Helpful Hints~CurlyHair

I do the Themes and the Helpful Hints in my graphic group. I submitted the following information to the group yesterday. It is usually hard to add my Helpful Hints to my journal, because of the signature box, but it looks as if it was saved, pictures and all, with no problem.

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There are three types of Curly Girl hair: ~Corkscrew ~~Botticelli ~~ Wavy~   ~~Identifying the Curl~~ Pull a strand of dry curls down against your shoulder or neck to its full length. Leave your finger at the point where the strand touches. Now let it go. With a ruler, measaure the distance between your finger and where your curl naturally ends. 9-12 inches = corkscrew curls 5-8 inches = Botticelli curls 1-4 inches = wavy curls   ~~Cleansing for Corkscrew & Botticelli Curls~~ 1. Tilt your head back and let the water cascade through your curls naturally. Do not scrub your head or disarrange your hair's basic shape. 2. Take a half teaspoon of conditioner (regular or leave-in). Use this to gently cleanse your scalp, loosening any residue that has accumulated. Let the water spray wash through your entire head, rinsing whatever your fingers have loosened. 3. Rub a half teaspoon of conditioner to gently cleanse the outer layer of your hair. Apply another half teaspoon under the hair at the nape of your neck, because this part is prone to tangles and knots. Gently comb your fingers through your hair from underneath the hair to get out the tangles. 4. Take a half teaspoon of conditioner and spread it through the side of your head, using your fingers as a comb. Do the other side as well.   BONUS: At this point, you can rinse your hairby spritzing your curls with homemade Lavender mist. Combit through with your fingers. SPOT-CLEANING: If your scalp feels itchy or oil on one to two places, put a dab of conditioner on your fingertips and scrub directly on the spot, then rinse thoroughly.   ~~Drying Your Hair~~ 1. Bend forward and cup hair loosely in the towel. Then scrunch it upward toward the scalp to blot up the moisture. Do not wring or rub it dry. 2. Curly hair is made like the fibers of a sweater. Gently blot the hair with a towel, beginning at the back of the head, going with the natural waves and without disturbing hair too much.   ~~Styling and Air-Drying~~ (while hair is still wet) 1. Take a tablespoon of clear styling gel. Rub it on your palms. Bend over to let your curls fall free. With an accordion motion, start at the ends, scrunching the gel in toward the scalp. Start at the back of the head and do the top layer (canopy) last. 2. Shape your curls. Scrunch sections of hair with your palms, pushing up and squeezing gently into place. For shorter or looser curls, twist the hair around your finger and clip. or put a bit of gel directly on a clip before fastening it. This will hold the front curls and give a little lift at the top. Because hair is drying, how you place your curls now is how they'll dry. Take another half teaspoon of gel and graze your hands over the top layer (don't be heavy handed) to minimize frizz. 3. To get the curls on the top of your head to stand a little taller, lift and clip the hair at the roots. (pictures in book) This will release the top layer from its own weight and allow it to dry faster. Secure with a second clip. As a rule, you will need about six clips for the top of your head.   TO DISGUISE A PART: Take strands from either side, twirl and cross them over the part. Pin two curls on either side of it. (pictures in the book)   4. Leave your hair alone and let it dry. 5. Whenyour hair is dry, take out the clips, and finger your curls in place.   ~~Lavender Mist Recipe~~ 1/2 gallon water 5 drops pure lavender essential oil 3 empty spray bottles   1. Fill a large pot with half gallon of water 2. Cover. Bring to a boil. Simmer for an hour to get rid of impurities. Check occasionally to ensure water is not boiling away. 3. Remove water from heat. Add lavender oil. Stir. Replace lid. 4. Let steep until cool. Pour into empty spritz bottles.   ~~Q&A~~   Q: My hair sometimes looks stringy, not curly. A: You are probably applying too much conditioner to the ends. Also, combing your hair can cause a stringy, noodle-like appearance. Try scrunching with a spritz of Lavender mist instead. Q: How can I reduce the number of hair products I use? A: You only need three simple basics: conditioner (instead of shampoo), an herbal spritzer, and a styling gel. Q: I'm rushed in the morning. Do I need to wet my hair every day? A: Your hair will tell you whether or not it needs a daily dose of water to look its best. If you are in a rush, a quick spritz may do the trick. Q: How do I protect my hair from the changes in climate and water? A: Adjust your hair care routine, depending on where you are and how your curls are responding. Don't leave home without your conditioner and herbal spray, both of which will see you through almost any climatic situation. Q: What is clarifying shampoo or rinse and does it restore shine? A: Curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair. Using shampoo will dry out your hair even more, but Clarifying shampoo goes a step further. It will strip your hair of any hydration, even if you use a conditioner afterwards. Do not waste your money. Q: May I never blow-dry my hair? A: No, not if your intention is to straighten it. If the weather is frigid and you are in a rush to leave the house, you can use a blow-dryer with a diffuser on the "low" setting. Dry slowly to protect your hair from singeing or getting overheated. Q: How can I avoid the frizzies? A: Fill a bowl with cool water or seltzer and dunk your head in after you get out of the shower. Towel-dry as much of the moisture as possible. Put about half a teaspoon of gel to keep it smooth. Don't touch your hair after you have applied the gel.... If you have a special date or meeting, you can encourage your curls to swell to their natural state by loosely covering your head with a light scarf for about ten minutes after you've finished styling your hair and then take off the scarf.... Also, a gentle halo of frizz around your head is better than stick-thin petrified curls. Q: Why does the front of my hair never seem to grow as long as the back? A: Shorter, curly locks of hair are a nice frame for your face. The hair around your face is a protective barrier for the rest of your hair. It is constantly exposed to wind, rain, heat, and other environmental factors, and therefore, it has a shorter life span. Keep your tendrils nourished with extra doses of conditioner. Q: Why are my bangs so hard to control? How do I encourage curls to emerge? A: Your bangs will never lie flat. Two or three curls that form a kind of bang will frame and soften your face. Curly hair shouldbe cut dry and never cut it straight across. Always cut your hair at the beginning of each C.

Sorry about different pictures for Botticelli and Wavy, but the pictures I chose for the Helpful Hints would not upload. For more information about curly hair, styling tips, and more recipes, you can purchase the book: Curly Girl, The Handbook by Massey & Chiel. This book is a must for all people with curly hair. No copyright infringement intended.

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