Curl Training: The Secret To Defined, Frizz-Free Hair

The secret to having defined, frizz-free curls is through curl training. This method slowly restores curl memory, which clumps your hair strands from uncoordinated frizz, into the curls that you were born with.

The key to this method is to find a deep conditioner* that already produces these results while the product is in your hair. Don’t limit yourself to store bought products either, what I found worked for my hair was a simple DIY deep conditioning* treatment. Then, keep the deep conditioner in your hair until it dries completely.

Here are the signs to look out for when choosing a deep conditioner for this method:

First, that the conditioner leaves no residue on your hair. If there is white residue left on your hair, then the deep conditioner is not adequately penetrating into the hair shaft. A deep conditioner that is actually moisturizing your hair will literally disappear after a few hours.

Second, make sure the deep conditioner* you are using is actually a deep conditioner. In DIY deep conditioners, look out for protein treatments disguised as conditioners; do not use this method with treatments featuring ingredients like yogurt, liquid aminos, egg, baking soda, aloe vera juice* and apple cider vinegar*. Do use this method with treatments involving ingredients like, coconut oil*, avocado, honey, molasses, banana, olive oil, etc.

Third, do not use a styling gel or other product that does not actually condition your hair, although it produces these results. The results will be temporary, and your hair will be dry, rather than supple afterward. If you’ve ever experienced the temporary joys of EcoStyler gel, you know what I’m talking about.

Fourth, do not be discouraged if the deep conditioning* treatment you are using disappears into your hair, produces bounce, shine and definition, but when it dries keeps your hair defined, but hardens.

This is the key to curl training. This hard shell around your curls is like a cocoon around the hair shaft that trains your hair so that it learns which strands belong to which curls.

The longer you can stand having your hair like this, the more curl memory your hair will produce when you rinse out the deep conditioner days later.

However, if you hair was supple the first day and then dried into frizzy hair, then the deep conditioner you used did not adequately penetrate into the hair shaft and simply produced results from sitting on the hair strands. This is not an adequate conditioner to use for curl training.

Now, if you find a deep conditioner that you keep in your hair and it produces movement, shine, defined, frizz-free curls and does not create a transparent shell around your curls, call me up girl because you just found the holy grail.

Most of the time, the best result is that transparent shell, which, when rinsed out, will produce defined, soft curls. Believe me, it won’t happen magically on your first try, but after a few times you’ll experience what I did, that magical sense of wonder, as your curls remain clumped, even after washing.