I remember when I was younger and I longed to have straight hair, I couldn't stand all the flicks, kinks, and chunky curls that was my hair. I even once considered having my hair treated so I could have the desired straight long locks that all of my friends had, but alas something clicked and I grew into loving my hair. This change came with other girls at school would ask me how I managed to get my hair so curly, and my answer would simply be that I don't do anything with it- which I didn't.
Now that I'm older, and care (most of the time) as to how I look I take my time in looking after my hair. Those of you will know that it's not the easiest at all with naturally curly hair, it can become dry, dull and look flat- which normally occurs when you're off out with friends!
What I love most about my hair is that I can often get away with simply washing my hair, give it a shake and leave it to dry and most of the time it looks pretty great. What's even more handy is when I don't have time in the morning to deal with it I can just wake up, give it a shake around and it can still look good. However, it's not all a walk in the park with curly hair. To make it look and feel it's best you should be attending to the care it needs and in this post I'm going to share with you my hair rituals and favourite products that keep my hair looking gorgeous!
VO5 Plump It Up Heat Defence Spray
We all need a heat defence spray if we're drying our hair but even more so when it's curly, curly hair dry's out quite quickly and adding heat to the mix is damaging. I don't blow dry my hair very often I normally let it drip dry but if I'm going out somewhere and it needs a wash and dry then I do I insist on using this VO5 'Plump It Up' spray- its a god send. I just sparingly spray this all over my hair giving it full coverage, you don't want to use too much otherwise it can make your hair still sticky once dry (not nice!). This product is also great for giving a bit of emphasis to them curls and to as it suggests 'plump it up' a bit.
John Freida Frizz Ease Extra Strength 6 Effects Serum
Okay for me this is the holy grail of hair products for my hair, curly girls this is THE product you need in your life. This serum is like adding magic to your hair, after I've washed my hair I wrap it up in a towel and sort the rest of me out. I then unwrap my hair and have my hair falling downwards, then give two pumps of this on my fingers and scrunch my hair with my hands. I use this every time I wash my hair. Not only does this protect, smooth, hydrate and tame your curls but the emphasis it gives is wonderful- you'll feel like a curly-haired princess with this!
L'OréalExtraordinary Oil
Another gorgeous serum that is a must use, I only feel the need to use this when my hair is dull and needing an uplift to relieve it's dry feeling. A couple of pumps of this, again scrunched into my hair after I've washed it and my hair not only smells amazing but it feels smooth, soft and adds a natural shine. What's even more fabulous about this product is the fact you can use it on dry hair too, I recommend if you're going to blow dry them curls not only use the VO5 heat defence spray but use this after you've styled. It really gives a nice finish!
Superdrug Coconut Oil
Okay I know it says for "all skin types" but trust me on this, coconut oil works wonders for your hair! There's so many ways you can use this product too; deep hair treatment where you shampoo your hair, apply the coconut oil from tips to roots and leave over night to then wash out in the morning (this is great if you're hair is needing some repair!), or you can simply apply it on the ends of your hair after you've washed it. It helps to clear up dandruff and encourages hair growth, I wouldn't recommend using this more than once a month. It smells amazing and it's a reasonable price too- just don't get confused with the coconut cooking oil!
Lush's Curly Wurly Shampoo
We all know you can't really beat a Lush product, and for me this is a treat for my hair. I use this shampoo once a month and what's even better is that you don't need to apply a lot for it to lather up (a little dab will do!). This shampoo works wonders for defining your curls, giving your hair moisture, and with the real coconut that's evident in it you'll smell amazing too. A little expensive to use on a regular basis for me, but that's what makes it an extra special treat!
Lush's Roots Hair Treatment
It's noted on this product that it's for "fine hair," my hair is definitely not fine it's more like a lion's mane. However, I've found that Roots Hair Treatment works wonders for us thick-haired ladies. Again I do this treatment maybe once a month or once every two months depending on how my hair is feeling. To apply you simply apply it to the roots of your hair, a little tricky so do this when you have plenty of time to pamper yourself. Parting your hair will help and a mirror at hand will aid you, but once again you don't need a lot of this product for it to work wonders. The tingly minty freshness you get from the product gives you the feeling that it's doing something. The mint will stimulate the hair follicles and encourage hair growth, so my top tip for this product is to use it when you've had a hair cut and use it the second time you go to wash your hair- let them curls flow!
Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo and Conditioner
Last but not least, my shampoo and conditioner of choice- Aussie Miracle Moist. I would like to note that I do alternate my shampoos as my hair can get a bit fed up with the same old thing, think of it like if you ate one type of food every single day- I think you would get fed up too and it wouldn't do you much good! The same goes for the products you use on your hair, but Aussie really is the best. Apply the shampoo only to the roots, and the conditioner to the ends. Be sure to leave the conditioner on for a good 5 minutes or more before washing it out, as it will give it extra softness. I adore the smell of this shampoo and a small bit goes a long way...well the conditioner not so much as it's fabulous!
So there we have my favourite go-to products to care for my curls, and if you would like to share new products or tips for me to try out on my hair then please do- I'm always happy for new suggestions to care for my hair.
