Curly Hair Transformation
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March 25, 2024
Last week, I had a follower send me a DM asking for curly hair tips and the best hair products for natural curls. I was so excited to get that message because I’ve had quite the curly hair journey, just as probably everyone else with curly hair has. We’re taught to hate our curls. Society tells us that beautiful hair is silky, smooth, and tangle-free. But that’s just not a reality for us curly girls. It took years of heat damage, straightening treatments, and a global pandemic for me to finally embrace my curls. But I’m here and they’re prettier than ever – all the way from 2c to 3a curls. Now that I’ve been wearing my hair curly every day for a few months now, I have a good routine down. It’s important to remember that curly hair is a process. It can take months of constant care for curls to be at their best. Six months in,
here are my best tips for getting your best curl:
1. I identified my hair as 2c and catered to hair products for natural curls. I had mostly defined waves with some spirals. The looser your curls, the lighter you need your products to be. The tighter the curls, the heavier you can go. I was using Shea Moisture and it was totally weighing my hair down. I switched to some lightweight Ouidad products and that changed everything. Now that I’ve been customizing my hair routine for my particular hair type, my curls have gotten stronger and tighter. I now have mostly 3a hair with more spirals than waves!
2. I never brush my hair when it’s dry. I only brush my hair using a after I’ve shampooed and while I’m rinsing the conditioner out. I used to always brush my hair before I got in the shower and I was causing so much damage. Not to mention it was extremely painful! I never thought I’d be able to get all the tangles out by using a wide-tooth comb on wet hair but man does it work well!
3. I use a . Curly hair is highly susceptible to dryness, so it’s important to make sure your hair is properly hydrated and moisturized. This helps with frizz a lot and is great for curls even though it’s not made specifically for curly hair. Unlike my shampoo though, my is made for curly hair, which is what matters. I always rinse it about 95% out and leave just a little bit in as a primer.
From 2c to 3a: Hair products for natural curls
4. I apply my while still in the shower (after I turn the water off) to soaking wet hair using a raking method so it’s evenly distributed – I don’t just immediately start scrunching. If I need to wet it again slightly after applying the gel, that’s ok. I personally like to style my hair very wet so the curls clump together creating bigger curls. Since I started using a lighter gel, I found that I can use a lot more product than I expected. I use a quarter-sized amount of gel for the left half of my hair and the same for my right half. Then, I use another quarter-sized amount and rake it through all over, making sure my crown is getting some love. Finally, I use another quarter-sized amount to scrunch in.
5. After scrunch-pulsing with my head upside down and side to side, I get out of the shower and let it air dry for a little bit. If I’m in a rush and must scrunch with a towel to dry it a little, I use a or a t-shirt.
6. Once my hair is about 30% dry, I can start if I need to. Many times I just let it air dry completely – it just depends on the day and how busy I am/if I need to go anywhere. As it dries, I always scrunch intermittently but leave it alone otherwise. No fluffing or separating curl clumps until it is fully 200% dry!
7. When it’s time to sleep, I put my curls in a high, loose pony tail, also known as a pineapple. I love using silk or satin scrunchies so I don’t damage my hair or cause breakage. The from is my current favorite!
8. On day 2-5 hair, I turn my head upside down and fluff it out. If needed, I’ll use a curling spray or even water to reactivate the curls. I shoot for washing my hair once a week. Dry shampoo is a curly girl’s best friend! I recently discovered Not Your Mother’s products and I love their ! It’s so volumizing and makes me feel like I just left the salon – it has that fresh and clean scent hairstylists always spritz on at the end of an appointment. Yes please!
Like I said, curly hair is a process! It takes a lot of work and the right hair products for natural curls, but honestly, I’ll take this over spending hours blow drying and damaging my hair with heat. It feels good to know I’m actually taking care of my hair instead of fighting it. Every once in a while I will blow it out just to switch it up, but those days are becoming fewer and further between. I still feel like I’m learning more about my hair every day and I look forward to continuing my curly hair journey through quarantine and beyond!
What are your best healthy hair tips?
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Photos by Ryan Carpenter.
October 12, 2020 @ 9:12 am
Your hair looks amazing girl!
I would say I definitely started out a 2c also
https://wanderincolor.com/2019/05/learning-to-love-my-curly-hair/
Yikes my hair has come a long way since last year. Im definitely a solid 3A now though and my curls have never looked better!
October 12, 2020 @ 10:05 am
Yes!! Our hair is so similar and we’ve been going through the same process! I am so glad I finally learned to take care of my curls and enhance them rather than just deal with them!
