Co-washing is a way of cleansing your hair with a creamy conditioning cleanser instead of traditional shampoo. This method is particularly beneficial for coarse, thick, or dry hair, and leaves your locks feeling healthy and hydrated instead of dry and brittle. 

In this guide, you’ll discover what co-washing means and why it’s become so popular. We’ll explain how to choose a cowash product and share some of the best products on the market, together with step-by-step instructions. 

What Is a Co wash?

Co-washing is short for conditioner-only washing, which means washing your hair with conditioner alone. It’s sometimes called the no poo method, as in no shampoo. 

Most conditioners contain tiny amounts of a type of detergent called cationic surfactants, such as cetrimonium and behentrimonium chloride. When you apply conditioner to your scalp and hair, these surfactants pick up debris, which is then rinsed away with the conditioner, leaving your hair feeling clean.  

Cleansing your hair in this way won’t leave it as clean as shampooing, but you also avoid the drying effect of the sulfates and other harsh ingredients found in many shampoos. If your hair is thick or coarse, you can even co-wash daily without it becoming dry and brittle. 

Co-washing retains more moisture than when you shampoo your hair. This means that the moisturizing agents in your conditioner work more effectively, leaving your locks soft, shiny, and manageable.

Choosing the Right Product

If your hair is fairly thick, you can probably use your regular conditioner. However, it’s best to avoid conditioners that contain silicones like dimethicone. These ingredients help smooth your hair cuticle but can build up on your strands, leaving your hair flat and limp.

If your hair isn’t quite as thick, cleansing conditioners or a dedicated co-wash might give you better results. These are specifically designed for co-washing and contain ingredients which will wash your hair gently. 

Look out for the following on the ingredient list:

• Emollients like shea butter, argan oil or castor oil to soften and smooth your hair – though these can be heavy so consider your hair type.
• Proteins like wheat or soy protein to give your hair a protective coating
• Humectants like honey or panthenol to lock moisture into your strands
• Moisturizers like aloe vera or amino acids to leave your locks soft and shiny

Benefits of Cowashing

Transitioning from your regular routine can have several benefits for your tresses.

Avoid Sulfates

Many people choose to co-wash because they want to avoid sulfates and other harmful ingredients that strip the natural oils from curly hair, leaving it dry, brittle, and frizzy.

Preserve Your Hair’s Natural Oils

Avoiding sulfates will help to maintain the oils that keep your scalp and hair healthy.

Maintain Hair Moisture

Using a conditioner or co-wash product will moisturize your mane more effectively, leaving it hydrated, more manageable, and frizz-free.

Make Detangling Easier

Using the co wash method will also lubricate your strands, making them easier to detangle and less prone to split ends and breakage.

Problems with Cowashing

Buildup

The most common issue with cowashing is buildup. One thing you need to make sure you do is clarify on a regular basis to avoid this problem. While cowashing is great, you do need to do a more thorough cleanse on a monthly basis so that your hair can actually absorb the moisture and stay healthy.

Loss of Hold or Curl Pattern

Because of the amount of moisture you get from cowashing, it can lead to minimal hold from your styling products. It can also stretch out your curl pattern over time. If you notice either of these happening, it means that cowash may not be the best choice of hair cleanser for you or that you need to do a clarifying wash.

How to Co wash Effectively: Step-By-Step

Washing your hair without shampoo will take some adjustments to your hair care routine, but following these step-by-step directions will make the transition easy.

1 – Saturate Your Hair Completely

Saturate your strands with water until your scalp and hair are soaking wet. This will loosen dirt, sebum, and product buildup, making them easier to rinse out. It also makes distributing the cleanser easier. 

2 – Be Generous

Ignore the instructions on your conditioner bottle; you don’t need a dime-size dollop of conditioner or co wash. You need to use enough product to coat your scalp and wet hair completely from root to end. Depending on the length of your locks, this could mean an amount the size of a golf ball. 

3 – Apply the Conditioner

Massage your conditioner thoroughly into your scalp to break down any buildup of sebum and styling products. Then distribute it evenly through to the ends of your hair and leave for three to five minutes, or even longer if your hair is very dry or damaged.

4 – Rinse and Reapply 

Rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water until all of the product has been washed out, then reapply your conditioner according to the instructions on the bottle to condition your hair and rinse again. Alternatively, you could use a leave-in conditioner at this stage.

5 – Dry and Style As Usual

You may find that your hair needs less styling product when it is properly hydrated. 

Co-wash vs Traditional Shampoo

Shampoo often contains sulfates, a type of detergent that gives you squeaky-clean hair. These are highly effective at removing dirt and debris from your hair and scalp, including:

• Dead skin cells
• Sweat
• Sebum
• Styling products
• Environmental pollutants

However, they can also strip the natural oils and moisture from your strands, leaving them dry and prone to breakage. 

Switching to a co-washing regimen can leave your mane softer and more manageable initially, but many people find that their hair can start to feel weighed down over time.

A good compromise is to use a clarifying shampoo once or twice a month to deep-clean your hair. Another option is to alternate between conditioner washing and using a sulfate-free shampoo.

Is Cowashing Suitable for All Hair Types?

Most hair types will benefit from co-washing, especially if your hair is dry or damaged.

Not sure which hair type you have? Our curly hair type quiz will help you find out!

Curly type 3 hair and coily type 4 hair both tend to be coarse and naturally dry. That’s because the curls and kinks make it more difficult for sebum to travel down from your scalp to the tip of each hair shaft.

So, these natural hair types will clearly benefit from co-washing with rich conditioners or co washes. You could even leave the product on for a bit longer than five minutes, but be sure to rinse it all out thoroughly. 

Wavy and finer curly hair types are usually not as dry, so it’s better to stick to a light co-wash. Also, low porosity hair that struggles with buildup may do better with regular shampoo.

Co washing is also excellent for color-processed hair as long as your scalp is healthy and unbroken. This technique doesn’t strip pigment like shampoo, so it can help your color last longer.

Who Shouldn’t Use a Co-Wash?

Co-washing is not recommended if you have certain scalp issues like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis. These conditions can worsen if you use co-wash products, as co-washing isn’t enough to break up the flakes or remove excess oil from your scalp. 

Instead, you could try using medicated shampoos like Neutrogena T/Gel or T/Sal.

If you have fine, straight locks, co-washing could result in them becoming weighed down and limp. Sticking with your regular shampoo and conditioner routine might be better for your locks.

The Best Conditioners for Cowashing

If you’d like to try co-washing your hair, these are some of the best co washes and cleansing conditioners to try:  

Miribel Naturals Creamy Hair Cleanser

I don’t love cowashes for my fine hair but this one is the one I’d use if my hair did well with them. It has a nice light lather, gentle exfoliating beads, you don’t need too much, it’s very lightly scented, and I love the natural formulation.

Miribel Naturals Creamy Hair Cleanser

$32.00 ($4.00 / Ounce)

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12/17/2023 06:26 am GMT

Pantene Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash

This ultra-rich cleansing conditioner contains argan oil to gently cleanse your locks and infuse them with rich hydration. This product was specially developed for natural hair and is free from parabens and sulfates.

Gold Series from Pantene Sulfate-Free Deep Hydrating Co-Wash with Argan Oil

$8.99 ($0.59 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 02:51 pm GMT

Shea Moisture Curl Moisture Co-Wash

This deeply moisturizing cowash smells gorgeous and keeps your curls clean, soft, and tangle-free. It’s enriched with certified organic raw shea butter, making it perfect for dry, damaged curls or coils.

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser

$15.60 ($1.30 / Fl Oz)

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12/18/2023 12:36 am GMT

Live Clean Ultra Light Apple Cider Conditioner

This gentle, hypo-allergenic conditioner contains apple cider vinegar, organic chamomile extract, and sunflower oil to remove residue and restore moisture to your locks. It’s cruelty-free and free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, and dyes.

Live Clean Conditioner, Ultra Light Apple Cider

$13.26 ($1.10 / Fl Oz)

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12/18/2023 12:46 am GMT

As I Am Coconut Cowash

This cowash contains a rich blend of caster oil, coconut oil, and nourishing ingredients to cleanse and hydrate your hair. It removes product buildup and sebum while conditioning your strands and keeping curls tangle-free. 

As I Am Coconut Cowash

$7.99

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12/18/2023 01:51 am GMT

Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Sulfate Free Cleansing Conditioner

This conditioner will moisturize your hair from roots to ends while rinsing away impurities. It delivers deep hydration and makes detangling curly hair easier. 

Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Sulfate Free Cleansing Conditioner

$9.29 ($0.77 / Fl Oz)

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12/18/2023 12:51 am GMT

FAQs

Still looking for more information about co-washing hair? These Frequently Asked Questions might help:

How Often Should You Co wash?

It’s fine to co-wash your hair daily or just a few times per week. If your hair is very coarse or dehydrated, you might want to cleanse your hair more often, and unlike using regular shampoo, daily co washes are safe for your hair.

Can Cowashing Replace Traditional Shampooing Altogether?

Cowashing alone won’t cleanse your hair as thoroughly as regular shampoo. Without properly cleansing your hair with a clarifying shampoo every few weeks, your hair may develop a buildup of conditioner, styling product, sebum, or sweat.

Can I Use Any Conditioner for Cowashing?

Your regular conditioner may be suitable for washing if you have thick or coarse strands. However, avoid using conditioners that contain silicones, and you will probably get better results from one of the dedicated co-wash products listed in this guide.

The Bottom Line

Co-washing has become a popular way to care for hair, particularly curly and coily hair types, which can be naturally dry and brittle. This technique allows you to avoid the harsh, drying effects of sulfates and other harmful ingredients in many regular shampoos.

Finding the right conditioner and a washing schedule can take time. It’s essential to choose carefully, as ingredients like silicones will weigh down your locks. 

You might still need to use clarifying shampoo to give your locks an occasional deep cleanse. But switching your regular shampoo for a conditioning cleanser or co-wash could be the key to soft, shiny, healthy-looking hair.

The post What Is a Cowash? The Hair Care Technique You Need To Know appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

These medicated shampoos are specially formulated to treat dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, and other scalp conditions. They can help clear flaky scalps, break down skin cell buildup, and reduce itching and inflammation. 

But which is the best shampoo for your needs?

In this guide, we’ll look at how Neutrogena T/Sal and Neutrogena T/Gel work, their active ingredients, and the differences between the shampoos. This will help you decide which therapeutic shampoo will be best for your symptoms.

What is T/Gel Shampoo?

Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo is a medicated shampoo used to treat mild scalp conditions, including seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and dandruff. 

Its active ingredient, coal tar extract, is an effective deep cleanser for your scalp, removing flakes and treating minor scalp infections. 

T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo is also available in an Extra Strength version, which contains more coal tar extract than the regular formulation. This can be used to treat scalp conditions that have more severe symptoms. 

Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo

$25.19 ($5.72 / Fl Oz)

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12/18/2023 06:41 am GMT

What Does T/Gel Do?

Neutrogena T/Gel shampoo is an excellent choice if you suffer from mild symptoms associated with scalp conditions. 

It offers fast relief from the discomfort of a dry, itchy scalp and the coal tar extract also helps to reduce redness, flaking, and scaling. 

T/Gel is easy to use and mild enough to be used daily, even on sensitive scalps. Using T/Gel at least two times a week or according to your doctor’s instructions is recommended. 

T/Gel Shampoo Ingredients

Coal tar extract is the main active ingredient in T/Gel shampoo. Coal tar has been used for treating scalp conditions for hundreds of years and is thought to work by slowing skin cell growth.

This helps reduce the inflammation, itching and flaking caused by dandruff, psoriasis, and other scalp issues. 

Other ingredients in this shampoo include Sodium laureth sulfate and Cocamidopropyl betaine to cleanse your scalp and hair. 

Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo Side Effects

You may experience mild side effects when using T/Gel, such as a skin irritation or your scalp becoming dry, red, or irritated. These usually resolve themselves if you continue using the product.

However, T/Gel is unsuitable for anyone allergic to coal tar, and you should not use it if you have rashes or broken skin on your scalp. 

If you notice any allergic reaction to this product, seek emergency medical advice and stop using the shampoo immediately.

What is T/Sal Shampoo?

