FAQs
Why does curly hair need special shampoo?
Curly hair needs different things than straight hair from shampoo. Here's why: sebum is the natural oil our scalps produce. Curls slow down how fast that oil travels down our hair. Because of this, curly hair thrives from a shampoo that cleanses the scalp without stripping the hair of its needed moisture.
This is why most curly shampoos have moisturizing ingredients as well as cleansing ones. On top of that, it's helpful to avoid harsh chemicals that may cause scalp irritation like synthetic fragrances, especially when there are a lot at a time.
How often should curly hair be washed?
How often you wash your curly hair depends on how quickly your hair gets oily. Curly hair takes longer than straight hair, for example, to get oily.
For some, it's better to wait a few weeks in between washing. This is all to say, develop your wash schedule based on your hair. If you want to refresh in between washes, you can co-wash or rinse with plain water.
Is it better to wash curly hair at night or in the morning?
There's no right or wrong answer for this because it depends on the drying time. Ideally, after doing your wash routine and styling, there's time for your hair to dry. Since wash routines can take a few hours, it's probably best to start earlier than later since you don't want to sleep with a head full of cold, wet hair. There's also a bonus with washing in the morning: You get a whole day to flaunt your fresh, day one curls.
Is it better to wash curly hair with hot or cold water?
Ultimately, you should wash curly hair at whatever temperature you're most comfortable with, Ollarvia confirms. However, Ollarvia shares, "If you have a vibrant color, always wash with cold [water] because you don't want to lose the color of the dye." An important aspect of cleansing curly hair with shampoo is ensuring all the product is rinsed, regardless of the water temperature. Be sure to rinse your curly or coily strands with enough water to eliminate hair (and scalp) dehydration.
Can you wash curly hair with just conditioner?
Technically, you can't use just conditioner to wash your hair. Ollarvia confirms that while there are some shampoos designed to add moisture (like a co-wash or moisturizing shampoo), the job of a curly shampoo is to cleanse the scalp and hair, while a curly conditioner rehydrates and adds moisture. Sometimes, those with curly hair will condition before shampooing for easier detangling, but curly hair (like all hair) needs to be cleansed to rid hair of buildup from product, sweat, or oil.