Kiyo Journal
Fixing the Morning Curl Madness: How to Save your Natural Hair Routine
Have you ever woken up scared because you just know that underneath the bonnet is a hair helmet, and you only have an hour to leave the house, maybe less? And your natural hair is definitely not frizz-free. But a rushed morning routine isn’t the solution for maintaining curl definition, nor is risking being late for work. The truth is, many common morning habits are secretly sabotaging your hair health, natural hairstyles and curl definition without you even realising it. The short answer - if there was one - would be 'you're probably doing too much’ Morning Rush Solutions You’re in a rush, so you’re likely a little stressed, and when we’re stressed, we don’t always treat our hair with the best of care. So here’s what we suggest for your morning hair routine: Put some calming music on like classical music and take five minutes to assess the situation. Sometimes it’s just about shaking your hair free from the hair helmet. Other times, you might have to utilise a cute scarf for a curly hairstyle. But mostly, it’s about getting your spray bottle out and spot treating the few frizzies you have. What also helps for me is to get out some hair bobbles to reduce shrinkage, and in minutes, my hair goes from bed hair to ready-to-leave-the-house hair. No Crunch No Long Lasting Curls Having a great morning routine relies almost entirely on a good wash day. I am currently on day 5 hair, and I have barely used any curly hair products since including water. My secret? Ensuring I achieve that satisfying ‘crunch’ on wash day, which naturally softens days pass while maintaining curl definition. I don’t use gels weekly because I alternate with creams, as gels can sometimes dry out my hair. This means I don’t always reach seven plus days between washes and occasionally need to refresh my hair with the best hair products for curly hair(check out my recommendations in the next section). Tip: When using gel, make sure to style your hair when it’s wet not damp and use strong or medium hold gels to get the cast you desire. Layer your gels (two gels maximum) and always prime your hair with a leave in conditioner. And if you prefer creams, again, style your hair whilst wet and take time to finger coil sections for ultimate frizz control. Again, I can’t stress this enough - never go to bed with wet. Product Recommendations For Morning Ready Hair I want to recommend I Create Hold from Innersense because it is a product that has never let my natural hair down, but to risk being boring and repetitive, let's recommend some other amazing curl products that will revolutionise your morning routine. The Bali Curls Curl Defining Gel I first discovered the gel whilst I was in Germany as I needed something small that I would finish there. I loved it and didn't struggle with it at all. My brother, however, got flakes because he didn't use a leave-in conditioner first – so remember, if you pair this with a good leave-in, you'll get beautiful, defined curls. The Bali Curls Strong Hold Flaxseed Gel This is another great, strong hold gel option and will have your hair defined, hydrated and healthy. It’s worth noting that both Bali Curls gels come in 150ml sizes, so I can imagine they will last between one to two months for one person. At about £12.99 each, that's half the price of ICH (I Create Hold), but ICH typically lasts me between 4-6 months, so I get more use out of it in the long run. That being said, you don't actually need much gel with these products – what you need is a lot of water, so you might get longer than two months of use. I suggest trying one of these gels to see how long it lasts for you and if you like the results. A good gel is worth investing in (a gel that works for your specific hair type, as I've tried many that didn't work for me). And for the cream lovers out there, try the Skala Mais Cachos Hair Treatment Cream or if you're only into Bali Curls, go for the hydrating curl cream. Where to Find the Best Hair Products for Your Morning Routine Looking for great products that make your wash day results last? You can buy our curly hair products online or visit our curly hair shop in Romford. We're your one-stop beauty supply shop in Essex and online. Whether you need a gel, a cream or some beauty products, we've got you covered with options for every hair type and concern.
