Coily hair is naturally more prone to dryness due to its tightly coiled shape, which can make it more difficult for natural oils to travel down the hair shaft. This can leave the hair feeling dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.
Washing with the right products and the right method can help your coils look and feel their best. Here are some steps to follow to wash coily hair effectively.
Pre-poo
Before shampooing your hair, apply a pre-poo treatment such as coconut oil, olive oil, or any other oil of your choice to your hair. This will help to protect your hair from the drying effects of shampoo and prevent tangling.
Cleanse
Choose a moisturising sulfate-free shampoo that is formulated for not only your hair but also your scalp needs. Wet your hair thoroughly, apply a small amount of shampoo to your scalp, and massage it in gently. Be sure to focus on your scalp rather than the length of your hair, as shampooing the length of your hair can strip it of its natural oils. Tip: Use warm water- Avoid washing hair with hot water that can damage your coily hair by drying it out and rapture the outer layer of the hair strands. This can make your curly hair prone to dryness and possible damage.
Condition
After shampooing, apply a deep conditioner to your hair. Leave it on for 15-30 minutes, depending on the instructions on the product. Detangle: Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to detangle your hair while it's still wet and conditioned. Start at the ends and work your way up to the roots.
Rinse
Rinse your hair thoroughly with cool water to ensure that all the product is removed.
Moisturise and seal
Follow on with a leave-in conditioner for added hydration and seal in all that moisture with an oil or hair butter. Best oils for high porosity hair are jamaican black castor, marula, and olive. Best oils for low porosity are grapeseed, sweet almond, and jojoba.
Style
Apply your preferred styling products to your hair, such as curl cream, or gel, and style as desired.
Dry
Allow your hair to air-dry or use a diffuser attachment on a hair dryer set to low heat to dry your hair. Tip: Use a microfiber towel to get rid of excess water. Microfiber towels are gentle on coily hair and will prevent coils from matting.
Lastly
Remember, coily hair tends to be drier and more fragile compared to other hair types. Therefore, it's important to strike a balance between keeping it clean and not over-washing it. The frequency of washing coily hair can depend on factors such as your hair texture, scalp oil production, and how active your lifestyle is. As a general rule of thumb, coily hair should be washed once a week or every other week, unless you have a specific scalp condition that requires more frequent washing.
If you have an active lifestyle or sweat a lot, you may need to wash your hair more frequently to remove sweat and buildup. In between washes, you can refresh your hair and scalp by using a dry shampoo or co-washing with a conditioner.
Ultimately, the key is to find a hair washing routine that works for your unique hair type and lifestyle, and to adjust it as needed to keep your hair healthy and looking its best.
