As you already know, your springy, bouncy 3B hair can be both a blessing and a challenge. On good hair days, they form perfect spirals that turn heads. Unfortunately, on bad days, they can get you frustrated with frizz and dryness. This guide will help you to understand your curls and learn how to transform it into the healthy and defined spirals they’re meant to always be.
Step One: Adjust Your Washing Routine
What you may not know is that most hair, especially 3B hair thrives when it retains its natural oils. Washing it too often will strip these oils and their absence often lead to hair dryness. In order to have healthy hair, limit shampooing to once or twice a week.
Also, it is advisable to try the pre-poo (pre-shampoo) treatment before washing your hair. You may want to know why — it is because your curls might need protection from drying whenever you are washing it. All you need to do is to apply a deep conditioner or natural oil to your hair 30 minutes before using shampoo on it. It is also important to know the danger of using a shampoo that contains sulfate. Use one that is sulfate-free and specially formulated for 3B hair.
Step Two: Master the Art of Conditioning Your 3B Hair
Conditioning allows the hair to gain its desired hydration while making it softer and smoother. Therefore, for your 3B hair, you can’t make it optional. Once you are done washing your hair with the shampoo, use a good conditioner like the ones formulated with Juvexin V2 to give it a healthy look.
Ensure you apply the conditioner at mid-lengths and at the ends. That is where dryness often hits hardest. The next thing is to gently squeeze your curls with your hands full of water so that the conditioner can penetrate easily.
As an additional step, you can add a once-a-week deep conditioning treatment to your routine. This will help you combat dryness and frizz.
Step Three: Apply Products in the Right Order
One of the best methods that works wonders for many 3B hair is the LCO (leave-in, cream, and oil) method. You can also try the LOC method by swapping the cream and oil steps.
For the LCO techniques, apply a water-based leave-in conditioner to your damp hair (not dry hair, please). After a few minutes, work in a moisturizing or styling cream before sealing everything with a small amount of natural oil.
Step Four: Style Without Causing Damage
One of the ways to damage your hair quickly is to brush it when it is dry. If you do that, your hair will be graced with breakage and frizz. The best practice is to use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair when it is wet. Also, many people tend to apply a lot of heat when drying their hair probably because they are in haste. You need to stop that method. Limit heat styling as much as possible, rather use the air-drying method to get a good curl definition and health.
When styling your hair, don’t just use any product. Use products that are made specifically for curly hair. For example, CurlsDefineHer helps define your curls without causing product buildup.
Step 5: Protect Your 3B Hair Day and Night
A single act can make all you’ve done in step one to four to be fruitless if you don’t pay attention to it. Nighttime protection makes a big difference for 3B hair and other hair types. There are several methods that can keep your curls intact while sleeping. One of them is the “pineapple” method. You achieve this by loosely gathering your curls into a high ponytail or bun before sleep. This will reduce friction and help prevent crushing your curls.
In addition to that, it is important to use the right pillowcase material. Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase instead of the popular cotton ones. This is because the cotton pillowcases can rough up your curl pattern and even absorb moisture from your hair. During the day, protect your 3B hair from environmental stressors.
Final Thoughts
The key to transforming your 3B hair is consistency and understanding your curls’ unique needs. If you follow the five steps provided, you’ll notice your 3B curls becoming more defined and hydrated. Get the right products that won’t leave you with regret.
