Special Care for Kinky Hair.

Because curly hair has a tendency to be dryer, more brittle and prone to frizz, it requires more careful treatment than straight hair to keep it looking its best. First let's find out what makes hair curly in the first place.

There is more than one school of thought on this subject. Some hair scholars believe whether your hair is straight or curly depends on the shape of the hair shaft, which is determined by the shape of the hair follicle. A cross section view of a straight hair would appear round, while a similar view of a curly hair would appear oval.

This shape is determined by a genetic pre-disposition. Others believe that hair is curly or straight, depending upon the number of disulfide bonds between hair proteins found in the hair shaft. The idea is that the greater the number of links between sulphur atoms, the curlier the hair, conversely, the fewer the number of links, the straighter the hair.

I believe both opinions are correct. The shape of the follicle would account for the curl, and the higher number of disulfide bonds also known as sulphur bonds would account for its dry, brittle texture.

Now that we know why our curly locks are dry and brittle and require special treatment what exactly should we do about it? Always use a gentle shampoo, preferably a sulfate-free formulation, PureOlogy, Mixed Chicks and Curls are all sulfate free.

Use a daily hydrating conditioner when you wash your hair. Wash your hair every second or third day instead of everyday, but just use conditioner on the days that you don't shampoo. Apply the conditioner as you would a shampoo and rinse well. Although they do not lather, conditioners do have some cleansing ability.

This regimen might not work well for someone with medium to fine hair that would be more sensitive to product build-up. That is when your hair becomes weighed down, limp and lifeless from too much product left in the hair. This problem is best remedied by using a gentle clarifying shampoo.

A good routine to care for your curly tresses would be to shampoo your hair every second or third day, condition your hair every day and use an intensive moisturizing treatment once a week. Always use a light weight leave-in conditioning detangler and a wide toothed comb on wet hair to deal with stubborn tangles.

Have patience and handle your curls with care. Hair breaks easier when wet and breakage causes frizz and split ends. Let your hair air dry naturally whenever possible and avoid the over use of extremely hot hair dryers and hot irons. Occasional use of these tools is OK, but every day use can be very drying.

The use of ceramic hairdryers and flat irons can be beneficial because they generate negatively charged ions to help control frizz. Pretty high tech but they do work.

The use of hair products designed for use on curly hair can be very helpful in gaining control of your curly mane. In addition to using a gentle sulfate free shampoo and a hydrating conditioner you might experiment with a variety of styling aids for curly hair.

The use of a modern, lightweight non-oily gel, cream or serum can instantly add body and transform dull, dry hair, into incredibly smooth and glossy, humidity resistant hair. Use a little at first, you can always use more if needed. The proper use of the right products will help you gain control of your loopy locks.