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Why Your Curls Hate Every Product You Try: The Curl Care Tips You Need To Know
Imagine this: You have finally found curly hair products that work for you - products that you have researched extensively for months. Then suddenly, they stop working. Your hair is excessively crunchy, greasy or just wonky. Before you toss your products, pause to identify why your products don’t seem to work. It’s not that your hair is being difficult; your hair is telling you something about the product, your technique, or what it needs right now. You're Not Using the Product as Intended This sounds obvious, but most of us skip reading the instructions. I did it just the other day. I was in a Facebook group discussing hair gels, and I shared that I couldn’t justify buying this particular gel as it was 8 oz and I would go through it within a month. A commenter replied that you only need the smallest amount. After more research, I realised she was right. Following instructions matters more than you think, as they tell you: How wet your hair should be - 'damp' or 'soaking wet' makes a huge difference with stylers for curl definition. The amount - that 'quarter-sized' recommendation exists for a reason Application - does it need to be emulsified in your palms first? Layering order - does it work best over a leave-in conditioner or on product-free hair? Product Buildup Sabotages Your Curl Results Dirty won’t perform its best, as the products just sit on top of your head rather than being absorbed into your strands. Build-up can clog your pores and make your hair appear greasy rather than shiny, feel sticky rather than soft, and wonky rather than curly. Before blaming the product for not working, make sure you've applied it to clean hair if you are looking to achieve frizz-free results. It doesn't need to be day 1 hair, but past day 7, you're risking significant buildup that will block any product from working properly and ruin your curl definition. You're Not Clarifying Often Enough Even if you’re double cleansing, your regular shampoo might not be enough to remove everything. Silicones, oils, creams, gels, hard water minerals and product residue can accumulate over time - and your everyday shampoo isn't designed to strip all of that away. Here’s a tip: if your shampoo is described as ‘gentle’, you might just need a clarifying shampoo to detox your hair every 4-6 weeks. Signs you need to clarify: Your curls feel limp or weighed down Products sit on top of your hair instead of absorbing Your hair looks dull, even right after washing You're using the same products but getting different results Your scalp feels itchy or greasy faster than usual Our product recommendation: Use a clarifying shampoo like Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo, which removes buildup, hard water minerals, and pollutants without stripping your natural hair. Apply to wet hair, lather well, and leave on for up to 5 minutes before rinsing. Always follow with a conditioner or hair mask since clarifying can be drying. Your Protein-Moisture Balance is Off Your hair needs both protein and moisture to thrive. Too much moisture makes curls limp, stretchy, and unable to hold shape. Too much protein makes hair dry, brittle, and straw-like. So if your curly hair products are all protein or all moisture, you might be dealing with an imbalance. Here’s how to fix it in your curl routine - check the ingredients for every product you use. Look for products like hydrolysed wheat protein, keratin, amino acids, and moisture products like glycerin, aloe vera, or oils. Use protein treatments every 4-6 weeks and deep condition weekly with a hair mask. Balance is key for frizz-free curls. Your Water or Climate is the Problem Hard water minerals coat your hair and prevent products from penetrating. Humidity affects glycerin-based products, which is a favourite ingredient in most curly-based products. A product that works beautifully in one season can fail to work in another. Tip: to make your curls last longer and to prevent humidity from ruining your curls, use hairspray once your hair is fully dry. Final Thoughts Most of the time, a product stops working isn’t because your hair got used to it (which is definitely a thing - switch things up occasionally), it is because your is telling you it needs something else - to be clarified, more moisture or protein or applied differently. Before you blame the product and start shopping for replacements, pause and troubleshoot. Your natural hair isn’t being high maintenance - it’s just telling you what it needs.
Celebrate Black History Month UK: 5 Black-Owned Businesses to Support
Five Black-owned businesses revolutionising curly hair care with natural ingredients. Find your new favourites for curl definition, frizz control and lasting hold.
How to Prevent Frizz on Humid Days
Humidity doesn't have to ruin your curls. With a few smart tips and the right product recommendations, your curls can go from 'this is definitely a hat day' to confidently rocking your glorious fro. Learn how to wear and protect your hair from frizz on humid days - from proper shower prep to building an emergency touch-up kit. Discover the best anti-frizz products and styling methods that will keep your curls defined, bouncy, and beautiful, no matter what the weather throws at you.
