How to care for curly hair

Not all hair is created equal. Curly hair is much more fragile than straight, and is more easily damaged by improper care techniques or use of the wrong products, but most people with curly hair don't know this and continue to treat it the same as straight hair. This leads to breakage, split ends, frizziness and dryness.
But it doesn't have to be that way.

Curly hair is curly because it has a flatter shape to the hair shaft, and the extra surface area means it loses moisture faster than straight hair. This, in turn, means that to keep it healthy and soft, moisture needs to be the primary concern in care.

First, use gentle shampoos and conditioners intended for dry or fragile hair. Dove makes a nice line that is meant to leave your natural oils intact, and there are a number of lines available now that have removed the harsh and drying Sodium Laurel Sulphate from their formulas. When finding a new shampoo, buy smaller bottles and try each one for a few weeks to see how your hair adapts to it, then keep the ones that work best for you. Frequently, the shampoo and conditioner that the company has pre-matched won't be ideal, so don't be afraid to mix and match along the way.

Next, don't wash your hair too often. The curlier the hair, the less frequently it needs to be washed. Remember: frequent washing can dry hair as surely as anything else can. Try skipping a wash once a week. If your hair looks better afterward, try skipping another. Use shower caps or tie your hair up out of the water to keep it dry while you shower.

Use the right sort of tools. The curlier your hair, the less you should detangle with a brush--it'll only separate the curls to the point where their only option is to puff and split and fill with static. Try using a comb or a pick. The ones with widely-spaced tines are the best for detangling without tearing. Don't comb or brush your hair when it's wet, because that will  only make it easier to break, which in turn will make it easier to fruzz and split at the ends.

When you do wash your hair, start with a conditioner. Condition from the roots to a few long inches from your scalp, and leave that in. Use small amounts of your gentle shampoo only on the scalp to remove oil, dirt and dead skin, and let that sit for a little while, too. Rinse completely, and then condition your whole head and let that sit while you finish your shower. Rinse right before you get out. Some people find that rinsing this final time in cool or cold water helps to keep their hair smooth and soft.

Let your hair dry naturally, and don't mess with it too much while it does--the more it moves around as it dries, the more it'll tend to frizz. If you have to use a hairdryer, invest on one of the ones that uses ions to help avoid frizz, and keep the heat as low as you can. Flat-iron only sparingly, and always use a heat-protector beforehand and a leave-in conditioner after.

If you follow these suggestions and pay attention to how your hair reacts to them, then keep the ones that work best for you, you'll develop your own individual beauty regime that will keep you looking your best.