{"id":17727,"date":"2021-08-10T11:36:32","date_gmt":"2021-08-10T15:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prose.com\/?p=17727"},"modified":"2025-06-18T11:38:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T15:38:18","slug":"how-to-get-curly-hair-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prose.com\/blog\/how-to-get-curly-hair-men","title":{"rendered":"How to Make the Most of Your Curly Hair, for Men"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

1. Only wash hair when it\u2019s dirty<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resist all urge to wash your hair frequently\u2014certainly not daily, and probably not every second day, either. Acord tells his curly-haired clients to only wash their hair when it is truly dirty. That doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t give it a thorough rinse or even condition it between washes (because, after all, that will remove some excess product and grime buildup). \u201cIf you use water-soluble styling products, it will rinse right out,\u201d he says. You should be able to gauge when your hair needs an actual shampooing, based on how weighed down, uncooperative, or grimey it feels. It\u2019s going to vary from one guy to the next, but delaying those washes until they\u2019re imperative will make a huge difference in the frequency of good hair days you experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Moisture is top priority<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCurly hair tends to look or be dry, so adding more moisture is key,\u201d Acord says. \u201cI love hydrating shampoos and conditioners for this very reason.\u201d You should target products that in turn target your curls with hydrating ingredients (like natural oils and extracts) and fortifying proteins, to magnify curl definition and buoyancy. This might mean incorporating a leave-in \/ curl cream<\/a> into rotation as needed. (Some people use them daily as stylers, while others apply them 1-3 times weekly as nourishing treatments.) Regardless of which approach works best for you, make sure moisture is top<\/i> priority in your curly hair care regimen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Use a pre-styling product<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you style your hair for the day, consider using a \u201cpre-styler\u201d like a heat protectant (if you use a diffuser<\/a>) to protect hair from heat damage, or a curl cream to magnify your geometry. These pre-stylers coat or penetrate the hairs to add an additional benefit prior to any styler. (Different brands offer an array of options, from saIt texturizing sprays to nourishing\/hydrating ones.) Acord engineered a hair tonic for his male clients for this very reason: \u201cIt helps prep hair before styling and adds a splash of moisture to the hair. Also, I love tonic sprays that give off a nice fragrance and antiseptic properties, which helps if you are shampooing less frequently.\u201d After you add your styler, however, it will be harder for these products to work (or too late, even), so that\u2019s why they must be applied beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Let hair dry on its own, if you can<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s best to avoid using any hot-drying tools after the shower, no matter how much of a hurry you\u2019re in. That heat fries your hair and breaks the bonds in each strand, leaving curls frizzy, frayed, and breaking. If you do need or want to use a drier, however, look for one with ionic and ceramic technology that can better dry hair with far less heat damage, and use a diffuser attachment to distribute the heat evenly throughout the curls, rather than blasting one section with too much targeted, powerful heat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Comb it out in the shower<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t use a comb or brush after you shower, says Acord. Instead, do any detangling and separating while there\u2019s water in play\u2014otherwise you\u2019ll significantly compromise any curl-tential<\/i> if you fuss with it after the fact. \u201cAfter the shower, use only your hands to help shape curls,\u201d he says. \u201cGive curls an opportunity to dry before you shake them out. Otherwise, you will \u2018break\u2019 the curl and it will frizz.\u201d Of course, you can also use a detangling spray or leave-in conditioner <\/a>at the end of a day (when you don\u2019t need hair to be presentable), and do whichever detangling you need. But don\u2019t front-load the day with these techniques, because you\u2019ll be rifling for a hat and a hair tie at the last second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Don\u2019t settle for a subpar stylist<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sorry to slow your flow, but your favorite stylist might be the very thing holding you back from having the best curls of your life. (And feeling repeatedly confused or uncomfortable with your hair is a good indication of this\u2014or rather, of having not found the right stylist match for your variables.) \u201cFor curly-haired guys, shape, not flow, is the most important when it comes to a haircut, regardless of style,\u201d Acord says. \u201cTo find your best shape, I recommend finding a groomer or stylist who is proficient in curls: Ask for recommendations and go to consultations to find the right fit for your hair.\u201d By doing this, you\u2019ll find someone who knows exactly what to do with your hair\u2019s texture, growth patterns, longevity goals, head shape, environment factors, and so forth. Curly hair is a cut above other hair when it comes to stylist learning curves, and you don\u2019t want to suffer through bad hair shaping and growth plans with an amateur. Get someone who listens to you and can communicate clearly what they are doing on each visit\u2014so that you know how to best style it and maintain or grow it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Up the ante for tighter curls<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are so many types of curl patterns and textures, and the general rule of thumb is this: \u201cThe more coiled the hair, the more intense hydration needs to be,\u201d Acord says. \u201cThis is where serums, oils, and heavier creams will be helpful to keep curls hydrated and touchable.\u201d Those ultra-curly and coiled hairs are much more responsive to your styling and shaping if you nurture them from root to end, and an arsenal of the aforementioned hydrating products is the only obvious solution. (Oh, and a stylist who knows what they are is doing, too, as discussed in Tip #5.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Sleep on your side or stomach<\/h2><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleeping on your back can put a lot of pressure on the hair follicles, leaving them knotted and mashed when you wake up. In addition to sleeping on your stomach or side, it\u2019s worth investigating all different types of sleep strategies for curly hair<\/a>, depending on your length and curl patterns, in order to wake up with the most presentable curls possible. (There are dozens of techniques that can help magnify and define curls as you rest, or protect them from damage or disarray.) One more such tip is to sleep with a silk or satin pillow<\/a>: Who knew having curls could lead to such a fancy, cozy slumber?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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