How to Choose the Best Moisturizer for Curly Hair
Moisturizing creams for curly hair help care for the hair, leaving it much healthier. This helps raise self-esteem and enhances natural beauty. In the past, maintaining beautiful curls was hard work because there were few product options for this hair type. However, today there are great options on the market.
Type of Curl
Do you know what your type of curl is? Know that hair can be classified into 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, and 4C. The numbers 2, 3 and 4 define the type of hair, being 2 wavy, 3 curly and 4 frizzy. The letters indicate the definition of the curls, going from the most open to the most closed.
2A wavy hair is similar to straight hair, with subtle, indefinite waves. Type 2B has waves formed near the top of the head and with a bit of volume. The 2C is wavy, and the 3A curly are quite similar, known for being curly, with open, voluminous curls.
The 3B curls, on the other hand, have a spiral shape with a lot of volume and dryness at the ends. While the 3C curl is quite similar in texture to the 4A due to smaller, well-defined curls. Lastly, curly 4B and 4C curls do not easily form curls and tend to have thick streaks.
Whatever your curl type, hydration is essential, as curly hair tends to dry out easily. So check out our tips below and choose the best moisturizer for you right away.
How to Choose the Best Moisturizer for Curly Hair
To choose the best moisturizing moisturizer for curly hair, you must consider elements such as your type of curl, the moisturizing and nourishing components that make up the mask and, mainly, choose a suitable cream for your routine.
See what oils are present in the moisturizing mask.
Most moisturizers are made up of nourishing oils. They bring numerous benefits to curly hair and help retain moisture for longer. Therefore, it is important to know more about the benefits of the main types of oils.
Coconut oil: Improves blood circulation and leaves hair shiny due to its ability to penetrate the hair fiber. In addition, it aligns unruly hair and adds silkiness to dry hair.
Argan oil: It is great to help reduce the curls’ volume and provide shine and softness to the threads. Another advantage is the reduction of frizz, which helps seal the hair cuticles.
Extra virgin olive oil: Contains anti-inflammatory properties, which prevent dandruff by caring for the scalp’s health. Thanks to its great capacity to penetrate the hair, it favors the shine and softness of the hair and helps growth.
Avocado oil: Contains vitamins A, B, D and E, proteins, amino acids, iron, copper, magnesium and folic acid. In addition, they prevent hair damage and reduce hair dryness, improving hair health.
Jojoba oil: It is a highly moisturizing component. Therefore, it provides more shine, softness and silkiness of the hair. In addition, it also helps repair damage caused by the heat of the dryer or diffuser, restoring elasticity to the curls.
Castor Oil: Although it has similar properties to coconut oil, this compound is more efficient for hair growth. This is due to its ability to speed up the blood circulation of the scalp.
Apart from these, there are other common nourishing oils in moisturizers, such as sunflower seeds. After knowing more about them, it will be easier to evaluate the product according to the needs of your curls.
For women with curly or frizzy hair, using a mixture of 100% pure vegetable oils is essential not to dry out the hair and keep it shinier. You can even make the blend at home using combinations of oils.
In my opinion, the best oils for hair are avocado, jojoba, sesame, and grapeseed. You can mix two of them using 5-7 ml of each. Apply to the lengths and ends of the hair on dry hair. Leave it on for 40 minutes to 1 hour and then wash normally.
Check that the moisturizing components act as your hair needs.
Adequate hydration for curly hair is essential so your locks are always beautiful and healthy. For this, investing in a product with highly moisturizing ingredients is essential. See below which are the most used components and their main characteristics.
Aloe vera (aloe): It is a well-known plant. Its main benefits are the treatment of hair loss, deep hydration of the hair, help in the growth process and the elimination of dandruff.
D-Panthenol: This compound acts directly on the hair fiber, helping to replace proteins and lipids in the scalp. In addition, it promotes hair softness and helps growth, being highly indicated for damaged hair.
Glycerin: Very common in moisturizers, it helps to retain moisture in the hair. Helps control frizz, fight split ends and give definition to curls. It also strengthens the hair, preventing it from breaking.
Currently, these components are among the most used moisturizers for curly hair. However, there are other compounds, such as plant extracts, elastin, and oat protein. These options also have a high hydration power and, therefore, can benefit your hair greatly.
Look at the label and avoid some harmful substances.
Curly hair needs special care, different from other types of locks. An example of this is that the presence of sulfates, petrolatums and silicones are more harmful for this type of hair since they contribute to drying out the curls.
Although some substances, such as sulfates, are responsible for cleaning the hair, they also remove moisture and natural oils, favoring dryness. On the other hand, silicones and petrolatum form a barrier that prevents the action of moisturizers on the hair fiber. Therefore, avoid creams with these components!
When reading a formulation in cosmetics, we must remember that the starting components have the highest concentration of active ingredients.
The ingredients obey a decreasing order of concentration in the product; the last ones are the ones with the lowest concentration. Another important piece of information that we must pay attention to is the expiration date.
There is a wide variety of containers for moisturizing masks on the market, from the smallest, 200 g, to the largest, 1 kg or more. To define the ideal, consider factors such as the length and volume of the hair and evaluate the best cost-benefit.
If buying a product for the first time, opt for smaller packages, up to 450 g. On the other hand, if you already have some experience and know the needs of your wicks, larger containers may be more interesting. The larger packs are also better for those with long hair.
Also Read: How to Choose the Best Hydrolyzed Collagen
