I've struggled with my natural hair texture for years. If you have thick, coarse, curly hair, you can probably relate. But when I finally made the decision to embrace my curls, it took a lot of care before I was able to step out in style with confidence. Years of high-heat styling had left my hair in bad shape, and I don't think I fully understood that this journey wouldn't end when I stopped using the curling iron.
Then I struggled to find products that really worked for my hair. Many shampoos were too drying for my curly hair, and some (like co-wash) didn't cleanse my thick hair enough. It really became a matter of finding the right balance. My hair needs a ton of moisture too. TonOtherwise, your hair will look flat, lackluster, and your curls will not hold up as well.
My current hair care routine is Too It was in such a bad state that I thought a full overhaul with the help of a celebrity curl stylist would be a good idea. After all, I have the privilege of being able to seek advice from some incredibly talented stylists (for all of us!), so why not! I asked celebrity stylist, Redken ambassador, and curl expert Leysa Carrillo (who, by the way, has the most amazing curls I've ever seen) for advice on my routine. If you have 3C curls, consider this your new bible.
Best Hair Washing Advice for 3C Curls
Of course, this is just a suggestion, as everyone's hair is different, but Carillo did offer some solid advice: start with clean hair. “For 3C curls, the best washing routine is to use products that provide intense hydration and definition, but before that, when I have new clients, I like to make sure their hair is as calm as possible,” she says. “I like to use a hair detox or a deep cleanser like Redken's Hair Cleansing Cream.” I'll admit that I've never used a cleansing shampoo because it dries out my hair, but I followed Carillo's advice and found some solid favorites, listed below. If you're wondering how often to use a cleansing shampoo (like me), Carillo also recommends using one every other week. However, it also depends on your lifestyle and climate. If your hair feels heavy, oily, and lacking moisture, consider it a sign that it's time to detox and use a cleansing shampoo.
Carrillo also recommends washing your hair thoroughly with hot water. “I like to use very hot water so that the cuticles open up and can absorb all of the products I'm going to put on my hair. I also use a hydrating conditioner like Redken's Acidic Bonding Curl Conditioner ($33) before shampooing to give my hair a quick detangle. It's all about how you prep your hair, and once that's done, I always finish off with a deep conditioner to moisturize and repair, then style with gel to add definition to my curls and tame frizz,” she explains.
I've never used conditioner to detangle my hair before shampooing, but I'm definitely going to add that to my daily hair-washing routine from now on. Doing this, cleansing more than I've been doing, and focusing on deep conditioning are the main changes Carillo suggested for my personal routine. Now that I know how often I should be doing these things, I think it's easier to put them into practice.
Below, I've listed some of the laundry day essentials that Carillo and I recommend.
Redken
Detox Hair Cleansing Cream Cleansing Shampoo | For All Hair Types | Removes Buildup and Strengthens Cuticles | 8.5 fl oz
This is Carillo's choice for smooth, build-up-free curls.
Bread Beauty Supply
Clear Wash: Detox Clarifying Shampoo
This cleansing shampoo is great for curly hair because it's gentle (yet powerful) and won't dry out your hair.
Color Wow
Curl Wow Snug Free Pre-Shampoo Detangler
This is another great product to detangle hair before your regular shampoo. The results are immediate, leaving curls smooth and perfectly prepared for the next step in your routine. This product, along with the accompanying Curl Wow Hooked Shampoo ($29) and Co-co Motion Conditioner ($29), are my favorite products for curls.
Drunken Elephant
Laini Lazareth Conditioning Co-Cleanser
As I said above, co-washes don't really work for me, but this is one of the few products that does – it detangles my hair. So It cleanses gently and gently, but also leaves my hair feeling moisturized – most of the time I don't need a second conditioner afterwards, even though my hair is quite dry.
Redken
Acidic Bonding Curl Silicone Free Shampoo
For regular shampoo, try Redken Acidic Bonding Curl Shampoo.
Redken
Acidic Bonding Curl Silicone-Free Conditioner
As Carillo mentioned above, her favorite laundry day hack is to use this in front Shampoo your hair to detangle it.
Oribe
Moisture & Control Deep Treatment Hair Mask
While this is definitely on the premium side for the price, Oribe's Moisture & Control Deep Treatment Masque is super effective on days when you need some deep conditioning – leave it on for a few hours and you'll have the softest curls of your life.
Best Styling Advice for 3C Curls
First, we looked at some of the key ingredients Carillo loves for her 3C curls, and she shared her best advice when it comes to styling products: “I like to use aloe vera to hydrate and soothe the scalp,” she says. “I also use jojoba oil to hydrate and boost shine without weighing down the curls. Too much product can build up and weigh down your curls, so it's best to keep it simple. A basic routine with the best techniques will give you the best results.”
To be honest, this was my mistake. My hair was too dry, so I was doing a very thorough routine after the shower, but Carillo has corrected me. I now know that a simple routine is best, so when I go out, I use a leave-in formula and a gel.
Carrillo also shared her favorite styling products for 3C curls: “To set the curl and tame frizz, I use curl creams, gels, and mousses. Each has a purpose: gels to hold the curl in place, and mousses for light styling. I love Redken's Root Lifter Volumizing Foam Spray ($27).”
If you want to blow-dry your curly hair, Carrillo also loves the Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer with Curl Diffuser because it dries quickly while minimizing heat damage. Below, we've rounded up some of the 3C's best styling products.
Redken
All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-in Treatment with Hyaluronic Acid
Carrillo loves this leave-in treatment and uses it alongside Redken's Sculpting Curl Gel ($32) to keep hair moisturized all day and reduce flyaways.
Drunken Elephant
Silkamino Conditioning Leave-in Milk
This leave-in conditioning treatment from Drunk Elephant helps strengthen hair by repairing weakened bonds in the hair shaft. It's also silicone-free and highly moisturizing, leaving hair soft and shiny. I use it after the brand's Laini Co-Cleanser, which really locks in moisture.
Talia Wajid
Apple Aloe Miracle Hold Gel
If I want to make my curls look extra pretty when I go out, I use a leave-in hair product, then style with this gel from Taliah Waajid and call it a day. Like Carrillo said, less is more, so you don't want to overload your hair with product build-up. This gel is perfect for giving your hair hold and shape without making it flaki or overly drying.
Australia
Miracle Curl Curl Defining Oil Hair Treatment with Jojoba Oil
Infused with coconut and jojoba oils, this $5 defining oil is perfect for days when your hair needs a little extra moisture.
