Writer’s note: this is an updated re-write on a curly hair guide I did 3 years ago
Having textured hair can be confusing. With so many different hair types, it can be hard to work out which methods and routines work best for you.
To help you narrow down what your hair needs, I’ve written this guide with the needs of Mediterranean hair in mind. This guide is not exclusively for Mediterranean girls, but the tips do revolve around the characteristics of Mediterranean hair. This curly hair guide has all the extensive tools you need to achieve your best curls.
What is Mediterranean hair?
In general, Mediterranean hair is:
- thick & dense
- dry & easily frizzes
- grows fast
- inconsistent curl patterns
- generally spiral shaped curls
Example of inconsistent curls: some strands curl right at the roots, while others curl a few centimetres down from the roots. Some curls are spiralled all the way through, others stretch towards the tips and aren’t as tight. Overall – lot’s of curl inconsistency!
What if you’re not Mediterranean but still want some help?
If the points above sound like you, then read on! You can definitely benefit from this curly hair guide.
If the points above doesn’t sound like you, then check out the rest of our blog for lots more tips more targeted towards you and your hair type 🙂
The BIGGEST struggle of having Mediterranean curls
The BIGGEST struggle is keeping those thirsty strands hydrated! Lack of hydration = frizz and knots. But, our hair is already extremely thick and heavy, so the last thing we want is thick product weighing it down even more.
This is a struggle because most curly hair products that provide a burst of moisture happen to have a very thick and heavy consistency. Then keeping those curls soft and moisturised beyond wash day is another whole struggle 💔
The key 🔑 for this hair type
Styling products that have lightweight consistencies are your best friends. The issue with this is that many lightweight products won’t moisturise curls as well as us Med girls need them to.
The ultimate key is to find curly hair products that have thin, lightweight consistencies but still are able to deeply penetrate the strand and moisturise it from the inside out.
In addition, we want to avoid curly hair products with fillers or with heavy butters and oils. Oils such as coconut oil and olive oil work wonders, but the concentration really does matter. Too much of a good thing is still too much! Try and find products that have a diverse ingredients list. We don’t want to be doubling up on all the same ingredients in our routine.
Two brands that keep a good balance of ingredients really well are Inahsi Naturals and Pretty Curly Girl. Both of these brands have mastered the art of balance and nutrient diversity.
➡️ Suggest read: Fake Conditioning VS Real Conditioning
4 tips for keeping curls looking good beyond wash day
I have 4 major tips that help with this. They’re all rather simple but make a massive difference:
- Avoid tight hairstyles. Even the innocent pineapple🍍 can cause a bit of stretch and frizz. The ultimate gentle hairstyle is really just using a claw clip.
- Sleep with a bonnet. There’s so many variations so you can easily find one that resonates with you. They make a major difference. Once you get used to it, you’ll actually find it’s more comfortable to sleep with it on since it keeps your hair out of your way.
- Strong hold gels are everything. They really do make such a huge difference. Shaking out a nice, strong cast from one of these gels really does = longer lasting curls. My current favourite is Pretty Curly Girl Magical Flaxseed Gel.
- Hairsprays make a big difference and are amazing for so many uses. Once your curls are fully dry, spritz some hairspray throughout the lengths to keep your curls fresher for longer. You can also use them at the roots for volume. Mediterranean hair usually is quite thick and gets weighed down easily, so a little boost of volume is always welcome.
Top brand picks for Mediterranean curly hair
Some brands have a stronger focus on nourishing fine, wavy hair while other brands have a focus on nourishing dense, coily hair. Us Mediterranean girls need to use products somewhere in the middle. Here are our top 3 brand picks for products that work really really well for Mediterranean hair:
Every single product from this brand is exceptional! I really can’t tell you to avoid any of them! I know you’ll love the results you experience with any Pretty Curly Girl product. The top styling highlights are: Pretty Curly Girl Protein Heavy Cream (2-in-1), Pretty Curly Girl Magical Flaxseed Gel & Pretty Curly Girl Flaxseed Styling Foam. (PS: these are actually what I used in my video below, so if you want a better idea of how these products work, check out the video below!)
2 – Inahsi Naturals
Inahsi Naturals was founded by a very talented chemist. They have a lot of products that can be used to achieve your curl goals. It’s really hard to choose a top favourite from here. They are very well known for their Inahsi Naturals Mint Clarifying Shampoo (Sulfate Free) – although I do love this product, I’d have to say that Inahsi Naturals Rescue & Repair Bond Strengthening Hair Masque is my #1 from Inahsi Naturals. This treatment is like nothing I have ever used. I really wish I knew about this back when I was transitioning my curls. It’s great for reviving damaged curls and keeping up overall curl health. I definitely always have one of these on hand.
3 – Bounce Curl
Bounce Curl are another curly hair brand that have brought out banger after banger. You really can’t go wring with any of their products. The only Bounce Curl note I’ll add is that some of their cleansers are very rich (potentially too rich for us Mediterranean girls), so if you enjoy a squeaky-clean lather, then only go for their Gentle Clarifying Shampoo because their other cleansers are super super rich.
I did mention earlier in the article my love of hairsprays, and Bounce Curl’s Hair Spray is definitely my favourite. It’s very strong hold and works wonders, so this is my #1 Bounce Curl pick.
Curly hair guide: see below for a video routine!
Important tip: every product I listed is extremely potent and a little goes a very long way. Be careful. Use a small amount and slowly add more if you feel like you need it. Overdosing on curly hair products is something we see people doing ALL THE TIME! Less really is more. You’ll completely kill your results if you overdo it, so please, use a small amount at a time.
I really hope this has helped you gain some more clarity on how to care for your curls! It’s a little bit of everything rolled into one curly hair guide. Just remember that your curl should be fun and empowering – not a chore or a drain!
– With love, Sara xox
PS: I could talk about curls for an eternity! Want to chat more? Feel free to send me a DM anytime on @sara_xox_med on Instagram.