October 12, 2020 @ 4:26 pm
It looks so good!! I’ve been doing the curly girl method since July and I am still in the transition period. My hair looks like a hot mess most of the time. Just gotta stick with it!
October 14, 2020 @ 11:18 am
Yesss stick with it!!! I promise your hair will thank you! What products have you been using?
October 13, 2020 @ 4:53 pm
I’ve always thought your hair is so beautiful to begin with but its even more amazing with curls! I’d love curl my hair like this!
Kileen
cute & little
October 14, 2020 @ 11:17 am
Thank you so much!!! I’m so happy I finally started to embrace the curls. I really love them now!
October 14, 2020 @ 10:16 am
Your hair is absolutely beautiful! I think it’s a “grass is always greener” thing, but I’ve always wished I had curly hair. I have super flat, super fine hair and it just lacks life (hence my coloring it unnatural tones to make it stand out haha). But my sister has pretty curly hair and she might be able to benefit from these tips! I’ll be sending this her way!
October 14, 2020 @ 11:16 am
I think that’s exactly how it goes! I spent years trying to straighten my curls! My best friend is the same way; she has straight hair and has always pushed me to rock the curls because she wishes she had them herself! I absolutely love the bright color of your hair. It really does make it stand out and seem fuller! And yay, thank you! Definitely let your sister know that I’m always down to chat about curls! 🙂
October 14, 2020 @ 4:26 pm
I recently got my hair cut mainly so my natural curl could come back and I could start embracing it! The part about finding your hair type (I’m 2a- wavy) is SO true.
October 20, 2020 @ 12:26 pm
Yayyy! I’m sure it looks amazing! YES, it makes all the difference. It totally changed the game once I was able to identify what type of curls I was working with!
October 19, 2020 @ 4:27 pm
I just love curly hair! They look so marvellous 🙂
October 20, 2020 @ 12:23 pm
Thanks, Maria! I fought with my hair for sooo long trying to straighten it out but I’m really loving my natural curls now!
October 19, 2020 @ 8:24 pm
Your hair is gorgeous! I so wish my hair would do that but it never will!
October 20, 2020 @ 12:22 pm
Thank you so much!! It honestly took years for me to truly embrace it, but I’m so happy with where I’m at now!
October 20, 2020 @ 7:52 am
Ooh! I didn’t realize there were numbers. I need to dive into that more with my curly hair. I need to test out these products, too – I feel like I’m always switching brands without success.
October 20, 2020 @ 12:21 pm
Omg YES girl, you do!! Look up “Curly Hair Chart” and you can identify which is most like your hair. That will tell so much about which products and methods you should be using!
October 20, 2020 @ 12:25 pm
Your hair is GORGEOUS! I have always wanted curly hair.
October 20, 2020 @ 12:27 pm
Omg you’re too sweet!! Thank you so much, Erin!
October 21, 2020 @ 11:27 am
This was so interesting to read! My hair in it’s natural state is basically stick-straight and I’ve always wished I had natural curls! I didn’t even know that curly hair had their own designations!
October 22, 2020 @ 10:01 am
Yes! It makes such a difference! There are so many different types of curls and deciphering which kind you have ensures you’re using the right products and techniques for your individual texture. Totally transformed my hair!
October 22, 2020 @ 1:30 pm
Hm these are some interesting tips. My hair is in the 4-level of curly, but I love it. It’s so versatile.
October 26, 2020 @ 10:07 am
Yayyy, I’m so glad to hear you love your curls!! It’s taken me such a long time to get to this point, but I am completely embracing mine from here on out!
October 22, 2020 @ 6:18 pm
I’ve been trying to learn more about my hair and embrace the curls. I went to a curly hair stylist this summer and she also said to stop using shea moisture. This post is so helpful!
October 26, 2020 @ 10:06 am
Yes! It’s great for tighter, coarser curls, but can definitely weigh down certain hair types. Going to a stylist that specializes in curly hair is sooo helpful!
October 26, 2020 @ 2:55 pm
My curls have completely transformed since I started drying them in a t-shirt instead of a towel. I haven’t seen my hair this curly in 6 years! These are such great tips too!
October 27, 2020 @ 8:17 am
Amazing!! Isn’t it crazy how just a few small adjustments can make a world of a difference?!
March 22, 2021 @ 6:07 pm
YES! Finally I found someone who had the the same hair problems as I do! Bravo on your routine; although I have one tip; in my opinion, I think that it’s actually the hair porosity that decides how light or heavy the hair products should be.
