The Ultimate Hair Care Guide for Women with Curly and Kinky Hair

Come on, don’t deny it. The day your crowning glory looks gorgeous and falls beautifully to your shoulders, you walk with a spring in your stride. And when you have a bad hair day… well, let's not discuss how awful that feels! What works for straight hair will definitely not work for kinky hair (yes, there’s something known as kinky hair!). That’s why we’ve compiled this helpful guide for you to understand the different hair types and the kind of care your specific hair type requires.

According to the Andre Walker Hair Typing System, developed by and named after Oprah Winfrey’s hairstylist in the 90s, there are four main hair types with further subcategories, each with unique hair care requirements.

Curly Hair

Curly hair is frizzy and often hard to manage, with curl types ranging from loose spirals to corkscrew curls. They’re way more voluminous than straight or wavy hair and are often a joy to style, though they do not straighten easily without considerable effort.

• Avoid ponytails: Your thick hair will pull on your roots when bunched up, causing thinning and breakage. This hair type is pretty fragile and doesn’t take kindly to regular brushing and shampooing.

• Combing tips: Use snag-free, wide-tooth combs, especially for wet hair, and gently detangle your hair section-by-section.

• Pre-shampoo routines: Women with all curl types swear by having pre-shampoo routines with conditioning oils to soften and detangle hair before shampooing.

• Shampoo and conditioning: While you shouldn’t shampoo frequently, as it can stress out your fragile hair, make sure to use conditioner regularly. Deep conditioners are your best friend.

• Heat protection: Heat is your sworn enemy, so use heat protection sprays or serums when blow-drying and wash with cold water whenever possible.

Kinky Hair

Kinky hair is the frizziest, driest, and most fragile of all hair types, ranging from tight coils to zigzag-like Z-patterns. Though prone to easy breakage and tangling, this hair type is the softest and most voluminous, even if it appears coarse and rough.

• Hair care essentials: All the tips for curly hair apply to kinky hair, with added care for its extra fragility and denser coils.

• Best products: Oils, butters, conditioners, masques, and moisturizing hair products are essential. Avoid products with silicone, which act as sealants against moisture—bad news for kinky hair.

• Avoid harmful ingredients: Stay away from mineral oil and petroleum-based products, which prevent your hair from breathing and leave it dry.

• Opt for natural oils: Choose natural oils like jojoba, coconut, almond, and olive oil, which moisturize your hair to the roots.

• Leave-in conditioners: Use plenty of leave-in moisturizers and conditioners to keep your kinky hair healthy and nourished.

Heat and Hair Health

Remember, while the amount of damage varies, using heat to straighten, dry, curl, or wash your hair is undeniably damaging for all hair types. If you must use heat, keep it to a minimum and pamper your hair afterward to help it recover from the damage. After all, love does make everything better, including turning your hair into the asset you’d like it to be.

Stay connected to learn about hair care routines for other hair types!