10 Things I Quit Doing to my Curly Hair for my Best Curls

[@CarisaSanchez]

Love this video as a woman who has been watching videos about curly hair for years (I didn't start loving these curls till I was older so I am still learning) I love seeing videos like this highlighting WHAT WORKED FOR YOU and not framing it as it is the only way. I love this

[@HolisticEnchilada]

All curls are different, and fine/thin curls have been left out of the conversation for too long.

[@MarcP5267]

Another thing you mentioned about us finer lower density hair is that’s on the wavy side vs curly is, we need to wash our hair more often for the most part. Refreshing becomes a battle. I wash, condition and style every 2 days and/or 2x a week. My finer lower density hair likes it better.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Yeah I hate dealing with refreshing. Your hair sounds a lot like mine.

[@MarcP5267]

@@HolisticEnchilada for refreshing I have found that refreshing with spraying my hair with water along with product to rehydrate makes my hair worse. What I use for refreshing is Innersense Sweet Spirit which is light. I spray it on my hands emulsify then milk my hair until it silks. That’s it not complicated. Don’t need to section my hair etc etc. Sometimes I’ll need to spray my hands very lightly with water then spray on the Innersense on my hands because my hands are dry.

[@bennleahohde3462]

Omg u are literally describing my hair , I am so glad I found this video!!!!

[@karinowens7750]

Thanks. I love this video. And I liked that you included these were for your hair. Some of these are applicable to me but not all. The only suggestion (not that you asked for suggestions lol) I would have preferred would have been for you to have included pictures of how your hair looked back when it was at those times you were describing. I’m sure you have them. Anyway thanks for the great video!!

[@dena-mo118]

Took to heart not leaving hair in a towel for very long and applying stylers when hair is mostly wet. Wow! Had a great result. Always thought I needed to apply stylers to damper hair. Have found many of the things you quit, had also quit previously as well. One of the best videos I've seen about curly hair in quite a while.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

I'm so happy to hear that! I'm all about finding the simplest way to get good curls.

[@vikkistutzman4712]

This is exactly what works for my hair type too! I struggle with tangles (especially when my hair gets longer) so I'm afraid to skip a leave in conditioner but I am going to try it because I think my curls would hold up better without it.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

You could always apply the leave in just to your ends to help with the tangles.

[@katcalico9142]

I have basically the same hair. I lived up north and was mostly straightening but moved back home to FL and it is not practical so back to curly. Curly or straight you are so right about the layers!

[@HolisticEnchilada]

I can relate. Living in Florida, fighting my texture was a losing battle, and the reason I decided to embrace my curls. It was not worth it!

[@elizabethmcgrath1923]

I love your curls! I have simplified too! I use a peppermint scrub occasionally to clarify. Blunt cuts are key. I do use a daily conditioner in the shower from roots to tip for my fine dry hair which I do rinse out thoroughly. I work out hard (sweat a lot, daily workouts) so a good tepid rinse is needed but I only wash 1-2x per week as my scalp as I age has turned from oily to dry. I squeeze in a leave in conditioner mid-shaft on and if I have time I use a diffuser but otherwise air dry. I let my hair part whichever way it wants. The great thing is, my scalp is happy. I used to get steroid shots my scalp would get so upset so my dermatologist is pleased with less products, less heat, more gentle approach - not unlike yours.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

That’s so interesting that you switched from oily scalp to dry as you aged! Mine has always been oily so let's see what happens.

[@MarcP5267]

I have fine low density hair much like yours. What I found is all I need is a cleanser, conditioner and a gel. That’s it, no leave ins or creams just straight to the gel on soaking wet hair.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Same! 🙌

[@Willowy13]

NoPoo destroyed my scalp and hair. It took me 4 years to reverse the damage after I went back to sulfates (wash hair every single day) and silicones. My routine is simple: shammpoo, conditioner, oil, leave in, oil, gel. Hair masks are used as needed.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

I’m glad you’re back to a routine that works! I’m all about simplicity.

[@debance6429]

Thank you, this is really helpful!

[@HolisticEnchilada]

I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@fishscales28]

I stopped air drying pretty early after I saw a manes by mell video where she explained it can weigh down loose curls or fine hair and also that it can cause more frizz. I recently started doing the hack where you use a blow dryer on low heat then hold up hair clumps to sort of pixie diffuse without a diffuser, and alternating that with hover drying on low speed and low heat so that it dries my scalp too and dries faster, bc pixie diffusing would take forever to dry hair

[@HolisticEnchilada]

That sounds like a great approach for your hair type!

[@fishscales28]

I started using a hard hold gel with no moisturising ingredients and only amino acids and an essential oil and it gives much better hold, I actually bought it because my old gel was too moisturising and it wouldn't even form dry casts anymore and would remain sticky instead of drying

[@theukyankee]

which one do you use, please?

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Yes, do let us know which product.

[@HeatherHurstComedy]

I feel seen. thank you!

[@HolisticEnchilada]

You're welcome 😊

[@dennissems]

I clarify at least twice or three times a week. I also wash my hair almost everyday because not only my hair looked terrible (sweaty due to hot humid weather) but my scalp gets angry. I do use a dot of leave in as if I don’t my hair feels like weird. I use a lot of gel and hard hold spray to make it hold its shape.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Sounds like my hair. I just love the clean feeling I get from the shampoo. My scalp always feels better after a wash.

