# Curly hair care **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2000, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947 "2000-12-04T14:49:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Medea\_s\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/1 "2000-12-04T14:49:46Z")
I have had nearly pin straight hair for most of my life. Breeze to take care of, add conditioner in the shower and brush straight with a nice rubbery brush. However, recently my hair has been getting very wavy/slightly curly and I don’t know what to do with it! It knots up at the slightest whim and my usual techniques are failing to keep it in line. If I don’t brush it all the way out while its wet it curls and knots as it dries. So, my question is this, how do I take care of this stuff? Different brush? Any suggustions would be great. [sub] Mods, if this is too mundane/silly to be here, please move it and accept my apologies for not truly understanding the forum descriptions.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![nisi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a8b319/32.png) [@nisi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nisi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2000, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/2 "2000-12-04T17:36:10Z")
Hi, I’ve always had curly hair. It’s annoying. First thing - don’t brush it. Get a nice, wide-toothed comb. Use lots of conditioner. If you’re having trouble with tangles, get some detangling stuff. You may also want to try a leave-in conditioner. The more conditioned your hair is, the slipperier it is, and the less likely it is to tangle. A nice, mild shampoo is a good idea too. I hope this helps, and isn’t too silly! 🙂 Denise. ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/3 "2000-12-06T10:41:58Z")
It’s really very simple. (BTW, what happened to the proposed “streaks”?) I think that you should have it all cut off to buy me, your favorite and darling here on the SDMB, a watch fob. Meanwhile, I’ll sell my watch to buy you, MY favorite and darling here on the SDMB, a comb. [sub]All right, so it’s been done before. Hey, it’s _ **timely** _! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Medea\_s\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/4 "2000-12-06T14:25:02Z")
DRY, yes it has been done before and I wouldn’t even know where to sell this stuff. Streaks happen when I can breathe the fumes without dying. [sub] I don’t use combs now, and I have only a small clue what a watch fob is. But I know the story. Sigh. [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/5 "2000-12-06T16:23:33Z")
Curly/wavy/kinky hair tends to be drier than straight hair, and needs to be conditioned more often than straight hair. Get a shampoo that doesn’t strip your hair of all its moisture and use a good deep conditioner and a styling agent with some kind of moisurizer in it, or some oils. I have partly straight, partly curly hair, and I recommend using Aussie three minute miracle for conditioner, and using a styling lotion afterward, possibly mixed with gel. ---
**Author:** ![hypergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/49beb7/32.png) [@hypergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hypergirl)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/6 "2000-12-06T16:49:21Z")
My hair decided to change from straight to curly a few years ago. Until then I would just brush it out. When it got surly and I brushed it out it turned into a frizzball. So anyway, I think you should just get a wide tooth comb and brush it in the shower. then towel dry a bit, comb through again, put some gel or something in it, and then let it dry by itself. Thats what I do to mine and it always looks somewhat cute. ---
**Author:** ![Medea\_s\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/7 "2000-12-06T20:21:05Z")
Thank you so much guys, I will have to go buy a wide toothed comb. I think I can manage on the conditioner aspect. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/8 "2000-12-06T22:34:53Z")
I’ve had long curly hair most of my life. Ok, for awhile, it was SHORT curly hair. What I do is this…brush it completely out BEFORE showering. It’ll hurt. But the fizzball effect won’t be a factor, because you are about to shower anyway. Use a good shampoo and GOBS of conditioner. I use the Pantene Pro V Hydrating Curls myself, and it comes in a BIG container, but it costs nearly 6 bucks. I go through about one every 10 days. When you get out, brush out any tangles, (there shouldn’t be many). Use a diffuser on low setting to dry it. This will cut down the tangles, and the fizziness. Put a lil gel in your hair, and the diffuser should make the hair CURL rather than straighten more. I can skip that step, because my hair is long enough now that it dries in nice curls when I just leave it alone and let it air-dry. It takes a bit longer, but it’s not a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/9 "2000-12-06T22:42:54Z")
I’ve got hair that will naturally go into spiral curls-though I have been known to blow dry it straight for special events. I prefer mine curly though. Anyway, a wide toothed comb is an absolute **must** as well as good conditioner. I almost never use the blow dryer, and if I do, I use a diffuser, set it on the low/cool setting. Most of the time, drying naturally does best though. I also use Frizz-Ease serum in the summer, since I live in a high humidity area. This says to use when your hair is still wet, and not to dry it at all, but it works better for me if I drape a towel over my head to absorb some of the excess moisture before putting it on. Adds a nice shine, and keeps it relatively calm. I got some tips from [naturallycurly.com](http://www.naturallycurly.com) when I decided to fully accept my red curls and totally show them off. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2000, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/10 "2000-12-07T05:19:50Z")
As someone who has been cursed with extremely thick, extremely coarse naturally curly hair all my life, allow me to emphasize that you should not live another day without a wide tooth comb, tons of good conditioner and a diffuser of some sort for your hairdryer. If you don’t want to buy a diffuser, just cut off the foot part of a pair of nylons at about the ankle area and slip it over your hairdryer (secure with rubber band)–it’s cheap and easy. ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2000, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curly-hair-care/43947/11 "2000-12-07T05:55:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by evilbeth \* > \*\*…it’s cheap and easy. \*\* Funny, so’s the Original Poster! 😃 ::fleeing:: Sorry, sorry! Some good info here, Kathryn–except for the smartassed guy. :rolleyes: