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Curly Girl

by Kate Franco on April 25, 2011 · 15 comments

Feb 2013 update: For an expanded version of this post check out my curly girl product guide! It’s got shampoo and vitamins and everything in between.

 
It wasn’t until I was 25 that I really got the hang of my hair. There are so many different types of curls! Yes, they are hard to control. And, it’s especially important to find someone who knows how to cut curly hair. Growing up we always just went to a Super Cuts, and I now know why paying the extra money for a super awesome stylist is worth it when you have tricky hair.

Everything I know about my hair I have learned from my amazing stylist, Shannon Debin.

Tips and Tricks of the Trade:

  1. Don’t wash your hair every day. Maybe every other, or every couple of days. Curly hair is generally super dry and washing it every day zaps the moisture.
  2. After conditioning, rinse hair with cold water. Yeah, it sucks to end your shower with cold water, but the colder the better.
  3. Wring hair out with your hands before you get out of the shower, and spray in DevaCurl’s Set it Free to set the curl.
  4. Skip the towel to dry your hair. I usually use an old t-shirt {ex-boyfriends’ are the best because they’re bigger}. Paper towels also work well, but are less eco-conscious. The point is that a towel will also suck all the moisture out of your hair; and moisture is key.
  5. I flip my head over and scrunch in the Scruncha {redundancy, much?} Gel.
  6. Air dry is best, but most of the time I’ll dry it part way with a diffuser.
  7. Finish with a couple sprays of Set it Free to ward away frizz!

I’m also trying out another product called Boing right now {also by Unite}, so far it gives a little bit more a natural look, but seems more prone to frizz. Will keep you posted!

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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }

Liz April 25, 2011 at 12:39 pm

I had no idea towel-drying hair sucked the moisture out! I’m definitely switching to one of Glenn’s old tshirts 🙂 Thanks for the tips!

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Kate April 25, 2011 at 1:19 pm

i just realized this post says “ex-boyfriend” instead of “boyfriend”. Latent issues much, Kate?!

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Suburban Sweetheart April 25, 2011 at 1:14 pm

Thanks for posting this! My hair only recently became wavy – as in, it totally changed its texture OUT OF THE BLUE – & I still have, like, no idea how to handle it.

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Beth April 25, 2011 at 3:22 pm

As a wavy-haired lady, I want to say that not washing the hair every day is big for me, too. In fact, anyone except those rare wash-and-wear people (or maybe people with oily hair) probably wash their hair too much.

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Sarah April 26, 2011 at 6:29 am

I love this post.

You mention that you DO wash your hair (I know a lot of girls swear by the ‘no-poo’ method.) What shampoo and conditioner do you use, and what do you do on the days you don’t shampoo?

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kristin April 26, 2011 at 6:45 am

Thanks so much for posting this! I’m going to try this out and see how it goes…I just recently heard about the t-shirt trick but haven’t done it yet. Have you tried the DevaCurl gel? I’ve been experimenting with that recently but I think it gives a more natural, frizz-prone look, so maybe the Scruncha will do the trick. (Sigh…it’s just a neverending process…)

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Jessica April 27, 2011 at 3:44 pm

Oh my goodness Kate- I am SO happy to see this post!
I am currently doing the Curly Girl method. I am really really trying to get over my love/hate relationship with curls.
I am hoping by going natural my hair can finally grow past its usual breaking point.
AND I just love curls- sooooo pretty and unique! Your’s are super pretty.
Thanks for the inspiration!

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Linds April 28, 2011 at 11:52 am

This was SOOO educational! As a fellow curly girl you know i need some help woman!

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Lindsey May 1, 2011 at 8:11 am

OMG. Help in other departments as well. Where do I begin? Yuck.

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Jessica K. July 25, 2013 at 10:35 am

Thank you so much for publishing this! My hair has been the bane of my existence (the Bane Mane) for most of my life, and I’m just beginning to appreciate it fully. I’ll have to try these products. Do you know if Ulta, Sephora, or Target sell them?

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Kate Franco July 26, 2013 at 7:25 am

Hey Jessica! I get most of my hair products on Amazon 🙂

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Mercedes September 2, 2013 at 3:16 pm

Great tips <3

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Chelli September 30, 2013 at 9:08 pm

Mixed chicks is wonderful for curls also ! Check it out sometime .

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Tracy F. January 17, 2014 at 8:11 am

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to see all this advise!! My hair used to be thin and straight…then I got Breast Cancer. After Chemo, I ended up with what I call Chemo Curls. Thick and seriously kinky curls. I’ve been at a loss for how to handle it. I had to change my hairstyle from an asymmetrical, that I used to get compliments on and was so easy to get ready every morning, to these dry, thick curls!! And, boy oh boy do I shed like a dog!! Any advise, any at all for a girl who is going through such a transformation?? Oh, and I can’t find anyone around here who knows how to cut it. HELP ME!!!??? ????

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August August 1, 2014 at 4:37 pm

OMG just reading all the comments makes me so depressed anyone blessed with curly hair is like the Cinderella to my Ugly Sister!! I have naturally ruler straight hair and would love some bounce! (Although i like my colouring!) Embrace the curls ladies because those who have none seeth with envy 🙂

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