My curls are wavy to loose and they feel coarse and rough. I want them to be radiant, healthy and less frizzy.
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Let’s talk basics. Washing your hair rinses away dirt and oils. So when you don't shampoo frequently enough, you hair's natural oils combined with styling product residue and environmental debris will block your hair follicles and prevent vital nutrients from reaching the hair and scalp. This will cause dryness and a dull appearance. Don't forget, almost 70% of our bodies are made of oxygen and water. Clogged hair follicles will slow down the process by which these elements are replenished.
There is such a thing as washing your hair too often. As with your skin, your hair contains -- and needs -- some natural oils to protect and hydrate each strand, but not so much that the follicles are smothered. Shampooing too often strips hair of this healthy protective layer will leave tresses dry and vulnerable.
Let's set the record straight. It isn't necessary to shampoo daily. The key is to wash frequently enough to remove product buildup and oils without leaving the hair parched and raw. In the past, we would read through beauty magazines and determine our cleansing schedule based on whether our hair type was normal, oily or dry, but it's not that simple. Some scalps have all three conditions. So how do you handle that? Your hair texture and styling techniques will play a large role in setting a shampoo regimen.
With loose curls, the structure of your hair is usually fairly coarse and strong, so you can shampoo as often as four to five times a week, although I recommend only two to three.
6-Steps To Perfect Cleansing
- Saturate tresses with warm water.
- Place shampoo in your palm.
- Rub palms together, then run hands through the hair to distribute throughout your mane.
- Using the cushions of your fingertips, rub the scalp only.
- In a piano-playing motion, run your fingers downward to clean and detangle the hair. (Avoid piling tresses on top of your head while you shampoo - the more you scrub and tug, the more breakage you will get.)
- Rinse with luke warm water by separating your hair under the water instead of scrubbing.
 PlayCurl Volumizing Shampoo
PlayCurl Volumizing Shampoo contains botanical extracts, special wheat proteins, and hydrolyzed silk to gently cleanse and boost thin curls, encouraging curl formation. Helps transform limp curls into luscious locks. Color-safe formula leaves hair shiny and manageable.
Tip:
Skipping A Day - On days you do not shampoo, simply rinse the hair with warm water and apply a light spritzing of Ouidad Botanical Boost to detangle and refresh your locks. Even the sweat from exercise can be rinsed with water alone and will not remove the beneficial natural oils that lubricate and protect your mane.
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 Deep conditioning is a way of life for those of us with loose curls. Ouidad Deep Treatment was the first product created to specifically address the deep conditioning needs of curly hair. It remains the focal point of any Ouidad curl regimen. I recommend maintaining your locks with my nourishing Deep Treatment at least once a month. Depending on the length of your hair, you’ll need to use 1 to 3 ounces in order to completely saturate your curls with each use.
Deep Treatment is a blend of essential amino acids, proteins and moisturizers that penetrate and renew your curls by restoring nutrients lost through frequent exposure to elements such as wind, air conditioning and blowdrying. This rich meal for your hair insures that locks retain their spiral shape and appear vibrant and bouncy. A Ouidad Deep Treatment uses low heat to soften the hair’s proteins which, in turn allows the product to replenish vital minerals lost to everyday environmental aggressors.
Did you know that the simple act of shampooing is dehydrating? The warm water opens the cuticle and the cleansers flow into the hair shaft and rinse out many of the nutrients. When you’re done washing your hair, the cuticle is parched, the same way your skin feels tight after cleansing it, so frequent deep conditioning should be an active part of your haircare regime.
Deep Treatment In 5 Easy Steps
- Begin with freshly washed hair using a gentle shampoo.
- Prep the ends with a little daily conditioner.
- Apply at least or more of the treatment to your hair, working it in section by section. Imagine soaking your hair in a bowl full of treatment to envision the amount of coverage you’ll need to adequately saturate your locks.
