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A Vital Guide for Long, Curly Hair
Everything You Need to Know About Long, Curly Hair
Laid out before you is our long, curly hair knowledge compiled from eight years of weekly long hair content for guys. That’s over 475 quality blog posts, so when we say your quest for the definitive guide to men’s curly hair stops here…it does.
In these impressively-penned paragraphs you’ll learn how to style and care for long, curly hair, from washing, detangling and hair care products, to trimming, hydrating and frizz management.
Broken down into digestible sections with useful accompanying content for your curled convenience, this guide contains everything you need to maximize your wavy mane.
Long, Curly Hair Care
There are a few things to consider when it comes to caring for that curly long hair. We can start with the most common ground: curly hair tends to be drier and more tangled than other hair types. This can manifest itself as frizziness, so a hydration-heavy approach is crucial.
The following steps should be the foundation of your curly hair routine. They will vary in frequency depending on your specific curl pattern and scalp type, so it's important to try a few techniques before settling into any one.
Key Takeaways
- Hydration is Crucial: Curly hair tends to be drier; prioritize hydration with quality conditioners and leave-in treatments.
- Washing Routine: Shampoo 1-2 times per week and avoid over-washing to prevent dryness.
- Detangling: Use fingers or a wide-tooth comb while conditioning to avoid breakage.
- Drying: Air dry or use gentle methods to prevent frizz.
- Styling Products: Choose curl-friendly products like curl enhancers, sea salt spray, and mousse, avoiding gels and sulfates.
Washing
Having curly hair, more of your scalp's natural oil is required to coat it properly. This can often lead to dry feeling hair and an itchy scalp. Despite feeling itchy, it’s important not to over-wash, as this can further dry out your scalp and exacerbate the issue.
One or two shampoos per week is recommended for curly hair, with a warm water rinse or two in between washes if extra grime-management is required.
If you still struggle with a dry or flaky scalp after a few weeks of switching up your washing frequency, it may be time to consult a dermatologist.
Hydrating
Keeping your curly hair’s natural tendency toward dryness in mind, you’ll need a few hydrating strategies in your hair care cabinet. The baseline is a quality conditioner. It’s easy to rush through a shower and think, “I can skip this today,” but you’ll regret it down the road.
Shampoo and tap water can push your hair out of its natural, slightly acidic pH level of 4.5-5.5. Your shower water can have a pH level of all the way up to 8, blasting your hair into a highly alkaline state. While this can leave hair drier than is ideal, it is temporarily necessary for clearing buildup of natural oils or products. This is where a quality conditioner comes in.
After shampooing, apply your conditioner to the lengths and ends of your hair and let it sit for a few minutes. With a typical pH level of 3-4, conditioner will restore your hair's pH balance back to its natural, slightly more acidic state, leaving it moisturized and resistant to breakage.
Detangling
With a solid plan for hydration, you’ll want to make detangling part of your routine. This will remove dead hair and prevent excess knotting, but don’t brush, you maniac! While straight-haired guys can simply run a brush through their hair, detangling curly hair calls for a more finessed approach.
Start with detangling in the shower, while the conditioner is still in your hair. With your fingers spread loosely, gently finger-comb the tangles out, starting from the ends and working your way towards the scalp as you detangle.
If you have a looser curl pattern, borderline wavy, you can get away with detangling dry hair with wide-tooth instruments, like a wide-tooth comb or hair pick. If your curls come out defined and bouncy, you’re on the right track. If not, go back to using your fingers.
Drying
It might seem basic, but drying long, curly hair can be tricky. If you’re not careful you can end up with frizz, damage and breakage. Avoid the potentially disastrous consequences with how to dry your curly hair, damage-free.
Hair Care Products for Long, Curly Hair
The better you take care of your hair, the less frequent your trims need to be. Nothing is more disheartening than having to return to the salon every couple of months to deal with split ends and breakage caused by excessive dryness. This is certain to stunt the length of that potentially glorious mane, a major bummer.
Consider some of the following products to ensure your curly hair stays as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
A quality shampoo and conditioner without harsh sulfates or parabens. Something like Epic Cleanse & Ideal Conditions.
Leave-In Conditioner
A windfall for keeping your long, curly hair hydrated and frizz-free. Look no further than Hydro Flow.
Hair Serum
Great for the ends of your hair, especially for chronically dry curly hair and frazzled tips. You can use ours daily without weighing down your curls.
Natural Oils
Natural oils like caster, olive and coconut oil are great for moisture and hair strength. They can have great results even when applied before you shampoo.
Styling Products for Long, Curly Hair
Many products can be used for straight, wavy and curly hair types, but there are a few things to keep in mind in terms of styling products specific to curly hair. Here are some worth trying and those you should stay away from.
Go For It
Curl Enhancer
Available in different forms to augment waves and reduce frizz, without added weight on your curls.
