Naturally curly hair always brings an attractive, voluminous and unique beauty. However, keeping curls healthy, smooth, and well-defined is not an easy task. Due to its natural dryness, frizz, and tendency to tangle, curly hair requires proper care at home to prevent damage. This article will reveal 12 Simple Ways to Care for Naturally Curly Hair at Home that you shouldn’t miss!
What is Naturally Curly Hair?
Naturally curly hair refers to hair that is curly, wavy, or coily from birth—without the use of chemicals or heat-styling tools. Unlike straight hair, naturally curly hair is usually divided into three main types:
- Type 2 – Wavy Hair: Generally straight-looking hair with a gentle S-shaped wave, more visible at the ends.
- Type 3 – Curly Hair: Defined, soft curls that look bouncy and voluminous when left down.
- Type 4 – Coily/Kinky Hair: Very tight, small curls that are often dry and require more moisture to stay hydrated.
The most notable characteristic of naturally curly hair is that it tends to be drier than straight hair. This is because natural oils from the scalp cannot easily travel down the entire hair shaft, leading to dryness and frizz if not properly cared for. However, when moisturized adequately and styled correctly, naturally curly hair becomes soft, voluminous, and irresistibly beautiful.
Naturally curly hair is a unique hair type that enhances your look with charm, personality, and volume.
12 Steps to Care for Naturally Curly Hair at Home
Although naturally curly hair is beautiful and appealing, its unique structure makes it prone to dryness, tangles, and loss of definition if not cared for properly. That’s why taking care of your curls at home is essential to keep them soft, manageable, and healthy from roots to ends. Below are 12 steps to properly care for naturally curly hair at home that you can follow:
Step 1: Thoroughly Wet Your Hair Under the Shower
First, stand under the shower and let water run evenly over your head. Don’t just wet the surface – make sure the water soaks through the inner layers, especially at the back of your head, which is often overlooked. Fully saturating your hair helps shampoo and conditioner work more effectively while reducing friction that can cause tangling and breakage. You can gently separate your hair with your fingers to ensure water reaches every strand.
Step 2: Use a Small Amount of Shampoo
For curly hair, using too much shampoo can strip away natural oils, leaving hair dry and frizzy. Instead, use only about ¼ of your usual amount – just enough to clean the scalp and roots. There’s no need to scrub the entire hair shaft, as shampoo suds will naturally flow down and cleanse the rest. If shampoo feels hard to spread, add a little water to dilute it. The lather may be less foamy, but that’s actually better for curls. Afterward, rinse thoroughly with cool or lukewarm water.
Using the right amount of shampoo prevents curls from losing their natural moisture.
Step 3: Condition with Double the Amount
Since curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair, it needs extra hydration. Apply double the amount of conditioner you normally use, working it evenly from roots to ends. Massage gently to help nutrients absorb deeper. If the conditioner feels thick, add a little water to spread it more easily. The goal is to make your entire hair feel smooth, soft, and fully coated. After applying, don’t rinse it all out—leave a small amount in your hair to maintain moisture, keeping curls bouncy, defined, and silky.
Step 4: Detangle Hair While Conditioner Is On
After applying conditioner, flip your head upside down so your hair hangs naturally. Since your hair is now soft and slippery, gently run your fingers through it to detangle and separate the strands without breaking them. If you encounter a tough knot, just add a little water to make it easier to detangle. Once your hair feels smooth, twist it into a bun on top of your head and leave the conditioner in while you continue showering.
Step 5: Rinse Out Some Conditioner (But Not All)
After finishing your shower, release the bun, bend your head forward, and let the water flow directly over your hair. Do not rub with your hands—just let the water naturally rinse away some of the conditioner. Light rinsing will leave a thin layer of moisture on your hair. This technique helps curls clump together, stay soft, and form naturally defined patterns.
Leaving a small amount of conditioner on your hair is a secret to keeping curls soft and manageable.
Step 6: Pre-Shape Your Curls
While your hair is still soaking wet, cup your open palms upward and gently scrunch the ends of your hair toward your scalp. Do not squeeze too tightly—just 1–2 gentle presses to remove excess water and let curls start forming naturally. You’ll notice your hair beginning to clump into curl groups.
Step 7: Apply Styling Products
Take a suitable amount of styling product (gel or curl cream), rub it between your palms, and gently apply it throughout your hair from roots to ends. Be very gentle so you don’t break the curl formation. Then, use the scrunching method again, this time squeezing a little tighter to ensure the product spreads evenly. Repeat all over your head until all strands are coated. If your hair still feels dry, add more product—don’t worry about using too much, as curly hair needs plenty of hydration and styling support to stay defined.
Step 8: Plop with a T-Shirt
After applying styling products, grab a soft cotton T-shirt (preferably an old one). Lay it flat on a surface, flip your head forward, and let your hair fall naturally onto the shirt. Then, wrap the body and sleeves of the shirt around your head and tie it securely, just like a towel wrap. This “plopping” method helps curls stay defined, prevents frizz, and allows products to absorb better. While plopping, you can change clothes, do your makeup, or finish other tasks.
Plopping with a cotton T-shirt gives curls time to absorb moisture and reduces frizz effectively.
Step 9: Unplop
After about 15–30 minutes (or longer if desired), bend forward and gently remove the T-shirt. Stand up straight and flip your hair back so curls fall naturally. Then, use the same T-shirt to gently scrunch sections of your hair from ends to roots. Shake your head side to side to ensure even scrunching from both sides and the back. Be gentle—just encourage curl formation without breaking them apart or removing too much product.
Step 10: Air-Dry (or Use a Diffuser)
This is the most important step: let your hair dry completely without touching it. The more you touch, the more frizz you’ll create. If you must blow-dry, use a diffuser attachment, set the dryer on low heat, and keep it hovering around your curls without direct contact. If you don’t have a diffuser, air-drying is always the best option for maintaining beautiful curls.
Step 11: Scrunch Out the Crunch (SOTC)
Once your hair is fully dry, you may notice a stiff, crunchy layer—that’s the cast formed by styling products, which protects and holds your curls in place. This is completely normal and necessary. Now, flip your head upside down and gently scrunch your hair from ends to roots, just like when you applied the product, until the stiffness disappears. You can also massage your scalp slightly to add volume. Then, stand upright, flip your hair back, and adjust gently. If some curls are clumped too tightly, separate them carefully from ends upward along their natural curl pattern without causing frizz.
Allowing your hair to dry naturally and scrunching out the crunch with a bit of hair oil will leave curls shiny, soft, and less stiff.
Step 12: Finish and Enjoy Your Natural Curls
The final result is soft, shiny, bouncy curls that look lively and frizz-free. Although the routine may seem long, once you’re used to it, caring for and styling naturally curly hair at home becomes simple and effective. It ensures your curls remain neat, defined, and voluminous all day long.
These are the 12 essential steps to care for naturally curly hair at home to minimize dryness, frizz, and damage. With just a few proper washing, conditioning, and styling techniques, you can achieve naturally beautiful, defined curls without the frizz or dullness that often reduces their charm. That’s why practicing the right at-home hair care is one of the key factors in keeping your curls strong, healthy, and damage-free from root to tip.