Neutrogena T/Sal Shampoo is a therapeutic scalp shampoo. It’s recommended by dermatologists to soothe itching and clear scalp buildup and flaky scalp caused by severe skin conditions like dandruff and chronic scalp psoriasis. 

This gentle formulation will leave your hair and scalp feeling clean and refreshed without drying them out.

As well as removing dead skin cells and sebum buildup, T/Sal unclogs pores and clears away any residue of styling products and conditioners. 

Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo, Scalp Build-Up Control

$20.48 ($2.28 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 01:11 pm GMT

What Does T/Sal Do?

Neutrogena T/Sal Shampoo is ideal if you have problems with a flaky and crusty scalp. It is a powerful deep-cleaning shampoo that eliminates the crusty scalp build up of natural oils and skin cells caused by dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis. 

It can also give long lasting relief from an itchy and inflamed scalp infection, reducing the urge to scratch which can cause hair loss. 

T/Sal is gentle enough to be used daily to maintain a healthy scalp and should be used at least twice weekly or as your doctor advises. It starts working after just one application, but you will see the best results after using it for a few weeks. 

T/Sal Shampoo Ingredients

The main active ingredient in T/Sal shampoo, salicylic acid, works by breaking down skin cells and hard sebum buildup. This makes it an excellent solution for severe dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis. 

T/Sal medicated shampoo contains gentle cleansers that clean your hair and scalp without drying them out, and is free from added colors, preservatives, and fragrances.

The formulation is mild enough to be used daily and should be used at least twice per week or as your doctor advises. 

Neutrogena T/Sal Shampoo Side Effects

Salicylic acid can cause a severe but rare allergic reaction. This can result in symptoms including intense itching, hives, breathing difficulties, light-headedness, or swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face.

If you notice any allergic reaction to this anti dandruff shampoo, stop using it and seek medical advice immediately.

TGel vs TSal: Similarities

There are many similarities between these two shampoos:

• They’re both medicated shampoos.
• You can buy T/Sal and T/Gel shampoos over the counter.
• Both are made by Neutrogena.
• Both shampoos target scalp conditions like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis.

Both products are also used in the same way. Gently massage a small amount of T/Gel or T/Sal into your wet hair and scalp. Leave the lather to work for a few minutes, then rinse and dry your hair as normal.

Either shampoo can be used daily, but you should use it at least twice per week or more frequently, according to your doctor or dermatologist’s advice.

T Gel vs T Sal: Differences

Here’s a summary of the main differences between T/Gel and T/Sal to help you choose between them:

Active Ingredients 

T/Gel shampoo features coal tar extract as the main active ingredient, which will deep cleanse your scalp to stop the source of your scalp problems. 

The main active ingredient in Neutrogena T/Sal shampoo is salicylic acid, which is more effective at breaking down a hard buildup of dead skin cells and sebum on your scalp.  

Appearance and Fragrance

T/Gel shampoo is a dark brown color and has a powerful scent of tar. You may prefer to use a highly-scented conditioner after this shampoo to mask the scent.

T/Sal shampoo is clear in color and has a light antiseptic scent that smells quite medicinal. 

T Gel vs T Sal: Customer Reviews

Customer reviews can be a great way to see how effective a product is. Both T/Gel and T/Sal have many online reviews, so let’s examine how their Amazon ratings compare.

Over 10,000 bottles of Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo Original Formula were sold in the month before this post was written. At the time of writing, it has an average score of 4.6 stars off nearly 9000 ratings, with 76% giving it a perfect 5-star rating and only 3% awarding a 1-star rating.

Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo scores similarly, with 77% 5-star and 4% 1-star ratings. However, this product sold around 800 bottles in the previous month and only has about 900 ratings in total.

So, both products appear very effective and popular with their users, but T/Gel may be better known than T/Sal. 

T Gel vs T Sal Shampoo: Which To Use?

Now that you have all the details about these two medicated shampoos, you might be wondering which one to pick. 

T Gel is probably used by more people than T/Sal, but that doesn’t mean it’s more effective. Each shampoo has different benefits and will suit different needs.

If you have more severe scalp conditions, like excessive flaking or buildup on your scalp, the salicylic acid in T/Sal medicated shampoo will be more effective.

But T/Gel would be a good choice if you have less severe scalp conditions that don’t cause much buildup, like mild psoriasis, dandruff symptoms, or an itchy scalp. The coal tar extract it contains will help relieve flaking and scalp itching, but it could take a few weeks to take full effect. 

I personally use the T Gel shampoo to control my dandruff and itchy scalp. It works well even though I don’t like the smell. I alternate it with my clarifying shampoo and regular shampoos.

Ultimately, your decision may be a matter of personal preference. If you’re struggling to decide, you could try using one brand for a while and switch to the other if you don’t see good results.

Whichever shampoo you try first, you should give it a few weeks to work. 

FAQs

If you need more information about choosing between Neutrogena T/Gel and T/Sal, here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions:

Can You Use Neutrogena T/Gel or T/Sal Every Day?

Neutrogena T/Gel and T/Sal are both gentle enough for everyday use. 

Can I Use T/Gel and T/Sal Together?

T/Sal and T/Gel are both very potent shampoos that can occasionally cause scalp irritation and side effects. Combining the two shampoos may increase the risk of side effects like intense itching or breathing difficulties.

If you want to use T/Gel and T/Sal together, you should consult your doctor or dermatologist first. They may advise using both shampoos if your scalp is severely affected and will be able to tell you how to proceed safely.

Does T/Gel or T/Sal Damage Color-Treated Hair?

Neither of these products is marked as color-safe. T/Gel contains coal tar extract, which can discolor blonde hair or hair that has been color-treated. However, this effect is usually temporary. 

T/Sal contains Salicylic acid, an ingredient that could alter or fade your hair color. 

How Frequently Should I Use T/Gel or T/Sal Shampoos, and for How Long?

T/Gel and T/Sal shampoos should be used at least two times a week or as your doctor directs you. You may need to use the shampoo for several weeks and should see an improvement during this time. 

TSal vs TGel: Which One Should You Pick?

This guide has explained the difference between Neutrogena T/Sal and Neutrogena T/Gel, and hopefully has made choosing the right shampoo for your scalp condition easier. 

Your decision will partly come down to personal choice. However, generally speaking, T/Gel is more effective at treating mild scalp conditions, while T/Sal is better suited to more severe crusting and scalp conditions.

Side effects from using T/Gel or T/Sal are rare, but carrying out a patch test before using a therapeutic shampoo for the first time is recommended.

If you experience any side effects or find that your symptoms are worsening, you should stop using the shampoo and seek medical advice right away.

T/Gel and T/Sal are both high-quality, effective treatments for skin conditions. So, whichever you choose, there is a good chance that you’ll see a significant improvement in your symptoms.

The post TGel vs TSal: Choosing the Right Scalp Solution for Relief appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

Hair loss has many causes, from chemotherapy treatment and stress to sudden weight loss and vitamin deficiency. Women may also experience postpartum hair loss after the birth of a baby or experience hair loss during perimenopause and after menopause.

But it can be possible to regrow hair, especially if you start hair growth treatments quickly. Nutrafol and Viviscal are two popular hair growth supplements containing essential vitamins and other nutrients that support good hair health. Both have excellent results in treating thinning or slow-growing hair. 

If you’re considering a hair growth supplement but aren’t sure which one is best for you, this comparison of Nutrafol vs Viviscal will help you choose.

Disclaimer

This guide is a summary of information from trustworthy sources. However, we are not doctors and cannot provide medical advice. We recommend consulting a healthcare professional before taking any supplements. 

Viviscal vs Nutrafol: Which Is Better for Hair Growth?

Nutrafol and Viviscal are excellent hair growth supplements that have been thoroughly tested and clinically proven to support hair growth. Whichever hair growth supplement you choose, you should see thicker hair after 3-6 months of regular use. But which is the right supplement for you?

Nutrafol has a more diverse list of ingredients, which means it can take a broader approach to the causes of thinning hair. It’s also the best choice if you want an all-natural supplement. However, it is more expensive than Viviscal, and you have to take more tablets each day.

Viviscal is cheaper than Nutrafol, and you only need to take two pills per day. However, it does contain some artificial additives and doesn’t help with the hormonal imbalances that can lead to hair shedding. 

That’s just a quick summary of the differences between these two hair growth supplements, so now, let’s look at Nutrafol vs Viviscal in more detail. 

Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements for Women	Nutrafol Women's Balance Hair Growth Supplements (Ages 45+)
4.3	4.3
$76.01 ($0.42 / Count)	$88.00 ($0.73 / Count)
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Pros: More affordable Smaller dose, bottle lasts longer Clinically proven to support hair growth and fullness	Pros: Large nutrient profile Unique formulations for men and women of different age ranges Clinical research supports each ingredients' effectiveness in growing hair 100% natural ingredients with transparency in sourcing
Cons: Can cause nausea Takes 3-6 months to work Contains biotin which can cause acne and gastrointestinal discomfort Fewer nutrients in formulation No zinc Once you stop taking it, your hair will return the condition it was in before	Cons: More expensive Daily dosage is 4 pills High amount of biotin Cannot be used while pregnant or on blood thinners Takes 3-6 months to work Once you stop taking it, your hair will return the condition it was in before

Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements for Women

4.3

$76.01 ($0.42 / Count)

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Pros:

• More affordable
• Smaller dose, bottle lasts longer
• Clinically proven to support hair growth and fullness

Cons:

• Can cause nausea
• Takes 3-6 months to work
• Contains biotin which can cause acne and gastrointestinal discomfort
• Fewer nutrients in formulation
• No zinc
• Once you stop taking it, your hair will return the condition it was in before

Nutrafol Women's Balance Hair Growth Supplements (Ages 45+)

4.3

$88.00 ($0.73 / Count)

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Pros:

• Large nutrient profile
• Unique formulations for men and women of different age ranges
• Clinical research supports each ingredients' effectiveness in growing hair
• 100% natural ingredients with transparency in sourcing

Cons:

• More expensive
• Daily dosage is 4 pills
• High amount of biotin
• Cannot be used while pregnant or on blood thinners
• Takes 3-6 months to work
• Once you stop taking it, your hair will return the condition it was in before

12/17/2023 09:11 am GMT

What Is Viviscal?

Viviscal is a leading brand of hair growth supplements for men and women formulated using vitamins, minerals, and Viviscal’s exclusive AminoMar® complex. Viviscal hair supplements are designed to reduce hair thinning, nourish each hair follicle, and extend the growth phase of the hair cycle. 

The Viviscal product range includes:

• Viviscal: For women experiencing hair thinning, slow hair growth, or hair damage.
• Viviscal Man: For men experiencing thinning or slow growth of hair
• Viviscal Professional: A higher dosage supplement for men and women experiencing thinning hair or slow hair growth. 

Viviscal also produces topical hair growth products, including a shampoo, conditioner, scrub, and hair serum for promoting hair growth. These are 100% drug-free and made with natural ingredients. 

How Does Viviscal Help Hair Growth?

Viviscal focuses on nourishing hair follicles, supporting scalp health, and creating an optimal environment for hair growth. 

The vitamins and minerals in the Viviscal range of hair supplements provide a steady supply of nutrients for healthy hair. 

Viviscal Ingredients

Although not 100% natural, each Viviscal hair growth pill contains mostly natural ingredients that reduce hair thinning, promote existing hair growth, and boost the volume of your hair. The key ingredients include:

AminoMar® complex: A unique formulation exclusive to Viviscal, containing a blend of fatty acids and marine collagen proteins from shark cartilage and oyster extract powder. This has been clinically proven to boost hair volume and support healthy hair growth.

Horsetail extract: Stabilizes the levels of calcium and magnesium in the body, which balances hormones. It also improves hair elasticity and reduces scalp inflammation.

Niacin (Vitamin B3): This vitamin supports blood circulation, which helps deliver more nutrients to your hair follicles, stimulating hair growth and improving hair’s fullness. 

Biotin (Vitamin B7): Increases keratin production, which boosts your hair’s shine and volume and supports hair growth. 

Vitamin C: This vitamin has anti inflammatory properties that support a healthy scalp, strengthens hair and enhances shine. It also makes it easier for your body to absorb iron.

