by Kimberley Heit

Created on: June 24, 2009

Curly hair can be a truly attractive asset when it's well maintained, but without the proper care it often becomes frizzy, dull and difficult to handle. Curly hair is comprised of cuticles that do not lie flat, so it is incredibly prone to dryness. To get the most out of curly hair you need to follow a care routine that's especially tailored to your hair type.

Top tips for caring for curly hair:

Get a suitable cut

The right cut can help make your hair much easier to style. However, there is not a one size fits all curly hair cut. You also need to consider you hairs thickness and volume. If you hair is curly, but fine and thin, you should consider a layered stacked cut. If your hair is curly, fine and thick; a chin length, all one length cut can look great. If you hair is curly, coarse and thick; try layering or texturizing. If your hair is curly, the strands medium in thickness and you have a good volume, you can try most cuts.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

As discussed curly hair is prone to dryness. Therefore, it requires a hydrating shampoo and conditioner, along with regular nourishing treatments. Hot oil treatments can work well and regular scalp massages will help encourage the hairs natural oil production. The more hydrated you keep your hair, the better your curl will look.

Leave it to dry naturally as often as possible

Hot air tools are dehydrating, so curly haired girls are best to avoid using these tools on a regular basis. Where possible let your hair dry naturally. You can encourage your curl to form nicely by running some serum through the mid lengths to the ends and either scrunching or twisting sections of the hair. If you are in a hurry and don't have time to wait for your hair to dry, try using a diffuser attachment on a cool to medium heat setting.

Do not brush it

Brushing curly hair when it's dry is only likely to cause a frizzy mess. It is far more beneficial to give it a comb through with a wide tooth comb when it is around 50% dry then encourage the curl to form, rather then trying to brush it out.

Use anti humidity products

Curly hair is very susceptible to frizz if there is any moisture in the air. So an anti humidity product can be beneficial in helping to maintain sexy curls throughout the day. There are anti humidity sprays and silicone serums that repel moisture.

Finally, if you are trying to fight your hairs texture with a flat iron, be brave enough to stop. If you try to regularly go against what your hair naturally wants to do, you are most likely inflicting damage on your hair. If you really dislike your curly hair, you could always consider having a demi perm performed by a professional. This will help smooth your curl out.

Learn more about this author, Kimberley Heit.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.