March 22, 2021 @ 8:42 pm
Yes, hair porosity definitely plays a part – great point! Thanks so much for reading and for sharing your input! 🙂
April 17, 2021 @ 5:50 pm
Are you still able to wear your hair straight if desired? Does straightening it make you loose any ground in the process you had to go through? I used to wear my hair curly but after going all natural with products 8 yrs ago and 4 kids later, I honestly don’t know if I can go curly anymore. I have been using Shae moisture. I’m curious about your products. It would be nice to go wavy if I am no longer about to go curly. Looks like I need to figure out what type of curl my hair has…I’ve been straightening for so long…I don’t e en know.
April 26, 2021 @ 7:15 pm
My hair is actually straight right now! It does not affect how curly my hair gets when I wear it curly. I like switching it up. I will say that if I were to wear it straight for several months or years in a row, I would need about 3-4 times of wearing my hair curly for my curls to fully come back. I hope that helps!
April 20, 2021 @ 9:06 am
Do you have any advice for super dry frizzy curls, that I have to wash every single day to put the moisture back INTO my hair with super moisturizing heavy products or it forms huge knots by end of day and feels like straw. If I don’t use the extra heavy, extra moisturizing, sulfate free products (that weigh my hair down and makes my hair look straight) it literally forms a knot in the back of my hair the size of a volleyball just due to normal head movements throughout the day. Thank you for any advice you offer. I have tried every brand of products I cam find out there.
April 26, 2021 @ 7:21 pm
Oh no!! Washing your hair that often strips it of moisture! I would definitely recommend a good shampoo and conditioning system that specifically targets dry hair and limit washing to 2-3 times a week. A good hair mask will work wonders as well! Ouidad products are my favorite, but whatever you choose, try to find something that specifically mentions your concerns on the front of the bottle. I recommend shopping at Sephora or Ulta for higher-end brands that won’t damage your hair! Hope this helps 🙂
May 2, 2021 @ 2:00 pm
You may be protein deficient! I was and started using gelatin treatments and it’s completely changed my hair. It might help you too! Just google “Gelatin hair treatment curly girl” and you should find it.
May 5, 2021 @ 8:49 am
This is super interesting! I’ll have to look into this myself just out of curiousity!
May 2, 2021 @ 1:50 pm
Can you share the products you use? I have similar hair and am using Shea products and am probably weighing my hair down 🙁
May 5, 2021 @ 8:49 am
Hi Rose! All of the products I’m using are linked here in the post 🙂 I know exactly how you feel. The same thing happened to me when I was using Shea products!
August 19, 2022 @ 8:57 am
The links don’t work anymore. Could you update or give us a list?
August 19, 2022 @ 10:05 am
Hi Leah! Could you let me know which link isn’t working for you? I just checked all of them and they are working on my end.
July 5, 2021 @ 9:41 pm
When do you apply your other products other than gel? Before the gel I’m assuming? Do you generally apply the same products all the time or do you like to switch it up?
Sorry for all the questions. My hair just has it’s good days and bad days and I’m trying to figure out if other people with similar hair to myself stick to the same thing or if they switch it up every now and then.
Your hair is gorgeous by the way!
November 20, 2021 @ 1:25 pm
This actually worked! I used every product except the shampoo, because it hasn’t come in yet. The whipped curls conditioner smells amazing and the gel is a night light texture. I have never put hair gel in my hair when it was wet out of the shower, but it actually worked. I’m just amazed! My curls are established and went from 2C to 3A in just one go. I’m in my forties and have fought with my hair my whole life. Megan thank you so much for this article!
November 22, 2021 @ 2:51 pm
Omg I can’t tell you happy this makes me!!!! I know how much of a battle it can be to find the right curly hair products/methods, so I’m ECSTATIC that this worked so well for you! Thank you so much for sharing, Clarissa. Love love love!
January 7, 2022 @ 5:24 pm
Hey love your curls, my hair is a mixture of 2c top, 3a middle, and 3b bottom, so finding what doesn’t flatten my hair at the roots is hard, I love volume and my hair needs moisture.
January 10, 2022 @ 8:57 am
Thank you so much! That is really hard. I feel like a lot of curly girls struggle with different textures throughout their hair. I would make sure to focus the conditioner on the bottom half of your hair; especially since that is on the curlier side. Maybe only condition the top every other wash? I hope you find a routine and products that work for you!
February 24, 2022 @ 8:08 pm
Great info… I am going to look into Ouidad products. Question… which curling spray do you use (step #8)? I need a good revitalizing spray in between wash days.
