on January 23, 2016 Curls look gorgeous when healthy and well-nourished. But, maintaining their great looks could turn out to be quite daunting, especially if you are a fan of flat irons and chemical treatments, even semi-permanent ones. If you want to do a test to see the truth behind these claims, all you need to do is lay off the heat styling for 7-10 days and see how your curls will look revived and feel considerably silkier!
Know, though, that hair can only be temporarily repaired and that if damage occurs, chances are you can’t do much to restore it to their previous lux condition. With the ends usually enduring the most damage, it becomes apparent that trims are more than necessary to be able to retain length. But, what else can you do to make sure your strands will always look stunning?
Here are some DON’Ts you really need to know of according to Caroline Muir from The Curl Ambassadors Curly Hair Salon:
1. Use too much shampoo
Shampooing too much (and too often) can cause several problems, such as brittle and dry strands and itchiness of the scalp. Also, with too much shampooing you strip the hair’s natural oils, which are paramount to its good health, especially if you are using hair care products that aren’t sulfate-free (Sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS is found to damage hair foliage).
So, it’s suggested you just take it easy. Next time you shampoo, focus on the roots; have them properly cleansed and let the rinse water do the rest. What you only need to remove is excess sebum and dirt and not clog the hair foliage.
Tip: For a normal and healthy scalp and hair, shampooing once a week is more than enough.
2. Skip Trims
Although you can employ methods to reduce split ends and breakage, chances are you’ll still have to confront them at some point. When this happens, trimming the ends of the hair is the only solution to get rid of the damaged hair and help the strands from splitting further up the shaft.
Although it may sound unbelievable, trimming your hair can make it not only grow but also retain length, which is why stopping any damage in its tracks is critical. Therefore, trim it as necessary to prevent split, dry, frayed, and lifeless ends.
3. Dry Comb
Combing your curly hair while dry is one of the most harmful things you can do because curly hair tangles in a heartbeat and combing it dry causes split ends and breakage.
So, next time you want to comb your luscious curls, dampen the hair lightly, apply some a pinch of the hair care product of choice and detangle with a wide-tooth comb or even better your fingers.
4. Wet Cut
When it dries, curly hair shrinks. With that in mind, avoid cutting it while wet, especially if you want to maintain a hairstyle. Otherwise, you may end up with a different style. Of course, if this is not among your concerns, there is absolutely nothing wrong with clipping, cutting, and trimming your hair whenever you feel like it! This is a great example of why The Curl Ambassadors Curly Hair Salon of Toronto have trademarked their Dry Cut Curly Hair Cut, which ensures too much hair never gets cut off because they know it is about the trim.
5. Over-use Heat Tools
You may be careful when using a flat iron or any other heat styling tool but know that even low temperatures can cause irreversible hair damage. This is because they weaken the cortex layers and cuticles. Needless to say, using those tools too often can speed up the damaging effects, so it’s best to limit their use to just a few times a year.
However, if you do need to use heat to style your hair, consider applying heat protection products (i.e. a serum). So, between the curling iron, flat iron, and hair dryer that you expose your hair to in order to achieve a different look, better give it the proper care to enjoy wearing it any time of the day or night!
6. Skip Deep Conditioning
If you have curly hair, then you must agree that it is thirsty hair. This means that you need to keep it properly moisturized whenever you possible can. To achieve that, you can use a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a week to allow your hair to get the nutrients necessary for its elasticity and overall health. As a result, you will notice the shaft is fortified, and your strands look super-nourished!
7. Skip Sealing
The sealing technique is very important if you want to keep your hair moisturized after deep conditioning. It’s more than just applying a deep conditioner and follow with a leave-in cream, though.
Admittedly, dry hair is dry by nature and you need to provide lots of moisture to maintain its gorgeous looks. The best way you can do this is to seal in the moisture with the use of essential oils. There are lots of them in the market and, since each one has different properties, you just need to experiment with them to find the one that works best for you.
After a few applications, you will not only feel your curls healthier and significantly less frizzy but also notice that they look shinier, too!
8. Lose Balance
Balance is everything when it comes to healthy hair. Too much of anything (from shampooing to moisture) can cause damage. Also, pay attention to your hairstyle. If for example, you are always wearing your hair loose, you will most likely end up with dry ends. In any other case (i.e. wear a ponytail or extensions) you cause wear on the contact point along the hair shaft. Clearly, proper moisture and protein balance, as well as changes in the way you wear your hair will help prevent damage and enjoy healthy and satin-like strands for more.
At the end of the day, what you really want is hair that looks jaw-dropping and exude health from within. And, since the most damage is mechanical, meaning it comes from washing, detangling, and styling the hair, you can understand that it’s up to you to achieve your goals for the perfect mane! That can only happen if you start changing your regimen to suit your lifestyle and turn your strands into a topic for heated conversations!