Summer is finally here, meaning natural curls are making their seasonal comeback, and with them the return of multipronged, post-shower hair care regimens to lock the shape and manage the frizz.
For veteran curl girls, a few tweaks to the routine may be needed as temperatures start to heat up. But most already have their step-by-step process nailed down. If you’re new to the texture club, it can be difficult to determine which products to use and in what order you should use them based on your hair type, especially as all new bids for the best curl routine roll in on the TikTok “For You Page” feed.
If you ask Philip Downing, creative director and hairstylist at Bed Head, he’ll tell you product choice and dosage are essential in the process — they separate the bouncy and hydrated from the dry and depleted. “No one shoe fits all — creams, gels, mousses and sprays all have their uses. Understanding your preferences and exactly what your hair needs is paramount,” Downing added.
Priorities should be cleansing, hydration and protection, added hairstylist Carissa Cortez. “Healthy curls start in the shower with a gentle cleanser and a moisturizing conditioner. After washing, apply products while the hair is still damp to help lock in moisture and encourage curl formation,” she said, noting that the products should be evenly distributed in a upward scrunching motion. “Hydration is the foundation of curl definition. When curls are properly moisturized, they naturally clump together and form more consistent patterns.”