Iron: Boosts red blood cells and blood flow to the scalp, which nourishes hair follicles and boosts hair growth. It also helps reverse hair shedding in people with iron deficiency anemia.

Viviscal Man also contains zinc to strengthen hair follicles, increase hair growth, and reduce shedding. 

Benefits of Viviscal

The cost of Viviscal is much cheaper than Nutrafol, and you can receive discounts on bulk purchases. Subscribers also receive free gifts and naturopathic consultations.

You take fewer tablets each day compared to Nutrafol, so the bottle will last longer. 

The product range includes several hair products, including shampoos, scalp scrubs, and serums. 

The AminoMar® blend of marine collagen and nutrients is exclusive to Viviscal. It has been clinically proven to support hair growth and fullness. 

There have been many clinical studies that have proven the effectiveness of Viviscal. It has been shown to reduce shedding and increase hair thickness within 3-6 months of regular use.

The few side effects reported are mostly nausea due to the fishy smell and taste of the supplement.

Disadvantages of Viviscal

This hair growth supplement contains some artificial additives, so it isn’t suitable if you want a 100% natural supplement.

Viviscal contains biotin, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, bloating and cramping. Taking the supplement with food is the best way to reduce these unwanted side effects of Viviscal.

Viviscal doesn’t contain as wide a range of nutrients compared to Nutrafol. 

Although the men’s formula contains zinc, this vital mineral is missing from the women’s supplement. Zinc has been proven effective against hair thinning in women, so this omission is surprising.

It can take several months before you see the results. The manufacturer recommends using Viviscal for at least three months and, ideally, for six months to see the best results. If you stop taking Viviscal, the condition of your hair will return to how it was before you started taking the supplement. 

What Is Nutrafol?

Nutrafol is a range of drug-free hair supplements designed to target several causes of hair loss. 

One of Nutrafol’s significant advantages is its personalized approach to hair growth treatment. The online Hair Wellness Quiz helps you identify the causes of your thinning hair and recommends the appropriate hair supplement to suit your needs. 

The Nutrafol product range includes:

• Nutrafol Men: Suitable for men aged 18+ who are experiencing thinning hair
• Nutrafol Women: Targets the root causes of hair loss in women aged 18-44, such as stress, lifestyle, and nutrition
• Nutrafol Women’s Vegan: A version of Nutrafol Women that’s suitable for vegan diets
• Nutrafol Women’s Balance: Designed for women aged 45+ who are experiencing perimenopausal or postmenopausal hair loss
• Nutrafol Postpartum: Designed to target postpartum hair loss

You can use Nutrafol’s targeted boosters to increase hair growth further, and they also offer their subscribers access to free hair mineral analysis. This helps you learn how your overall health is impacting your tresses. 

How Does Nutrafol Help Hair Growth?

The Nutrafol range of hair growth supplements contains ingredients specifically chosen to help prolong the hair’s anagen phase (growth phase). They also delay the telogen phase, when the strand stops growing, thins, and hair naturally falls out.

Nutrafol also helps reduce oxidative stress and balances the body’s levels of hormones to give improved hair growth.

In addition, Nutrafol hair supplements contain key ingredients that will hydrate your existing hair and encourage sebum production to grow healthy hair. 

Nutrafol Ingredients

Nutrafol contains a rich blend of 100% natural ingredients clinically proven or shown to support healthy hair growth and reduce shedding. Vitally, it also contains specific nutrients that make it easier for your body to absorb these vitamins and minerals more efficiently. 

Some of Nutrafol’s key vitamins, minerals and clinically tested plant extracts include:

Ashwagandha: Also known as Indian ginseng, this medicinal herb balances cortisol levels, which can help with hair thinning.

Saw Palmetto: This anti-inflammatory is a clinically proven natural DHT blocker that can help with various types of hair loss, including female or male pattern hair loss and telogen effluvium. 

Resveratrol: Reduces oxidative stress and stimulates your hair to shift from the telogen or resting phase into the anagen or growth phase of the cycle.

Marine Collagen: Provides the hair protein keratin essential for good overall hair health. 

Curcumin: Another anti-inflammatory that can boost metabolic function, support the immune system, and improve hair growth. 

Kelp: This seaweed is packed with hair-nourishing vitamins and minerals including vitamin E, zinc, and iodine.

Horsetail Extract: This can improve your scalp’s blood circulation and contains silicon to enhance the strength and quality of your hair strands. 

Hyaluronic acid: This ingredient will moisturize your dry, itchy scalp and lock hydration into your strands to fight frizz.

Vitamin A: Supports sebum production for a healthy, moisturized scalp and hydrated strands. 

Vitamin C: This antioxidant vitamin supports hair and scalp health and enhances your hair’s shine.

Zinc: Strengthens hair follicles to prevent hair loss and can also increase hair thickness. 

Vitamin D: Supports hair follicles to stimulate hair growth.

Biotin: Boosts keratin production to improve hair growth and give your strands added shine and volume.

The Nutrafol Women’s Balance formula also contains Maca root, which supports hormone regulation during perimenopause and post-menopause.

Benefits of Nutrafol

Nutrafol has a broader nutrient profile than Viviscal. It contains many of the same ingredients as Viviscal, plus others that will help improve hair health. The Nutrafol website also features details of clinical research showing how each ingredient supports healthy hair.

Nutrafol contains 100% natural ingredients, and the company is transparent about where they source their ingredients. 

The Nutrafol range includes specific product formulations for men and women and booster supplements that target specific causes of thinning hair. 

Taking out a Nutrafol subscription will give you access to a targeted strategy to treat the root causes of thinning hair. You will receive ongoing support and personalized naturopathic recommendations. 

Discounts are available on bulk purchases, and you can sign up for auto-delivery, saving you money and ensuring you never run out of supplements. They also offer free shipping within the United States. 

Disadvantages of Nutrafol

Nutrafol is more expensive than Viviscal, and because you take four pills daily, you’ll go through a bottle quickly. However, discounts are available for larger purchases.

Nutrafol contains more biotin than Viviscal, so you may experience side effects like nausea and stomach cramps. Taking the supplement with food can help reduce these side effects.

The booster supplements can only be purchased in bundles with the Women, Women’s Balance, or Men supplements, which will increase your overall cost.

Nutrafol hair supplement is not suitable for use during pregnancy or if you are on blood thinners. It contains marine proteins, so it will not be suitable if you are allergic to shellfish or other marine proteins.

It can take a long time to see any effects from taking Nutrafol. The manufacturer recommends taking it for three to six months before deciding if it doesn’t suit your needs.

If you stop taking Nutrafol, your locks will gradually return to the condition they were in before you started taking the supplement.

Nutrafol vs Viviscal: A comparison

Here’s a summary of the main differences between Nutrafol and Viviscal to help you choose the right supplement for your needs.

Side Effects

Both Nutrafol and Viviscal are dietary supplements and don’t have many side effects. You may find that the biotin in them can make your stomach gassy or crampy, and because you take more Nutrafol tablets, this side effect can be stronger.

As with any supplement, if you experience any allergic reaction, such as itching or swelling, you should stop taking the supplement and seek emergency medical attention.

Effectiveness

Viviscal and Nutrafol have both undergone clinical testing, proving their effectiveness in improving hair growth and reducing hair shedding. 

Whichever brand you choose, you will need to take the supplement for 3-6 months to see optimal results. Nutrafol recommends taking their supplements for at least six months.

Ingredients and Formulation

Viviscal and Nutrafol are both high-quality supplements containing naturally sourced ingredients from reliable sources. If natural ingredients are a priority for you, you may prefer Nutrafol as it has 100% natural ingredients. Viviscal does contain some artificial fillers and additives.

Nutrafol is only available in pill form, while the Viviscal range also includes shampoos, conditioners, and an elixir. 

Cost and Affordability

If budget is an important factor in your decision, Viviscal is a clear winner. It costs $40 for a single purchase compared to $88 for a single purchase of Nutrafol. 

Both products offer monthly delivery options that save you money on regular purchases. 

User Feedback and Reviews

At the time of writing, Viviscal and Nutrafol both have a 4.3-star average rating on Amazon. However, Viviscal for Women has over 17,000 ratings, while Nutrafol Women has around 15,000 ratings. 

Both products have a similar proportion of 1-star ratings (7% for Viviscal, 8% for Nutrafol). So, they are very evenly matched regarding user feedback, but Viviscal has slightly more ratings. 

Viviscal vs Nutrafol: FAQs

If you’re still confused about which supplement to choose, these frequently asked questions may help:

Are Viviscal and Nutrafol Available Without a Prescription?

Both of these supplements can be bought online or from local retailers without a prescription. 

Can You Take Viviscal and Nutrafol Together for Better Results?

Viviscal and Nutrafol do not interact with each other, so you could take both supplements together. However, this would be expensive and could overload your body with nutrients, so it’s better to choose one supplement and stick with it for at least 3-6 months.

Is It Necessary To Continue Using Viviscal or Nutrafol Once I Achieve My Desired Hair Growth?

If you stop taking Nutrafol or Viviscal, your tresses will likely return to how they were before you began treatment. The stimulation from the ingredients will slow down, and you’re likely to experience a shedding phase around 1-5 months later.

Is Viviscal or Nutrafol FDA Approved?

Viviscal and Nutrafol aren’t eligible for FDA approval because they are classed as dietary supplements rather than medications. 

Does Nutrafol Affect Eyelashes?

Yes, Nutrafol can help with eyelash growth as well as improving scalp coverage.

Do Nutrafol or Viviscal Cause Weight Gain?

Although there are some anecdotal stories about people gaining or losing weight while taking Nutrafol or Viviscal, there’s no clinical evidence that either supplement causes weight gain.

Is Nutrafol or Viviscal Vegan?

Viviscal is not vegan as it includes shellfish extract. The standard Nutrafol products are not vegan, but they have a Nutrafol Vegan supplement suitable for vegan diets.

Viviscal vs Nutrafol: The Bottom Line

Viviscal and Nutrifol are two highly effective supplements that can help boost the health of your hair. They have both been clinically tested, contain natural ingredients, and have minimal side effects. 

There are several factors to consider when comparing Nutrafol vs Viviscal, including the price, ingredients, and dosage. This guide has given you all the details you’ll need to make an informed choice between them. 

While there isn’t a miracle cure for hair loss, supporting your body with good nutrition is an important step towards treating it. And with three to six months of regular use, both of these supplements can give you healthier, fuller, thicker hair with more scalp coverage.

The post Viviscal vs Nutrafol: Which Should You Use For Hair Growth appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

And after that, I listed over 30 other curly and wavy updo video tutorials and inspiration photos! I also linked a Pinterest board with even more inspo. Check out the table of contents below to jump to the section you want to see.

Ready to transform your frizz into defined, bouncy curls and waves? Join my free Quick Start Guide To Mastering Your Curls email course below and be on your way to fabulous curls in just a few steps!

All these hairstyles only require bobby pins and hair ties. These are what hold up my hair best without causing any headaches or gradual loosening of the style. Be sure to use the bobby pins with the wavy side down against your scalp!

Curly Hairstyles 1 – 5

You can find the video tutorial for hairstyles 1-4 here.

One side pinned back

This one is super simple and my favorite for when my curls look good so I don’t necessarily want to ruin them by putting them up. You could add a nice pin or clip to dress it up instead of just using simple bobby pins. Video tutorial here.

Half up bun

This is a nice one if my hair is slightly flat, especially if I add some dry shampoo to the roots. That helps give it some grit and volume. The bun dresses it up from the regular half up half down hairstyle. Video tutorial here.

Twisted side ponytail

A side ponytail is one of my top hairstyles for bad hair days but this twisted one is much nicer. I think the piece left out in the front and the twisting of the ponytail glams this up a bit. Video tutorial here.

Low loose bun 2 ways

Buns are such a classic updo and so easy for those of us with wavy and curly hair. This updo is a simple loose low bun with the 2 front pieces pulled out. This one is great for when my curls look bad or if I know I will be hot and don’t want my hair down. It’s very similar to my low side bun, another favorite! Video tutorial here.

This is the side bun that I do all the time because it’s so easy! You can find the tutorial in this video.

