Tame Those Tresses : Tips for Managing Thick, Curly Hair
Thick and curly hair can be both a blessing and a curse. When it’s healthy and cooperating, a full head of curly hair is stunning, but damage can leave it looking ragged and humidity turns a regal head of curls into a frizzy mess. Learn some of the best techniques for managing curly hair and keeping it looking healthy and great by attending a beauty school for hair and cosmetology.
Cosmetology programs will teach you everything you need to know about hair, makeup and beauty, so that you cannot only tame your own wild hair but also make a career out of helping others with their hair. Cosmetologists are part of a growing industry, with job growth that is much faster than average. If you have knack for and an interest in hair, consider beauty courses and a program that will train you to work in hair and beauty while earning a great living. In the meantime, try these tips to tame your gorgeous curls.
Battle Curly Frizz with Moisture
Frizzy hair is a big complaint for anyone with curls. Curly and thick hair is much more likely to get frizzy and unmanageable as compared to straight hair. Part of the reason for this is that curly hair is drier than straight hair. To reduce the frizz, add moisture using a hydrating conditioner. Rub it in only to the length and ends of your hair, not the scalp, to avoid greasiness. You can also try using a moisture-rich leave in conditioner or hydrating hair mask a couple times a week. For a natural solution, use coconut oil to moisturize your locks.
Keep Your Hair Healthy with Co-Washing
It sounds odd but is a strategy those with thick curls swear by: co-washing. Instead of washing your hair with shampoo, which can dry it out and leave it frizzy and unhealthy, wash with conditioner only. Your hair may be so dry that you don’t actually need to wash it with shampoo, which is actually a harsh detergent. For many people, water and conditioner applied below the roots is enough to keep hair clean, soft, and healthy, but you can also now find cleansing conditioners specifically designed for the practice of co-washing.
Tame Tangles with the Right Products
Another major battle for curly- and thick-haired people is brushing it. The thicker and curlier your hair is, the more likely you are to experience headache-inducing tangles. There are several products you can use to make brushing easier, including the brush. Look for a brush designed especially for detangling. Or, try a detangling hairspray; apply it when your hair is still damp and then use a wide-toothed comb to work through the knots. Combing or brushing while your hair is still wet will also combat frizz and give you smoother curls.
Get the Right Cut to Manage Thick Hair and Curls
Getting the best haircut for your style of hair is essential. Curly and thick hair should not be cut the same way as straight or thin hair. One difference is that curly hair should be cut when dry. There is such a big difference in length and shape of curly hair between wet and dry that it makes sense to cut it dry so that you know what it will actually look like.
And, if you don’t get the right cut, you can end up with an oddly-shaped head of hair, with thick curls at the bottom and thinner sections at the top. Each head of curly hair is different, so you need an experienced stylist who can shape it just right for you. Regular trim haircuts will also help you manage thickness and split ends that can make your hair shape even more unruly.
How to Battle Humidity
Humid weather is the enemy of anyone with thick or curly hair. Humid air makes hair frizzy by adding to its volume. This may be manageable, or even desirable for someone with thin, straight hair, but thick hair just turns into a large, unattractive poof. There are a few things you can try to combat the most humid days, including not washing your hair. Avoid getting your hair wet at all when it’s humid.
Take advantage of products that help tame the frizz. For instance, a spray of leave-in conditioner can take the frizz and smooth out your curls without adding even more volume. Also look for products that contain keratin. These products will fill out the cuticle of each strand of hair, helping to minimize the frizz effect. When all else fails, a humid day is a great day to wear an up do.
Take Advantage of Professional Beauty Services
For people with soft, straight, non-frizzy hair, it’s possible to go low-maintenance and still look put together. But if you have thick and curly hair, when you don’t take good care of it, it starts to look out of control. Trained cosmetologists and hair stylists know how to cut your hair so it will look its best, and they can recommend strategies and products that will help you get sleek curls instead of a frizzy mess. So don’t skimp on good hair care and let professionals do their job, at least until you have completed your own beauty courses and have acquired the expertise to manage your own hair.
Manage Your Own Hair and Others as a Cosmetologist
What if you could use your love of hair and beauty to make a career and earn a living? You can, and it’s as easy as completing a diploma or certificate program in cosmetology. With this training you’ll be ready to work in a salon, to do hair, to do makeup and to provide a range of beauty services. If you have always been interested in beauty, now is a great time to look for a program for cosmetology that will prepare you to get a great job in this field.