If you have curly hair, chances are you’re constantly fighting an uphill battle against dryness, frizz, and lack of definition. The struggle to keep curly locks hydrated and moisturized is real – curly hair tends to be much drier and more porous than straight hair types, making it prone to soaking up moisture from the environment. Keeping those ringlets luscious and defined requires some serious hydration hacks.
With all those twists and turns, every cuticle layer in each curl strand is exposed, allowing amazing pattern formation but also making curly hair highly susceptible to becoming a parched, frizzy mess without proper hydration. When curly hair lacks moisture, it can feel dry, look dull, lose its shape, and get insanely frizzy and unruly. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
Start in the Shower
Hydrating curly hair has to begin with your very first hair care step – the shower. Using the right hydrating shampoo and conditioner is key. Look for gentle, sulfate-free formulas packed with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, aloe, glycerin, and oils.
My tip? Apply your conditioner first, then shampoo second – it allows the conditioner to really soak into thirsty curls before you rinse it out. And don’t forget to do a quick cool rinse at the very end to help seal in all that lovely hydration.
Deep Conditioning is Key
In addition to your regular conditioner, curly hair needs some extra deep hydration TLC. That’s where deep conditioning treatments come in. Aim to deep condition at least once a week.
My favorite? A good hot oil treatment using rich oils like coconut, olive, or argan oil massaged directly into hair and left on for half an hour or more before rinsing out.
look for Hydrating ingredients in your hair products
Do a quick scan of ingredient lists while shopping for your curl products, be it leave-in conditioner or shampoo making sure one or more of the hydrating agents listed below are plentiful in the first 5-7 ingredients listed for best results.
1. Humectants
Humectants are hygroscopic ingredients that help draw moisture from the air into your strands. Some powerful humectants to seek out include glycerin, honey, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and hyaluronic acid. These act like sponges to infuse hair with hydration.
However, it’s important to note that humectants can have varying effects depending on your climate. In arid environments, humectant-rich products may actually suck moisture out of your hair since there’s little humidity in the air for them to absorb. If that’s your situation, try layering a hydrating oil or butter over your humectant stylers to seal in hydration.
2. Emollients
Emollients are lightweight oils, butter, and fatty compounds that help smooth down the hair cuticle and seal in moisture. Look for hydrating emollients like shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, coconut oil, olive oil, and fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol.
3. Certain Plant Oils & Extracts
Nature provides some of the most intense hydrating ingredients for curly hair. Oils from plants like argan, jojoba, almond, avocado, and marula are amazing for imparting softness and slip. Aloe vera gel/juice and hydrating plant extracts like marshmallow root are other moisturizing agents to look out for.
4. Proteins and Amino acids
While too much protein can dry out curly hair, the right balance helps bind in hydration. Seek out gentle proteins and amino acids like keratin, collagen, wheat protein, and amino acid blend to help repair and plump strands.
don’t sleep on Curl Creams and Custards
To really drench thirsty curls, add the final touch to your curl routine with a rich curl cream or custard. Unlike water-based leave-in conditioners, curl creams and custards get their hydrating prowess from oils, butter, and moisturizing silicones. They help plump up strands while providing amazing slip, definition, and lasting hydration. My secret weapon? Layering curl cream under a hard-hold gel or mousse to get soft, touchable curls with zero frizz.
Plop everyday
Plopping is a genius technique for drying curly hair that helps lock in moisture and enhance definition. After you’ve applied all your hydrating stylers, simply plop or plop and roll your wet curls into a long-sleeved cotton t-shirt or microfiber towel.
The plopping motion gently cups and wraps curls without disrupting the curl pattern or causing frizz like regular towel drying can. As your hair dries cupped in the shirt or towel, it sets in that smooth, hydrated shape. The moisture from your leave-in and stylers gets concentrated into each curl family instead of getting disrupted.
I personally plop for at least 15-20 minutes after styling, though some curlies plop overnight for ultimate hydration and definition. Just be sure not to leave your hair plopped for too long or it can start drying out.
a few easy to follow Moisture-Boosting Hacks
Even if you nail down the perfect hydrating hair routine, curly hair often needs little top-ups of moisture throughout the day and week. That’s where these unique moisture-boosting hacks come in:
- Mist hair daily with a spray bottle filled with water or a hydrating curl refresher spray to rehydrate curls.
- Do an intensive hydrating hair mask (check out some pocket-friendly DIY hair mask recipes in the meantime) or treatment weekly in addition to regular deep conditioning.
- Ditch terry cloth towels that can rough up the cuticle and cause frizz. Use an old cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel instead.
- Have you tried mixing a few drops of hydrating oil into your curl refresher spray or cream stylers? Genius way to add extra moisture!
Lifestyle and Environmental Factors
No matter how hydrating your routine is, some external factors can still dehydrate and dry out curly hair.
be wary of the water you use to shower
Hard water is one of the biggest culprits – the high mineral content leaves buildup that blocks hydration from absorbing into strands. Installing a shower filter can make a world of difference.
a proper hydrating diet
While topical hydrating products are crucial, you can actually help boost your curl hydration from the inside out too – with a hydrating diet! That’s right, what you eat and drink impacts the moisture levels in your hair just as much as your strands.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water daily and eating moisture-rich foods with high water content like watermelon, cucumbers, oranges, leafy greens, tomatoes, and berries. Foods rich in omega fatty acids like salmon, walnuts, and flax help hydrate from within by supporting healthy oil production.
cut off consumables that dehydrate your hair
Limit dehydrating culprits like alcohol, caffeine, and salty/processed foods that can leach moisture from hair over time. Supplements like biotin and vitamins B and C are also great for supporting strong, hydrated locks. With a hydrating diet, you’re giving your curls their best chance at plumpness and hydration!
minimize heat styling your curls
Using too much heat from styling tools or excessive sun exposure is another major cause of moisture loss for curly hair. Limit the use of hot tools and always protect strands with a thermal protectant. If you live in a dry climate or use indoor heating heavily, your hair is also prone to moisture depletion. In these cases, my advice is to use even more intensive hydrating treatments and masques.
When to Seek Professional Help
Even with a perfect hydrating routine and the best products, some curly hair types stubbornly stay extremely dry, brittle, and frizzy. If at-home efforts fail, it may be time to seek help from a professional curl expert stylist. They can analyze your specific hair needs and prescribe the right keratin treatments, smoothies, hair botox, or other professional hydrating solutions.
In some cases, chronic dry hair is a symptom of an underlying medical condition like hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease that impacts the body’s ability to properly hydrate the hair. So if excessive dryness persists no matter what, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor to check for any potential health issues.
