Do you have curly, frizzy or kinky hair? Here are 5 mistakes to avoid, according to an expert

If you have textured hair, i.e. wavy, curly, kinky or frizzy hair, you may have difficulty finding a suitable hair routine. Sometimes for unsuitable products and/or accessories, sometimes for small habits that may seem trivial to us, but which nevertheless harm the good health of our hair. Of course, let’s not talk about the obvious fact of washing them too often. But others like to bathe them too often with hard water, detangle them dry, confuse hydration and nutrition, or even refuse to cut the ends.

Water is a false friend

“ You may be tempted to wet your textured hair every morning to get it back into shape, with tap water. However, it often turns out to be too harsh, which can tend to dry out and weaken wavy, curly, frizzy or frizzy hair. I recommend using a hair milk to hydrate it, put it back in place and refresh your curls. », explains expert Sandrine Sophie, co-founder of the Kalia Nature brand.

Aloe vera gel or a leave-in product may also work, depending on your hair type. And if you’re worried that it will weigh your hair down too much, you can also prepare a mixture in a water spray, with a little aloe vera and/or without rinsing.

If you want to wet your hair, it might be a good idea to then apply a product that seals in the hydration (such as a leave-in) and combats the damaging effects of limescale in tap water.

Detangling dry hair is the best way to break it up

“ Brushing your hair dry can be the worst thing to do, as it promotes breakage, as the hair is less flexible when dry. In children it is even worse because it can make them suffer a lot. I always recommend people with textured hair to only brush and detangle it when it’s wet. » adds expert Sandrine Sophie.

There are also products dedicated to detangling (which are simply called detanglers), or other multifunctional products that act as a detangling conditioner, nourishing mask and leave-in styling cream, such as Kalia Nature’s 3-in-1 hibiscus cream.

“ I also recommend pre-detangling your hair with your finger before using a brush or comb, to limit breakage. But don’t worry about untangling them too often. » adds the expert. The best is sometimes the enemy of the good.

Confusing the need for hydration and nutrition

“ Many people confuse hydration and nutrition. You don’t feed anyone who is thirsty. The same goes for our hair: we might cover it in a rich texture thinking that it needs nourishment, when maybe in reality it needs hydration, for example. » deciphers Sandrine Sophie.

Moisturizing your hair consists of providing it with water, which will help their elasticity, their shine and their good health. Lack of hydration can make hair dry, brittle and prone to frizz. But moisturizing hair products contain, in addition to water, hydrating agents like panthenol and silk proteins, as well as humectants like glycerin, to help hair retain moisture.

Nourishing your hair means providing it with nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, through vegetable oils (argan, coconut, avocado), and above all proteins (like the famous keratin of which our hair is already made up) to maintain its good health and strengthen it.

It often happens that products serve to both nourish and hydrate, but it is important to be able to distinguish whether our hair is dehydrated and/or dry in order to provide it with targeted care. Parfois, take the time to use a hydrating product, then a nourrissant product, so you can be wisely able to eliminate hydration (the fats of the nourrissant prevent the evaporation of the hydratant), in order to reduce the porosity of your skin hair. You should try different combinations to find the one that best suits you.

Be afraid of cutting your toes regularly

“ We can be frustrated with how quickly our hair grows when it’s curly, kinky, or frizzy, because its shape prevents us from seeing the lengths clearly. This is why many people don’t want to cut their ends, because they don’t want to lose length. But trimming the ends prevents split ends from rising up on your hair. This helps maintain healthy lengths. This may be obvious, but let’s remember it hair is a dead element; what is alive is the hair follicle, and that is where growth occurs », adds textured hair expert Sandrine Sophie.

Ignoring that you can suffer from psoriasis, which is more common than you think

“ Many people of Afro-Caribbean origin who do not live in their native humid territory may suffer from a particular form of dry scalp, or even psoriasis. This is a little-diagnosed phenomenon because it does not present itself like that of the majority of whites in France. Sometimes, for example, dermatologists confuse it with seborrheic dermatitis. I suffer from it personally and my diagnosis took a long time. It is therefore an interesting avenue to explore if you suffer at this level. It is important to talk to your dermatologist, or even contact a trichologist dermatologist (i.e. specialized in hair and scalp diseases) », concludes textured hair expert Sandrine Sophie.

Do you like our articles? You’ll love our newsletters! Sign up for free on this page.