Jul 14, 2022

Keys to caring for curly hair: recommendations from your dermatologist

Dra.-Claudia-Bernárdez

Throughout my professional career I have encountered many patients with curly hair. Many of them wonder why their hair is different and what is the best way to treat it.

If you have curly hair this article is for you. I want to tell you why your hair is the way it is and what is the best way to maintain it , both from the inside and the outside, to give life to your curls.

Why do some people have curly hair?

The way we see hair depends on both the structure of the root and the state of health it is in.

There are different theories about why curly hair:

  • Some indicate that it is due to the oblique placement of the follicle with respect to the fat gland.
  • Others claim that it is because the cells on one side of the hair fiber are more elongated than on the other, thus causing an accordion effect and giving rise to curly hair.

In any case, whether hair fibers curl depends on a large number of intrinsic factors and, of course, also has a genetic basis .

Why does hair change throughout life?

Surely you have known people who, as children, had curly hair and, when you saw them again as adults, their hair had completely straightened. This may be due to two factors:

  • The quality and functioning of the hair root cells.
  • External care (cosmetics).

How to care for curly hair

If your hair is curly and you want to maintain a well-defined, quality and healthy curl, below I give you some tips.

Take care of your curly hair from the inside

The hair root is a very active structure that very quickly generates new cells loaded with keratin so that they become part of the hair shaft (the hair that we see). Keratin, in fact, is a type of protein that makes up 80% of our hair and is responsible for protecting it, giving it shine, elasticity and strength.

Due to the large amount of keratin that the follicle has to produce, it needs high nutritional requirements . If there is not a sufficient and varied supply through the diet, it will not be able to function correctly and will produce more fragile hair.

In people with curly hair, this can translate not only into greater hair loss, but also into the generation of a less perfect hair structure and loss of curl . In addition to diet, Olistic can be your great support to give your curls all the vitamins and minerals it needs.

On the other hand, hormones also play a fundamental role in the structure of curly hair . When there is a hormonal imbalance caused by pathologies such as polycystic ovary syndrome or stress, the hair follicle can also be affected and modify hair growth. This is because the hair root has a large number of hormonal receptors, so any change can alter it. Eating a healthy diet , putting an end to stress and treating hormonal pathologies will help maintain hair thickness and, therefore, recover curls.

Take care of your curly hair from the outside

Once we have ensured that the hair root is in good condition, external care will be of great importance to enhance the curl. These are some of the most recommended for people with curly hair:

🔥 Avoid aggressive washing and hairstyles. They can eliminate the thin layer of fatty acids that protect the cuticle and make the hair brittle and dry, something that is not positive for maintaining curls.

🌱 Take care of the scalp. Having a healthy hair root is essential to maintain curls. Nourishing it and taking care of the environment in which it grows (scalp) will be the first steps to keep it healthy. With curly methods, in which the number of washes is reduced and milder shampoos are used, deposits of fatty substances can be generated on the scalp, making it more prone to inflammation.

🌧️ Avoid the accumulation or deposit of heavy substances so that they do not crush the hair. The use of substances that condition the hair adhere to the cuticle of the hair fiber to give it shine and softness. This can sometimes cause the fiber to weigh more and partially unravel the curl, becoming flattened.

Tips to take care of your curly hair

Having curly hair doesn't just depend on finding the right products and following specific routines. The first and most important thing is to ensure that your curly roots create quality hair, through care from the inside, and then protect it.

Jul 14, 2022
Dra.-Claudia-Bernárdez