Curly Hair Care for hard water : low maintenance tips for high maintenance hair
I’ve always had naturally curly hair and have haaaated it my entire life. Growing up in the early 2000s when straight hair was “so hot,” it made it hard to love my individuality and my curls. I endured lots of name calling and insecurity because of my curly hair. Instead of learning more about curly hair and accepting myself, I got relaxers for years. I never wore my hair curly. I would pay for blowouts way more than I care to admit, and I had boyfriends who I dated for long periods of time who never saw my hair curly. All of this changed in July of 2018. My hairdresser said to me, during a blowout, “You know, I love doing this for you, but you are fighting something you’re going to have for the rest of your life…” That hit me hard. So I started wearing my hair curly and have been steadily trying to find the best products for my hair.
My hair has been looking so much healthier and better since I made the jump, and I love my curly hair now! But hard water (like they have in Europe) does not like my hair. Hard water is water full of minerals so it is pretty tough on your hair and skin. You’ll notice your hair and skin get drier, so you may suffer from breakouts on your face or frizzy hair. I’ll be honest, I haven’t mastered this yet. There are still days when I’m traveling that I just put my hair up. But these are the tips I have found that at least help manage it. So here are some tips for your curly hair when you are traveling and have to deal with hard water.
DO NOT WASH YOUR HAIR EVERY DAY. If you need to refresh your curls, get your hair damp, spray with some water (maybe bottled if you have it) and conditioner, and reapply an oil to tame the frizz or some products to define your curls.
Try to detangle your hair prior to showering. Don’t dry brush your hair. Get it wet, put in a detangler or deep conditioner, and try to work through some knots with a wide-tooth comb.
Use a clarifying shampoo or chelating shampoo to help rid your scalp and hair of any build up. I started using TPH by TARAJI Master Cleanse Scalp Treatment and love how it really cleans my scalp. I alternate this with my purple shampoo to help combat brassiness for my blonde. The Master Cleanse Scalp Treatment is $14 at Target. I’ve never tried a chelating shampoo, but I will on my next trip and will update this post. However, I see that Kenra has a good one, it has 4.3 stars and 690 reviews on Amazon.
Use a heavy conditioner and comb through with a wide tooth comb or your fingers. I recently started using TPH by Taraji Make It Rain conditioner and I love it. It makes my hair feel so soft and moisturized. It’s $10 at Target
I’d say (depending on your hair) deep condition every other time you wash your hair.
Use your normal products to define your curls, reduce frizz, and keep your volume. I’ve recently been using the Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk line and LOVE it. They have a trial size of the products that are perfect to travel with, I’ve linked them and it’s $10 for the whole pack. I have used MoroccanOil in the past, but I found that the conditioner and curl creme aren’t heavy enough for the hard water. The Olaplex #5 may be good for traveling.
If you need a diffuser, I recommend buying the head part and using the hotel blow dryer. Or buying a diffuser in Europe so yours doesn’t blow up :) I tend to wash my hair at night and let it air dry.
Find a hairstyle that works for you! I hate having my hair down and on my neck for too long so my hair ends up in a bun or top knot way too often. I like it though and I can dress it up! Braids are also a good protective style that will help keep your curls happy.
My “fancy” bun
The main takeaways are to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate your hair and to clarify it as much as you can! If you’ve found any products that you love, send them my way! I’m always wanting to try new things :)