When you think of curly hair, you might think, “Oh, curly hair is so beautiful.” However, maintaining and managing curly hair can be quite challenging. There’s a significant investment required, not just in terms of money but also in time and effort. With inflation driving up prices, a small container of product costing $15 can be overwhelming. That’s why I’m here to help you find the best and most affordable products. There’s a specific routine to follow when using these products; if you don’t, your pillow might be hot tonight! Keep in mind that while curly hair products might not be cheap, investing in them is essential for healthy curls.
First, let’s talk about pre-washing with shampoo. I recommend using a product like SheaMoisture shampoo. Shampooing your hair can dry it out because it removes unwanted oils and product build-up. If you haven’t detoxed or clarified your hair recently, it’s essential to do so. Detox or clarifying shampoos are designed to deeply clean the scalp by stripping away oil and build-up. A detox shampoo purifies the scalp and should be used once a week. On the other hand, a clarifying shampoo removes build-up from gels, creams, and other styling products. Clarifying shampoos should also be used once a week or less, as they can be quite drying.
Second, and most importantly is conditioning. To hydrate your hair, you need a good conditioner. For extra conditioning, you can use a hair mask. A protein-rich hair mask is essential; for example, the Amika Soulfood Hair Mask contains Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, and Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit/Seed Oil, which are rich in vitamins and fatty acids and help strengthen the hair. However, keep in mind that using too much conditioner can lead to build-up.
When you have conditioner in your hair, it’s the perfect time to detangle. While some people say detangling is bad, it’s necessary if done gently. Use a wide-tooth comb to avoid disrupting your curl pattern.
The third step, is styling, which requires specific steps. Your hair needs to be wet—if it isn’t, it will become frizzy. The steps for styling include using curl cream (like Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Defining Curl Cream, suitable for all curly patterns), gel (such as Eco Gel or Curl Talk Sculpting Gel by Not Your Mother’s), and mousse (Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Activating Mousse).
How you style your hair is crucial. If you want definition, follow these steps: section your hair from the bottom to the top of your crown. Apply the curl cream by running it through your hair with your fingers, but avoid using too much as it can weigh your hair down. Use a Denman brush to separate the curls and add definition (refer to the picture on the right for sectioning and brushing the hair). 
Apply 1-2 palmfuls of mousse to your hair and scrunch. Finally, apply gel to create a gel cast that protects your curls; use both hands like you’re praying to evenly distribute the gel.
There are different methods for drying your hair: air drying and using a hair diffuser. Both methods work well, but air drying takes longer, whereas diffusing speeds up the process and adds definition. With air drying, try not to touch or disturb your curls, as it can disrupt the curl pattern. When using a diffuser, be gentle to avoid frizziness. Start by placing the diffuser about 5 inches away from your hair to allow it to dry slowly, creating a gel cast. Avoid drying it completely. Afterward, flip your hair upside down and continue diffusing, focusing on the crown. This method is popular in the curly hair community, but ensure you use a heat-protective product to avoid disrupting your curl pattern and causing frizziness.
If any of this confuses you, there are platforms that can help you better understand how to style your hair, such as TikTok, Lemon8, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Here is a Tik Toker that has helped me understand how to style and maintain my curly hair, @jazvnessa.
