Hair Talk: Maintaining Type 3C hair in College

Curls. They’re so beautiful, diverse, wild, and free. They exist in every race, and there are so many different types.

Regardless of how cute they may look, however, those of you who have curly hair know the hassle of having to manage it. They take hours to nourish and keep healthy, sometimes they’re so stubborn that it is impossible to reduce shrinkage, or keep them satisfied. In fact, I won’t argue with anyone who believes that maintaining curls is almost as difficult as taking care of a baby.

I am fully aware that taking care of hair here doesn’t make it any easier because the water is “hard water”. That means that water that has high mineral content (it is full of calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbonates, and sulfates). Being here, I’ve noticed that the hard water dries my skin and scalp out because the calcium makes its own coat on the scalp and skin. The pressure is also extremely low because unfortunately, the minerals also cause clogged pipes. In other words, it takes way too long to wash my hair, and when I get out it’s usually tangled and dry. 

Here’s how I manage my curls here:

1. Vinegar Rinse

Do you remember how I said that calcium builds its own coat on the scalp? Well, because vinegar is acidic, it works to remove the mineral coat so that your hair can retain moisture. I personally use white vinegar because it’s all I have, but most people say that apple cider vinegar works better. To create a vinegar rinse, I mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar with 3 cups of water.I put it on my scalp after shampooing and allow it to sit for a few minutes before rinsing it. I do this once every two weeks.

2. Curl Specific Products

Yes. There are some products that make our hair smell better for longer than others, but I take my hair health very seriously. It is important to use products with no parabens, sulfates, or silicones because they can dry out our hair, damage our curls, and destroy our curl pattern. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Garnier Fructis “Curl Nourish” shampoo, conditioner, and leave in cream as well as pretty much all of “Mielle Organics” hair products. I also use coconut oil on my scalp and curls to nourish and reduce shrinkage (but not too much because if it’s too heavy on the hair that can destroy the curl pattern as well).

3. No Heat

If we use heat that is too high, or apply direct heat for too long or too often, the curl pattern can be lost, or it can break off and fall out. It isn’t terrible to put heat on hair, and it won’t automatically get heat damage just because it’s straightened once, but I personally only straighten it on super special occasions. When I do straighten my hair, I use ceramic irons, and a heat protectant. Currently, my favorite heat protectant is the “Lionesse Vitamin E Hair Serum with Aloe Vera”. The more natural the products, the better they usually are to use.

I hope that these tips work for you the same way that they work for me. Curly hair is definitely hard to manage, but it’s worth all of the time and effort. If they do work for you, or if you have  a more simple/ better working routine please let me know! I’m sure all of us are always looking for ways to better our hair; so let's help each other out!