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Below is my hair care regimen for my long but fine and curly hair. Such hair presents unique challenges. After some research online and on this board, coupled with some experimentation, I have developed a fairly decent and simple hair care regimen. I am sharing it in hopes of benefiting fellow curly haired folks, and also in hopes of improving upon what I am already doing through reader feedback.
Combing and Brushing
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I comb my hair two to three times per day, and then rebind the ponytail. Fine, curly hair has a strong tendency to tangle and knot. Frequent combing reduces this problem. I use a wide-tooth comb, and then a narrow-tooth comb. With each comb, I begin at the ends of my hair, removing tangles and knots with gentle combing. I then move up the hair to my scalp, combing all the way back down to the ends. Beginning at the scalp and combing all the way to the ends makes the tangles in the ends much worse. Usually, you can only get those out by ripping out the knotted hair. Always begin combing gently with the ends, and tease out the tangles before they get too knotted up. Then move up the scalp and fully comb out the hair.
I brush my hair once or twice each day, just after combing. Brushing serves multiple purposes. It removes any final tangles not caught by the fine-toothed comb. It cleans out lint and "stuff" caught in the hair. It redistributes oil from roots along the length of the hair.
I never brush wet hair, only gently combing it while wet. Wet hair is weak hair, and fine, curly hair is already thin and weak to begin with, so brushing wet hair is out.
I wash my combs and brush about once a week.
Shampooing
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I shampoo once every week to ten days. I use L'Oreal EverStrong Sulfate-Free Reconstruct Shampoo. It is a modestly priced shampoo suitable for my fine and curly hair. Alternative suggestions for brands are welcome.
Conditioning
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I use Pantene conditioner, but might switch to L'Oreal EverStrong Conditioner - suggestions welcome. I only condition with Pantene after I shampoo, not during any other time. I work in the conditioner, pile up my hair on top of my head, and put on a shower cap. The conditioner stays in my hair for about 20, sometimes 30 minutes, after which I rinse it out.
After rinsing out the conditioner, I use a solution of apple cider vinegar and water to rinse my hair. I also use this solution two to three times a week, when I am not shampooing and conditioning. I mix 1/3 cup of ACV with 1 quart of water (80 ml ACV with 1 l water), and pour that on my head and massage it in. I often then pile up my hair, put on a shower cap, and let the hair soak in the ACV solution for the duration of the shower. Sometimes I rinse out the ACV, but most times I dry my hair lightly with a towel, and then let the ACV solution air dry.
Some brands of Apple Cider Vinegar work better than others - there is a real difference! Buy small bottles of the various brands of ACV available locally, and try them to find out which works best for you. You have to use ACV solution consistently for several weeks first, to get best reults. The acidic solution helps to close up the cuticles of the hair, improving shine, reducing frizz, and noticeably reducing the tendency to tangle and knot. I highly recommend ACV solution to folks with fine and curly hair. The vinegar smell goes away once the hair dries. Alternatively, you can rinse out the ACV, or you can add scented oils to the solution. Use google to find various recipes and recommendations.
Drying
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I never use a blow dryer. I lightly rub my hair with a towel, gently comb it out, and then spread the hair out and allow it to partially air dry, after which I lightly comb it and put it into a ponytail.
Fussing
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Other than combing and rebinding my ponytail two to three times a day, I don't fuss much with my hair. Thanks to suggestions from people on this board, I am thinking about applying some Jojoba oil to the short, frizzy hair around my temples. Other than that, I just comb it, bind it, and let it go for the day.
Ponytail Binding
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For the time being, I use a simple, elastic, black band to bind my ponytail at the base of my head in a slightly loose binding. As my ponytail reaches full length, which for me would be midway down the shoulder blades, I would like to switch a criss-crossed cloth binding, or possibly a silver-colored metal ring. If anybody has any thoughts on such ponytail bindings, please let me know.
I say if it works for you than it's a good regimen!
I have the same issues with fine, dry curly hair. I can comb my hair, stand still for ten minutes and have slight tangles in my hair! It's crazy stuff! I comb my hair about two to three times a day. Once when I get up - usually pulling into a ponytail for work; and then again, just before I go to bed. At night I comb just a tad of coconut oil into the hair to keep it from drying out and from tangling. It absorbs into my hair overnight - I normally have pretty dry hair unless I oil it.
I wash my hair at about the same frequency as you.
Keep growing and post a pic if you can!
I also have curly hair.... it's now about a foot and a half long, give or take.
Curly hair works well with moisture and smoothing of hair, as oposed to constantly combing out the tangles.. that's too much manpulation for fragile hair... think of rubbing your fingernails on the sidewalk all the time.... they WILL wear away faster!
Two ways to avoid tanes: Keep the hair up post of the time (prtective styling. I wear my hair in a braided bun from the shower, wet, compressed, and full of conditioner, (and coconut oil too )... 99.9% of the time, unless there's a special occasion where I want to wear my hair down.
If I want to redo the bun during th day to smooth it out more, I use coconut oil to do so. If the hair has dried too much, I will spritz it wil some water to keep the moisture level and to increase the effect of the coconut oil on softening my hair.
Getting into the habit of 'smoothing the hair with the fingers, and sometimes finge combing is best. I use the pads of my fingers to smooth. When you have coconut oil or conditioner in the hair, with a spritz of water, the shed hairs will gradually come out effortlessly, and tanlges are easy to smooth out.
Some who wear their hair out most of th time app;ly the same technique, plus they keep the curls 'defined' (ie: in distinct ringles/curls of many hairs bond together)... This keeps several hairs bound together, as opposed to single strands all over the place, which allow for better cntainment of the hair, and less tangles...
Check out TeriLaFlesh's website at:
http://www.tightlycurly.com/welcome/
For some ideas
David
David, many thanks for the tip about that website. That is an EXCELLENT resource for people with fine, curly hair. Many, many thanks.
Could you compare and contrast coconut oil with jojoba oil? Is there any especial advantage to either one? I have heard good things about jojoba oil, but not much info about coconut oil.
Too long a post.
UK,when your wearing a ponytail, check into a hair glove, look up hair gloves on Google.James/Tampa,Fl
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You appear to have a good hair care routine with the combing and brushing and avoiding hair dryers. Cannot comment on the hair products you use as I live outside the USA/UK.
On top of some of the hair care sites recommended there's a wonderful website dedicated to people with curly hair.
It is called naturallycurly.com and well worth a visit. Also there is some wonderful curly hair tutorials on youtube.
It would be great to actually see a photo of what your hair looks like sometime mate.
best,
Duncan