One of the best, and maybe most overwhelming, parts of formulating your perfect hair care routine is testing out all the different kinds of products the beauty world has to offer! Unfortunately, there are literally hundreds of different items out there to choose from.
Because of this, you may find hidden gems in unexpected places, or you may end up with a bad hair day or two- especially if you try out products that aren’t necessarily made for your hair type!
Let’s say you have pin straight hair but want to satisfy the hidden urge to try out products made for those with curls.
Can you use curly products on straight hair? Absolutely! Using curly products on straight hair could unveil some hidden texture you may not have known you had. But, it could potentially weigh down your locks, so proceed with caution.
If you’re interested in the good, the bad, and the hairy possibilities you could run into if you try out curly hair formulas on straight strands, read on.
What Are Curly Hair Products?
Hair products are some of the most intricately formulated beauty items on the market, and that’s because your hair is easily one of the most personally unique parts of our bodies. From follicle shape, oiliness, dryness, and ability to absorb product – it’s very unlikely for you to have the same exact hair type as another person.
Curly hair, for instance, has an oval shaped hair follicle, while straight hair grows out of a round one. The flatter the oval shape, the curlier the hair, which is why there are so many variations of curly hair out there.
Because of the shape the hair grows, it’s harder for grease and oil to cling onto the surface of the strands, which means people with curly hair tend to have drier hair types (which is why most curly hair products on the market are moisturizing).
Products for curly locks are typically also silicone-free. While those with straight or wavy hair can use silicone based products and find themselves with silky stands, those with curly hair may have trouble rinsing silicones from their cuticle, leaving them with tangles and buildup.
Washing Curly Vs. Straight Hair
If you have straight hair, you probably have a hair wash schedule that consists of you shampooing your locks around 2-3x a week. Or, if you haven’t trained your hair yet, you could even be washing it every day. In between washes, your strands probably feel and look heavy and oily.
Curly hair, on the other hand, does not need to be washed as often, as over-washing could lead to dryness. Those with textured strands need all the help they can get with moisture, so they maintain healthy curls through the use of hair oils, serums, and curl defining products – and their shampoos are likely extremely nourishing and moisturizing.
So- if your straight strands are on the oily side, or if you have super-fine hair, making the switch to curly products may not be the best choice for you.
Who Can Benefit From Curly Hair Products?
Do you have super dry strands? If you’re not sure, take a minute to really look at your locks. Do they feel brittle? Have you been noticing more hair fall than usual? Are you finding more split ends?
Pay attention to how your scalp feels too! A dry scalp (and subsequently dry hair) will feel itchy, and you might spot some dandruff falling when you scratch. If that sounds like you- picking up some curly products cloud definitely do you some good!
Or you may have super frizzy, unmanageable straight hair and are looking for some relief. You may be able to find relief, and a brand new hair type altogether, if you try out some curly haired formulas.
Why? It’s possible you don’t have straight hair to begin with! If you find your hair freaking out in the humidity, not having a natural part line, or going frizzy around your hairline, you may actually have curly/wavy hair that hasn’t had any TLC.
Will My Straight Hair Wave If I Use Curly Hair Products?
If you have truly pin straight hair, the chances of you unleashing a hidden set of ringlets is very unlikely. Those with pin straight locks likely have trouble keeping curls (even with heat), and have near zero visible texture to their locks – this is a hair type we wouldn’t recommend using curly products on.
Should your curiosity get the best of you, and you test out a curly hair shampoo, conditioner, or hair oil, you could potentially weigh down your locks, making them look stringy or clumpy.
However, this doesn’t mean that you’re on a ban from every single curly hair product out there! People with straight hair know how difficult it is to get even a touch of volume or texture, even with the help of heat.
Our recommendation? A sea salt spray made for curly hair. Unlike hairspray, sea salt sprays employ maximum hold with minimum crunch. It’s made to reactivate the curls in textured hair, and can give even the finest hair types a ton of body and lift. We love this sea salt spray from L’ange.
Using curly products on frizzy straight hair, or hair with a touch of texture, may leave you with slight waves, or, at the very least, bouncier, more nourished looking locks.
However, if you’re convinced your hair is not supposed to be flat and straight, you may want to try the curly girl method. To see real life results, take a look at this video from Audrey Victoria, where she tries the curly girl method on straight hair!
How To Use Curly Hair Shampoo Effectively
Trying out a curly hair shampoo isn’t all that different from any other shampoo, but there are some tips to keep in mind when washing to get the most of all its benefits!
Use The Right Amount Of Product
If you overuse shampoo, you can seriously dry out your hair. If you overuse curly hair shampoo, you could find yourself with greasy locks the following day.
To avoid either outcome, you must use the correct amount of shampoo per wash. For short to medium locks, a quarter sized dollop of cleanser should be fine. If you have long locks, two quarters.
Emulsify
You may be wondering how that little amount of shampoo will be enough to cleanse your entire head, and the trick lies in emulsification.
Instead of bringing the shampoo to your head directly, rub your hands together and get some suds going before you run your hands through your hair.
Emulsifying the product not only allows the product to reach every inch of your strands, but it also activates the shampoo, allowing for a cleaner wash.
Use Your Fingertips
Be gentle! Curly hair shampoos nourish your hair and make it a lot more slippery. Slippery, wet hair is far more likely to break.
Pay attention to your nails when you’re washing your hair to ensure they’re not scratching your scalp – even a little bit. Instead, massage the product through your hair using your finger pads.
Rinse, Rinse, Rinse
The most important part of this process is rinsing. You may be used to just standing under the water and waiting for it to run clear, but we urge you to take your time with this step.
Run your fingers through every square inch of your head, just like you would with shampoo, but this time, standing underneath the shower head. Rinse for a minute or two longer than you usually would.
Curly hair products can leave your hair feeling heavy, so rinsing it out entirely is necessary to prevent future build up.
How To Use Other Curly Hair Products Effectively
If you’re implementing other curly hair products into your routine, we have some hacks to make sure the process goes by knot-free!
Conditioner
Using a curly hair conditioner is a great way to quench dry hair, and it can effectively eliminate frizz when used correctly!
Just like with shampoo, be mindful of the amount of product your using. Conditioner is one of those products we tend to be extra generous with, but overdoing a curly conditioner can speed up oil production on your hair. Use a dime sized amount, emulsify, and add on as needed.
As for placement, focus the product on your ends and up to your mid-shaft. Massage it in, ensuring each strand is getting attention. Once that’s done, you can use any leftover residue on your roots, or you can skip this step altogether.
Make sure you rinse thoroughly (and then rinse again for good measure).
Hair Oil
Having a hair oil in your beauty arsenal is a must, especially if you’re trying to maintain silky locks. Curly hair oils are a great pick for those with frizzy, damaged, or super dry hair (but might not be a good choice for thin, fine, or pin straight locks).
To avoid greasy looking strands, focus hair oil onto the ends of your hair only. This will keep your strands looking put together and nourished without weighing them down.
Oil is easy to distribute, so we recommend using a dime sized amount and building up as you think necessary. You can use hair oils right after the shower on damp hair (which we recommend on straight locks), or you can apply it in between wash days.
Final Thoughts
While using curly hair products on straight hair won’t leave you with cascading coils, it can give your hair some much needed nourishment, especially if your hair has been begging for a drink or two!
Introducing new products into your hair care routine, especially when they may not be made for your hair type, can be a coin toss. But, with mindful and proper use, you can be in for endless good hair days!
Related Articles
Is My Straight Hair Actually Wavy?
How To Know If You Have Curly Hair
