Deinfluencing Curly Hair – Things you Don’t Need

There is a LOT of information and products being thrown at you in curly hair content and I know it can feel so overwhelming. When I saw the trend going around for “deinfluencing” I knew I had to do a curly hair edition. These are things you do not need to buy or things you don’t need to do in order to wear your naturally curly hair.

Disclaimer – A lot of these things I may use or do from time to time and that’s ok! There’s not a right or wrong way to do your hair. I’m speaking from my personal experience. What works for one may not work for others.

Products

• Products aren’t going to look the same on everyone – it’s about the technique and hair type.
• Products overall won’t fix your damaged hair. You need to grow out damage and get it cut off.
• You don’t need the latest curly hair launches.
• You don’t need to layer a ton of different styling products.

Products you don’t need:

Some of these are just “nice to have” but there are cheaper alternatives or they aren’t needed for everyone.

• Co-washes – They have their purpose for a very gentle cleanse, perhaps mid-week. However they should not be your only cleansing method and it’s best to rotate in regular shampoos and clarifying shampoos.
• Leave-ins – They have their purpose for those with very dry hair, but if you’re already using a curl cream, you may not need a leave-in too. Leave-ins just provide moisture and manageability. Curl creams provide moisture, manageability, and have styling agents to help improve the look of your curls.
• Finishing oils – They’re great for sealing in moisture and adding shine, but most gels can do this as well. If you want a more minimal routine, you can skip this step.
• Spray bottle or steamer – These are handy to avoid soaking your hair when refreshing or during styling, but you can also just wet your hands under your faucet. Spray bottles are a “nice to have” but not critical if you’re on a budget.
• Hair towels – There are “free” options like using an old T-shirt, pillowcase, etc. However, I love using hair towels like the Curlsmith Microfiber one because they’re a bit more absorbent and easier to tie up.
• Dyson diffuser – There are more affordable hair dryer options that get the job done such as the Conair or Curlsmith diffuser. In my opinion, the Dyson gets too hot for curly hair and can cause damage.
• Protein & bond building treatments if you have healthy hair – These are needed if you have damaged hair, but if your hair is healthy you don’t have to use them. You can just incorporate a deep conditioner with protein every month or so for maintenance.

Methods & Techniques

• The traditional curly girl method is not for everyone. Watch this for more of my thoughts on it.
• Soaking wet styling/bowl method is not best for everyone, such as those who struggle with fullness, volume, scalp showing, or weighed-down hair.
• Leaving conditioner in your hair is not necessary and can cause over-moisturized hair, especially if you’re already using a leave-in or a curl cream.
• Only washing once a week may not be enough for you, especially if you have an oily scalp. Not everyone can stretch their wash days and it’s ok to wash your hair more often.
• Plopping could be why you have buildup or flat roots because it can smush the hair with products onto the scalp.

Unrealistic Hair Goals/Expectations

Following other creators with a variety of curl types is a great way to learn about all the different textures and techniques. However it’s important to be mindful of those with a different hair type than you and expecting the same results, or striving for “hair goals” that are unrealistic. This especially can come into play when you’re getting a haircut and showing your stylist a photo of how you want your hair to look. Look for someone with a similar density and curl pattern as you. Below are some examples of what impacts your results the most.

• Density – affects the outcome of haircuts
• Porosity/health level – affects the amount of frizz, longevity, hold needed
• Texture – affects the weight of products or moisture level needed
• Pattern – affects the curl definition and longevity

Trial and error are key with curly hair, and knowledge is power. If you know your hair type, you will know when seeing something online if it’s something that applies to you or not. There’s no right or wrong way to do your hair, so you can always give it a try and learn from experience!

Watch this to hear the mistakes I made when starting my curly journey.