Low messy bun

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A post shared by Delilah 🇨🇺 (@holisticenchilada) on Dec 6, 2019 at 3:43pm PST

Check out a few other curly hairstyles here. I also created a Pinterest board with updos for naturally curly hair which you can see here.

Curly/Wavy Hairstyles For Short Hair

Now I obviously don’t have short hair but at the request of a reader I went ahead and found some Instagram posts and YouTube videos with shorter styles. There aren’t many creators out there with short curly hair so it was hard to find some good ones.

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A post shared by MaryAnn’s Wavy Story (@goodgravyitswavy) on Jul 18, 2019 at 5:35am PDT

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A post shared by MaryAnn’s Wavy Story (@goodgravyitswavy) on Apr 10, 2019 at 5:51am PDT

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A post shared by MaryAnn’s Wavy Story (@goodgravyitswavy) on Apr 5, 2019 at 6:45am PDT

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A post shared by Marisa (@marisascurls) on Sep 18, 2019 at 8:49am PDT

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A post shared by Marisa (@marisascurls) on Mar 5, 2019 at 12:59pm PST

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A post shared by KellGrace (@kellgrace)

Video Tutorials for Wavy & Curly Updos

I browsed YouTube and IG for even more curly updo tutorials and listed all the good ones I found here.

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A post shared by All Things Hair (@allthingshairmex)

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A post shared by Candace (@curly_candace)

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A post shared by Candace (@curly_candace)

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A post shared by All Things Hair (@allthingshairmex)

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A post shared by Laulanne Cecilia (@cecilialaulanne)

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A post shared by KellGrace (@kellgrace)

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A post shared by Candace (@curly_candace)

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A post shared by Candace (@curly_candace)

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A post shared by Manes by Mell (@manesbymell)

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A post shared by Manes by Mell (@manesbymell)

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A post shared by Manes by Mell (@manesbymell)

Inspiration Photos for Curly & Wavy Updos

And here are just a few more inspiration photos, no tutorials. These are to give you some more ideas.

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A post shared by Lexi Stephens (@alexislynnstyle)

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A post shared by Wavy hair girl (@wavehairlife)

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A post shared by Delray Beach Balayage (@blowoutsbyabbeandmore)

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A post shared by Miss Brit Watkins (@bwatuwant)

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A post shared by Amanda Morris Hunt. Artist (@nalasoul)

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A post shared by Franklin TN Braids And Updos (@alex_haircraft)

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A post shared by NATURAL HAIR SALON (@keepitkinkysalon)

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A post shared by Danielle Doan• curls & health (@curlyfitmom)

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A post shared by MÖTHA ESSENTIALS (@mothaessentials)

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A post shared by Irinel de León | Hairstylist (@hairinel)

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A post shared by The Updo Collective (@theupdocollective)

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A post shared by Hairstyles 101 (@___hairstyles_101)

Check out my Pinterest board with updos for naturally curly hair of all lengths!

If you want help with embracing your naturally wavy or curly hair, you can join my FREE email course and download my FREE pdf guide, THE QUICK START GUIDE TO MASTERING YOUR CURLS, full of everything you need to know to get started and bring out your beautiful waves and curls.

Want to remember this? Save Easy Updos & Hairstyles For Naturally Curly Hair to your favorite Pinterest board.

The post Easy Updos & Hairstyles For Naturally Curly Hair appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

Gray hair is known to be more prone to dryness, which makes proper moisturization vital. Luckily, you can keep your curls looking their best by using nourishing hair care products that cater specifically to curly hair. With the right products and styling techniques, your gray curls will maintain their bounce, shine, and overall health.

🤗 Thanks to Lisa Fennessy of The New Knew and Joli Campbell of QuickSilverHair for contributing to this post. These women both rock their gorgeous gray hair and help others do the same.

Understanding Gray and Curly Hair

Melanin and Aging Process

As you age, your hair gradually loses its pigment called melanin, resulting in gray or white hair. The process is natural and occurs due to a decrease in melanin production within the hair follicles. Embracing this change can be a beautiful journey, as gray curly hair can make a unique and stylish statement.

Premature Graying

While graying is often associated with aging, sometimes it can happen prematurely. This could be due to genetics, lifestyle factors like stress and diet, or even certain medical conditions. Understanding the cause of premature graying can help you better care for your hair and manage its texture.

Texture of Curly Hair

Gray hair might appear curlier than your younger hair, as the absence of melanin can affect its structure. This change in texture can be embraced by learning how to care for your gray curly hair. Remember to:

• Use moisturizing products to combat dryness
• Regularly trim your hair to get rid of split ends
• Experiment with different styles to find the perfect look for you

When you look after your gray curly hair, it will reward you with a beautiful and unique appearance.

Caring for Gray Curly Hair

Hydration and Moisturizing

Proper hydration and moisturizing are essential for maintaining the health and appearance of your gray curly hair. Gray hair can be dry and delicate, so keeping it moisturized is crucial. Make sure to use nourishing shampoos and conditioners designed for curly hair. Opt for sulfate-free products, as they are less harsh on your hair. Additionally, consider incorporating a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to lock in moisture and add extra shine.

Lisa Fennessy, CEO & founder of The New Knew, recommends shampooing less often, regularly deep conditioning, and using a heat protectant.

Shampooing daily cleanses off the protective layer of sebum that covers the hair, causing the shaft to dry out. Try shampooing your hair less and use a moisturizing shampoo that will clean hair but won’t strip it. I like doubling down and using a moisturizing purple shampoo which also helps cancel out any brassiness at the same time.

Use a hair mask weekly to deep condition hair. Choosing a protein-based treatment (soy, rice, quinoa, or other plant-derived proteins) can help improve strength, shape, volume, color, smoothness, gloss, and moisture. 

Use a hair protectant after every wash. Hair exposed to sunlight is more brittle, stiffer and drier and has a reduced water-absorption capacity. And light colored hair (including gray hair) is more susceptible to this.

Lisa Fennessy – The New Knew

Styling Gray Curly Hair

I polled my readers in 2022 about their grey curly hair and 62% said they have some trouble with styling their grays.

When it comes to styling your gray curly hair, it’s essential to work with the changes in texture that can accompany gray hair. Use products like curl-defining creams, gels, or mousses specifically designed for curly hair to enhance your natural curls and maintain the desired style. Don’t forget to be gentle when detangling – use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to avoid causing breakage or damage.

To protect your hair from heat damage, always use a heat protectant spray before applying heat styling tools, such as curling irons or flat irons. Additionally, try to limit the use of heat tools and embrace your natural texture as much as possible.

Maintaining the Natural Color

If you’re embracing your natural gray color, it’s crucial to maintain its vibrancy and prevent yellowing. To keep your gray hair looking its best, use a purple shampoo once or twice a week. This will help neutralize any yellow or brassy tones that may develop over time.

Additionally, consider protecting your hair from environmental factors that can contribute to discoloration, like pollution and sunlight. Wear a hat when spending extended periods outdoors, and try using hair products that contain UV filters to minimize sun damage.

Joli Campbell of QuickSilverHair adds:

The best simple advice I can give for silver hair: always use products that are clear, white, or slightly off-white, and steer clear of products with most any other color to them; this includes green tints from olive oil or avocado oil, which are now in abundance in the curly world. 

I always say use heat and UV protection, and use your heat tools on the lowest possible setting. Try to avoid issues before they start because once your hair starts yellowing it can be very difficult to stop it and reverse it.

Joli Campbell – QuickSilverHair

Best Products for Gray Curly Hair

Shampoos and Conditioners

Gray curly hair requires special attention and care, with its unique structure and potential dryness. It is important to use shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for gray and curly hair. Look for products that are sulfate-free and deeply moisturizing.

Joli’s go-to products include the SEEN fragrance free shampoo, SEEN fragrance free deeper conditioner, and By The Way Fragrance Free Purple Conditioner.

Here are Lisa’s top product recommendations, which you’ll love if you’re looking for organic products:

👉My top purple shampoo pick for this is BRUNS N°24 SILVERSCHAMPO. This is a very gentle shampoo that is a good fit for gray hair that is on the dryer side and needs more moisture. 

👉If you have thicker or more oily gray hair, OWAY Silver Steel Hair Bath will be a better fit for you. 

P.S. I’ve tried pretty much every natural purple shampoo on the market. Come see my before and after pics here. 

👉I love OM’s Coconut + Pracaxi Deep Conditioning Hair Mask which will have you at hello with it’s coconutty-dreams-really-do-come-true scent. But it’s also a beast at moisturizing and leaving hair feeling super soft and conditioned without feeling weighed down.

👉For a purple hair mask I like the OWAY HMELT MASK in Mysterious Purple which is specifically designed to nourish, strengthen and protect gray hair. Leave this one on a little longer to drive pigment. 

Lisa Fennessy – The New Knew

Other products I recommend for gray curly hair include:

Kerotin Purple Shampoo and Conditioner Set

$51.00 ($3.19 / Ounce)

Use code HE15 to save at kerotin.com

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12/17/2023 02:21 am GMT

Kerotin Purple Hair Mask

$21.00 ($5.25 / Ounce)

Use code HE15 to save at kerotin.com

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12/17/2023 02:36 am GMT

Styling Products

To keep your gray curls looking fresh and defined, it’s essential to choose the right styling products. Avoid products with harsh chemicals or alcohol, which can cause your curls to lose their shape and become frizzy. Instead, opt for curl-enhancing creams, gels, or mousses that contain nourishing ingredients.

I like to keep it simple. My waves get very easily weighed down and my style only lasts a day. I only wash every other day or sometimes I can stretch it one more day depending on what I started with.

I typically only use shampoo, conditioner, a leave-in of some sort, and gel. If I need it I will seal my dry hair with an oil. So most days I only use 3-4 products.

By The Way Life Changing Leave-in, is a great leave-in for straight to curly silvers, really helps fight frizz. Bounce Curl Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner with UV and heat protection is another good option.

Loma Firm Hold Gel is the ONLY gel that I have ever found to do the job on my finicky silver waves.

I diffuse with the Laifen Swift Hair Dryer. I love the oscillating temperature setting that autocycles through cool, medium, and hot, that way my hair never gets too hot.

I seal my hair once it is 100% dry with Loma Nourishing Oil. I don’t do this every washday but it really helps with shine and holding the style just a wee bit longer.

Joli Campbell – QuickSilverHair

Top Pick

EVOLVh WonderBalm Magic For Curls

$59.00 ($17.35 / Fl Oz)

This is the best serum for smoothing, controlling frizz, and adding shine and definition. It makes a great finishing product for all hair types but helps with humid and dry conditions, and has heat protection. It's pricey but there really is nothing else like this.

Use code HE to save on your first order with EVOLVh.

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12/17/2023 02:51 am GMT

Top Pick

TWIST Curl Goals Moisture-locking Leave-in Conditioner

$5.93 ($0.56 / Fl Oz)

Lock in moisture and softness with this lightweight leave-in.

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12/17/2023 10:31 am GMT

TWIST Boss Bounce Light as Air Buildable Styling Cream

$15.69 ($1.85 / Ounce)

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12/18/2023 03:21 am GMT

TreLuxe Curl Defining Mousse

$23.00

I love this ligthweight mousse for defintion, volume, and hold.

Use code holisticenchilada15 to save from TreLuxe's website.

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LUS Brands Irish Sea Moss Gel

$24.00 ($3.00 / Ounce)

Use code HOLISTICENCHILADA10 to save at LUSbrands.com

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12/17/2023 04:21 am GMT

Heat Protectants

Gray hair is often more susceptible to damage from heat styling tools, so it’s crucial to protect it from potential harm. Whenever you use a hairdryer, flat iron, or curling wand, be sure to apply a heat protectant beforehand. These products usually come in a spray or serum form that can be easily applied to your hair before styling. Using a heat protectant will not only shield your gray curls from high temperatures but also help prevent breakage and frizz.

👉I adore EVOLVh’s SuperFinish Polishing Balm which defrizzes, adds moisture, softness, shine, strength, prevents breakage, splitting AND provides UV and heat protection.

