How To Maintain Hair Throughtout The Week With A Curly Style

You just finished taking down your hair from a style, and now what? Every naturalista knows that actually getting your hair to look the way you want it to is only half of the battle.

But how do you maintain it afterwards? If you’re like me, and you spent hours creating a style, you’re going to want it to last for as long as possible. If you need some help achieving third and fourth day hair (maybe even a week) the following tips should help!

Don’t fluff too much on day one

You may have noticed that first day hair is always the flattest. That’s because our hair was just in twists braids, rods, etc and our curls haven’t had the chance to fully drop yet.

As a result, many naturals use afro picks to tease their roots and add a little volume. Even though that’s great, the secret to getting long life out of your style is to not manipulate it too much, especially on that first day. Too much manipulation will lead to frizz, and less curl definition moving forward.

Simply use your fingers or the pick to gently lift your roots. Do not pull all the way through your hair to the ends. You will notice that on the following days, your style will start to get bigger on its own, whether through weather, sleeping, etc

Pineapple

The pineapple method is very popular amongst natural hair bedtime routines. Pineappling simply means gathering all of your hair together to the front of your head, and securing loosely with a scrunchie or a satin scarf.

I personally find that the pineapple method works better for ladies with longer hair, because the scrunchies won’t stretch the hair in the wrong way during the night. If you have shorter hair and would still like to try the pineapple method, try pineappling multiple sections of hair, so that when you take your hair down it will all fall together in the same direction.

Sleep well

If you want moisturized and defined curls for days to come, do not sleep on a cotton pillowcase. The material in these fabrics can snag and dry out our natural hair. Instead, switch to a satin pillowcase*, wrap your hair with a satin/ silk scarf*, or put on a satin bonnet*.

These will help preserve any style that you have, while preventing frizz and unnecessary dryness. If you know that you’re going to forget to put on a scarf every night, or if you know that it’s going to come off while you’re sleeping, a satin pillowcase* is your best investment. The best part is that they’re super cheap and you can purchase them on Amazon.

Moisturize

To keep your hair healthy, and to help preserve your style, make sure to always keep your hair moisturized. Either invest in a really great lightweight spray leave in conditioner* or create your own DIY leave in spray with conditioner, water, and an oil of your choice.

Use this to lightly refresh your curls every day without totally drenching your hair in water. Also, seal your ends every evening with an oil to prevent split ends and any added damage. What’s the longest time you’ve ever kept a low manipulation or protective style? Comment below!