If you love the moisturizing benefits of co-washing, but find that your scalp tends to itch, break out, or produce dandruff because of the sebum build-up, the Condition-Wash-Condition method is a great alternative. It enables you to give your scalp the cleansing that it needs, while simultaneously providing moisture to parched locks. This method can replace the co-wash in your regimen, or it can be used periodically.

You will need:

• a gentle cleansing shampoo,
• a moisturizing conditioner,
• and a hair masque or deep conditioner (if desired).

This method works on all curl types, but If you have tighter curls and coils, and/or longer hair that tends to knot easily, you may find that adding a pre-pooing step is the best approach for you. Pre-pooing, or using oils to help detangle your hair before shampooing, can reduce breakage and excessive shrinkage--and it can add a little extra moisture and sheen.

To Pre-Poo:
​Working in sections, apply oil to your hair, avoiding your scalp. Detangle, and then twist or clip each section while you work on the rest of your hair. When your hair is completely detangled, start the Condition-Wash-Condition Method at step 2, below, taking each twist out as you apply conditioner.

Method

1. If you have not added a pre-poo step, thoroughly saturate your hair with water.
2. Working in sections, apply a generous amount of conditioner to your hair, starting at the ends and working up the hair shaft. Massage the conditioner into your hair. If your hair is extremely dry, use a masque or deep conditioner for this step, and let it remain for 5-20 minutes before proceeding. Do not rinse out.
3. Now it is time to apply the shampoo. Using a small amount of shampoo, gently massage the scalp. Gradually add more shampoo as needed. Work slowly and carefully. If your scalp is particularly oily, and your hair does not tangle easily, you may want to use a shampoo brush to help distribute the product and exfoliate your scalp.
4. Work the shampoo through to the ends, and then rinse your hair thoroughly, ensuring that both the shampoo and conditioner have been removed.
5. Condition your hair again, starting at the tips and working your way up the hair shaft, smoothing in the conditioner as you go. Ensure that you have reached all your strands. The conditioner you use in this step can be your regular moisturizing conditioner, or a heavier deep conditioner, depending on your preference. However, if you have already deep-conditioned your hair in step two, you should not do it again in this step.
6. Using your fingers, or a wide-toothed comb, gently detangle your hair. If you have thicker hair, or hair that is prone to tangles, work in sections, clipping each section as you go.
7. Rinse thoroughly, either by flipping your head upside down and placing it under the showerhead or faucet, or, if you have a looser curl pattern, by using the Squish to Condish method.
8. Apply your favorite products, and style as you normally would.

 
These tips appeared on NaturallyCurly

Hello winter! Colder winter months always mean paying extra attention to our coily tresses. The dry air and cold wind affects the health and appearance of your hair. Just as we fight frizz during humid summer months, you want to prevent any damage to your hair during cooler dry months. Here are 10 winter hair tips for healthy, happy curls!

Add Moisture

Winter hair thrives on moisture. You can’t have too much. Winter can be a great time for curlies, as frizz-causing humidity plummets along with the temperatures. But the cold weather, along with indoor heating, also can wreak havoc on those curls and kinks in other ways, leaving them parched and brittle.

To battle the dryness, it is essential that curlies stick to a strict deep-conditioning regimen. Deep condition at least once a week (twice if you already tend to be very dry) with a deep conditioner that provides moisture only. You can't control the weather, but you can moisturize, adjust your product routine and do your best to keep the dry frizzies away.

Honey, Please

Honey is awesome when used in conjunction with a conditioner fortified with olive oil and avocado oil. If you are worried about the hair being too oily after the deep condition, use a light shampoo as a topper. Honey is a natural humectant and helps your hair retain moisture, making it a great treatment for dry, winter hair. Honey can be added to cleansers, conditioners, deep conditioners and oils. Honey also works well works when combined with other ingredients, so you can look for products that contain honey.
 
Get a Trim

Every 10-12 weeks, trim off what is dead to avoid choking the life out of your hair. When ends are split and frayed, nutrients don't know where to go. Often stylists will recommend 6-8 weeks, but this is not necessary for curly hair (when you get a cut tailored for your type).

Avoid Protein

Drying shampoos that contain too much protein and not enough natural oils are not what winter calls for. When you use products that contain protein, your hair needs extra moisture so it won't become dry and brittle. (sometimes an after-effect of using too much protein.) Since you'll be deep conditioning more make sure to pick one that is not protein rich, as too much protein can cause more frizz. A few great ones to try are: DevaCurl Heaven In Hair or Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Nourishing Masque.
 