Lisa Fennessy – The New Knew

Other options include:

CURLSMITH Miracle Shield, Protein-Rich Hair Protection Spray for All Curl and Hair Types

$25.99 ($3.25 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 07:31 pm GMT

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Primer Heat & UV Protection

$27.50 ($3.24 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 04:01 pm GMT

Hairstyles for Gray Curly Hair

Embracing your gray curly hair can be both stylish and liberating. There are plenty of options for you to choose from, whether you prefer short, long, or medium-length hairstyles.

Short Grey Curly Hairstyles

The Pixie Cut: If you’re ready for a bold change, consider a pixie cut for your gray curly hair. This style is perfect for a low-maintenance, yet chic look. It’s also a versatile option, as you can play around with different lengths and textures.

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A post shared by Mrs. Dejuan Smith (@mrs.dejuansmith)

The Short Bob: A short bob is a fantastic option for showcasing your gray curls. This timeless style frames your face and gives your hair more volume. Plus, it’s easy to maintain and works well with various face shapes.

• Layered Swing Bob: For those wanting a more dynamic, edgy look, try a layered swing bob. This style adds depth and movement to your curls, making them stand out even more.

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A post shared by Ericka Albert (@whollyfitgirl)

Long Grey Curly Hairstyles

Grey Balayage: If you have long curly hair and want to add a touch of elegance, go for a grey balayage. This coloring technique creates a stunning effect by blending your natural gray color with varying shades of grey, resulting in a fairytale-like appearance.

Long Layered Shag: A long layered shag is perfect if you want to keep the length of your hair but still achieve a more structured shape. This style provides volume and dimension to your gray curls while maintaining a free-flowing look.

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A post shared by Ester 🦋 Canas y Rizos (@silvercurly.es)

Hairstyles for Curly Grey Hair Over 50

For women over 60, embracing your naturally gray hair doesn’t have to look outdated. Here are a couple of stylish options:

• The Short Lob: The short lob is a modern take on the traditional bob, combining elegance with a sleek, edgy feel. By keeping the hair slightly longer in the front, the short lob adds face-framing, cascading layers which enhance your gray curls.
• Layered Shag: A layered shag is an excellent option for curly gray-haired women looking for a more youthful and playful style. The layers add definition while giving your curls a flattering shape. To complete this look, consider adding bangs or a curtain fringe for added depth and texture.

Regardless of your hair length or age, there’s a stylish hairstyle just waiting for you to try. So go ahead, show off your gray curls with confidence and make a bold statement!

Common Challenges and Solutions

Gray curly hair has its own unique set of challenges, but don’t worry. There are solutions to help you maintain the health, strength, and shine of your beautiful silver locks.

First, you might find that your gray curls are prone to dryness. As curly hair is naturally drier than other hair types, graying hair can become even more parched, leading to frizz, breakage, and dullness. To combat this, ensure you’re deeply moisturizing with hydrating conditioners and sealing your hair with nourishing oils. This will help keep your gray curls soft, smooth, and manageable.

Brassy tones can be another issue for gray hair. Sometimes gray strands can take on a yellow or brassy hue, which is not always desirable. Regular use of heat protectant and purple shampoo can help counteract this brassiness and restore your hair to a cool, silvery shade. Just be sure not to overdo it, as overusing purple shampoo can cause your hair to become too cool-toned.

When it comes to gray strands, you might find that they have a stubborn mind of their own. Gray hairs tend to be thicker and coarser than pigmented hairs, making them harder to style and manage. Using a gentle heat styling tool can help you create uniform, healthy curls, while a quality hair mask can restore shine and smoothness to your gray curls. Remember to always use a heat protectant when using heat styling tools to prevent damage.

Finally, as you age, your hair might experience some changes that make it harder to look after. With age, your scalp may produce less oil, leading to increased dryness. Additionally, the texture of your hair might change, becoming more fragile and susceptible to breakage. It’s important to tailor your hair care routine to meet your changing needs. You might want to switch to gentler shampoos, use more nourishing conditioning treatments, and avoid harsh styling products or techniques that can damage your curls.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How to style short curly gray hair?

Short curly gray hair can be styled in various ways to enhance your natural curls and bring out the beauty of your gray color. One option is a simple gray curly hair with bangs. You can also try a pixie cut or a short bob to enhance your curls and keep maintenance minimal.

What are some trendy gray curly haircuts?

Trendy gray curly haircuts include the gray balayage for a fairytale-like look, a layered bob for extra volume, or even a long and wavy style if you prefer more length. The key is to find a cut that complements your face shape and works with your curl pattern.

How to maintain and care for gray curly hair?

To keep your gray curly hair looking its best, it’s essential to have a nourishing hair-care routine. Limit heat exposure, focus on moisturizing products, and avoid those that can coat the hair (like silicones or mineral oil). Additionally, regular trims can help prevent split ends and maintain the overall health of your curls.

What are the best products for gray and curly hair?

It’s crucial to invest in high-quality hair products to keep your gray curls looking vibrant and healthy. Look for sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners, as they are less harsh on your hair. Regularly use a heat protectant if you heat tyle your hair. Additionally, consider using a purple shampoo to neutralize brassiness and maintain your gray color. Leave-in treatments and deep conditioning masques can also provide extra hydration to keep your curls looking their best.

How to keep gray curly hair looking vibrant?

Keeping gray curly hair looking vibrant involves maintaining a proper hair-care routine, and using the right products. As mentioned earlier, a purple shampoo is an excellent option to neutralize brassiness. Deep conditioning treatments and moisturizing styling products can also help maintain the vibrancy of your curls. Ensuring that your hair remains well-hydrated and protected from heat and other environmental factors also contributes to a more vibrant appearance.

Can gray curly hair be highlighted?

Yes, gray curly hair can be highlighted! Highlights can add dimension and depth to your gray, making it look even more stunning. A skilled colorist can help you choose the right shades to complement your natural gray color. However, be cautious of over-processing your hair, as this can damage both your curls and the overall health of your hair.

Conclusion

As you embrace your gray curly hair, it’s important to remember that healthy hair begins with proper care and maintenance.

Gray hair is a natural part of the aging process and can be a stunning style statement when embraced with the right attitude and care regimen. So go ahead, celebrate your gray curly hair and rock your unique look with confidence!

The post Gray Curly Hair: The Ultimate Care Guide appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

But whether you use a blow dryer to straighten hair, a curling wand for some different ringlets, or a flat iron, you can cause irreparable heat damage by heat styling curly hair with these tools. So the heat protection offered by a good heat protectant for curly hair makes it an essential part of your curly hair care kit.

Let’s take a look at heat protectants for curly hair, how to use them, and what benefits they can offer to keep your curly hair healthy. We’ll also share some of our favorite products and help you choose the right heat protectants for natural hair.

What Is the Best Heat Protectant for Curly Hair?

Are you wondering which heat protectant is best for your curls? Here are some of our favorite heat protectants for natural hair:

Best Heat Protectant Spray

For the most lightweight option, a spray is usually your best bet. Sometimes the application can be tricky so I spray it into my hands and then apply it through my hair with my hands.

Best Heat Protectant Serum

Serums offer a little more sealing power than sprays, so they’re usually not as lightweight as sprays. One exception is the WonderBalm.

Best Heat Protectant Cream

Cream heat protectants are great to use if your hair prefers creams in general. Creams offer more moisture than leave-ins and sprays but are a bit heavier.

What Is Heat Protectant for Curly Hair?

A heat protectant is a specialist hair product designed to protect your hair from the heat damage caused by heat styling tools. 

Many different formulations are available, so you could choose a heat protectant spray, serum, or a cream. Each of these options will create a protective barrier that shields your hair strands, reducing their exposure to heat. 

This protective shield helps you achieve your desired style without the risk of long-term damage to your curls. 

Many heat protectants for curly hair also contain lightweight hydrating ingredients like jojoba oil, argan oil, and coconut oil. These nourish your hair and add moisture, giving a healthy shine without weighing down your tresses.

Why Does Curly Hair Need Heat Protectant?

If you want to style your curls with blow dryers, hot irons, or curling tongs, using a heat protectant is one of the most important ways to care for your curls. It adds a protective layer to the outside of your hair shafts, shielding them from the harmful effects of heat exposure.

So, what happens if you don’t use a heat protectant on curly hair?

If you apply heat to your curls without any protection, you risk causing permanent heat damage to your curl pattern. That’s because the protein structure that makes your hair curl can be damaged by heat exposure, leaving your curly hair straight, limp, and lifeless.

As well as damaging your curl pattern, the heat will break down the keratin bonds that give your hair strength and elasticity. It also opens up your hair cuticles, resulting in moisture loss that leaves you with dry, frizzy hair and split ends. 

You might be able to repair some of the heat damage by using deep conditioning treatments and protein treatments. However, if the damage is severe, your only option may be to cut out the damaged hair or wait for it to grow out.

That’s why it’s so important to use a heat protectant every time you use your blow dryer or other heated styling tools.

Benefits of Using a Heat Protectant for Curly Hair

Heat protectants add a protective layer to your hair shaft, which has several benefits for curly hair:

Heat Protection

Heat protectants help to prevent heat damage by forming a protective barrier around the strands of hair. This shields hair from direct heat exposure, helping to prevent dryness, frizz, and split ends. 

Many products also offer UV protection to help prevent damage from exposure to the UV in sunlight, which is especially helpful for color treated hair.

Preserves Curl Pattern

Straightening your curls without heat protectant damages the protein structure in the hair shaft. Repeated damage will eventually cause permanent damage to the curl pattern, which you can only treat by cutting the straight parts off or letting them grow out. Protecting your hair before styling will help prevent this type of heat damage. 

Minimizes Breakage

Exposure to heat from blow drying or using hot styling tools dries out your strands, leaving you with dry, brittle hair that’s prone to breakage. Applying a heat protectant reduces the heat exposure and lubricates your strands, which makes them less likely to snap during brushing or detangling.

Makes Styling Easier

A heat protectant protects hair by wrapping the shafts in a smooth coating. Your brush or styling tools will glide over the surface of the strands, making styling easier and resulting in a sleeker, shinier finish.

Enhances Hair Health and Appearance

Using a heat protectant consistently helps to prevent damage from everyday styling and exposure to environmental stressors like sunlight. It will also help keep your curls frizz free by sealing the hair cuticle, which makes your hair less porous and less likely to react to humidity.

Boosts Moisture Retention

As well as helping to hydrate your locks, many heat protectants help lock in moisture for healthier hair that’s less prone to dryness.

Potential Side Effects of Heat Protectants

Heat protectants are generally safe to use on your hair when applied correctly. However, excessive heat exposure can damage hair health, so you should limit heat styling to once or twice a week. 

This type of product often contains silicones, as they are one of the best ingredients for heat protection and can give your hair a brilliant shine. Using silicones too often can cause buildup on your hair, making it look limp, flat, and greasy.

To avoid this, use a clarifying shampoo every few weeks to remove the product buildup.

Also, I have found that the EVOLVh WonderBalm uses a silicone alternative that provides the same protection but does not buildup on the hair. Curlsmith is also silicone free. So if buildup is an issue with your hair, I’d stick with either the WonderBalm or the Curlsmith spray.

Choosing the Best Heat Protectant for Curly Hair

Here are a few key factors that you need to consider when you’re choosing the best heat protectant for curly hair.

Specifically formulated for curly hair

Look for heat protection products that mention curly or natural hair and frizz control, as these are formulated to meet the unique needs of natural hair types.

Moisturizing and nourishing ingredients

Check the label to be sure that the product contains ingredients like coconut oil, argan oil, or pure shea butter. These will hydrate your curly hair texture and stop your locks becoming dry or brittle.

Maximum heat protection

Make sure you choose a product suitable for the temperatures you’ll be exposing your hair to, especially if you plan to use a flat iron or curling irons.

Application method

If you have thin or fine hair, a lightweight heat protectant spray will suit your hair better. On the other hand, if you have coarse or thick hair, a rich cream or serum could be better.

How to Properly Apply Heat Protectant

It’s better to apply a leave in conditioner before heat protectant to give your curls maximum hydration.

It’s essential to ensure that you cover your entire head of hair evenly, so apply your protectant to damp or dry hair, section by section. If you are using a heat protectant spray, spray it evenly over your curls from about 15cm away from your head.

Once you’ve applied the protectant, comb it through to distribute it evenly throughout your hair.

