How to Condition Curly Hair

Taking care of your curly hair can be a challenge if you don't know what products and tools work best for your hair type. A good conditioner and homemade remedies can be essential for curly hair.

Steps

Conditioning

1. Select a conditioner or natural oil. Most curly hair benefits from moisturizing conditioner for dry or damaged hair. Larger curls that clump into ringlets benefit from a light moisturizer or oil, while coils or kinks benefit from a heavy, creamy moisturizer that provides excellent protection. Alternatively, select a natural oil instead:
   
   • Jojoba oil is an extra-light oil that feels less greasy than other options.
   • Coconut oil is excellent at penetrating hair to restore strength.
   • Olive oil or grapeseed oil. These are medium-thickness oils. Olive oil has a strong scent that not everyone enjoys.
   • Castor oil may help restore thinning hair, although this doesn't always work. Because it is extra-thick and heavy, try cutting it with coconut or grapeseed oil.
   • Optionally, warm the oil by placing the jar in a bowl of hot water. This improves its ability to penetrate your hair.
2. Apply conditioner and untangle gently. Distribute conditioner or oil throughout your wet hair. Use your hands or a wide-toothed comb to gently detangle your hair and distribute the conditioner. Start by untangling bottom sections of your hair, then gradually move upwards.
   
   • Never scrub your scalp with conditioner! It can clog your pores, damaging your hair and weighing it down.
   • If using oil, start with about 1 oz (30mL). Increase if necessary for full coverage.
3. Let sit in your hair. Let the conditioner or oil sit in your hair for at least five minutes. This gives your hair time to absorb some of the oil. For a greater effect, leave it in for 15–20 minutes instead.
   
4. Rinse your hair. Rinse your hair with running water. Cool water will help seal your hair cuticles, reducing frizz and locking in the oils.
   
5. Apply leave-in products or hair masks (optional). Once the regular conditioner or oil is removed, consider additional products for protection.
   
   • A leave-in conditioner is easy to apply and requires no removal.
   • A leave-in cream or conditioner nourishes your hair while holding styles in place.
   • For stronger protection, apply a hair mask over the ends of your hair. Use the hair mask once a week in place of deep conditioning, or more frequently for easily damaged hair. Try masks intended for curly hair, or for making hair softer.

Deep Conditioning

1. Select a deep conditioner. Deep conditioner helps tame extra-curly or frizzy hair. Deep moisturizing will also treat dry or damaged hair, which often occurs with curls.
   
   • If your hair is healthy and relatively shiny on its own, consider the oil treatment described below instead.
2. Apply about once a week. Deep conditioners take some time to apply, and can leave your hair feeling greasy. They're best applied about once a week, or whenever your hair feels dry.
   
   • It's especially important to deep condition after swimming in a chlorinated pool.
3. Wash your hair. Wash hair as usual, applying shampoo in a downward motion to prevent tangling. Rinse out thoroughly.
   
4. Section your hair. If you have long hair, divide it into 6–8 sections for more convenient handling. Detangle your hair if necessary, but be gentle as wet hair is more vulnerable to damage.
   
5. Rub in conditioner. Squeeze out a dab of conditioner about the size of a large coin (such as a quarter). Rub this into the ends and middle of your wet hair, evenly distributing it across all sections.
   
   • You may apply near the roots if they are damaged, but take care to avoid the scalp.
   • If your hair feels exceptionally greasy, gently blot out the surface oils with a towel.
6. Apply heat (optional). Heat will open up the cuticles of your hair, allowing the condition to penetrate more deeply. Wet three or four hand towels with cold water, wring them out, and microwave until hot, about 1–2 minutes. Wrap around your head and leave on for 5–10 minutes. Microwave the towels again if they get cold before the time is up.
   
   • Alternatively, put on a plastic cap and sit under a hooded dryer for 20–30 minutes.
7. Rinse hair. Rinse your hair thoroughly to remove the conditioner.
   
8. Apply additional products or style. If you plan to use any of these treatments, apply them now:
   
   • Apply leave-in conditioner or styling cream to keep your hair protected and shiny.
   • Detangle if necessary. Use a gentle approach to avoid damaging hair.
   • Large hair rollers can encourage a more uniform wave. This will also make your hair softer and more manageable.
9. Let air dry. Avoid blow dryers, which can cause further damage to your hair. If you normally rely on blow drying to help style your hair, try other methods to curl or straighten your hair. Keep in mind that any method involving heat can cause damage.
   
   • If you use a curling iron, look for a thick one 1–1.5" (2.5–3.75cm) in diameter. Set it to the lowest heat setting.

Tips

• Sulfates (such as ammonium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate) are found in most shampoos and can be drying and damaging to curly hair. Consider not shampooing and washing with only conditioner ("co-washing"), which are popular techniques among many African-American women.
• Trim the hair as needed (depending on how fast your hair grows, but every two to four months could be a good starting point) to get rid of split and dry ends. Ask your hair stylist not to use a razor as it will leave your ends ratty.
• Consider a protective hair style such as braids or twists. These can be left in for a month or two, reducing damage from exposure. Do not leave in the style for longer than two months, or it may cause severe matting.
• Curly hair has different needs during different seasons. In the summer, use more liquid products and/or reduce the amount of leave-in products, to prevent frizzing and increase definition. In winter, switch to heavier, creamer products and use more conditioner to combat dry, wintry air.

Warnings

• Sun can damage hair. Look for a conditioner that includes sunscreen, or wear a wide-brimmed hat or scarf when in bright sun.
• If you are using essential oils, dilute them first with a thinner oil (not water) before using them on any part of your body - whether hair or skin.

Things You'll Need

• Conditioner
• Wide-toothed comb

Related wikiHows

• How to Tame Naturally Curly Hair
• How to Style Curly Hair
• How to Care for Naturally Curly or Wavy Thick Hair
• How to Turn Curly Hair Into Loose Waves
• How to Follow the Curly Girl Method for Curly Hair
• How to Condition Long Hair

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