How to Style Curls that Fall Flat, Don’t Last, or Are Overly Soft
If your curls fall limp, frizz, struggle to hold a curl, or feel too soft and flat, then you need a to make these teaks
A portion of this post is sponsored by V&Co. Beauty. Full disclosure here.
Have you lost your curls this summer? If they’ve become frizzy, dry, limp, and tangly this summer it could be from one of these common mistakes.
Did you know that chlorine can be damaging to the hair if left in? This can lead to dryness, color fading, and cuticle damage. Salt water can also be very drying to the hair.
If you are experiencing damage, stay tuned for mistake #3 for more help with that. Not prepping your hair before swimming
If you’re going straight in the pool, ocean, etc. without prepping your hair first, it’s likely to become tangled, dry, and frizzy when swimming.
There are a few methods you can try to prep your hair.
The first method is to wet your hair with clean water which will soak into your cuticles and slow down the absorption of chlorine or salt water. Wet your hair under the tap, shower, or bring a spray bottle with clean water in it to mist on the go.
You can also apply a leave-in conditioner or conditioner to your hair so it feels softer and won’t get tangled. I actually like to do this method before my shampoo, so I used the V&Co. Curly Conditioner to detangle my wet hair.
This is a new brand that I’ve been testing out and love how affordable the products are. They have even won awards in Marie Claire and Self Beauty.
They currently have 4 different lines, Straight (which contains aloe), Wavy (which is rich in rice proteins), Curly (contains jojoba oil), and Thick (contains biotin and coconut oil).
I have used the Curly and the Wavy versions and enjoyed them both. All V&Co. products have a proprietary peptide technology and are rich in peptides, amino acids, and proteins. Continue reading for mistake #3 to learn more about these types of ingredients.
Another method is to apply an oil such as one that contains coconut oil. This type of oil is highly penetrating so it will soak in and slow the absorption of chlorine and salt water.
V&Co.’s Thick Shampoo and Conditioner also contain coconut oil, so applying the is another great way to protect the hair while swimming.
Did you know that chlorine can be damaging to the hair if left in? This can lead to dryness, color fading, and cuticle damage. Salt water can also be very drying to the hair.
When you are done swimming, rinse your hair in regular, clean water as soon as you can. This will rinse out the chlorine.
Once you’re able to wash, use a gentle cleanser such as the V&Co. Curly Shampoo which gives a great lather without stripping the hair. This is a great option if you’re going to be swimming again the next day because it won’t dry out your hair when using it often. With curly hair, we try and not wash our hair too often but it’s healthier to cleanse the shampoo out each day then it is to leave it in.
It’s also good to use a clarifying shampoo that will give you a deeper cleanse, but that is something that you would only use once a week or less.
Neglecting proteins and amino acids in your routine is a big mistake, especially if you’re experiencing signs of damage such as breakage, dryness, limp curls, split ends, etc.
You can also deep condition with protein regularly and use bond-repairing treatments.
Our hair can be easily damaged from chlorine, the sun, heat styling, friction, bleach, and much more. If you’re currently transitioning to wearing your natural curls it’s especially great to incorporate these ingredients.
All V&Co. products have a proprietary peptide technology and are rich in peptides, amino acids, and proteins. The wavy version has an extra protein ingredient, rice protein.
I used the V&Co. Curly Conditioner to condition and detangle my hair, let it sit for a bit then rinsed it thoroughly.
Having those strengthening ingredients in your shampoo and conditioner is an easy way to incorporate them in your routine.
Another way you can strengthen the hair is using a deep conditioner that is rich in protein ingredients. I like to rotate my deep conditioners with protein and protein-free ones.
You can also use bond repair products to actually repair hair at a molecular level such as Epres, Olaplex, K-18, Living Proof, and Curlsmith Bond Curl. These are treatments that are used about once a week to repair damage, and especially work for color-treated and bleached hair.
Proteins can also be helpful in your styling products, so I like to incorporate them in my gels to help lock in moisture.
Aside from water, the sun is also very damaging to our hair. Have you ever noticed your ends or the top layer turning lighter, almost like highlights? This means the sun has caused damage, increasing your porosity. This happened to me last year at the beach, even when I had used UV protectant.
Use products with UV protection in them, and cover your hair when possible. I using the Curlsmith Miracle Shield which protects from UV rays, chlorine, and salt water.
It can also be used on your dry hair before you go out in the sun. This is what I wish I did last time to avoid the sun damage I got.
There’s often UV protection in styling products too, usually in gels. Sometimes the label will mention it and other times you’ll have to just check the ingredients.
I will list some UV protectant ingredients you can look for. Certain oils can also protect from the sun such as Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil which is in the Miracle Shield also protects from the sun.
The best way is to stay in the shade or cover your hair with a scarf or hat. I like tying my hair up in a silk scarf to keep it protected and wearing a sun hat.
If you style your curls and by the end of the day they are completely ruined and frizzy, it’s likely because the products do not have enough hold or humidity blocking ingredients. Curl creams alone just don’t cut it when it comes to frizz and humidity.
I’m first applied a curl cream for moisture, then went in with a strong hold gel from Jessicurl. You can skip curl cream or leave-ins to achieve stronger hold from your gel.
Look at the ingredients on your gel and see if it contains “polyquaternium.” Ideally, you want to see multiple if you’re looking to humidity-proof your curls.
This gel is also very lightweight, so if you struggle with all gels weighing down your hair, give it a try.
You can also achieve more hold by adding in a hairspray at the end of your routine.
I did my usual brush styling routine which can also help improve the longevity of your curls and smooth frizz. I focus on problem areas and face-framing pieces. After styling, I scrunch with my hair towel to speed up my dry time and apply another light glaze of gel. This will really amp up the hold level.
I know this one might be surprising, but leaving your hair wet for extended periods of time can be damaging. In addition, air drying could be why your curls are not lasting through the end of the day.
When our hair gets wet, the inner layers swell and the hair is more likely to break. If you’re styling on soaking wet hair with moisturizing products, then air drying especially when it’s humid outside, it’s going to take hours for your hair to dry. If you have already been swimming all day, then when you go to wash your hair at night, diffusing may be best so that way your hair isn’t wet the entire day and all night air drying.
I much prefer diffusing because I can get my hair dry and it is finished right away instead of walking around for hours with wet crunchy curls. Air drying results in more frizz when it’s humid because the cast won’t set right away.
I also find that my curls last so much longer throughout the day because that gentle heat sets the curl shape into place. My curls are less elongated and have more volume and shape.
After diffusing, I like to place root clips along my part for extra volume while my hair cools and sets, then remove and fluff/scrunch out the cast for a softer look.
When it’s super hot out, you’re going to have to put it up. However, you want to avoid wearing slick back styles that put a lot of tension on the hairline and the hair causing breakage, especially while it’s wet.
There are alternative ways you can put your hair up without causing breakage. Use a silk scrunchie and keep it loose. I like the Curlfriend Collective scrunchies for this.
Another method is to use a claw clip. These are super on trend and don’t put tension since you’re not wrapping something around your hair. A silk scarf is my favorite way to secure my hair while at the beach because it will also protect it from the sun, wind, and from being dented and stretched.
I love how this routine turned out! It’s super defined so the curls will last longer in humidity, and gives lightweight moisture. If you’re looking for lightweight but strong hold stylers, check out the Jessicurl ones linked above.
What do you think?
Some frizz is normal and expected in the summer. Remember to not stress over your hair and enjoy all the summer fun. These are minor adjustments you can make in your routine to improve the health of your hair if you’re struggling.
For more help with frizz, watch my 10 Hacks for Frizzy Curly Hair video.
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