FAQs

Still need more info about heat protectant for curly hair? Take a look through these frequently asked questions:

How Often Should I Use a Heat Protectant?

You should apply a heat protectant whenever you use hot styling tools on your curls. However, it’s better not to use heat on natural hair types more often than twice per week to avoid damaging your curls.

The one exception is diffusing as this does not really cause heat damage.

Should I Use Leave-In Conditioner With Heat Protectant?

Heat draws moisture from your strands, so always use a leave in conditioner before applying heat protectant to hydrate your hair, improve manageability, and minimize breakage.

Cream typically takes the place of a leave-in conditioner so if you use a heat protectant cream, you don’t also need a leave-in.

Can I Straighten My Curls Without Using Heat Protectant?

If you’re styling natural hair with heated straightening irons, you should always use a heat protectant to protect your hair from the high temperatures. 

If you have a fine to medium wavy hair type, it may be possible to straighten your waves without heat. However, you won’t achieve the glossy straight style that heated straighteners will achieve

You could try using rollers, wrapping the hair around your head, or brushing your hair while drying it using your blow dryer’s cold setting. Your hair could take several hours to be totally dry, and you should apply hair oil afterward to keep your hair frizz free.

Can a Heat Protectant Be Used on Wet or Dry Hair?

Depending on which product you choose, you may be able to use it on either damp or dry hair. You can use your protectant on wet hair before blow drying and on dry hair before using heat styling tools like curling irons or flat irons. 

The Bottom Line

Heat exposure can damage healthy curls, which are naturally prone to dryness, frizz and breakage. So if you choose to use heat styling tools on your curls, applying a heat protectant for curly hair is essential to reduce the risk of heat damage. 

Heat protectants also nourish your tresses with ingredients like argan oil, black castor oil, or shea butter, and lock moisture into every strand. All of this helps make styling easier, so you can achieve the glossy, frizz free hair of your dreams.

Whether you choose a heat protectant spray, cream, or serum, it’s essential to choose a heat protectant specifically formulated for curly hair. This will provide your curls or coils with a protective shield from the heat of your blow dryer, curling wand, or flat iron.

And with so many excellent products to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect heat protectant for your hair type.

The post The Best Heat Protectants for Curly Hair & Their Benefits appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

Steam is a fantastic way to get moisture deep into your curls, especially if they’re dry, damaged, or low porosity. So, if you want to experience the benefits of steam on your natural hair, this guide is for you.

First, we’ll take a look at how hair steamers work and the advantages of hair steaming. We’ll also look at the different types of hair steamer and explain how to choose and use the best hair steamers.

In a rush, here are our top hair steamer recommendations:

What Is a Hair Steamer?

Basically, a hair steamer uses heat to turn distilled water into steam, allowing it to surround your tresses with moisture. 

There are various styles of hair steamers, and we’ll discuss the different kinds in detail later in this guide. Some look like the hood-shaped steamers you have seen at the salon and envelop your entire mane in steam. Others are handheld devices that look like a blow-dryer and allow you to direct steam at a specific area. 

However, it’s important to remember that hair steamers don’t work like a hair dryer and won’t dry your locks. They’re also not the same as steam straighteners, a hot styling tool that incorporates steam.

How a Hair Steamer Works

Just as a facial steamer uses steam to open up your pores, a hair steamer works in the same way by bathing your locks in the moist heat of steam. This is gentler and less damaging than the dry heat of a blow dryer or the direct heat from hot styling tools. 

The steam opens up the cuticle on your hair shafts, which allows cleansers to clear away buildup more easily and lets moisture flow into your hair. 

It also allows conditioning treatments to penetrate more deeply into the hair shaft so that your locks get maximum benefit from them.

Is Steaming Your Hair Good for Your Hair?

Everyone wants soft, shiny, healthy-looking locks, and adding moisture is one of the best ways to achieve this. Steaming is a great way to boost hydration, making it easier to style and less prone to split ends, tangles, and breakage.

Whatever your natural hair texture, steaming can help make your mane smoother and shinier. It’s especially beneficial for the tight coils of type 4 hair, which can be prone to dryness, and can even be used on damaged hair that’s been exposed to chemicals like colors and relaxers. 

Not sure of your hair type? Our natural hair type quiz can help!

Can You Steam at Home?

There are many different hair steamers that you can use at home, from handheld steamers to full salon-style hood steamers. You can even buy microwavable steam caps that will give you a quick boost of steam in between washes.

So there’s no need to go to the salon for your steam treatment unless, of course, you want to!

Benefits of Steaming for Healthier Hair

Hair steaming can have a lot of advantages for your hair health:

1. Improves Hair Hydration

Steaming hair allows moisture to penetrate into the hair shaft more easily. It’s perfect for low porosity hair, which can struggle to absorb conditioners because the cuticle lays flat against the shaft.

Using a hair steamer will open up the cuticle, allowing the shaft to absorb moisture and nutrients from any conditioner you use.

2. Deep Cleaning

Another benefit is that steaming allows you to thoroughly deep cleanse your hair. This is great for high porosity hair, which has a more open cuticle that can quickly soak up oils and creams.

3. Enhances Hair Elasticity

Hair steamers allow moisture to penetrate deep into the hair, enhancing its elasticity. This makes it easier to style your hair and reduces tangles and breakage. 

4. Deep Conditioning

Applying a deep conditioning treatment before you steam your hair will allow it to absorb the product more effectively. And that means you’ll get the maximum benefits from your deep conditioner, oil, or curl cream, leaving you with soft, hydrated tresses.  

5. Enhances Curls

The moist heat from a hair steamer is perfect for refreshing and rehydrating your curls until you next wash it. It will give your natural hair improved curl definition and encourage clumping without leaving your tresses limp or flat. 

6. Promoting Hair Growth

Steaming might not make your hair grow faster, but it does support your scalp and hair health. Applying steam can increase blood flow in your scalp and encourage the production of sebum, the natural oils that moisturize your locks. 

Better hydration stops your strands from becoming brittle and breaking or developing split ends. This supports length retention, making it easier for you to reach your hair length goals.

7. Promotes a Healthy Scalp

It’s easy for dirt, dead skin cells, and products to build up on your scalp, but using a hair steamer helps to loosen this buildup. This results in a healthier scalp, which is the basis of healthy hair.

Disadvantages of Hair Steamers

If you steam your hair correctly, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about any risks associated with steaming.

However, you shouldn’t steam too long or too often. Exposing your hair to too much heat can damage it, making it dryer and causing split ends and breakage.

Too much exposure to moisture through steaming could also lead to hygral fatigue. This is where excessive moisture reaches the inner cortex of the shafts, causing them to swell. It results in reduced elasticity, causes frizz, and leaves your hair looking dull. 

However, it’s easy to avoid these risks simply by limiting your steaming sessions to no more than 20-30 minutes once every 7-10 days.

Choosing the Best Hair Steamer

You’ll find a wide range of hair steamers available online and in stores, but how do you pick the best hair steamer to suit your needs?

Here are a few tips on how to choose from the best hair steamers:

Type of Steamer

Several types of steamer are available, and the best hair steamers often have additional features like adjustable heat controllers or auto shut-off.

You could buy a floor-standing steamer with a hard hood, similar to the ones you’ve seen in salons. These take up more room than any other hair steamer, so be sure you’ve got room to store it when it’s not in use.

Other steamers still have a hard hood but sit on a tabletop. They’re more compact than stand steamers but still take up quite a lot of room.

There are also portable options that look similar to a hair dryer but blow out steam rather than dry air. These are good if you need more focused steam for specific areas that have a different curl pattern. 

And finally, you could buy a microwavable steam cap or a hair steaming hood, which attaches to your blow-dryer and pumps steam over your hair. These are cheaper and take up only a little room.

Your Hair’s Needs

If you have low porosity hair, you’ll benefit from the full-head coverage of a hooded steamer. But if you only need to focus on a few patches of dry hair, a portable handheld steam could be perfect.

You might struggle to fit a cap steamer over long, thick curls or hair that’s in protective styles. In this case, using a handheld steamer or a steamer with a wide hard hood could be easier.

A steam cap will be enough to boost the effects of a deep condition treatment on healthy hair. But if you want to hydrate and define dry curls or help colored hair absorb treatments better, a steamer hood would be better.

Your Budget

It’s also essential to consider your budget, as this could help you pick the best hair steamer. A hair steamer cap or inflatable blow-dryer attachment will start from as little as $20, but you could spend $80 on a handheld steamer or up to $100 on a tabletop steamer. And if you’ve set your heart on a salon-style hair steamer, that could cost you $150 or more. 

The Best Hair Steamers for Curls

Ready to go shopping? Here are some of the best hair steamers on the market to choose from:

Handheld Steamers

Q-Redew Hair Steamer

This steamer looks like a regular blow dryer and is incredibly easy to use. Its finger-like prongs make it easy to work the steam into dry curls, so you can refresh and define your curls between washes. The Q-Redew Hair Steamer is ideal for natural type 4 curls needing more focused steam treatment in specific sections. 

I have this one and have used it for a long time when I first started embracing my curls and my hair was dry and damaged. It’s been a few years since I’ve touched it since my hair doesn’t need the extra hydration.

Q-Redew Handheld Hair Steamer

These are great to refresh hair in the mornings and works better than a steamy shower. It can also be used with hair masks to help them penetrate curls better.

*This steamer is often out of stock on Amazon and on their own website, so it can be hard to find, but I use and recommend this one.

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Hair Steamer Cap

Vicarko Hair Steamer Thermal Heat Cap

This hair steamer heat cap is easy to use and easily packed away afterward. Just plug the thermal heat cap in, put it on over your shower cap, and choose from High and Low heat settings. It’s light, comfortable, and heats up within one minute. However, the heat cap might not be large enough to cover long locks, braids, or twists. 

VICARKO Hair Steamer Thermal Heat Cap

$21.99

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12/17/2023 12:16 pm GMT

Free-Standing Hair Steamer

Artist Hand Professional Hair Steamer

The Artist Hand Professional Hair Steamer is one of the best hair steamers you can buy. It is a hard hood steamer with added features like adjustable heat control and auto shut-off. This is a great hair steamer if you like to steam regularly and want to get the full salon experience at home. 

Artist Hand Professional Hair Steamer

$119.99

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12/17/2023 12:21 pm GMT

Tabletop Steamer

Kingsteam Hair Steamer 2-in-1 Ozone Facial Steamer

This powerful steamer has a hard hood attachment for steaming your hair and a separate facial steamer wand attachment. The dome is large enough for long hair and produces plenty of steam, but doesn’t have a heat controller. 

Hair Steamer Kingsteam 2 in 1 Ozone Steamer

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FacialSteamer

NanoSteamer Large 3-in-1

This facial steamer can be used on your hair too. Just add water, plug it in and turn it on, and when it’s ready, you can move your hair into the stream of the steam. It gets too hot to pick it up and move it so you need to keep it on the counter. 

NanoSteamer Large 3-in-1

$39.95 ($39.95 / Count)

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12/17/2023 01:51 pm GMT

How to Steam Hair at Home

Steaming at home is easy if you follow these simple steps. Be sure not to use your steamer for longer than 20-30 minutes or more than once a week. If you start to feel any pain or burning, stop steaming immediately. 

Set up your space

You’ll probably be using your steamer for 15-20 minutes, so pick a comfortable spot. Handheld steamers can be used anywhere with a plug outlet nearby, but if you’re using a tabletop steamer, you’ll need to ensure you can position the hood high enough. 

Select your products

Gather together any conditioning products you plan to use during your steaming session. 

Time to steam

First wash your hair with your regular shampoo. Starting your steaming session with freshly washed, wet hair helps it absorb all the gorgeous nutrients and hydration from your conditioner. 

Steam your locks for five minutes to open the hair cuticle, then apply your conditioning treatment, and follow up with a full 15-minute session for fabulously soft, hydrated locks.

Rinse and finish

When your steaming session ends, rinse with cool water to help close the hair cuticles again. Follow up with hair oil from root to tip to lock in that juicy hydration.

Should You Steam Your Hair With Conditioner or Without?

