I see the same seven curl mistakes in my chair over and over. None of them are your fault, and every one of them can be fixed. It doesn't matter whether you have 2A waves or 4C coils. If your curls won't cooperate, the reason is probably on this list.
One local note first: Augusta humidity can help define your curls, but it also makes every bit of frizz worse as the day goes on. That's why these habits matter even more here.
1. Brushing your curls dry
This is the biggest curl killer I see. You wake up tangled and grab a brush, and I understand why. But dry brushing pulls your curl pattern apart, and it's how you end up with the dreaded triangle.
The fix: Only detangle when your hair is soaking wet and full of conditioner. Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers, and work from the ends up to the roots. It adds a few minutes in the shower, and you'll see the difference in definition.
2. Drying with a regular bath towel
A fluffy terry cloth towel creates friction and roughs up the cuticle every time you use it.
The fix: Switch to a microfiber towel or an old cotton t-shirt. Scrunch the water out gently, and never rub or twist your hair. Think of squeezing a sponge, not wringing out a dishcloth. Keep the towel on for 10 minutes at most, then let your hair air dry.
3. Using sulfates and silicones
These ingredients are in almost everything, so this one is easy to miss. Sulfates strip the natural oils that curly hair needs. Silicones coat your hair, which can weigh your curls down and keep moisture out.
The fix: Read the labels. Look for a sulfate-free shampoo and silicone-free conditioners and stylers. Your hair may take a few weeks to adjust (people call this the transition period), but stick with it. You'll get better definition and less frizz.
4. Putting product on hair that's too dry
When a client tells me her leave-in or curl cream isn't working, nine times out of ten she's putting it on hair that's already too dry.
The fix: Put your stylers on while your hair is still dripping wet, ideally before you get out of the shower. The water carries product through every strand, so you get the same result every time. Then scrunch out the extra water with your microfiber towel. That locks the moisture in before the humidity can turn it into frizz.
5. Skipping deep conditioning
Curly hair is drier than straight hair because the oil from your scalp has trouble traveling down all those bends. Augusta's heat and humidity swings don't help.
The fix: Deep condition every week, not just once in a while. Look for protein-free deep conditioners if your hair feels mushy or overstretched, or protein-rich treatments if your curls feel limp and lifeless. Use a leave-in every day. Think of it as moisturizer for your hair. In the middle of an Augusta summer, you might need to deep condition twice a week, so watch how your hair responds and adjust.
6. Using too much heat, or heat without protection
I love a good blowout. But too much heat is one of the fastest ways to damage your curl pattern for good, and in our humidity, straight hair rarely stays straight anyway.
The fix: If you use heat, always put on a heat protectant first and keep the tool under 300°F. Better yet, use a diffuser on low heat and scrunch as you dry, or skip the heat and air dry. Our humidity helps curls set when you've used the right products. Just be patient and keep your hands off while it dries.
7. Sleeping on cotton
You spend 6 to 8 hours a night with your hair on your pillowcase. Cotton creates friction, soaks up moisture and undoes your styling.
The fix: Switch to a silk or satin pillowcase. You can also try the pineapple: loosely gather your curls on top of your head with a soft scrunchie before bed, so they stay off the pillow and hold their shape. Some of my clients swear by a silk scarf or bonnet, especially in winter, when indoor heat dries hair out.
The short version
Most of these mistakes come from following straight-hair rules with curly hair. Every curl pattern is different, so what works for your friend may not work for you, and finding your routine takes some trial and error. These seven fixes are a good place to start.
If you'd rather skip months of guessing, that's what we're here for. We'll look at your hair, talk through your routine and show you what to change.