Styling Tips for Short Naturally Curly Hair

Actress Amandla Stenberg via instagram

 By Mary Wolff

Styling your hair is key to looking and feeling your best every day. If you have short curly hair, you may be experiencing some roadblocks in your hair journey. Whether you recently big chopped, went short to make your routine easier, or just prefer rocking a short cut, there are a few things you should know to help you get your best look. Here are 5 styling tips for short naturally curly hair.

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1. Avoid Buildup

When the scalp produces natural oils called sebum, it is intended to travel down the hair shaft to keep strands moisturized and healthy. When you wash your hair, some of this is naturally stripped away and the process repeats itself. While many people think of this as their natural clock for when to wash, with short hair, you need to watch this even more closely. The hair shaft is naturally shorter so you require less of that sebum buildup. If you don’t stay consistent with your washing routine, you will end up with an oily buildup which can make styling harder. It all starts with the wash!

2. Dry the Right Way

Another concern for styling shorter curly hair is the matter of frizz. While this is an issue for almost every natural, short hair is especially prone to frizz. We all know frizz is created by heat and humidity, but it can also happen in the bathroom when you are drying hair. Make sure you are air drying or squeeze strands, but never rub! Rubbing your hair creates friction which raises the hair cuticle and leads to frizz.

3. Choose Products for Definition

When styling your short curls, you may need a little help with definition. Since curls that are cut short can sometimes curl upwards and lack definition, using a styling solution with curl defining properties can help you achieve a better style. A few examples for this purpose are EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea Curl Defining Crème, Dippity-Do Girls with Curls Curl Defining Cream, and DevaCurl Light Defining Gel.

4. Play with Heavy vs. Light

With heavy products you get intense moisture, but it can weigh down your hair. While a lot of curlies would want to avoid weighed down curls, sometimes this can work to the advantage of short hair. A little weight can help stretch the curl and give the appearance of a little more length. Don’t be afraid to play around with heavy products to see how they affect your curls.

5. Don’t Be Afraid of a Little Heat

Another issue with styling short hair is the need for a little volume. If your hair tends to dry more on the upward curl with flatter roots, using a blow dryer every now and then can help with this problem. Since blow dryers use heat to raise the root, it can give the appearance of more volume and help to relax that curl pattern just a little.

from Natural Hair Care | Curly Nikki http://ift.tt/2ydvEDq