Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Definitely don't blow out and try to add back in with a heat tool. All the heat treatment is probably contributing a lot to your hair's tendency to frizz when you wear it natural.
I'd start with a leave in conditioner, which will help add in moisture and also weigh your hair down a bit. Then when it's wet, apply some mousse or gel to build in the waves. I know this sounds counterintuitive since you are trying to relax the curl a bit, but just don't use a product that promises to "enhance curls" and don't really scrunch it the way you would if you wanted it to curl. Just kind apply to your hair, focusing on the ends.
Don't use heat at all. Blowdrying will cause frizz, and if you diffuse, it's likely to make your curls shrink up. Instead, just don't touch it and let it dry. When it's completely dry, use a cotton t-shirt to scrunch out any "crunch" from the product (don't use a towel, a t-shirt works better because it is less likely to rough up your hair and cause frizz).
I have 2c hair and this is what I do. Very occasionally, if I want it to look *perfect* I'll take a curling iron to it in parts to make sure the waves look regular and even, or to add a little volume at the root. But mostly the combo of leave-in conditioner, some product to define the wave, and then keeping it away from any heat until it's fully dry is enough. I've found the waves look best second day, so often I wash my hair after dinner and just make sure it's dry before I go to bed. Sleeping on it helps further relax the curl (whereas stepping out into high humidity will often make it curl up a bit, but honestly not that much).
OP here. This is great advice (and thanks to all other posters too!). What leave-in conditioner do you use? And after sleeping on your curls for a night, how do you comb it out in the morning without causing a frizzy mess?
PP here. Honestly, so many leave in options. I actually use a regular conditioner (Trader Joe's Tea Tree Oil Conditioner) as a leave in -- I just apply in the shower, comb it in with a wide tooth comb, leave for 5 minutes, and then don't rinse it all the way out. Works great.
And the other PP is right -- do not comb or brush out once dry. You just finger comb and reshape by hand. Combing or brushing will cause frizz. If your hair is well moisturized, you really shouldn't need much.
Another tip is to get a pillowcase for curly hair -- I use a satin one. It can really cut down on morning frizz. But you can also add a small amount of a creme or some oil in the AM when you finger comb to smooth and decrease frizz.
Good luck! It takes some trial and error but the key is to increase moisture, eliminate heat, and decrease friction (brushing, combing, manipulating). It really makes a huge difference for frizz, especially in humid weather. Once your hair adjusts, you may even find your hair does better in humid weather than drier weather.