Daily Haircare Routine for Natural Curls

In the last post I highlighted some of my favorite curly hair products that are in regular rotation in my house, if you haven't had a chance to read yet, find it here. Today I am going to walk you through my daily routine. Alright alright alright.Shampoo/Condition/CombI start with whatever shampoo or conditioner is in my regular rotation (current linked), and I use a comb like this one, this one, or a wet brush to detangle when wet. This is the ONLY TIME I ever brush my curls, never while dry. I usually leave a little conditioner on my ends because I find that the extra moisture prevents extra frizz.

Dry with a Cotton T-Shirt

Immediately out of the shower I use a cotton t-shirt to squeeze excess water out of my hair. Flip hair over & use a scrunching motion for best results. I literally hate Microfiber towels with every ounce of my being, and they end up getting janky af, so a cotton t-shirt it is. Update: I have found ONE microfiber towel I love and it's this one.

Add Product

Usually I start with a primer or cream like Ouidad Curl Recovery Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Styling Primer (ugh longest name ever. Use this stuff sparingly & mostly on ends) then add a gel or other preferred styling product for your hair. I usually run product through my ends, roots, and a small amount over all the hair. I am currently using and loving this creme gel.

Style

If I am being lazy I will plop my hair-- aka pile it all in a cotton t-shirt and tie it up & then sleep on it. You can find 90 million tutorials on plopping via Google. It's super simple.If I am being really lazy, I will put it all in a clip at the top of my head & run out the door (note: this is not cute or styled, just what I have to do if I have zero time) With either of the above methods, depending on the weather/day/general mood of my hair, the curls turn out like this:If I have all the time in the world & am feeling particularly bougie, I do my own tried & true method called the Katie Curl© (lol that copyright)  that I have been perfecting since age 13.--warning: it is time-consuming . Also, my mother HATES this method because I used to squeeze the product out on the counter of the bathroom to make it easier to use, and now as an adult I can see why this would be super extra & annoying.ok,

Katie Curl© Method

1. Section the hair into bottom, middle & top sections. Secure each section with a clip/bobby pin/kitchen tongs/whatever, you get it.
2. Unclip one section (I start at the bottom and work my way up) Put product into your hands, pull apart a section of hair & twist around your fingers, as if you were twirling it. You can alternate twisting strands toward & away from your face.
3. Repeat step two 9,543 times for every chunk of hair in every section. You can decide how big or small of a piece you are taking. The larger the piece, the more it will separate at the root, just fyi. Depending on your curl pattern & thickness you can find the right amount per section.
4. Diffuse on low with cold air, just enough to walk out without dripping wet. I use this dryer and the diffuser it comes with. I purchased this diffuser for easy traveling. I've heard great things about this one, too, and it's on my wish list. Let the rest air dry.
5. If you have a headband or clip it helps to secure the hair half-up so the top doesn't air-dry flat.

I know that is probably not something you can do on the daily, but if I want my curls to have extra definition & shine that is my formula. It's very ringlety, but you can always separate some of the pieces once dry if you want less definition. It produces a curl that looks like this when dry:And that's about it. My styling varies on a daily basis depending on the amount of time/patience I have. Any other curly girls out there with tips & tricks of their own? I'm always looking for suggestions.Thanks for reading, friends! Check out my skincare routine here