- Cover your entire mane with a plastic cap and apply heat using a hood-style dryer or bonnet attachment or a hand-held dryer to adequately warm your hair in about 20 minutes. (Allow extra time for very thick or long hair.) It’s important to heat your hair thoroughly to relax the cuticle proteins and allow the absorption of key ingredients to reconnect the internal molecular layer, restoring its inner weight. Be sure to use low heat and maintain the level for the full twenty minutes in order for the heat to swell the hair shaft and for the proteins to penetrate it.
- After you’ve heated your hair, remove the plastic cap and apply the Balancing Rinse or Curl Quencher Conditioner throughout the mane - on top of the deep treatment. Allow hair to cool for ten minutes, then rinse with warm to cool water, but do not shampoo.
Caution:
Do not attempt a heat treatment on a child under two years of age. We do not advise using a blowdryer on children until age two. For younger children, please use Ouidad Deep Treatment as a leave-in conditioner only and refer to our KRLY Kids Collection for a range of products made specially for young curls.
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If you've gotten this far, it's becoming clear that curly hair needs lots of conditioning. In between Deep Treatments you should use a basic daily conditioner after every shampoo. This type of conditioning serves to detangle fragile wet strands in order to create perfect curls without adding unnecessary stress from tugging and combing.
The key here is proper application - never rub conditioner into your scalp. Keep the conditioner on the hair, not the skin, to allow the pores to stay clean and open.
Daily Conditioning How-To
- After shampooing, rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water by tilting your head back into the shower stream. If your hair is long, lean your head so that your tresses drape forward over one shoulder.
- Pour a small amount of instant conditioner (one dime-sized dollop for short hair, one quarter for long hair) into the cupped fingers of one hand, then rub both sets of fingertips together. Begin applying conditioner two inches from your scalp by gathering locks into a ponytail and slide your hands down to the ends.
- Using a piano-playing effect, run your fingers with conditioner on them through your hair to detangle and condition the hair shaft. Work it downward all the way to the end. Then use a wide-toothed comb from the bottom up. [Note: This is the last time you’ll use a comb - after the shower, you’ll only need to use your fingers.]
- To rinse, separate your hair and run water through it without rubbing. The water will actually form your curls. Rub the scalp only with your fingertips to remove the conditioner and allow your scalp to breath.
- Leave 25% of the conditioner on the ends for extra protection during the day. Your hair will feel slightly slippery at this point.
- Never rub your hair with a towel to dry it - simply blot the excess water out to keep your curls set. Don’t wrap your hair turban-style with a towel, either - you’ll create a bend across the top of your head that will create frizz and distract the curl pattern.
 Curl Quencher Conditioner
Thirsty manes like yours crave Ouidad Curl Quencher Conditioner for its super-moisturizing abilities. Vitamins, botanicals and proteins strengthen and hydrate extra-dry or damaged curls providing gentle daily detangling and pampers tresses weakened from haircolor and other chemical processes.
 Botanical Boost
This super-light leave-in conditioning mist seals in vital moisture, detangles and refreshes hair without heavy waxes or oils that suffocate and weigh hair down. Nourishing vitamins, Amino Acids and botanical extracts plus healing Aloe Vera stimulate and hydrate, restoring shine without overconditioning while broad-spectrum sunscreens protects strands from harmful UV rays. Regular use of Botanical Boost will increase curl flexibility and elasticity, keeping breakage at bay. For a quick boost any time, spray evenly and sparingly on wet or dry hair, over your entire head, with a little extra on the ends. Comb through wet hair or finger-comb through dry hair. Leave it in and style as usual. Ouidad Botanical Boost can also be used as a midday hair pick-me-up to calm frizz and regain styling control. A smart choice for the beach and before a workout or swimming to nourish and protect curly hair.
Tip:
After the Shower - To avoid that unwanted halo of frizz, do not flip your hair over and wrap your hair in a towel turban! After your hair is rinsed, your curls are already set in place by the water. Simply drape a towel over your hair and gently blot out the excess water without disturbing your curl pattern. Never comb your hair - your fingers are your best tools!
