My Curly Hair Journey: Part 2!

Almost four years ago, I wrote my most popular blog post to date…all about my hair. When I wrote about my five tips for curly hair, I had NO IDEA how popular that post would become or how many times that little graphic would be pinned and re-pinned on Pinterest. It makes me laugh and smile at the same time!

Because that post was (and is!) so popular, I thought it was high time to update you on my curly hair journey. And believe me when I tell you, it’s been a journey. I’ve changed so many things since that post, and it started not too long ago because Facebook is basically a rabbit hole (in case you didn’t know already – HA!). A friend introduced me to a curly hair Facebook group (these things really do exist), and I was GONE. I researched products, read blog posts (I love this one by Lara Casey, especially because she’s someone I already admire and trust), and decided to change EVERYTHING within a few weeks. Best. Decision. EVER. I thought I would fill you in on all of the updates and things I have learned. Let’s get to it!

5 (New!) Tips for Curly Hair:

1. Try Products First:  After joining a Facebook group, the very first thing I did was purchase a trial of DevaCurl hair products. I opted for the Curly Mini Transformation Kit because it had travel size bottles of the three products – shampoo, conditioner, and gel – I had already been using. After just one time of using all three (incorrectly, I learned!), I saw an immediate difference. I was hooked.

The key for these products is they don’t have any sulfates in them, which is a huge plus because I learned sulfates of any kind are bad news bears for curly hair. I was happy with my trial choice because I had almost 10 days of product use under my belt before I met with my new stylist who I found because of DevaCurl.

2. Find a Certified Stylist: My previous stylist said she understood curly hair, but I had long been curious about having a curly hair haircut. I had heard about them, and I was convinced I needed to try it at least once. But, have you ever had to find a new hair stylist? The thought alone is daunting let alone actually taking the steps to find someone you love!

One of the stylists at Ulta suggested visiting the DevaCurl website to find a Certified DevaCurl Stylist, so that’s where I started. My search (and serious research) also lead me to Lara Casey’s blog and later Scott Musgrave’s site. Through both sources, I found my current stylist, Rae from Rae & Co. I can’t even hide the fact that I drove over an hour in rush hour traffic for this haircut, but I could have cried when I saw the results.

Rae cut my hair dry, taught me how to use everything from shampoo (or low-poo) and conditioner to gel, and she researched the proper products for me to use (I’m allergic to coconut, which is basically what curly hair needs and loves…oops!). The cut was $100 – much more than I’ve ever paid in the past – but it was worth its weight in gold, especially because I was at the salon for almost two hours…no joke. I will never have another type of haircut! I found my new hair BFF. : )

3. DEVACURL: DevaCurl products are magical. There’s just no other way to put it! I’ve long been a supporter of inexpensive products. I feel like I go through shampoo, conditioner, and gel (especially gel!) like they are all water. So, the idea of spending a lot on a single product was painful…until I learned what works.

There are different types of curls (I flipped through the Curly Hair Handbook while my hair was drying at my first appointment), and my hair is technically more “wavy” than curly. My curls are loose rather than tight spirals, and I learned all but one of the original DevaCurl products I was using were incorrect. The products were too heavy for my hair, so I switched to the Low-Poo Delight and One Condition Delight. Both are lighter, and I honestly like the scent so much more than the products that came with the trial. Plus, I only need to use the Ultra Defining Gel rather than gel and cream gel (so, savings!).

A stylist will be able to teach you best, but I use all three products in a row. I start with Low-Poo, and I make sure to massage it into my scalp before completely rinsing it out. Then I switch to conditioner. I actually scrunch the conditioner into my hair, and I don’t wash all of it out (something I never would have done before!). Ideally, you want your curls to “clump” together when wet, and I’ve actually added more conditioner to my hair and left it in, in order to make this happen. Right before I get out of the shower (with the water off!), I scrunch a quarter size amount of gel into my hair because the gel should be added to the mix when your hair is as wet as possible.

4. All of the Air Drying: When I get out of the shower, I will scrunch some of the extra water out with a t-shirt. I learned drying your hair with a towel is a total no-go because the process removes too much moisture and causes frizz. I switched to a t-shirt I hardly ever wear, and I’ve noticed a difference. Technically, I think I should be using a microfiber towel, but I’m taking baby (financial) steps here, friends. : )

Then, I let my hair completely air dry. The key is making sure you don’t touch your hair while it’s drying. Once dry (as in, a few hours later), I’ll scrunch my hair to break the “cast” the gel forms (my curls basically feel crunchy, and the scrunch softens the look again).

5. A Few Extra Helpful Products: My hairstylist introduced me to clips, which help to build volume, keep curls in place, and keep my hair out of my face while it’s drying. I only use these if I’m not running out of the door, but they do help (I think these are similar). My favorite hair ties are knotted (these are similar!), and I will sometimes pull my hair into a high ponytail using one wrapped loosely around my hair right before I go to bed. The goal is to not have to wash your hair every day, and I have found sleeping with my hair in a high ponytail works! I’ll add a pea size amount of DevaCurl’s Styling Cream and spray my curls with hairspray in order to bring them back to life for another day the next morning. Of course, bobby pins are always a must! They’re my favorite tool for styling my hair with a side twist or braid.

I hope this (long!) update is helpful if you have curly hair! Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email if you have any questions or suggestions.

*This post is not sponsored by DevaCurl. I truly love the products, and I wanted to share my experience (so far!) with the line.