At home hair-care tips for curly and kinky hair textures, according to a stylist

Jamé Jackson

September 30, 2020 at 11:26 PM·3 min read

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Taking care of our hair while stuck at home can ultimately feel like a chore — salon appointments are canceled, we’re YouTubing how to dye our roots and trying to figure out what products we should use for optimal hair growth. For textured hair, that also comes with its own set of challenges as we seek to find solutions to dryness and styling tools. We need some curly hair tips if I do say so myself.

So, what is textured hair? “I talk about textured hair over natural hair, because all hair growing out our head is natural, right? Textured hair is where strands create shape, like curves, spirals, zig zags or waves; hair is kinky, coily, curly or wavy,” Vernon Fran?ois, internationally-acclaimed celebrity hairstylist, told Elle. “Knowing your hair’s texture means you can treat it correctly for its type and re-set your expectations of what can be achieved with it.”

When it comes to taking care of textured hair, it’s important to work with the right tools which can make all the difference, Miko Branch, founder of Miss Jessie’s, shares with In The Know.

“Always use hair-care products that were 100-percent made with you in mind, whether your textured hair is wavy, curly, or kinky,” she shared around curly hair tips. So, what types of products work best for textured hair? Branch recommends “opting for moisturizing products with a certain degree of hold, and super moisturizers and conditioners that help those dealing with frizz, dryness, shrinkage, and style preservation.”

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There may be a possibility that you’ll find that some parts of your hair are more textured than others. Don’t worry, Branch admits that is normal. “It’s important to know your curl type, but to also understand that many women have more than one curl pattern,” she explains. “Coloring and bleaching your hair, over-shampooing and under-conditioning, seasonal elements and the environment, brushing and harsh detangling dry curls, health conditions, using products with sulfates, etc. — so many factors can change your curl type.”

To avoid breakage or loss of your curl pattern, Fran?ois also suggested using your “fingers or a three-in-on style pick” in lieu of a brush. Additionally, incorporating masks and things such as a hooded dryer or steamer to open the hair’s cuticles are worth the investment, French hairstylist Frederic Fekkai told Elle. Having healthy kinky and coily tresses will require patience, but the results are completely worth it.

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For those of us who either have chemically straightened hair or a grown-out protective style, Branch stresses the importance of taking care of both textures at the same time. “Choose methods that nurture the new growth, and choose hairstyles that blend the different textures. Protein-rich, well-balanced meals also encourage hair growth.”

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Regardless of curl type or how your hair currently is styled, Branch notes how important it is to take care of your scalp as well. “Healthy hair starts at the root,” she explains. “Feed a dry, itchy and flaky scalp and promote hair growth while doing so. Cleanse to gently remove excess oil, dirt, sweat, product and bacteria.”

So cleaning your scalp, offering it constant hydration, and finding the best tools to work with your hair are the first steps to optimal hair health at home, for those with curly, textured and kinky hair.

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