If you’re anything like me, you have put off getting a haircut or put off stepping into a hair salon for quite some time now. Maybe it’s because finding someone to do a curly haircut/styling is expensive, maybe you’re afraid that you won’t find someone who actually knows how to cut curly hair due to years of bad haircuts or haircuts where you had to straighten your hair before going to get it cut, or maybe you feel like cutting/styling your curly hair yourself is enough. I thought all of these things, and let me tell you. I finally saw a curl specialist for the first time in my curly-haired journey and it was worth every penny! My curl specialist taught me so much about my curls and she gave me the most amazing curly haircut! I’m here to tell you that you won’t regret seeing a curl specialist.

Here Are 5 Curly Hair Tips I Learned from a Curl Specialist

1. Curl type does not matter

The curly community likes to focus on hair type (2b, 3c, 4a, etc.), especially on Youtube. But it turns out hair type does not provide much information. What really matters is the hair strand type. Hair strands can be fine, medium, or coarse. Your strand type will help you determine what kind of products to use. I found out my strand type is fine. Knowing my strand type will help me know what type of products to use and how to care for my hair.

2. Get your hair super wet before shampooing

Most people do not soak their hair enough before shampooing. Wetting the hair thoroughly with lukewarm water helps to open the cuticle, allowing the shampoo to get in and actually clean the hair shaft.

3. Use the best products

Don’t go cheap when it comes to hair products. The curl specialist compared this to eating at McDonald’s…Yes, it will do the job to satisfy your hunger, but it’s not nourishing you. This is the same with hair products. Some products will do an okay job, but they may be preventing your hair from actually thriving. The products the curl specialist recommended to me were the AG Hair Care Balance Shampoo*, AG Hair Care Boost Conditioner*, Wonder Curl Get Set Hair Jelly* (use code TYLERCHANEL for 15% off), and Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam*.

4. Avoid using too much oil

A common mistake is applying way too much oil to the hair, which prevents water from entering the hair shaft. Hair needs water to thrive. The Curl Specialists recommends using a pea-sized amount of oil on your ends.

5. Use a steam cap when deep conditioning

Steam helps to open the hair cuticle, so wearing a heated cap while deep conditioning helps the conditioner really do its job. The Curl Specialist suggests using  Hot Head’s microwavable hair cap.

When was the last time you got a haircut?