Hair Care Lately

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

I may be biased in saying this, but I believe curly/ kinky/ coily hair is the best hair! As a member of this hair group community, I think highly textured hair is where the party is. However, as many curly and coily haired gals can attest, maintenance can be brutal. Using countless products that do nothing, going on an endless search for that holy grail product, battling frizz and buildup, and hairstyles that just don't work. Sometimes changing your routine can feel daunting but the benefit is that it can revamp those dull hair days and keep your wild mane looking glamorous and frizzless. Keep reading to find out my latest hair care routine!

Photo by Derrick Hogue

My wash days are a dedicated day to self care/ me time! Caring for long coily hair takes time and patience, never rush the process or you will get frizz! IGK's Low Key is my current favorite shampoo to cleanse with, usually the day before I will prep my hair with a pre- shampoo (pre poo) like Design Essentials Scalp Tonic and sleep with it overnight. 

For conditioners, i've been using IGK's Expensive and I always leave it in for 15-30 minutes for my hair to soak it up! Before rinsing it out, I use my handy dandy wide tooth comb to detangle. Combs are a better alternative than most brushes for curly and kinky locks, it is best used on hair when wet.

If you don’t have at least one Kinky Curly brand styling product in your hair regimen, you’re truly missing out! This black-owned brand focuses on giving highly textured hairs as much volume and nutrients as possible. With ingredients like argan, coconut, and moroccan oil, there are styling products for all curl types. The best selling Knot Today detangler makes knots disappear and is truly magic in a bottle. I've been using this product for about 6 years now and can't ever see myself not using it! 

I use to use a special microfiber hair towel to dry my hair and keep my curls in tact, but it's truly not necessary. After that towel ripped, I never replaced it and have been using a plain 'ole oversized tee shirt to wrap my hair in. And the best part is it's inexpensive, easy to find and does the job of the pricey variations.

In terms of styling, I've been really loving Garnier's Curl Treat Hair Butter and Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil. Both products are made with organic ingredients and are great for twists, rod sets and so on. Oils are a must have in my hair care routine to lock in moisture and promote hair growth.

I will rarely use heat on my hair but when I do I make sure to use heat protectants to avoid heat damage. Design Essentials Silk Serum is my go to for this, smells great and keeps the frizzies at bay, it also helps allow my hair to stay straightened for longer amount of time which helps keep me from reaching for the straightener!

And last but not least, the baby hairs! I lay my edges down with an oldie but a goodie, from Ampro Shine N Jam Conditioning Gel. My search for the perfect edge tamer has been a long one and I'm happy to have finally found something that works and holds for longer than 4 hours!

All in all, the main focus in my hair care routine is that less is more and moisturization. The Products I use may be ever changing but the goal always remains the same! Dear readers, what does your hair care routine look like?