February 28, 2022 @ 8:41 am
Ouidad products are sooo good! I love them. I use Bathpack products (linked in step #8) for a curl refresh. Dry shampoo is a given, but Bathpack also has dry conditioner which is ideal for curls!
April 14, 2022 @ 9:43 am
Hello … thanks for the info!!!!
My daughter (age 12) has similar hair and we’re trying to learn the process …
How do you get the “crunch” look out of dry, gelled hair???
May 19, 2022 @ 5:39 pm
Is the Polly product you use to bring out the curls is gel? No mouse or curl cream when wet?
June 15, 2022 @ 11:42 am
Yes! It’s a very thin gel…almost like a watery serum. I don’t use mousse or curl cream at all.
May 31, 2022 @ 1:22 am
Thank you for all of the information – I’ve recently gone from pin straight hair to sudden 2B curls, and it’s been a huge learning curve! I really appreciate your tips and will be checking out the Ouidad products for sure. One thing that I noticed on the Pinterest page that brought me here (aside from your gorgeous hair!) was that on the big picture part it says that you went from 2A hair to 3C, which is quite a bit different than 2C to 3A.
June 15, 2022 @ 11:35 am
Ahh I know! It was a typo made by my Pinterest manager (who does not have curly hair, so easy mistake) and by the time I realized it, it had already gone viral so I didn’t want to delete it and make all those people lose access to the post! But anyway I’m glad the post was helpful! I actually started using a different brush in the shower, so I might update the post to add that 🙂
June 7, 2022 @ 4:32 pm
Interesting, I used to have ringlets. Then, when I start fully moisturizing, a lot of it straightened out with the exception of the last couple of inches on the end. Dry shrivels my hair…moisture lengthens it….straight. Everyone’s hair is different on how it reacts to product. I ran from a Ouidad salon once when I found out many of the products they were using (their own obviously) contained silicones. Deal breaker. But, that was maybe 12ish years ago. I am also one that NEEDS moisture. I cannot at all use anything to help absorb water before drying. It will frizz….EVERY TIME. I go from soaking wet to sitting under a dryer. It’s a PITA to do, but when I travel, the dryer goes with…LOL It looks strange and people wouldn’t even understand soooo…… Diffusers only work on me if my hair is short. Once it gets chin-length, I’m done…..it will frizz. And air-drying? LOL Yea…I WISH. I used to be able to do that about 10 years ago, but my hair is a PITA and changes it’s mind….A LOT! LOL I don’t bank on hair/curl type, either. I bank on porosity. We can have the same hair “type” and my hair can look completely different than yours even though we may use the same product. Maybe yours absorbs product better than mine or vise versa. I am not one for the claims “Use this hair product and your hair will look like mine!” because it’s total BS. There is no one size fits all. It takes a ton of time….a ton of experimenting …and a good curly cut. Straight-line cuts (your typical everyday salon) do not work for me…they do for some..not me. I must do deva cuts and even then I can get a ‘bad’ cut that doesn’t work. The struggle is REAL. It’s crazy how much time, energy, and money we shove into our hair for the sake of GOOD HAIR DAYS!!! LOLOLOL
June 15, 2022 @ 11:41 am
Girl I completely agree!! I do think mentioning hair type is helpful in starting to discover what MIGHT work for you, but yes everyone’s hair is different. To tell you the truth, I don’t even know how to measure porosity so that would be a difficult factor to base things off of. Plus like you said, length makes a difference too! But I will say that these tips helped a lot for MY hair and I did see a lot of comments saying it worked for them too so at least it was able to help some people 🙂
Too much moisture can definitely weigh the hair down. I used Shea Moisture products once (the orange one) and it did NOT work for my hair at all! It was too heavy, so then when I learned that something more lightweight would work for me, I actually saw the difference and went with that. Not sure if that is related to porosity or not but maybe! It certainly is a journey! Hopefully you’ll find something that works for you…until your hair changes again! Lol
October 20, 2022 @ 9:05 pm
I have mixed grade of hair and I don’t know how to care for it properly.
November 3, 2022 @ 9:10 am
What is your main concern? Moisture? Hydration? I would address the most severe first and work on hair health before styling!
July 18, 2023 @ 6:21 pm
I’m a 2b and would love to be a 3a. I do mostly curly girl method for a long time now. I read that you are supposed to layer on products after washing so I was surprised you only use gel. Make that would help me get more curls. I usually use a leave in conditioner then curl cream then gel. T shirt wrap it up then air dry basically. My gel is light, not sticky as to make a hard cast. Maybe I just need the gel and lots of it. What do you think?