Those with naturally curly hair will be aware that it is a hair type that can need a lot of care. Straightening irons, expensive products and treatments are not the only option. More eco friendly ways of treating curly locks can be found in the kitchen.
Natural Hair Wash
Hair can be washed with apple cider vinegar as suggested by Lorraine Massey in her book Curly Girl. Vinegar has been rated highly for years as a hair rinse believing to promote shine and health. Vinegar adjusts the pH of hair when used diluted as a rinse. It is important to use vinegar sparingly and in conjunction with a good conditioner. Otherwise it can be drying to the hair if used too often. Hair can be clarified with baking soda and then washed with an apple cider vinegar rinse. Baking soda is alkaline and raises the hair cuticle; vinegar is acidic and closes the cuticle again.
Curly hair is often more porous and sometimes more sensitive chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate so avoiding harsh shampoos will help keep hair from getting dry and frizzy.
Honey Conditioner
Mix a spoon of honey into a cup of water and massage carefully into hair. Leave hair to soak for five minutes and then wash out carefully.
Homemade Styling Products
Flaxseed gel (called linseed decoction in UK) can be made easily. Read How to Make Flaxseed Gel to Style Curly Hair to learn more. Aloe Vera can be used as a serum to eliminate frizz and add shine to curls, simply break off a leaf and squeeze out as much as is required. Olive oil is another easy way to add shine, a few drops are sufficient to smooth hair.
Deep Hair Conditioning Treatments
Curly hair sometimes needs additional conditioning treatments to stay shiny. An easy way to boost moisture is to mix half an avocado with a spoon of olive oil. Massage carefully into hair and leave for twenty minutes with an old shower cap to aid penetration. Other hair masks can be made using coconut milk, banana and honey. Experiment with combinations to find a good formula that eliminates frizz and improves condition.
Managing Curly Hair
It is best to keep use of heated products to a minimum. Bending over when hair is wet and using hands to scrunch curls adds lift without drying hair out. Rags can be used in wet hair to create tighter or looser curls, and can be left in hair overnight. Avoiding brushes is important with curly hair as they commonly cause frizz, it is advisable to use fingers to comb hair and eliminate tangles without breaking or damaging fragile hair. Users of the Naturally Curly forum will be familiar with the Plopping method where a microfiber towel or t-shirt is used to settle wet hair to encourage clumps of curls to form.
There are a lot of ways of simplifying your hair care saving money and reducing your impact on the environment. Curly hair often requires products to reduce frizz and improve condition; these can easily be made at home for a fraction of the cost of store-bought items. The following articles give more information about taking care of skin and hair at home:
Natural Dry Skin Remedies: Skincare at Home
Natural Oily Skin Remedies - Easy Treatments at Home
Natural Sensitive Skin Remedies – Easy Treatments at Home
Natural Acne and Blemish Solutions - Easy Homemade Treatments
Sources
- NaturallyCurly.com To Plop or Not to Plop (accessed 14 April, 2010)
Priya Chauhan - A designer, topic editor and feature writer (for Hinduism) and all round experimenter of healthy living; Priya enjoys being creative, and ...
