One of the problems with curly hair is that it is often fine or very fine. Fine hair is more easily damaged and tangles more easily, especially when it’s trying to curl as you comb it!  There are many hair products which can strengthen your hair and make it more manageable. Look for products that offer more body and also with conditioning agents that can protect your hair against damage.

Another problem with curly hair is that it reacts to moisture in the air by becoming frizzy. There are gel hair products which you can use to protect your hair from dampness and to control the frizz. Some shampoos and conditioners also offer benefits here. If you want easier to manage curly hair, you might want to keep it shorter rather than longer. Long hairstyles will pull the curl out with the weight of the hair. You can still have curly hair if it’s long, the curl just won’t be as tight. And for very long, thick hair, it might pull into a soft wave. To keep it curly (or get it curly if you plan to perm it) you’ll have to spend a lot more time working with it.

One source of these problems involves the cuticle (protective outside covering of each hair), which covers the hair in a series of scales. In curly hair, these scales cannot lie flat along the shaft of the hair, and are always open. This is the main reason why hair products which work for straight hair don’t give you the same results. Colors fade sooner than when they’re used on straight hair. Often, the color also starts out darker than you had wanted or the manufacturer indicated. Your hair seems to have come out dryer, too, and more brittle than your friend’s straight hair when she used the same product. On top of all that, the color doesn’t appear the same closer to your scalp than it does toward the ends of your hair!

The reason for this is that the cuticle cannot protect the hair as well as it can in straight hair. This allows the hairs to become dryer, more brittle, and to not take or keep color as well. Hair products made for curly hair address these problems. There are conditioners for use before you color your hair, to get it at its most moisturized and strongest so that it can take color better. If you have problems with your hair or it’s damaged at all, considering some flattering short haircuts until your hair is in a better shape, too. It will make any damage far less noticeable. There are also temporary coloring products and natural ones, too, that work better for curly hair.

Look for products that are made specifically for curly hair, then sit back as the compliments roll in!

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One important thing to remember about gray hair is that it can be much more dry and fragile than when it was more highly colored. This means you have to be sure to use moisturizing hair products to keep your hair soft and healthy. You also need to treat it more gently when combing or brushing, not subject it to frequent chemical treatments like permanents or dyes, and avoid many types of hair ornaments, as these can break your now more fragile hair. You’ll also want to look for products that can keep your scalp healthy, to stimulate blood flow to your follicles to ensure stronger hair as well. Gentle scalp massages can be very helpful and enjoyable!

Another great idea is to look for hair products that provide deep conditioning for your hair. It’s a good idea to do this regularly at home (even weekly), and you may decide to go to your local beauty salon to have it done there occasionally. This is very important to revitalize your hair and to keep it shiny, healthy, and well cared for.

You may decide to use hair products with violet or bluing agents in them to counteract the tendency some light gray or white hair has to become yellowed. If you do, proceed with a great deal of caution. After choosing which of these shampoos you want to use, choose another that will give you excellent moisturizing qualities. Then mix just a very small amount of the bluing shampoo into the other and try it for a while. You have to proceed slowly, as you want the color to enhance your natural gray, not turn your hair bright blue!

Photo: Loop o