Shea Butter Hair Mask

You would be amazed to see how many of these containers have become something for my mother to use for storing kitchen ingredients. Being someone who isn't willing to spend a lot on masks, this has become my go-to product. It contains olive oil and shea butter which are great deep conditioners and work really well for me. It is super affordable and conditions really well and I don't need anything more than this in a mask.

Price - INR 340 (200 gm)

If you still aren't sure what exactly to use, you can always get a professional deep-conditioning done at the salon if that's your thing.

• Oils

Oiling is something you absolutely cannot skip if you have curls no matter how off-putting or outdated you find it and no, you can't use those light "jasmine oils" or whatever that look the same as water. Your oils should be thick, and nourishing and should leave your hair looking glossy. Pick up extra virgin coconut oils, the kind that gets frozen in winter. Or find a good Argan oil or olive oil to truly nourish and feed your hair. Even if it costs you to stay home one day a week, so be it. Your hair can make you look fabulous for 6 days so it is entitled to have 1 day of nourishment in return at the very least.

Some of the oils I recommend are:

1. Mamaearth - Onion Hair Oil

Nope, it doesn't smell like onions at all. You just can't make that excuse up. It is an amazing oil that leaves your hair feeling silky smooth and doesn't have any nasty smell. I actually quite like the fragrance so if anyone's mom is reading this, make your son or daughter buy this oil and don't take "it will smell like onions" as a reason to avoid oiling their hair.

Price - INR 599 (250 ml)

2. Biotique - Advanced Organics Argan Oil From Morocco Non-sticky Hair Oil

There, you have all the problems with oiling solved in the name itself. This is nourishing, non-sticky and amazing for your hair. I'm already on my third bottle as of now. No, it is not expensive. It is actually super affordable so there is nothing yall Gen-Zs can complain about.

Price - 330 (200 ml)

• Leave-in products

If you live somewhere that is extremely polluted and the environment is harsh on your hair, leave-in treatments are an amazing thing to purchase. Not only will these stay in your hair and hydrate them but also define your curls and make them look perfect.

Some of the leave-in products I recommend are:

1. Curl Up - Curl Defining Cream

Enriched with chia seeds, argan oil, flax seed and shea butter, this product offers intense hydration and definition to your curls. Apply it evenly on wet hair and scrunch up your curls in your palms to give them definition and nourishment.

Price - INR 690 (150 gm)

2. Arata - Advanced Curl Care Hair Cream

Priced a little less, this curly hair cream by Arata performs just as well. It is to be applied on wet hair and scrunched up with your curls to provide definition. Enriched with Argan oil, soy protein, shea butter and Abyssinian seed oil, it provides just as good definition and moisture to your hair.

Price - INR 599 (100 gm)

• Drying and styling

1. Pat your curls dry after washing with a soft towel. avoid wringing or twisting them the wrong way. Do not put your hair up in a towel but let it air dry on its own.

2. Do not brush your curls. For god's sake, girls have to stop doing this. Brushing curls out will only make them look frizzy and bushy. Instead, use your fingers to gently detangle. At most, use a wide-toothed comb. Use your palms to scrunch up your curls and let them dry as they are.

3. If you have to use a hair dryer, use it with a diffuser for curly hair or avoid it altogether. The diffuser should look something like this. Yep. It is that or nothing.

4. Do not use anything like a hairspray which offers hold to your hair unless you want a good amount of damage done to your curls.

5. You can always choose hair gels for styling your curls but I don't really like that, personally. It also isn't the best thing unless you're planning to wash your hair the next day.

6. Choose the right haircut that will give your curls both shape and volume. Shoulder-length hair looks the best with curls, layered haircuts are ideal and look great on any kind of face.

7. Avoid bleaching, flat ironing or dyeing your hair to keep your curl pattern in top condition.

8. Avoid Keratin overdose. Do not use too many eggs or too much of any kind of keratin product on your hair as too much protein will help you achieve exactly the opposite of what you want. It will make your hair rough and tangled.

9. Use a serum. This will give your hair a subtle gloss and make your curls look awesome.

10. Be a good person, avoid hating on curls and promote more curl-positivity. Share this article with your fellow curly girls instead of hitting the salon for straightening your hair together. Once you are good towards your hair and towards others' hair, no matter your hair type, you will look fabulous and feel confident magically.