The 10 Golden Rules for Defined and Natural Curls
How to have healthy and defined curls?
Many factors, such as the structure, porosity and thickness of your hair, play an important role in choosing the most suitable care for curls. However, there are small gestures and precautions that can make the difference in having healthy hair and naturally beautiful curls. We therefore suggest that you keep these tips in mind , which we will call the golden rules for having strong hair and perfect curls.
1. Say goodbye to the straightener. Impossible? Then set limits and gradually reduce its use.
Plate. Common female name, it is the best enemy of curly hair .
Well yes, if you are one of those women who have lost their curls because they have straightened their hair too much, many of us have been there, but you are reading the right article, and this is already an excellent first step.
Say goodbye to the straightener , like a tired smoker says goodbye to cigarettes! The straightener greatly damages the fiber of your hair and weakens it, leaving an increasingly frizzy effect in the long run. If you still can't avoid straightening your hair, try reducing the frequency of use , perhaps going from a couple of times a month to just once a month, then less and less, until you forget about your straightener.
2. Avoid shampoos containing sulfates
A shampoo containing sulfates can be recognized by its excessive foam. It is essential to avoid this type of product, because it causes dryness and frizz. To learn more about this topic, read our article on sulfate-free shampoos.
3. Comb your curls when they are wet. Comb them when you use conditioner during washing. The wetter the better .
Curly hair has a more fragile cuticle, so it breaks more easily. To avoid this problem, only comb your hair during washing, when it is wet and soaked in a rich conditioner or a nourishing mask. Depending on the type of hair, use the most suitable brush . You can comb your hair after washing for styling, but the important thing is that the hair is still soaked in water: the more damp the hair, the better. This will also help avoid frizz once the hair is dry.
4. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Curly hair is by definition more dehydrated than straight or wavy hair. Have you ever touched a friend's hair and thought, "How soft"? Or on the contrary, felt your hair "straw"? Then it's time to hydrate your hair properly. Use rich conditioners with every wash and do nourishing masks frequently. Leave these products on for at least 5 minutes (or follow the instructions on the product), while you wait you can detangle your hair with a brush. Deep hydration will prevent hair breakage and make it softer, eliminating the bristly effect, very common for women and men with curly hair.
5. Want beautiful, defined curls? It's your turn! Create them yourself, using styling creams and techniques.
Styling creams are a MUST HAVE for perfect curls. Use Leonia styling cream (coming soon ;)), designed and made in Italy with a 100% natural formula. Thanks to ingredients such as linseed oil, keratin, ginko biloba extracts, this product not only defines curls and waves, but also has protective and nourishing properties . The natural formula free of silicones and parabens allows you to style the hair without weighing it down or leaving an unwanted stiff or wet effect.
How to apply this product?
After washing your hair, before drying, apply the right amount of styling cream to the lengths and ends . The curlier your hair is, the more product you will need. If your hair tends to be wavy, a small amount of product will be enough. If your product tends to be coily, apply several small amounts of product (3-5). After that, proceed with one of the different styling techniques , depending on the time available and the desired final effect. In general, it is important to scrunch and let the hair take on its defined curly soul.
6. Dry exclusively with the diffuser after applying a heat protector and changing the inclination of the head. Avoid any possible rubbing.
To maximize the volume effect and defined curl, after dabbing your hair with a microfiber cloth, dry with the diffuser. During drying, change the inclination of your head often: upside down, tilted right, left, bringing your head back.
It's hot and summer? Then let your hair air dry.
In this process, especially when the hair dries naturally without a diffuser, avoid any rubbing , so as not to break the curls and not to create a frizzy effect. For example, immediately after drying, avoid wearing a helmet or lying down (if you do, do not put your hair behind your back), wear high-necked sweaters being careful. It seems complicated, but it's all a question of small precautions and habit: it's worth it!
7. Minimize highlights as much as possible. If you can, leave your natural color.
We all know that highlights are beautiful and give light to the face. Remember, however, that bleaching damages the hair and dehydrates it. So avoid bleaching or, if not possible, limit highlights during cold and dry periods. Plan a post-summer coloring , so your hair will have time to recover before the arrival of winter, when the hair tends to be drier. You can choose a shade similar to your natural color, so that any regrowth is not too obvious.
8. Don't wash your hair too often. If you see frizzy hair, refresh your styling.
Your scalp naturally produces an oil called sebum that coats your hair and protects it from dryness. One reason curly hair feels drier is that it takes longer for the oil to reach the ends. Washing your hair less frequently allows the natural oils to spread throughout the lengths, sealing in moisture and protecting your hair. If you notice your curls are flaking, you can give your hair a styling refresh by mist your hair with a spray bottle and applying a small amount of styling cream.
9. Sleep with your hair in a "Medusa" shape, avoiding it being crushed by your body or back.
Yes, that's right: it's possible. Many women with long, curly hair manage not to crush them by sleeping with their hair loose and stretched out on the pillow above their head, like a "Medusa" effect. This way, even if you sleep and turn at night, the curls won't fall apart.
If this method seems too complicated (if you toss and turn in bed a thousand times!), we recommend that you do the "pineapple" hairstyle, tying your hair with a rubber band for curly hair. You can also put your hair in a silk cap . If you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife, and you want to be presentable enough in the evening when you go to sleep, you can avoid the silk cap and you can use a silk pillow directly. This smooth material in fact allows you to reduce rubbing to a minimum and therefore does not cause frizz the next morning.
