The Cure for Waterproof Curls
Hey, curlfriends, are your curls waterproof? Do you know what it means to have waterproof curls?
From talking to some of my curlfriends, I have gathered that we might not fully understand the gravity of waterproof curls and what it means for our hair. Let me be the first to tell you that having curls that repel water is not the goal of natural hair care.
It is the opposite of what we should work towards. In addition to repelling water, waterproof curls usually have the following characteristics:
- Lack hydration
- Become brittle and dry
- Break more easily
- Lack definition
- Don’t respond to products appropriately
- Lead to significant damage
These things work against us on our quest to have healthy, hydrated curls and are often the leading causes of frustration, overworking, and marginal results. If you’ve ever struggled to see the definition you desired or have healthy curls that thrive, this could be why.
What causes waterproof curls?
Poor habits and misinformation can quickly put your hair in a position where it becomes waterproof. When we lack consistency with cleansing and conditioning our hair and constantly use products that lead to product build-up, the result will always be waterproof curls.
I know you hate to hear it, but without proper and consistent cleansing, some of your favorite products like raw Shea butter, coconut oil, and Castor oil can often be the biggest culprits. Even with quality products, when they are not used appropriately, and we do not properly care for our curls, the result can often be waterproof curls.
Why labeling your hair as low porosity isn’t the answer
Many people assume that waterproof curls are a sign of low porosity hair. This isn’t always the case. While low porosity hair takes longer to wet, your strand’s aversion to water is not a clear indication that your curls are low porosity. Automatically assigning the title of low porosity to your hair without addressing things that may have caused your hair to be waterproof further perpetuates damage to your hair and makes your natural experience more challenging.
The cure for waterproof curls
The cure to your waterproof curl problem is simple. Grab the shampoo and cleanse your curls consistently! Honestly, there is no other option. Treatments won’t fix it, and additional products will probably worsen it.
I know many Curlfriends feel that shampoo is unnecessary, but it should be a mainstay in your product collection because of the benefit it adds to your curls. I know shampoo often gets a bad rep, but it’s only doing its job. Our job is to ensure that we are using the appropriate shampoo at the proper time to minimize the negative results that can often be ascribed to shampoo. In essence, shampoo is not damaging our hair, our lack of understanding about which shampoo should be used when is what is causing the damage.
In short waterproof curls are a sign that it is time to cleanse our curls and do it consistently. When we do this, we realize that the porosity of our hair isn’t as low as we initially thought. We also realize that if we consistently cleanse our hair, it becomes healthier, our curls become more defined, and natural hair care becomes easier!
If you ever thought your curls were low porosity, it’s time to look closer. You don’t have to suffer from waterproof curls. The solution is simple, and the results are amazing when you do it consistently. If you need help understanding how and when to use specific shampoos or creating a hair care plan that allows your curls to thrive, I’d love to help you. Visit Bold Kulture Beauty and get the tools, support, and access you need to help you save time, build confidence, properly care for your curls, and make natural hair care easy.