Natural Oils Are a Must

In the cold winter months, make sure to always seal hair with an easily absorbed oil before heading out of the house. Natural oils such as jojoba, rosemary and lavender are so important in the cooler months because they help keep your scalp and hair in good condition.

Avoid the Towel

Never use a regular terrycloth towel after you shower. The coarse texture of a typical bath towel can roughen up the hair's cuticle and cause curl separation, resulting in frizz. Curlies need to use super-absorbent microfiber towels designed to reduce frizz and dry time while creating beautifully defined curls.
 
Wide-Toothed Comb

The wide-toothed comb is your friend; do not use your hands. It's important to use a wide-toothed comb because it works through the hair more easily with less damage. Always start from the bottom and work your way up.

More Product

Indoor air is extremely drying to curls so make sure to use extra product this winter. Listen for hair to squish, to make sure there's enough product in the hair. Remember, most curly hair is dry, so don't be afraid of product.
 
Extra Gel & Scrunch

Since you are using more product on your winter hair, make sure to get the most out of it. Scrunching allows your product and curls to go further. Scrunch with a liquid-y gel to ensure equal distribution of the product. Scrunching product into curls allows for better distribution and removes excess product. Scrunching also defines curls and adds volume.

Diffuse

​Wash-and-go is a thing of the past now so make sure you diffuse to set curls all day. Don't be afraid of the diffuser. As long as it has prongs, it's designed to bring out the best of your curly hair. Set it on high heat, low speed. This may take a while, but if you are patient, you'll love the way your curls look!


These tips are from NaturallyCurly

Having curly hair means subscribing to a bevy of rules that ladies with straight hair can pretty much ignore. Just because there are more hair rules to follow doesn't mean your main can't always look fabulous, it only means that you have to be more cautious with how you treat your hair. Here, the major dos and don'ts for curly hair types.

Curly Hair Do:
See Your Hairstylist on the Regular
When you've got curly hair, keeping your hair from looking frizzy and tired means making regular trips to the hair salon for a trim. Booking a trim for every 2-3 months is recommended for keeping ends free from looking split and sad. Plus who wouldn't want a beauty refresh every couple months?

Curly Hair Don't:
Avoid Shampooing Hair Every Time You Shower
Just because your hair gets wet, doesn't mean you need to lather it up with shampoo. Washing your hair every day will dry your curls out and potentially cause frizziness--the curly girl's worst enemy. It's ok to get your hair wet when you shower, but refrain from washing it every time it gets wet. Instead you can use a conditioner on it. Try a nourishing, do-it-all leave in conditioner.

Curly Hair Don't:
Avoid the Crunchy Curl at All Costs
The dreaded crunchy curl look is a result of using too much hair product. Start with a dime-sized amount of hair styling product on curls and you can go up from there. You can always add more, but you can't take less. Also make sure your product is light or medium hold.

Curly Hair Do:
Use Gentle Heat Styling Tools on Hair
Sometimes curly haired gals just want to go straight, and that's ok! If you're going to use a flatiron on your hair, make sure it's a high-quality tool made with ionic titanium plates to evenly disperse the heat onto hair, which in turn limits the amount of time needed to run the iron through the hair.

This article appeared on HSI Professional

Have you ever walked into a salon that was completely full of curly haired women, run by stylists who are experts in cutting and coloring curls? It's a transformative experience that every curly girl should have at least once in their life (but preferably every few months!). I experienced this on The Curl Revolution Book Tour, when we stopped in San Francisco's MaduSalon. Madu is a mecca for curlies all over California, and chatting with their stylists it's easy to see why.
​
In one conversation, Madu colorist Devon Ramirez was sharing how she likes to use deep conditioner as a styler, and I had to take notes! Our readers tend to be nonconformists, using products and kitchen items in new and innovative ways, never limiting themselves to the instructions on the label, so I asked Devon if she'd be willing to share her favorite ways to mix products. Personally, I thought it was unexpected to use a conditioner as a styler, but I'd also love to hear if you've been trying this. Here are Devon's tried and true cocktails for curly, coily and wavy hair.

For Type 2 Wavy Hair
Use leave-in conditioner as a styler

For looser wavy hair I️ really love DevaCurl B'Leave-in because it's really lightweight but it gives the waves an extra boost and lots of volume.