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Whether your hair is short or long, there is a method I recommend for applying styling products for a classic curly look - it may seem complicated at first, but with a little practice, your styling time will shrink to five or ten minutes.
Ouidad Method For Styling Curly
- Begin with wet hair and gently squeeze out the excess water, using a towel to blot out additional moisture. Do not flip your head over or rub the hair briskly with the towel - both methods will only fragment the curls and cause frizz. At this point, half your work is done
- Using outstretched fingers, comb through a leave-in conditioning spray rich in vitamins and aloe vera to seal in the moisture. Note: As you condition and detangle, your goal is to keep curls together and not fuss or shake your hair to avoid disturbing the waves
- Rub a small amount of styling lotion between your palms and smooth the hands over the hair in one fluid movement, from front to back as if you’re gathering your hair into a ponytail. This move immediately delivers lotion to the hair’s exterior to quickly control fly-away and baby hairs. Do this as soon as possible after showering for best results
- From here, begin working in dime-sized amounts of product into four sections of hair (create more sections for thick, unruly hair). The first section will be the nape of the neck to the middle of the back of the head. The second section will start at the back of the head and extend to the hairline. The last two sections will include the two sides. No matter how thorough you think you are, you won’t get complete coverage with one large application of styling lotion
- Rub the lotion between your palms and work into each section by combing your fingers through the hair from the scalp to the ends. As you apply, use your fingers to define each curl. Be sure to coat all of the hair in each section from roots to ends to close the cuticle layer of the hair. Any strands left uncovered will become frizzy and throwing off the even, puzzle-piece flow of your curls
- After raking your fingers through your hair from the scalp to the ends, don’t let go of the ends right away. Hold on to them for a moment without actually pulling or over-stretching the hair. Then, gently shake the hair back and forth as you loosen your hold to allow curls to form once again.
- Once you’ve applied your styling lotion, position your curls with duckbill clips. Allow to air dry completely or wait for about ten minutes and finish the process with a blowdryer with a diffuser attachment.
Step by Step Tips for Straight Styles
- Divide clean, wet hair of medium length or longer into five sections: 1) the top, 2 & 3) the sides, 4) the crown and 5) the nape. Secure each section with a clip.
- Unclip the nape and separate a one inch section. Re-clip the rest of the nape out of the way.
- Place the brush at the roots and let the bristles grip the hair. With your other hand, direct the dryer nozzle about two inches away from the hair, just above the brush and pointing downward.
- Roll the brush down gently while the other hand follows with the dryer. Continue this motion all the way to the ends. (Trick: If you’re right-handed, it’s easier to hold the brush with your right hand and the dryer with your left.)
- Repeat #4 until the hair is completely dry - if you leave a hint of dampness in this type of hair, it will curl up immediately! When your hair is fully dry, it will have a glossy shine and no frizz.
- Drying the hair section by section allows it to lay smooth and look shiny. The heat from the blowdryer will force the cuticle layer to close and mold it straight with the help of the brush.
- It should take about 30-40 minutes to complete the entire head, working in the order I’ve suggested above. Finish by brushing your hair with the round natural bristle brush, then rub a dollop of a finishing gel between your palms. Slide your hands on top of your head gathering your hair into a ponytail and then down to the ends. Hit the hair with the blowdryer on the cool setting for extra glossy results. Give your mane a shake and enjoy!
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Use Ouidad products sparingly and use only the products suited to your hair. Clients fall into the trap of thinking that if a little feels good, that a lot will feel better. That is not the case with curls.
Touch your hair less. Fussing with your hair or combing curls promotes frizz. Once you have applied your styling lotion and let your hair air dry, try to resist the temptation to touch your hair throughout the day. Only use a comb to distribute your conditioner while in the shower before rinsing. Never brush or comb dry curls.
Shampoo your hair less often. Ouidad has always promoted the concept that you only need to shampoo your hair every two to three days.
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Please Note: The tips and recommendations made by Ouidad.com are meant as a general usage guide for our products. Your regimen will be unique to your hair's condition. Please call Customer Service at: Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm EST for assistance if you have any questions about using our products.
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