Dry, crunchy, crispy pilus isn't beautiful.

Photograph courtesy of @CELMATIQUE

No ane in the history of hair has gone on record raving about having luxurious, parched curls. I'm not talking nearly gel casts from styling products that you lot can easily scrunch out with a dab of oil or serum--just inherently dry, dehydrated, borderline tumbleweed pilus. Summer rut is notorious for parching our curls, here's how to go on them soft all season.

1. Drink water

If you take chronically dry pilus, your products may non be to blame. Do you drink enough water? I of the keys to healthy, soft and strong hair is go on information technology hydrated. That starts from the inside out. If you lot have dry hair, ask yourself how much h2o do I consume daily?  The hair shaft is comprised of about 25% water, so beverage up. Your hair, skin, and insides will thanks.

2. Pre-poo

When curly girls start cutting regimen corners, one of the starting time things to get is the pre-poo. A skillful pre-poo is essential to soft hair. They are meant to prime the hair for cleansing by softening, strengthening, and easing the detangling procedure. They too prevent cleansing products from robbing the hair of critical moisture.

3. Shampoo (instead of co-wash)

You may exist active or outside in the estrus more during the summer, and cleansing becomes even more important for a clean hair and scalp. West hile co-washing is a neat culling to e'er using shampoo, it doesn't quite remove all the buildup and eventually, your pilus volition not respond the aforementioned fashion to the co-wash (due to buildup).

Additionally, shampooing makes your conditioner work more than finer. Generally, hair carries a slight negative charge that is enhanced by apply of a shampoo with a negative charge. Conditioner has a positive accuse, and nosotros all know that opposites concenter. The ingredients in regular and deep conditioners are designed to stick to the hair, smoothing the cuticle, and filling in the chipped areas. This functionality and improved softness is enhanced with the use of shampoo.

iv. Deeply treat with steam

Steaming the hair gently lifts the cuticle and allows the warm h2o to penetrate the hair, hydrating it thoroughly. Hydrated hair is soft hair, and soft hair maintains a proper wet balance provides optimal elasticity. Steam treatments can exist done on wash days, mid-week to refresh curls, or while deep conditioning.

Here'due south a hack for steaming hair for gratuitous (if you don't have a handheld 1): l et your pilus hang loose during your next shower. You lot may as well spritz information technology with hot water and covering with a plastic cap and sitting under a dryer for indirect heat to enhance your deep conditioner properties.

v. Deep status more than often

Exercise you lot deep condition every time you wash your pilus? If yous don't, you should try information technology.Information technology's the single piece of advice that unites all naturals, regardless of regimen and hair type. Deep conditioning does a curly mane good, in terms of softness and wet. Depending on your pilus type and regimen, you may not need to deep condition every time, but do consider increasing the frequency if your hair starts to feel parched or brittle.

6. Layer with a leave-in

Whether you are using a daily conditioner or a production formulated specifically every bit a go out-in, having a product that is a water-based mixture of fat alcohols, emollients, and humectants is the first line of defense force in maintaining soft pilus. Use a moisturizer to  lock in the hydration from your leave-in and prime number your hair for styling. If your hair responds well to pure oils and butter, seal your curls with an oil.

This article was originally published in June 2014.