Apply product with water for definition
When applying product to curls, it's important to make sure the hair is still very, very wet. This way the products will mix with the water and absorb into the hair. This keeps the moisture and hold without weighing the hair down. At Madu we'll often sprinkle a little extra water when working the product through to keep the hair moist. Marie [founder of MaduSalon] calls it "baptizing the curls."

Refresh by applying product to hands
For refreshing both waves and curls I️ really love Set it Free. Although I️ like to spray it in my hand and scrunch it into the curls. It's kind of thick and doesn't always spray well.

For Type 3 Curly Hair
Use deep conditioner as a styler

For type 3 curls I️ really love using the Heaven in Hair as a styler. It's really moisturizing and has a great amount of hold on its own.

Cocktail DC with gel to fight frizz
If you want extra hold then I️ add Ultra Defining Gel.

For Type 4 Coily Hair
Cocktail gel with pomade

For type 4 coily hair, my coworker Shannon came up with the best combo that we all use now. Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls with a small amount of Beautiful Mess. You mix the 2 in your hands, apply all over and detangle with your hands. The hold of the 2 helps to keeps the curls slightly elongated so you and really see the length of the coils.

For extra moisture
In order to keep curls moisturized, you want to make sure you incorporate a deep conditioner into your routine, at least twice a month. Sulfate free shampoos are a must, sulfates can over strip the hair moisture. Also, stay away from oils and most serums. Oil molecules are actually too big to actually penetrate the hair shaft and end up laying as a layer of build up on the hair while repelling actually moisture. If you do choose to use a serum, make sure it's water soluble and free of silicones.
​

Pretty much all of these product combos can be used for a wash and go. You can air dry, hood dry or diffuse. Whichever is more convenient. At Madu we try not to recommend anything that would require you to need a hood dryer because that's obviously unrealistic.

 
This article first appeared on NaturallyCurly

If you love to explore the wilderness through camping or hiking trips, you may have faced the question of what to do with your hair in a setting where you don't have time or many resources to care for it . When Sopiadevita inquired in the Curly Q&A  about how to care for her hair when she is out on a camping trip, I knew she was in need of minimal products for long-term hair maintenance. If you're a curly with a busy lifestyle and little time to dedicate to your hair, this minimal regimen will help you out too. 

Question
​How to care for my hair in the wilderness? I am going on three-month camping expedition and will only have access to a shower/conditioner about once a month. I obviously don't need my hair to look nice, but I don't want to end up having to cut off my hair because of the knots. Any suggestions on something to bring or a habit to get into to keep my hair tame during this time? Thanks!

Answer
Your hair should not get in the way of the lifestyle you want to lead, no matter what you are doing! There are a few items, tips, and techniques that will make for an easier expedition, and since space is probably limited, bringing the right essentials will make for a better trip. So let’s get into some tips that will keep your hair looking great and knot-free with minimal effort or products.

Dry shampoo:  Dry shampoo can be a useful tool when you don't have many opportunities to wash your hair. It will help with the sweat, dirt, and bugs that you may encounter while out becoming one with nature in-between your hair washings.

Double up on the products:  Since space will probably be a factor, make sure to find products that can double up on duties, for example a cleanser that can be used on both your body and hair, or a leave-in conditioner that also has the hold of a styler or the slip of a detangler. Shampoo bars can be great for cleansing your body and hair at the same time and they last . A leave-in with amazing slip will be your best friend, as you want to deter knots. Kinky-Curly Knot Today is a great idea as it will give amazing slip and many use it as a styler.

Braids:  Keeping your hair in braids will keep the hair out of the way while preventing tangles. French braiding the hair with at least two on either side is good and tucking the ends up will help keep your hair out of the way. A braided updo, ponytail, or twists are all smart options. Since you are camping for such an extended time, bunning, twisting, or braiding your ponytail will prevent further knotting and dry ends.

Natural oils:  Bringing your favorite natural oil (a lighter one of course) may be a good way to keep hair from getting too dry or just to make your braided hair smoother and stay together. It can be a great sealant when you do wash your hair and condition and with the spirit of doubling up, oils (olive oil) are great for removing ticks and yes, I am a country girl so I know a few things about ticks.

Keep it covered:  Covering your hair with a scarf or a hat is a great option for protecting your hair as well. It will also keep your hair out of the way and out of your face. Baseball caps help with shielding hair from the sun and keeping hair covered and out of the way. This also helps to prevent damage from the extended sun exposure.
 
This article appeared on Naturally Curly