Taking care of curly hair in the morning can help refresh your curls and maintain their bounce and definition throughout the day. Here's a simple routine to follow:
- Refresh with Water or a Refresher Spray: Start by lightly misting your hair with water or a curl refresher spray. This helps reactivate your styling products and bring back some moisture to your curls. Avoid soaking your hair; the goal is to dampen it slightly.
- Scrunch Out the Crunch: If you used a gel or other holding product the night before and your hair feels crunchy, gently scrunch your curls with your hands or a microfiber towel. This helps break up the stiffness and encourages the curls to form softly.
- Use a Leave-In Conditioner or Curl Cream: Apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner or curl cream to your palms, rub them together, and then gently scrunch the product into your hair, focusing on the mid-lengths to ends. This adds moisture and helps define curls.
- Avoid Brushing or Combing: Curly hair is most fragile when wet, and brushing can lead to frizz and breakage. Instead, use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle if needed, preferably while in the shower with conditioner in your hair.
- Air Dry or Diffuse: Allow your hair to air dry naturally if you have the time. If you're in a hurry, use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer set to a low heat setting. The diffuser helps distribute heat evenly, reducing frizz and enhancing curl pattern.
- Pineappling at Night: To make your morning routine easier, consider "pineappling" your hair before bed. This involves gathering your curls loosely on top of your head, securing them with a satin or silk scrunchie, and covering with a satin or silk scarf or bonnet. This helps preserve your curl shape and reduces friction that can cause frizz.
- Protect Your Pillowcase: Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase to minimize friction and reduce frizz. These materials are gentler on hair than cotton, which can cause tangles and frizz.
By following these steps, you can help your curls look refreshed and defined each morning, making your daily curly hair care routine more manageable.