single line drawing of woman with curly hair thinking about booking aftercare for her curls

Aftercare

Last Updated: 8 November 2023 | This aftercare guide can help you achieve supportive results with a realistic lower-fuss routine. You are encouraged to find what works best for your needs using your accrued experience and knowledge. There are no rules, and one size doesn’t fit all.

  1. Shampoo, co-wash, and condition as needed. Rinse the conditioner as thoroughly as you prefer.
  2. Using your hands, gently squeeze excess water from your hair. For most individuals, the ideal result is mid-way between dripping wet and towel-dried.
  3. Re-apply a moisturising conditioner. Use a thicker, ‘rinse-out’ conditioner or treatment product for all dry and frizzier textures. Use a spray or other leave-in conditioner for finer or less frizzy situations. Do not rinse. Optional. Add supportive styling products (curly creme, foam, gel, mousse) based on your needs or desires. None is entirely okay, too.Ensure any conditioner and products are thoroughly distributed using your hands, comb, brush, or whatever works best for you.
  4. Gently but firmly scrunch excess moisture from the hair. Once all products are applied, use a dry fabric of your preference (towel, microfiber towel, t-shirt) and gently but firmly scrunch excess moisture from the hair. This step helps bundle up and create the curl definition. You can also put your hair up in a ‘towel turban’ using whatever fabric you prefer until you are ready to proceed.
  5. Air-dry or Duffuse. Once your chosen drying method has started, try not to touch or further scrunch your hair.
  6. After the hair is at least 90% dry, shake it out at the roots with fingers spread and using short, aggressive hand movements.
  7. Apply a spray leave-in conditioner to refresh on the following days. Again, air dry or lightly diffuse as needed.

Helpful Tips

With drier textures, the amount of conditioner re-applied to your hair dictates frizz reduction and curl definition. More product equals more control. If you desire more volume or fuller hair, use smaller amounts of product and thoroughly shake your haircut at the roots once it’s dry. Regarding protein and moisture, you’ll need to experiment and find a balance that works for you. Also, when using a diffuser, heat is fine. Don’t hold it too long in one spot—use common sense.

Frizz is not the enemy—unflattering shapes are. Try not to allow social media images and influencers to manipulate you into needing and purchasing the products they spruik. There’s no such thing as ‘perfect curls’. Once cut well, allow and enjoy the daily perfect imperfections of your curly hair. Styling your curly hair from wet to dry enough with supportive results for Monday to Friday should take less than 15 minutes. Getting my thick, long 80s curly hair stage-ready took only 20 minutes!

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding this page, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I aim to regularly update this page based on feedback to improve its usability.

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