Where do I begin? Oh yeah, that's right - naturally curly and Afro hair is a blessing. As a boy my long curly hair always attracted attention. And of course, with great hair, comes great responsibility - if you know what I mean. If you don't, well let’s just say the curls on an afro ain't gonna define themselves.
Nothing comes easy and the same can be said for curly hair maintenance. For men with long curly hair maintaining and retaining a healthy natural curl pattern and bounce is not easy. Not only are you going to spend a lot of time, but you’ll also burn through some cash buying hair products.
That's the price you have to pay to properly manage this hair type which can be unruly. Plus, adopting a hair care routine that is not ideal for this hair type equals never-ending bad hair days and eventual hair damage.
In this post, we are going to highlight how men can care for their natural curly and afro hair to ensure that it stays healthy, frizz-free, nourished, and strong.
Curls that are well-defined, shiny and twisty just don't come into form out of the blue - you have to make it happen - good genes or not. The great thing is that the steps to achieving the best curls are basic and you do not have to be an expert to get it done. Just like plants, your curls need to be catered for, loved and nurtured in a certain way for the best possible outcome. Without further ado, here are three ways that you can get your curls looking their best and turn heads wherever you go.
1. Section your Hair
The first crucial step of this process is to split your natural hair into smaller sections. This makes it easy for you to detangle your hair, apply detangling conditioner evenly over the sections, twist or wrap it against itself and leave to set. The way you divide your hair does not need to be perfect, but in sections that allow you to attend to it properly. The general rule of thumb when sectioning your hair is this - If you have short hair, you need only a few sections. On the other hand, if you have medium or long hair, it'd be wise to split your hair into four or more sections. Sectioning your hair will help you to avoid unnecessary stress on the path to getting those curls, but also reduce the chances of hair breakage.
2. Moisturize and Detangle each section
Now that your natural hair has been divided into workable sections that you can easily manage and manipulate, the next step is to detangle.
Detangling is a crucial part of this process particularly for kinky and curly natural hair that tends to tangle and form knots. Detangling not only makes styling your hair a lot easier; but also helps to evenly distribute hair products you use around your hair. This helps your hair absorb the products quickly and retain moisture to remain hydrated and pliable.
First off, coat your hair from the tip to the root with a hydrating detangling conditioner to prevent or reduce breaking and cutting. I like to use a co-wash for extra hydration.
Afterwards, use your fingers to gently loosen any tangles, starting from the tip of your hair up to the roots. Thereafter, follow up with a detangling brush to carefully and slowly detangle each section until they are tangle-free.
3. Seal in the moisture and apply Curl cream
After detangling your hair strands, you need to apply a water or oil-based product to ensure that the moisturizer or leave-in conditioner stays in your hair longer. I like to do this bit quickly by using a 2-in-1 curl cream. This helps to keep your hair soft and prevent it from becoming dry and brittle leading to breakage, and it gives me a more defined curl. After, seal in the moisture, by applying a bit of alcohol-free gel to each section of your hair. Gently use your hands to spread the product through your hair and then allow your hair to air-dry. If it's cold outside and I'm in a rush I'll use a handheld blow dryer.
