A Few Things To Take Care Of For Perfect Curls
Volume
For those born with lovely straight and thick hair, getting the right volume is not a concern. On the other hand, people with fine and limp hair sure need to focus on the volume before getting curls. Look through the market to pick up the right product for adding volume. Casey Simmons, Owner of Royal Locks Curl Care, suggests styling wavy and curly hair with a curl cream that contains Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride and PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone). She says, “These ingredients help the curl cream to clump onto the individual hair shafts, called seam welding, and create physical bonds between adjacent hair strands. Guar adds volume and protects the hair strands from breakage, static, and frizz. PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) enhances the definition, or shape, of your curl pattern and holds them in place.” Make sure you choose a product best suited for your hair type. The product should not weigh your hair down.
Texture
Without the right texture, it is impossible to make curls last longer and stay soft at the same time. A good mousse or gel will definitely help to get those long-lasting curls for long hair.
Tips: Make Curls Last Longer
1. Adapt The Correct Procedure For Adding Volume
Shampoo and Condition:
Remember, curls last only when your hair is light and carefree. So the first step is washing your hair. Try and use a light shampoo and conditioner that won’t weigh your hair down. Otherwise, your curls will flatten in just about an hour or two. No amount of holding spray will help you here.
Blow Dry:
Blow drying can really help in adding volume. However, the trick is not doing it the regular way. Bend over so your hair is hanging down. Use a blow drier with a diffuser to dry it out. When you are up straight again, you will notice a considerable increase in volume!
2. Get The Texture Right
As already mentioned, the right product is the key to the right texture! So invest in a good curling spray or mousse. Use it on your wet or dry hair to get the right texture for holding curls. You must also pick a good finishing spray for holding curls longer. A lot of these are made just for curly hair. But when used on natural straight hair, they lend the additional support needed for your styling efforts to last longer!
3. Regular Hair Care and Prevention Of Heat Damage
Damaged hair can never hold curls or look great. If you have split ends or frizzy hair, your curls will look unruly. Plus there might be problems in getting them to curl in the first place. So, you should trim them. Secondly, the less frizzy your hair, the more beautiful your curls will look. Trust me, when my wavy hair decides to go crazy, I end up looking like I might have been slightly electrocuted! Always condition your hair well. Last but not the least; curling requires heat treatment in most cases. Heat damage is one of the foremost reasons behind split ends and frizzy hair. Make sure you get a heat protectant spray or cream. Casey Simmons, owner of Royal Locks Curl Care says, “A heat protectant spray with silicones will coat the hair strands, locking in hydration and moisture, creating a barrier in between the thermal heat tool. A product with Amodimethicone, Dimethicone, or Cyclopentasiloxane (silicones) will provide that protection and wash out, avoiding unwanted build up. And as a bonus, cyclopentasiloxane gives additional conditioning.”
4. Setting Spray
As the name suggests, this is used to set your look in place. YOU NEED IT. This spray will lock your curls in for longer. Invest in a good holding spray and use it. Of course, using so many products at the same time does not appeal much. Go out and find a setting spray with heat protection. This would eliminate the need to use two sprays one after the other. And then all you need to do is go ahead and curl!
5. Curling Iron VS Flat Iron
The curling tool you use also plays a role. Curling iron is what people generally buy when they intend to try curling their hair at home. I recommended that you use a flat iron instead. Here are the two reasons behind it. [ Read: 10 Best Curling Irons To Buy In 2019 ]
6. Use Hot Cullers For Fine/Limp Hair
If you have fine or limp hair, ditch curling or flat irons. Go with hot cullers. They work much better on fine hair when you want the curls to last. The added advantage: various options of the kind of curls you can have. You can shift between ringlets, loose waves or small curls quite easily. The icing on the cake, you can set them in and just let them be as you do your makeup!
7. Curl Without Heat
Do you skip the curling routine just to avoid heat damage? Great news for you! You don’t need to use heat at all! For heatless curls, use a T-shirt, socks, pens or pencils. Or you can simply just braid your washed hair and leave it overnight, to find fresh loose waves! This is another great way on how to make curls last longer!
8. Final Setting
Once your hair is curled, use a hair spray one last time. This will remove the entire frizz in your curls. And you can flaunt your curls all day long! Is gel or mousse better for curly hair? Hair gel is better for curly hair as it helps define the curls and provides long-lasting hold. However, each hair type is different, and the product that suits one person may not work for the other. So, it is best to try both and figure out which one works for you. Does sea salt spray help hold curls? Yes, sea salt spray helps hold curls, combat frizz, and enhance your curl definition. Why does ocean water make your hair curly? The salt present in seawater makes a crosslink with the proteins present in the hair, making them curlier.