Sea Salt Spray
A natural curl enhancer, sea salt spray offers volume, texture and light hold while tightening up your natural curl.
Mousse
Adds bounce and provides some hold for the really wild curls. Play with the amount you apply for your desired effect.
Don’t Go For It
Gel
Likely to make your hair crispy and gunk up those curls.
Sulfates
Products containing sulfates can harshly strip your hair down to the barest of bare, and not gently like a quality clarifying shampoo.
Parabens
Used as preservatives, parabens have been linked with scalp irritation, leading to an itchy, dry, flaky scalp.
Fine Brushes or Combs
The nemesis of thick, curly hair, a fine brush or comb is apt to leave you with a hopeless mess of tangles and frizz.
Long, Curly Hairstyles For Men
Let’s be honest, this is what you’ve been waiting for. How do I style the curls, MAN?
Here we’ve styled and compiled over a dozen men’s long, curly hairstyles with varying hair lengths, products, accessories and looks.
Try a few of these with different combinations as you dial in your go-to styles. It’s great to have at least three you can bust out depending on what the occasion calls for.
Whatever you decide, wear it with confidence. Your curls are amazing.
Tools & Accessories For Long, Curly Hair
Whether you like to wear it natural and bouncy or sleek and tamed, here are a few tools to help with styling your long, curly hair:
Hair Ties
The most ubiquitous tool associated with long hair of all types, these will be an indispensable resource in crafting your curly appearance.
Headwraps
A great tool for the active curl-bearer, these will keep those forehead ticklers at bay through activities of all sorts.
Bobby Pins
The flyaway problem is real and these are the solution. Incapacitate those annoying ear umbrellas with these hidden hair holders.
Headbands
Not unlike a headwrap in function, headbands have a lower profile and can double as an extra large hair tie for the thickest heads of lettuce.
Hats
Also known as the Hair Attenuation Tool, these are vital for those on-the-go moments when you are OUT OF TIME.
Long, Curly Hair and Frizz
Frizz is especially common for long, curly hair. Many cases can be addressed with these two tenets: if you’re brushing, don’t. If you’re dry, hydrate. You can find more frizz-fighting tips from John Paul on his post about the war on frizz.
If you still struggle with unruly and unmanageable frizz after trying a few solid hydration and management options, a more deliberate course of action could be necessary. This is where a cuticle-closing keratin treatment can help with long term frizz management and temporary curl loosening.
Not just for women, the keratin treatment can be a godsend for curly-haired bros looking to seriously tame their mane. We straighten it all out for guys with lawless locks in this in-depth blog post on keratin treatments for curly hair.
How to Trim Long, Curly Hair
Chances are you won’t be trimming your own hair, but there are a few things you should know before getting your curly hair trimmed. Here’s an in-depth look at a real-deal curly hair trimming tutorial in How To Trim Curly Hair.
Long, Curly Hair And The Awkward Stage
Unavoidable for all hair types, awkward stage hair is that point roughly between the bottom of your ears and the top of your shoulders. It’s too long to keep it even remotely tamed, but too short to tie it all up.
The best advice we can offer is to remember that everyone who has ever had long hair has had to go through this stage. As part of the journey to an epic flowing mane, it’s best to simply accept it, bear down and power through.
Josef our brosef offers a more nuanced look at curly hair in the awkward stage.
The Center For
Awkward Stage Hair
Awkward Stage Hair
The definitive and unequivocal resource for growing long hair and overcoming the awkward stage, based on the experience of thousands of men who’ve made it through.
Neck Hair & Sideburns With Long, Curly Hair
Long, curly hair looks EPIC when you’ve got your hair care routine dialed in. But that doesn’t account for those wiry little guys peeking out from in front of your ears and down your neck. Straight haired guys have it easy, it lays flat and doesn’t look too unruly.
Curly-haired guys need to take a little extra care to avoid the caveman look (unless that’s what you’re going for). Check out this tutorial on how to maintain your sideburns and neck hair, from the curl master himself.
Celebrate This Achievement
If you’ve gotten this far you are more knowledgeable than 95% of guys with long, curly hair. You are prepared to attain the health, bounce and style of your curly-haired dreams.
Go forth now and shine like a beacon amongst our curly-haired brethren, share your newfound knowledge with the unenlightened, and above all…rock those curls with confidence.
QUICK TIPS
You don’t need to be a hair expert, but there are a few things every guy with long hair needs to know. Get the fundamentals from the guys with flow.
QUICK TIPS
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FAQ
How often should I wash my curly hair?
Shampoo 1-2 times per week, with warm water rinses in between if needed.
What are the best products for hydrating curly hair?
Use quality conditioners, leave-in conditioners, and natural oils like coconut or olive oil.
How can I prevent my curly hair from tangling?
Detangle in the shower with conditioner using your fingers or a wide-tooth comb.
What styling products should I avoid for curly hair?
Avoid gels and products with sulfates or parabens, as they can cause dryness and irritation.