You can steam dry hair without any hair product as a great way to revive your locks between wash days. Just 5 or 10 minutes under the steamer will add hydration and refresh your natural hair.

But you can also use hair products to get even more benefit from hair steaming. Some of the options to try include: 

Deep conditioners

After your shower, apply a deep condition treatment to the entire length of your wet hair before steaming. This will help the formulation penetrate each strand for intensely conditioned locks.

Curl creams

Applying your favorite curl cream to freshly washed and conditioned hair before steaming will help your strands absorb all the moisturizing ingredients. Your curly hair will retain moisture better and experience less shrinkage.

Hair oils

Steaming hair with oil is a great way to prepare your hair for shampooing after it’s been in a protective style, like braids or twists. Apply liberal amounts of oil through your curls to thoroughly saturate every strand, then sit under the steamer for 15 to 20 minutes. Shampoo as usual afterward.

Can You Use a Steamer on All Hair Textures?

Hair steaming is beneficial for every hair type and is particularly helpful for naturally curly hair. That’s because natural hair tends to be dry as the natural sebum struggles to travel all the way down the strands. Steaming replaces lost moisture in dry hair, helping to reduce the risk of breakage.

If you have low porosity curls, steaming is an excellent way to care for your curly hair. 

How Often Should Hair Be Steamed?

When you see how hair steaming improves the look and feel of your mane, you might be tempted to steam hair more frequently or spend longer under the steamer.

However, this could expose your hair to heat damage. You could even risk hygral fatigue, the damage caused when your hair shaft repeatedly expands and contracts due to excess water exposure. 

To keep your hair hydrated without risking damage, the recommendation is to steam your hair for around 20 minutes every 7 to 10 days. Healthy hair may only need to be steamed once a month as a special pampering treatment, and you should absolutely avoid steaming your hair for longer than 30 minutes. 

FAQs

If you’d like more information on using a hair steamer, here are some of the most frequently asked questions on the topic:

Is It Okay to Steam Hair Every Day?

No, using a hair steamer every day will expose your hair to excess heat and moisture, which can lead to hygral fatigue. It’s safer to apply steam no more than once every 7 to 10 days. 

How Much Does a Hair Steamer Cost?

A wide range of hair steamers is available to suit all budgets, from inflatable blow dryer attachments costing less than $30 to salon-style hair steamers costing $150 or more.

Can I Use a Hair Steamer on Chemically Treated Hair?

Hair steamers are very beneficial for hair that’s been exposed to a chemical treatment like a color or relaxer. It will help to hydrate your dry locks, leaving them looking and feeling more moisturized.

Can Using a Hair Steamer Cause Damage to My Hair?

Steaming your hair for too long or too often can damage your hair, causing it to become weak and limp. So, it’s essential to follow the guidance included in this article.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, a hair steamer is a fantastic addition to your hair care kit, and there are many different types to suit all budgets and needs.

Steam provides effective hydration and helps your locks absorb conditioners and products more deeply. Using a hair steamer for 20 minutes every week will leave your mane looking healthier, softer, and more manageable, and is an easy way to give your dry curly hair some extra TLC.

The post Hair Steamers for Curly Hair: The Ultimate guide appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

If you want to know how to sleep with curly hair, you have 4 simple options:

1. go to bed with completely dry hair that has ‘set’
2. use something to protect your hair like a buff or silk pillowcase
3. try a protective hairstyle like a ‘pineapple’
4. use a scalp treatment serum and/or dry shampoo for scalp issues

Successfully preserving curls overnight hair is not as hard as you think. Let’s go over these 4 options so you can see how easy it is to keep your curls overnight and spend less time fussing with your hair in the mornings.

How To Keep Curls Overnight

1. Go to bed with completely “set” hair

On wash day, I make sure to wash my hair early enough that it is completely dry before I fall asleep.

I also try to wait at least an hour after it has dried for the style to set before putting on the buff.

This means I usually wash in the afternoon and I try not to go out so that my style doesn’t get ruined. That’s not always possible but it helps me have lasting results.

The way your hair turns out on wash day is very important because that’s the style that will lock in and what you’ll be preserving for the next few days.

Some people wait to scrunch out the crunch until the morning which helps your curls stay put overnight.

Experiment both ways and see what works for your hair. Leaving the cast on longer gives me more definition but it kills my volume so I scrunch out the crunch soon after my hair has dried.

2. Protect your hair at night with something like a buff and a silk pillowcase

The most important step is using a buff every night (pictured below). This is the one thing that makes the biggest difference. I held off on trying this for years because I didn’t think it would do much but I wish I had done it sooner.

I took a poll on my Instagram stories recently, and it seems that using a buff and silk or satin pillowcase are the most common ways curlies protect their hair at night.

I use the same buff maybe 2-3 nights because they do stretch out. I make sure to pull it down over my ears so that it stays on all night.

The buff will slide up and possibly come off so I also have a silk pillowcase. I have one that’s only silk on one side which makes it affordable. You can read more about the benefits of silk pillowcases here.

Some people struggle with the buff staying on their heads while they sleep. In this case, you can clip the sides above your ears to try to hold it in place.

It’s even more important to use a silk or satin pillowcase if you can’t keep your buff on.

Silk scarves and bonnets are other options aside from a buff that you can use to protect your hair while you sleep.

3. Try a protective hairstyle

Protective styles may work for you instead of a buff.

Pineapple, medusa clipping, and a bun or braid are some ideas. Experiment with these and see which works best for you.

Because my hair is so thin and easily disrupted, I can’t put up in anything without ruining the curl pattern so I just pull it in a buff and leave it like that.

A pineapple is pulling it all into a ponytail at the top of your head. Some people wrap a silk scarf similar to the way the buff is used as well.

I have also seen some people sleep in the plop, either wet or dry. I do not recommend sleeping in a wet plop because it’s bad to leave your hair wet for so long. But a dry plop might work for you.

4. Use a scalp treatment or dry shampoo for scalp issues

I like to use the Briogeo Scalp Revival treatment serum on my scalp. This serum is water based, not oil, and it helps to moisturize and balance my scalp to reduce itching and flaking.

You can see how I apply it in this hair routine video. I basically apply a drop to my hands, emulsify and rub all over my scalp in sections. This stuff has really made a difference in letting me go longer between washes.

If you tend to have oily roots you can apply dry shampoo before bed.

I use the Scalp Revival line because it helps my scalp and I usually apply some on day 3 and 4. Massage it in well and it absorbs overnight so that by the morning your hair looks fresh.

Optional: Do scalp massages

I also do a scalp massage using this massager after applying a little more of the scalp treatment on day 3 or 4. This helps keep my scalp calm and feeling fresh. If your scalp gets itchy or oily then this can help with that.

I usually do this at night before putting on the buff but I have done it in the morning if I feel I need it.

I like to do a quick scalp massage in the morning without the serum after taking my hair out of the buff as well. This will help fluff your hair and resettle it.

So these are the basics on how to sleep with curly hair to keep it looking decent for several days.

Like I said before, the hair buff is the most important one so if you only take one piece of advice from this post, it should be to at least try that.

Sleeping with curly hair doesn’t have to ruin your hair!

Tips for Fine and Thin Curly Hair

If you specifically have fine or thin curly hair as I do, it does better with less manipulation. Remember that fine hair is more prone to damage and more easily loses its curl pattern so you need to be more delicate with it.

I find that my hair does better with just a buff versus using a hair tie or combining the two. I don’t stuff my ends into the buff but you can try that and see how it works. I’ve tried sleeping without a buff on my silk pillowcase and it’s nowhere near as effective as the hair buff.

I think the buff just holds the hair in place so well and there is very little friction so that’s why it works so well. So if you have thin or fine curly hair give a buff or wrap a try without a hair tie or bun.

My Night Time Routine for Preserving Curls Overnight

Watch the video below to see what my night routine looks like so my curls are not ruined while I sleep.

Want to remember this? Save How To Sleep With Curly Hair to your favorite Pinterest board.

If you want help with embracing your naturally wavy or curly hair, you can join my FREE email course and download my FREE pdf guide, THE QUICK START GUIDE TO MASTERING YOUR CURLS, full of everything you need to know to get started and bring out your beautiful waves and curls.

The post How To Preserve Your Curls Overnight appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

But what is a protein treatment, how can you tell if you need one, and which products should you try? And, more importantly, how can you have protein moisture balance? Read on for all the details.

In a hurry? Check out our top picks:

Top Pick	EVOLVh UltraRepair Hair Masque 4.8	$21.00 ($10.50 / Fl Oz) Shop on Amazon Buy from EVOLVh
	Hairfinity Hair Strengthening Amino Treatment Masque 4.5	$19.99 ($2.50 / Fl Oz) Shop on Amazon
Strongest!	Aphogee Two-step Treatment Protein for Damaged Hair 4.5	$25.49 ($1.59 / Fl Oz) Shop on Amazon

Top Pick

EVOLVh UltraRepair Hair Masque

4.8

$21.00 ($10.50 / Fl Oz)

Shop on Amazon

Buy from EVOLVh

Hairfinity Hair Strengthening Amino Treatment Masque

4.5

$19.99 ($2.50 / Fl Oz)

Shop on Amazon

Strongest!

Aphogee Two-step Treatment Protein for Damaged Hair

4.5

$25.49 ($1.59 / Fl Oz)

Shop on Amazon

12/17/2023 07:11 pm GMT

What is a protein treatment?

Our hair is primarily made up of the protein keratin. Keratin is what keeps it healthy, strong, and full of elasticity.

Damage to our hair from the environment, processing, and styling causes the keratin to break down.

A protein treatment is a treatment that infuses a boost of protein into your hair. It works to strengthen and repair the keratin.

Benefits of a protein treatment for hair

Protein treatments offer several benefits, especially for damaged hair. If your hair is chemically processed or has heat damage then most likely protein treatments will help improve the health of your hair.

Some benefits of a protein treatment are:

• strengthens hair
• reduces frizz
• improves curl definition
• adds volume
• smoothes the hair cuticle
• increases shine
• helps grow hair longer
• increases elasticity

How do you know if you need to do a protein treatment?

If your curls are limp, frizzy, don’t hold their curl for long, or feel too soft then it likely needs a boost of protein.

The Stretch Test

Try the stretch test to check for the elasticity of your hair.

In order to test for elasticity, take a single strand of hair between both thumbs and forefingers and stretch the hair (it may be necessary to detach a hair from the client’s head) (source).

Healthy hair will stretch roughly an extra 1/3 its length and return to its original size. Damaged hair may not return fully to its original size, whilst dry or brittle hair may break when put under tension (source).

If your hair snaps quickly, it needs moisture. If it stretches a lot, it needs more protein.

Usually, low porosity hair dislikes too much protein while high porosity likes more protein. This is not an absolute, as every person is different and the ingredients in your products will have an effect on how often you will need to do protein treatments.

If you don’t know your hair porosity, then read this post.

Now, these are some of the same reasons you would need to clarify so take that into consideration. Ideally, you should be clarifying on a regular basis so that shouldn’t be the case.

You should also check out these 11 reasons your hair is frizzy if you’re having frizz problems.

Still not sure if your hair needs protein or not? Try a rice water rinse first. Rice water is a protein mimicker and will provide similar benefits. If your hair responds well to the rinse, then it probably needs protein.

How to identify proteins in Hair products

Many products will advertise if they’re protein heavy with words like “strengthening” or “repairing”. Check the ingredients list to find proteins.

If you’re not sure what to look for, some of the most common proteins found in products will be listed as the following:

• hydrolyzed protein
• keratin
• oat flour
• soy
• collagen
• amino acids
• silk
• wheat protein

Quick tip: anything “hydrolyzed” is a protein

You could also simply use http://www.isitcg.com/ and paste the ingredients list in. It will tell you exactly which ingredients are proteins so you don’t have to figure it out.

You’ll know a product is really a protein treatment if there is at least one protein in the top 5 ingredients.

The best Protein Treatment Products For Curly Hair

If you prefer ready to purchase products then there are a few protein treatments to choose from:

EVOLVh UltraRepair Reconstructing Masque

This is my absolute favorite for my fine hair because it is lighter on the moisture, which is hard to find in protein treatments. Many times they load up on the moisturizing ingredients to combat the extra protein.

Top Pick

EVOLVh UltraRepair Hair Masque

$21.00 ($10.50 / Fl Oz)

Lightweight moisture with a good amount of protein makes this mask a great pick for finer hair that tends to get weighed down by treatments.

Use code HE15 to save on your first order with EVOLVh.

Shop on Amazon

Buy from EVOLVh

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

12/17/2023 07:11 pm GMT

Curlsmith Bond Curl Rahab Salve

This is a great pick if you need a bonding treatment as well. This is extremally helpful for color treated and damaged hair.

Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve

$22.00 ($2.75 / Fl Oz)

If your hair needs a boost of protein without a lot of moisture, this is a great pre shampoo treatment. It's also a bond building treatment that strengthens and repairs hair form the inside out.

Shop on Amazon

Buy from Curlsmith

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

12/17/2023 07:06 pm GMT

Ecoslay Matcha Boost

This is another favorite of mine for the lower moisture content. Just note that this product needs to be refrigerated after opening.

Matcha Boost Protein Shake

$22.40 ($2.80 / Ounce)

Shop on Amazon

Buy from Ecoslay

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

12/18/2023 12:01 am GMT

Aminotouch

This is a unique product because it is just pure protein drops that you can add to any other product and apply to your hair. This makes it very customizable and easy to use.

Aminotouch Pure Protein Treatment

$18.95 ($9.29 / Fl Oz)

Shop on Amazon

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12/18/2023 12:21 am GMT

Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Mask

This is a popular intensive hair mask that repairs and conditions.

Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Mask

$8.54 ($1.07 / Ounce)

Shop on Amazon

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12/18/2023 12:11 am GMT

Hairfinity Hair Strengthening Amino Treatment Masque

This is another popular protein treatment and the formulation is very nice.

Hairfinity Hair Strengthening Amino Treatment Masque

$19.99 ($2.50 / Fl Oz)

Shop on Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

12/17/2023 06:21 pm GMT

Aphogee Protein Treatment

This is one I don’t like to recommend too often because it is very strong and it can be easy to overdo it and damage your hair. So this is for extreme cases. Please be careful!

Aphogee Two-step Treatment Protein for Damaged Hair

$25.49 ($1.59 / Fl Oz)

Shop on Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

12/17/2023 06:01 pm GMT

DIY protein treatments for curly hair

If you’re looking for DIY protein treatments, the only option I know of that actually works is a gelatin treatment. This is not vegan which I know is a concern for some people.

You might find recipes for DIY protein hair masks made with foods like eggs and yogurt but every hair expert I’ve heard speak on this has said that the molecules in these foods are too big to penetrate the hair shaft so these don’t actually work. This is the case for rice water too.

Many people recommend a rice water rinse as a protein treatment. Rice water rinses are amazing and offer similar benefits but it’s not truly a protein treatment. Regardless, it can be used for the same reasons and give you nearly the same results. Check out my rice water rinse routine here.

I have done the gelatin treatment once before and it was actually too much protein for my hair so I prefer to do the rice water rinse. If you want to try out the gelatin, check out this post.

Other Protein Products

You could also incorporate protein into your daily routine by using products with some protein in them. Then, you may not need to do protein treatments at all. I actually recommend this.

There is some experimenting with this though. Some hair loves protein in cleansers and conditioners but not in styling products (like mine!), and others prefer the opposite. You’ll have to find out what your hair likes.

So check your current products and see if they have protein. Think about how your hair does when you switch to products with more or less protein in them.

I recommend you keep a record when you’re testing out new products, tweaking your routine, or trying to figure out how certain ingredients affect your hair. This curl tracker is a great, easy way to keep track of this.

Here are some popular curly girl products with protein in them:

• Briogeo Curl Charisma leave-in – the whole Curl Charisma line has protein but I really love the leave-in
• Curls Blueberry Bliss leave-in
• Bounce Curl – everything has protein
• TreLuxe Hi! Definition Gel
• Mop Top Curly Hair Custard
• Mop Top Bamboo Essence leave-in conditioner
• Mop Top Daily Conditioner
• Mop Top Light Conditioner

Protein Overload

One thing you need to look out for is protein overload. This is the result of not getting enough moisture into your hair and can cause chemical damage to your hair. This is why I don’t recommend straight protein treatments be used regularly.

Signs of protein overload include:

• Hair snaps off when you do the hair strand test
• Unusually dry/lifeless and brittle
• Less natural shine/luster than it used to have
• Heavy shedding and tangles
• Feels very straw like and stiff

If this happens you want to reduce the use of protein in your routine. Remove as much protein as you can and add in lots of moisture.

It can take weeks to overcome this so be diligent and patient.

What about OLAPLEX?

OLAPLEX 3 is a great product for color treated hair but it is not a protein treatment, it is a bond builder. It reduces breakage and visibly strengthens hair and it can be used along with protein treatments.

Olaplex No. 3

$60.00 ($7.06 / Fl Oz)

Shop on Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

12/17/2023 03:26 pm GMT

Protein Moisture Balance

Protein moisture balance seems tricky and I see questions every day from others wondering if their hair needs protein or moisture.

Don’t complicate this. Your hair needs both. Just keep a balanced routine and you shouldn’t have to worry about this.

Ensure your line of products is moisturizing and provides some protein, but not too much protein. Check the ingredients on all your products and make sure there is at least one protein in a few of your products.

I usually advise against using straight up protein like the drops or Aphogee because they’re so strong. It’s safer to cut down on moisture and add products with more protein in them if you want more protein.

Likewise, if your hair is in protein overload, cut back on the protein heavy products and add in more moisture.

Maintain a balanced routine and keep track of your treatments to keep the balance. Again, you can use the curl tracker to build and maintain a balanced routine.

The first step anytime you’re not sure what’s going on with your hair and you don’t know what it needs is to clarify.

After clarifying, check the chart above to see if your hair needs more protein or moisture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of protein treatments for curly hair?

Protein treatments can help strengthen your curls and improve their overall health. These treatments work by filling in gaps in the hair cuticle, which can result from chemical processes, heat damage, or general wear and tear. By repairing these gaps, protein treatments can prevent further damage, reduce breakage, and improve the elasticity and shine of your hair (source).

How often should I apply protein treatments to my curly hair?

The frequency of protein treatments varies depending on your hair type and the product you’re using; however, a general guideline would be once or twice a month. It is essential not to overuse protein treatments, as too much protein can make your hair brittle (source).

Can homemade protein treatments work for high porosity hair?

No, homemade protein treatments are not effective for high porosity hair. This is because food ingredients typically used in DIY recipes contain proteins that are too large to be absorbed by the cuticle (source).

How do I decide between protein and moisture treatments for frizzy curls?

It can be helpful to examine the signs that your hair is exhibiting. If your hair is dry, dull, and frizzy, it may benefit from a moisture treatment. On the other hand, if your hair is weak, breaks easily, or lacks elasticity, it could benefit from a protein treatment. Pay attention to how your hair reacts to the treatments and adjust accordingly.

But also remember that protein helps your hair hold onto moisture, which is why we need both.

What are the signs that my curly hair needs a protein treatment?

Signs that your curly hair may need a protein treatment include breakage, excessive shedding, a lack of elasticity, and a rough texture. If your hair feels weak or limp, it’s possible that a protein treatment could help restore its strength and resilience (source).

Want to remember this? Save Protein Treatments For Hair – A Guide To Protein & Curly Hair to your favorite Pinterest board!

The post The Best Protein Treatments For Curly Hair appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

It can get confusing with all the curly hair lingo and endless products you’re ‘supposed’ to use, so I’m sharing my basic framework on the order of curly hair products to help you keep it simple. This is a starting point that you can tweak as needed for your hair type and needs.

Order of Hair Products For Curly Hair

The basic order of hair products for all hair types is to go from lightest to heaviest, or from more moisturizing to the highest level of hold. This is true regardless of hair type, but wavy and curly hair usually require more moisture and hold than other types, so we end up using more products most of the time.

Here is the basic order to apply your hair products:

1. Cleanser
2. Conditioner
3. Leave-in Conditioner/Cream
4. Mousse/Foam/Serum
5. Gel/Custard/Jelly

If you need more help in choosing specific products based on your hair type, check out my product finder, the Curly Product Handbook.

This guide will show you how to identify your hair type and characteristics, provide some styling tips, and list exact products that will work on your hair type. Click here for more info.

Read more: How To Choose The Right Curly Hair Products

Cleanser

The first product is your cleanser. This can be a cowash, low poo shampoo, or a clarifying shampoo. You only need one, but you can repeat this step if you feel the first time didn’t get your hair and scalp clean enough.

Wondering which cleanser is right for your hair? Make sure you take the Curly Hair Type Quiz to determine your needs.

Then check out these resources:

• 10 Best Curly Girl Approved Shampoos
• 60+ Affordable Curly Girl Products
• 7 Best Clarifying Shampoos
• Curly Product Handbook

Conditioner

You can use a regular conditioner or deep conditioner for this step, but not both. Conditioning products soften the hair, help with detangling, add moisture for definition, and provide nutrients to the hair to help strengthen it.

Hair masks are also sometimes considered deep conditioners. Read the label to see how a product should be used so you can tell if it’s a conditioner or not.

Many deep conditioners target either moisture or repair. Be sure to follow the directions on the label so you don’t overdo it.

Once you know your hair type and its needs, use the resources below to help you find the right conditioners:

• 10 Best CGM Conditioners
• How To Squish to Condish For Your Best Curls
• 10 Best Deep Conditioners for Curly Hair
• 60+ Affordable Curly Girl Products
• Curly Product Handbook

Leave-in Conditioner/Curl Cream

After your conditioner, you would apply a leave-in conditioner or curl cream. These products help lock in moisture and prepare your hair for styling.

A leave-in conditioner is lighter and works on all curl types, while a curl cream is heavier and best suited for curls that need extra moisture and definition.

If your hair is really, really dry then you can use both a leave-in conditioner and a curl cream.

Once you know your hair type and its needs, use the resources below to help you find the right leave-in products:

• 10 Best Leave In Conditioners for Curls
• 60+ Affordable Curly Girl Products
• Curly Product Handbook

Mousse/Foam/Serum

The next products would be either a mousse, a foam, or a serum. These products help to define and enhance curls, and sometimes add volume. Curl activators are often serums and would be applied at this point, but some activators double as gel or cream.

All of these products are optional and you can totally skip using these altogether and just use a gel. You only need one but can use more if you want.

Once you know your hair type and its needs, use the resources below to help you find the right mousse, foam, or serum products:

• The Best Curl Activators For All Curl Types
• 60+ Affordable Curly Girl Products
• Curly Product Handbook

Gel/Custard/Jelly

These will provide hold and definition for a lasting style. Gels lock in the moisture you added with the previous products. Gels are key to having a style that lasts more than a day. And you can still have soft curls even when using gel – you just have to know how to use it the right way. Scrunch out the crunch is your friend here.

Again, you only need one but some people like to use more than one. If you struggle with definition and have really thick hair, go ahead and use a good amount or layer two gels if you want.

Once you know your hair type and its needs, use the resources below to help you find the right gel products:

• 10 Best Curly Girl Approved Gels
• DIY Flaxseed Gel Recipe & Tutorial
• 60+ Affordable Curly Girl Products
• Curly Product Handbook

Conclusion

Hopefully, this post has helped you with knowing how to layer products on curly hair so you can plan out your wash day and simplify your routine. Below are some more resources that may be helpful for you:

• The Curly Girl Method For Wavy And Curly Hair Beginners
• The Curly Girl Method: How It Turned My Damaged Waves To Beautiful Curls
• Curly Girl Method Routine – Curly Hair Routine For 2B 2C 3A Hair
• Drugstore Curly Girl Products List
• The Ultimate Curly Girl Method Glossary – Curly Hair Terms Explained
• How To Repair Damaged Curly Hair
• 11 Surprising Reasons You Have Frizzy Curls And What To Do About It

If you want help with embracing your naturally wavy or curly hair, you can join my FREE email course and download my FREE pdf guide, THE QUICK START GUIDE TO MASTERING YOUR CURLS, full of everything you need to know to get started and bring out your beautiful waves and curls.

The post How To Layer Products On Curly Hair appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.