Growing curly hair is a difficult task that takes a lot of patience to do. When curly hair is longer, it is inevitable for it to be weighed down more than shorter lengths. For girls like myself with thick, coarse hair, this is even more true.
Adapting your routine
If growing your hair is your goal, you need to be prepared to adapt with your hair’s changing needs and adjust your routine accordingly. When my hair was shorter, I had several go-to products that I never saw leaving my routine. My hair thirsts for moisture and is always dry, so I found myself gravitating toward products filled with heavy butters. My hair flourished from these thick consistencies for a while, but as my hair got longer and heavier, these thick products only added to the weight.
Lightweight products
Although lightweight products are typically made for girls with looser and lighter hair textures, they also work amazingly for girls with longer hair. Length already adds weight to your curls, which is why it’s important to not add more weight through the products you use. Stick with lightweight products to get a boost of definition without weighing down your hair.
My current go-to lotion: Flora & Curl Sweet Hibiscus Curl Activating Lotion
Less product on washday, more to refresh
Instead of using lots of product on washday, spread out the amount of product you use over multiple days. Use smaller amounts of products on washday to style your hair. Refresh your curls on the second/third day onwards, using enough product to moisturise and redefine your hair without getting excessive.
My current favourite refresh: Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave In Conditioner
Deep condition weekly
I know I’ve talked about a consistent deep conditioning routine a lot, but it is even more important for longer hair. I notice a massive difference in definition when I miss out on my weekly deep condition. Since I no longer use thick, heavy creams in my high porosity hair, it dries out and becomes brittle very fast if I don’t deep condition. Deep conditioning is a crucial element in maintaining definition when curly hair gets long.
My current favourite deep treatment: Alikay Naturals Honey and Sage Deep Conditioner
Where to go from here
Adapting your routine to the changing needs of your hair is the key to maintain the results you love. If a certain method stops working for you, don’t get discouraged. Adapting and changing your routine is a fun part of having curly hair!
(I did a story highlight explaining my routine on my Instagram – go and check it out!)
