Dry curly hair: how to keep your natural shine

The good news: you are not alone. Dry curls are a beauty topic that constantly occupies hairdressers, product developers and manufacturers. The main reason: curly hair naturally has an uneven structure and usually a high porosity. This means that the protective cuticle layer is rougher than in straight hair. Moisture can easily penetrate your curly mane, but it can also be lost just as easily. This can quickly make your hair look brittle and unruly, even though you’ve just pampered it with high-quality shampoo, conditioner and curl cream.

Curly hair doesn’t sit as close to the scalp. As a result, the natural moisturising agent, sebum or tallow, is not distributed sufficiently throughout the lengths of the hair. The rough texture also makes it more difficult for you to distribute your conditioner or hair mask from the roots to the tips. This is where special care and optimal ingredients are needed to counteract the natural loss of moisture. When your curly hair feels like straw, it takes a little more effort to breathe life into it. But if you succeed, you will be rewarded with defined and vibrant hair that will make your stand out of the crowd.

For smooth, shiny, well-cared-for curls, you need three things: love, patience and the right ingredients. You should also follow these tips if you want to take care of your dry curly hair.

Many shampoos, masks and curl creams for curly hair contain silicones. Although they make the hair soft, they can also weigh it down uncomfortably. In addition, they form a film over the hair. This is how silicones prevent moisture absorption and dry out curls even more. Therefore, you should look for silicone-free curl creams and care products. Alternatively, you should treat your hair to shea butter, aloe vera and glycerine. These natural ingredients help lock in moisture and give straw-like locks a healthy shine.

Since curly hair often has a high porosity, washing it too often can quickly strip it of the last of its valuable moisture. Therefore, try to leave the time between washes as long as possible. If your roots become greasy quickly, dry shampoo could help. However, be aware of whether it might have the opposite effect and increase the dryness of your curly hair. Therefore, use a lot of sensitivity when applying it so you don’t unintentionally increase the problem of when curly hair feels like straw.

Prevention is the be-all and end-all when it comes to dry curly hair care. That’s why regular beauty treatments with deep-acting masks are a real treat for your curls and also for your soul. The added bonus is you can use the application time to forget about everyday life for a few minutes. Alternatively, you can also treat your straw-like curls to natural oils such as organic argan oil or organic olive oil. These treatments help to lock in moisture and make your curls supple.

Regular hair end care in the form of a professional haircut every two to three months is also advisable to prevent split ends and keep your curls healthy. Choose your salon wisely and get good advice in advance. Dry curly hair is often a challenge for hairdressers too, and handling it requires a lot of experience.

A good shampoo should do one thing above all: free your hair and scalp of styling residues, sebum and dirt. To do this, it needs to contain something called surfactants, which dissolve the deposits. If you have dry curly hair, it is important to use the right surfactants. Sulphates are thought to dry out the hair excessively. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid them if you struggle with curly hair like straw. You can also test shampoo bars and conditioner bars to see if they might work for you.

The cuticle layer of your curls is already roughened. As such, you should be careful not to stress the hair even more. So remember: don’t rub your wet hair dry, and instead gently squeeze it out in a towel. After that, it’s best to let it air-dry a bit before blow-drying so that a low heat setting will be enough. Important: always remember to use sufficient heat protection.

• Hyaluronic acid, glycerine: can bind moisture inside the hair and minimise loss.
• Structural proteins: keratin can make hair supple and resilient.
• Plant oils: argan, coconut and other oils should be part of every hair care routine.
• Aloe vera, shea butter: can supply moisture and nourish the hair.