My top 5 curly hair friendly products

As someone who genuinely likes to take care of their hair (and having an Instagram account dedicated to it), I feel as though it's crucial to share my knowledge on curly hair care for those who need encouragement or simply don't know how to take care of theirs.

To begin, there are 4 different categories of hair types you can have.

These are followed by the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 and letters A, B and C (with the letter A representing the lesser traits of the hair type and C representing the most). Hair type 1 is straight hair, hair type 2 is wavy, hair type 3 is curly and hair type 4 is kinky/coily.

For example, type 1 hair (1A, 1B and 1C) are all fine types of hair that are usually straight and considered as European hair. Type 2 hair (2A, 2B and 2C), as previously said, is wavy hair with a fine texture which can also have very loose curls too. Type 3 hair (3A, 3B and 3C) is curly hair with a more coarse texture, much more volume and defined curls. Lastly, type 4 hair (4A, 4B and 4C) is often considered as Afro-textured or kinky and is prone to major shrinkage, meaning the curls shrink to their very smallest and appear more like an 'Afro'. This hair type has the tightest curls which are usually referred to as coils.

All hair types are classified into the sub-categories of A, B and C. These letters differ in terms of curl types (a range from loose to tight curls) and volume. For instance, type 3A curly hair would be the finest texture, the loosest curl and the less volumised of that hair type, differing from 3C hair which would be the tightest curl, with a less fine texture and more volume.

Here is a great visual explanation by Shea Moisture:

The prime difference between type 1, 2, 3 and 4 hair is the textures and curl types. This then means there is a difference in the type of products they can use and the way the particular hair is looked after and kept. This can also, of course, vary for different people as other things may work much better for them individually than for others.

So, with my 3B/3C curly hair, I tend to use products or methods that contain a lot of moisture, with light or thick creamy textures simply because my hair is naturally quite dry and tends to lack moisture frequently. This is a common trait for type 3 and 4 hair. I mainly use products or methods that help maintain the moisture, definition and health of my curls.

Here are a few of my favourite products that I love to use and feel are beneficial for my hair type (3B/3C). So in no particular order, first uppp we have:

1. Shea Moisture's manuka honey and mafura oil line 🖤 - their shampoo, conditioner and hair masque is AMAZING! This is my holy grail ✨ It's my go-to when my hair really needs that moisture and when my curls need reviving. This is one of my favourites because it never fails to retain moisture back in my hair and always produces the best results in terms of healthiness, shine and definition for my curls.

Ingredients: Manuka honey, mafura oil and fig extract

@curlsbyfurs

2. KeraCare defining custard - an OG and all-time fav💛

I’ve been using this product ever since I was 14 and it still never fails to bring out my curls 🤩

It has a great, silky consistency that makes it easy to apply to damp hair and even easier while combing through your hair. After application, it reveals a lovely, silky shine whilst defining your curls.

Ingredients: Amla & shikakai (ayurvedic) botanicals, pectin, argan & Abyssinian oils

@curlsbyfurs

3. Shea Moisture's Jamaican black castor oil leave-in conditioner - This product is unique in defining, nourishing and moisturizing my hair and is always my go-to.

I definitely recommended this product for all curly heads no doubt! ❤️😍 It is very moisturizing as the product solely contains jbco, which is one of the best oils to use for moisture and growth on type 3 and 4 curly hair. I also like to refresh my curls with this.

Ingredients: Jamaican black castor oil, Shea butter, peppermint, apple cider vinegar

@curlsbyfurs

4. Aqueous cream - Now this could be controversial but I do use Aqueous cream on my hair at least twice a week. This cream acts as a first base moisturizer for my hair and mostly used after I've washed it - I need to have a tub and cannot go without this. It is a lightweight, non-fragranced, moisturising cream used to moisturise anything dry and is commonly used for the skin. It has no ingredients that could possibly damage your hair and is definitely safe to use. Once I started using this, I never stopped 💗

Now on to the oils...

1. Jamaican Black castor oil -

Benefits of jbco: moisturizes, thickens and strengthens hair, increases hair growth, increases blood flow to the scalp and can prevent hair breakage and dandruff 🦋

I usually add this to my deep condition routine when I deep condition my hair every Friday night... well, I at least should be doing that but we're still working on our consistency here 😊

2. Coconut oil -

Benefits of coconut oil: moisturizes dry hair, adds lustre and shine, can prevent hair breakage and split ends 💙

I use this rarely and only after applying a product when my hair needs that extra moisture.

3. Mango butter and essential oils mixture -

So I've just recently tried this. It's an amazing butter & oil mixture inspired by @laurscurls and I really liked it.

Ingredients:

1. 250g of 100% pure mango butter 🥭

2. 1/2 a cup of Avacado oil 🥑

3. 1 tablespoon of lavender oil

4. 1 tablespoon of rosemary oil

5. 1 tablespoon of tea tree oil 🌿

Once made, the texture was light and soft, making it the perfect consistency for hair without weighing it down or making it greasy. I use this as a general moisturizer for my hair and skin, as it works great for both. After, my hair was left not only moisturized but soft, fly-away and shiny. I added my own essential oils (lavender, rosemary and tea tree) which made the scent really nice, but you can add any oils of your preference ✨.

I defo recommend using mango butter and some of these oils for a soft, easy feel on your hair - they also have great benefits for the hair and skin 💕

@curlsbyfurs