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Let's get this straight — the hair of most Indians falls on the textured hair spectrum. It may not be all tight curls, but it's also not poker straight. Most of us have some amount of wave in our hair. And yet society's beauty standards have convinced us otherwise. Curly hair has long been considered unruly, wild, untamed and unprofessional. In fact a recent study that surveyed close to 19,500 people across nine countries found that Indians who had wavy and curly hair, have reported higher cases of professional stress. Surprising? We think not.
Because we don't know enough about it, we don't know how to care for it properly. And if you think you're alone, you're not. Actress Taapsee Pannu is right there with you, "From struggling to comb them to trying to straighten them multiple times, I've really tested my hair for years because of lack of knowledge and help at that time. I cut my hair extremely short because I just didn't know how to deal with them. But curly hair has a mind of its own and if you fight with them they will fight back and the result won't be very pleasing to eyes," she says talking about the challenges she faced while growing up with curly hair. Since Pannu seems to have nailed her curly hair routine, Be Beautiful sat down for a chat with her to know all about how to care for curly hair.
01Understanding Your Curls
"Curly hair has a mind of its own," Pannu says. "If you love them, they love you back. If you resist or try to tame them, they revolt." For many Indian women, curls can feel unpredictable, frizzing in humidity, drying out in winter, or losing definition after a monsoon downpour. But as our Pannu says, the first step in caring for curls is accepting their unique behaviour and working with it rather than against it.
She admits she learned the hard way, "Neither my mom nor my grandma had curly hair. I got my curls from my dad, and because his hair is always tied inside the turban, he didn't have many tips to give me. So I learnt it the hard way, through trial and error."
02An Easy to Manage Curly Hair Routine
Whether you're taking your first steps into the world of curly hair care or are someone who's been looking to change your routine and experiment with something new, here's the ultimate, simple curly hair routine you need. It's the one Pannu swears by.
- Pre conditioning:
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Curly hair tends to lose moisture faster due to the porous nature of the strands, so you have to make sure you're showing it enough love and conditioning. Pannu prefers to oil or use the Dove Beautiful Curls Deep Moisture Miracle Hair Mask "It's extremely good. It started showing results from the first time I used it. I use it as a pre-wash deep conditioner and keep it on for a few hours."
- Shampoo & Conditioner:
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Curly hair tends to trap a lot of dirt and the residue from styling products that needs to be cleansed on wash days. You need a gentle shampoo but one that will cleanse your scalp, followed by a deeply hydrating conditioner. The Dove Beautiful Curls Shampoo & Conditioner duo are perfect for it.
- Leave in conditioner and gel:
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Another important aspect of maintaining curly hair is styling them by using products that will lock in the moisture and keep them safe from frizz and dryness. "Also it's extremely important to add leave-in conditioner and gel to curly hair post wash to keep the curls intact. So I use the Dove Beautiful Curls Defining Gel on damp hair, comb them and then leave them to air dry. In my opinion, the hair gel gives the best finishing touch to curly hair and keeps its shape intact," says Pannu.
A few other things you can do to care for your curly hair are:
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Tie them up into a pineapple or in a silk/satin scarf while sleeping to protect your hair pattern.
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Stay away from harsh hair products that might dry out your hair and stick to using products specially made for curly hair.
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Do not comb your dry hair, you'll end up breaking the curl pattern which will lead to excess frizz.
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Get haircuts that are best suitable for curly hair and let them be their best, bouncy self.
03Accepting Your Curly Hair
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Like Pannu says, curly hair has a mind of its own and the more you try to bend them to your will, the more they will act out. So instead of hating them or trying to straighten them to your (or society's) will, it's best if you accept them the way they are. "All I've understood over the years is, when you are grateful for what you have, when you start showing it love and affection, you see visible results. If you are constantly cursing yourself for the hair you have, or the skin you have, you will never see a positive change in return. Believe truly that there is a reason you are blessed with what you have naturally and it's only a matter of time and effort and you'll understand how to deal with it. And once you do, you wouldn't want to have it any other way."
All you need to remember for caring for your curly hair is three things: cleansing, hydration and protection. You follow these steps and you will genuinely start seeing a change in your hair. Sure, styling curly hair may take effort but it's truly worth it once you learn what works the best for you.
