Style Curly Hair Without Styling Products
Replacing Gel, Styling Cream and Mousse with Conditioner
The hair care industry is constantly introducing a new styling product that promises to banish frizz and create perfect curls. Yet, many of these products contain similar ingredients and some only work for a short period of time before the inevitable bad hair day emerges. Should people keep searching for the perfect styling product for curly hair? The answer may surprise you. A simple routine may be the best way for many people to achieve frizz-free, healthy curls.
Restore Moisture to Dry Curls
One of the biggest reasons for frizzy, undefined curls is dryness. Since the cuticle of curly hair always remains open, it is prone to moisture loss. Styling products temporarily seal the cuticle to make the hair smoother, shinier and softer to the touch. Yet many people do not realize that conditioner can do the same thing. Conditioner can restore moisture balance and provide manageability. With certain styling techniques, conditioner can also shape curls like a styling product.
Conditioner is sometimes a better choice for styling than a traditional styling product because many are easier to wash out of hair than stylers. Many styling products contain heavy ingredients like polymers and silicone that can build up and prevent conditioners from penetrating the hair shaft effectively. Harsh clarifying shampoos are necessary to remove the build-up, which can dry out hair. Even though many conditioners also contain heavy ingredients, there are a number of moisturizing conditioners available that are easier to rinse out than many styling products with gentle cleansers.
When choosing conditioners for styling, look for ingredients such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, keratin amino acids, cetearyl alcohol or glycerin because these type of ingredients help with hair concerns such as sealing the cuticle, providing manageability or moisturizing the hair. Avoid heavy ingredients that require harsh shampoos to remove such as silicones, mineral oil or petrolatum.
Leave-in Conditioner to Encourage Curls
Most people with curly hair can benefit from a leave-in conditioner. The conditioner can help keep hair moisturized and prevent tangles. It can also be used as a curling agent.
Look for lotion or cream leave-in conditioners that can be applied like a styling cream. Leave-in conditioner sprays are often too light to be used as stand-alone stylers. However, some sprays are effective curl refreshers for second-day hair.
Apply the leave-in conditioner to hair like a styling product. Apply the conditioner in sections and scrunch curls. If you prefer a wavy look, comb the conditioner through the hair to distribute it evenly.
Conditioner-only Washing Improves Curl Formation
The conditioner-only washing method is a gentle cleansing method that has helped many people with curly hair achieve silky ringlets with less styling products. The method involves replacing shampoo with a light conditioner for cleansing and a richer conditioner for conditioning. Curly hair expert Lorraine Massey of Devachaun Salon introduced this technique in her book, "Curly Girl."
Some people have found that dropping harsh shampoo in favor of conditioner-only washing has helped them use only conditioner for styling hair.
Conditioner Styling Techniques
Techniques to encourage curls with conditioner include the following:
- Twirling curls - After applying a leave-in conditioner, shape individual curls by twirling them around your finger.
- Straw sets - Use straws as rollers and set small sections of hair with straws to shape curls. Use conditioner as a setting lotion.
- Braiding - Comb conditioner through damp hair and then loosely braid hair. The conditioner and braids will create shiny waves.
Experiment with these techniques to find the a way to make conditioner work as a styler for you.
A Russian Beauty by Alexei Harlamov
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