Ever wonder How To Get Curly Black Hair For Men? Then continue reading!
As a black man, hair is not just a look, it’s a message and defining trait of your style and personality. While black hair can be hard to maintain sometimes, that doesn’t mean that there are no amazing styles and cuts for curly hair. Long gone are the days when everyone wanted their hair to be straight and soft, it’s curl time now.
There is no shame in trying your best to get your hair looking as fresh and stylish as possible. What if you like that curly look, but your hair isn’t naturally like that? We’ve got you covered with some tips to get your hair curly or to make your curls even better! Here is a definite guide on how to get curly hair black male.
How to Get Curly Hair Black Male?
How Can A Black Man Get Curly Hair Fast? If your hair is naturally frizzy or on the straight side, you can actually get it to curl up and main that look. Of course, there are a bunch of factors to consider first.
Your Barber
In the style game, your barber is like your brother in arms on the battlefield. Every decision you make regarding your hair has to be supported by a professional barber with an eye (and hand) for exactly what you want.
Curly hairstyles aren’t all the same, so you need to let your barber know exactly what you want. Take some pictures of hairstyles with you so you can get as close as possible.
As a black man, it’s best to find a black barber or someone with experience dealing with black hair. Ask around for recommendations, as word of mouth is the best way to find a new barber. Of course, if you’re going for a simple curly look where you want your hair to keep growing, then you might not need a barber.
However, if you’re looking for a fresh curly fade or want the barber to help you get it curly in the first place, then you’ll need one.
Your Shower Routine
Just because curly hair isn’t straight and smooth doesn’t mean you don’t need amazing shampoo, conditioner, and products. Curly doesn’t mean dry, so your shampoo needs to be a high-quality moisturizing one that won’t leave your hair dry and brittle. What dries out hair so much? Sulfate. So, you want to steer clear of shampoo bottles with this ingredient on the back.
A good moisturizing shampoo will make sure your hair detangles, and then you need only pat it dry it a little bit. If it’s slightly wet, it will curl up better. How often do you need to shampoo? You shouldn’t do it more than 3 times a week, so once every 2 or 3 days is more than enough.
Your conditioner game must be strong for the best curls possible. A good conditioner will revitalize your hair and make it soft and easier to brush and curl. The more hydration the better, so one conditioner may not be enough.
After you condition and wash, head for the leave-in conditioner bottle, to hydrate your hair and keep it fresh for as long as possible. Ingredients like shea butter are your friend.
Your Drying Methods
After a shower, do you just grab the towel and go to town on your hair? Or do you nuke your scalp with a blow dryer? Hairdryers are actually bad for your curly hair, as they could damage it and make it brittle and easy to break, same as using a towel violently.
So, what can you do? Simple, just let it dry in the air on its own. The less heat you apply, the more hydrated your hair will be, and the easier those curls will form.
Your Combing
The way you comb or brush your hair is a huge factor in how your curls will end up coming out. Even though you want curly hair, you want to untangle it as much as possible so the curls form easier. You can switch out your comb for a brush, and go in a bottom-to-top movement.
Ideally, you want to brush it when it’s wet and detangle as much of it as possible. More importantly, don’t go too hard or you risk breaking your hair.
A curl sponge is also a good idea for easily creating the curls. Similar to combing, use the curl sponge on wet hair and go in circles across your head. If your hair is super short, you don’t even need a sponge and can use your hand and product only.
Hairspray
Hairspray is perfect for maintaining your curls, as it freezes them in place. Once you create your curls after using products or with the curl sponge, give them a couple of light sprays from your hairspray to make sure they keep their shape all day.
Hair Products
There are tons and tons of hair styling products in the market, some are great, and some do more harm than good.
- Gel: For curly hair, you want to start out with a good curly-specific gel. Hair gel will not only hydrate your hair but will also keep it in place for a long time without the need to dry it off. Hair gels come in ‘light hold’, ‘medium hold’, and ‘firm hold’. The firm hold is what you want if you’re dealing with short curls.
- Styling Clay: Styling clay is another good option for creating and maintaining your curls. Clay is light and doesn’t weigh on your hair so much, keeping those curls firm but clean and free.
- Hair Masks: Hair masks are the trick up your sleeve when it comes to curly hair, as they are used few and far between but to great effect. The mask will give life and freshness to your hair but only use it once or twice a month for the best effect. The more you use it, the more it can negatively affect your hair.
- Creams: Creams are not as strong as gels, and they won’t hold your hair very much, but they will help style your hair into the curls in the first place. The looser the curls, the better cream will be.
- Hair Mousse: Hair mousse is excellent for creating curls, particularly when used with wet hair.
How Can I Make My African Hair Curly?
There are simple steps to get your hair to curl up in the first place:
- Wash and Dry: Make sure you use alcohol-free shampoo and conditioner, and preferably air dry it or use a blow dryer on the lowest setting.
- Start Creating The Curls: Either using a curl sponge or your fingers, start separating the curls with a bit of product. You can use a blow dryer on low settings or sea salt spray to lock the curls in place.
- Add Product: Add your cream or hairspray to keep the curls in place.
What You Shouldn’t Do:
- Use A Curling Iron: Curling irons blast your hair with too much heat that can damage it in the long run, especially if you plan on doing this often. They’re also not ideal for short hair and you can risk burning your scalp.
- Use Hair Wax: Hair wax leaves too much residue on your hair and causes too much build-up.
- Use Oil-based Pomades: You may find several water-based pomade products on the market, and these are good for curly hair. However, oil-based ones will leave your hair oily and greasy.
- Leave Shampoo In: Leaving shampoo or any rinse our products in will leave too much residue, which can mess up your hair.
- Shampooing Too Often: As we said, shampooing your hair too often will leave it dry and brittle. Not great for fresh curls.
- Brushing Too Often: Brushing your hair too much will mess up your curls, especially if you brush your hair dry.
How Long Will Hair Curls Last?
When you manually curl your hair, the curls may last all day or for up to 3-5 days depending on your hair and how well you maintain those curls. You may have to do it every day, though.
Do Flexi Rods Work?
Women use Flexi rods on their hair all the time, which are like cylindrical tubes that you wrap your hair around to create curls.
For men, since your hair will be naturally shorter, you could use the smallest ones you can find or even replace them with a straw just to wrap your hair around. Do this while your hair is wet and then remove the rods or straws once your hair is completely air-dried.
Takeaway
Overall, curly black hair makes a strong statement and it’s not that hard to get or maintain. Once you find a good barber that will clean up the sides or back and help keep those curls tight, and you use the right products such as creams, gels, and masks to maintain your natural curls or after forming them yourself, you’re on your way to having fresh long-term curls that will look amazing regardless of the season or outfit.