January 15, 2023

Quick & Easy, Beginner-Friendly Curly Hair Routine

Not everyone has an hour and a half to spend on their hair for wash day, so what can you do when you need to wash and style your curls and head out the door or get to bed? In this video, I’m sharing my fastest curly hair routine, simplified.

Wash Day Routine Steps

Detangle (optional)
Apply conditioner and detangle and make shampooing easier and prevent matting.
Cleanse
Use a lathering shampoo to cleanse the scalp, working it towards the lengths when rinsing.
Condition
Apply conditioner again to moisturize the hair and further detangle if needed. Rinse thoroughly and wrap the hair loosely in a hair towel.
Moisturize
Spritz the lengths of your hair with water. Apply a leave-in conditioner or curl cream for moisture and to help clump the curls. Brush it through to ensure it’s evenly distributed.
Tame Frizz
Section hair (if needed) and apply a medium to strong hold gel thoroughly. Use a brush to create curl clumps and ringlets in any problem areas.
Microplop (optional)
Scrunch with your damp hair towel to absorb any excess water and help speed up your dry time. If any frizz forms, scrunch in a light layer of gel mixed with water.
Diffuse
Diffuse until dry, or just diffuse for 5-10 minutes to set the curls, then finish air drying. If you’re going to bed, dry your curls fully to ensure they don’t get ruined while you sleep. Protect your curls at night with a silk bonnet, scarf, or pillowcase.

In total, it took me about 35 minutes from start to finish. Washing was about 10 minutes with detangling, styling was about 15, and diffusing was 10. The time it takes to do each step will vary depending on your hair’s density and damage level. Higher density, thick hair will take longer to apply products and take longer to dry.

If you want more help with reducing your dry time, watch this video on How to Reduce Dry Time.