[@joanaoaxaca9806]

What you said makes a lot of sense so I want to do this. I’m pretty clueless on products and I have a question that may show my cluelessness. You said you stopped using curl cream. Is curl cream a styling product? Because later you said your results were best with gel and main styling products. What are main styling products? Thank you.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

People will disagree on this. I don't really consider it a styling product because it doesn't offer hold. It's usually not something you can use on its own and have lasting results (this is the case for most people, but of course, there are exceptions). I consider main styling products to be products that define and hold: gels, custards, mousses, etc. Creams and leave ins moisturize the hair and while they do define curls, they don't offer hold so the style typically doesn't last if that's the only product you use. I consider creams and leave ins to be more like a prep product, preparing the hair to be styled.

[@joanaoaxaca9806]

@ Thank you! That helps me a lot to think about what gives hold.

[@fishscales28]

Ive actually found that shampoo formulation can be very important, I have a sulfate free shampoo that cleanses way better than my sulfate shampoo, and double shampooing helps sometimes.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Definitely! Shampoos with certain surfactants or a good mix of them are best for me.

[@katie405]

How often do you clarify your hair? Do you ever heat style anymore? Straightened or curled?

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Right now it's every wash. I use Nizoral once a week and Malibu C Scalp Wellness every other wash. I don't straighten ever because I don't like how it looks (super thin) so I just diffuse dry and that's the only heat I use.

[@katie405]

@@HolisticEnchilada thank you! Appreciate your channel! Helps a lot with my curly thin and fine hair ❤️

[@fishscales28]

I never used co wash because I have an oily scalp and I need to wash my hair pretty regularly usually, otherwise I get worse dandruff, but I do look for shampoos that cleanse well without tangling up or drying out my hair too much, or over moisturising it (it may sound hard to believe, but once by using a family member's shampoo which had a lot of oils and some silicones, I over moisturised my hair and had curl drop for a good few weeks)

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Haha, it's happened to me so I believe you!

[@EverythingAndNothing08]

When I was bleaching my hair to death I needed a curl cream, but at this point less is definitely more. I also made the mistake of trying to go longer between wash days and my scalp got so itchy (which had never happened before). I now wash every other day and that works great for me.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Yeah, my scalp gets super angry if I try to go more than 2 days

[@cherylhartl3749]

My hair is the same as yours - wavy/curly, fine, low porosity and lower density. What do you use for heat protectant? I have always depended on my leave in to provide my heat protectant but I recently read that you shouldn’t do that b/c the amount in leaving is not sufficient. I’ve now started playing around with the CurlSmith heat protectant both with and without the leave in and it’s alright either way except my fair is so fine I keep getting fairy knots when I don’t use any leave in.

[@HolisticEnchilada]

I actually don't use any. Diffusing doesn't really cause heat damage and my hair is healthy so not a concern of mine.

[@fishscales28]

I have thick hair and my ends and mids are color treated so some strands are medium to high porosity, so I end up using some lightweight curl cream under hard hold gel and cutting layers worked pretty well for me

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Yeah, that makes sense. Typically, hair like yours would do well with a leave-in or curl cream and some layers.

[@fishscales28]

I use a lightweight curl cream instead of leave in conditioner, it enhances my curl pattern better, but thats just because that particular product really enhances my curls, moxie curl cream but I think its only available in my country

[@fishscales28]

I bought it after watching a content creator who has similar hair type and texture to me (but Im realising mine may be curlier) who used it for a while say it enhances her wave and curl patterns

[@HolisticEnchilada]

I've heard good things about that cream. Haven't tried it yet.

[@rachelsykes4931]

What gel do you use please?

[@HolisticEnchilada]

I cycle through a few: Curlsmith Hydro Style Flexi jelly, Boucleme gels, Giovanni LA Hold, Jessicurl Spiralicious

[@fishscales28]

microplopping is usually better once you put products in because otherwise you might get scalp issues and loose root volume from the products getting squished into your scalp

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Yeah that's exactly what regular plopping does. Microplop 💯

[@fishscales28]

I do want to eventually buy a diffuser but idk when I can bc theyre expensive and Im scared they wont dry my hair as fast as low speed hair dryer

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Even the cheap ones are good enough for diffusing.

[@fishscales28]

apparently the heat also slightly sets the curl pattern sort of like how heat styling works at least thats what gena marie on youtube said and it kind of makes sense in addition to faster drying time for why it gives better hold

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Yes it does! One of the main reasons I encourage others to diffuse.

[@myrnasolganick3826]

Are you still using evolvh total control?

[@HolisticEnchilada]

I still use it sometimes, when I focus on volume.

[@daviddietsch]

So you don’t use leave in?

[@HolisticEnchilada]

No, just gel and hairspray

[@r.w.5379]

♥

[@shadowtouched16]

My hair will look nice with good curls and clumps while wet, but defusing on any heat temp it will cause just frizz and not curls. But air drying is even.worse. arg

[@HolisticEnchilada]

Are you using a styling product that has at least a medium hold? Like a gel or custard?