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woman with curly hair using Davines LOVE CURL product

The 15 Best Curly Hair Care Tips

Updated on April 6, 2026 | 3 min read

Morgan Hanson, Davines Writer

Naturally curly hair can be beautiful and versatile, but it requires the right care to look its best. The good news? Maintaining healthy, defined curls doesn’t have to mean overhauling your routine or spending more—it’s about using the right techniques and products. Here are the 15 best tips to keep your curls hydrated, defined, and effortlessly radiant.

Key Takeaways

What to Know About Curly Hair

Curly hair is characterized by its follicle shape.
This hair type needs specific care, products, and styling to ensure strands feel and look their best.
Focusing on certain treatments, techniques, and tricks can help you keep a successful curly hair care routine.
Avoiding drying out curly hair is essential for naturally healthy, hydrated strands.

How Is Curly Hair Different?

Whether you have loose waves or tight, coiled ringlets, there are some common reasons why curly hair requires special care to look its best.

Shape of the hair follicle: Straight hair grows from round follicles, while curly hair comes from oval-shaped follicles—the flatter the oval, the curlier the hair. This uneven structure can lift the cuticle (the outermost protective layer of the hair), making it more prone to damage.

Low moisture levels: Because of its twists and turns, sebum from the scalp has a harder time reaching the ends, making curly hair more prone to dryness.

Increased likelihood of breakage: Since curly hair is more prone to dryness (and more prone to humidity as it's more porous than straight hair), this also means it can become frizzy and damaged more easily.

Tangle-prone strands: The spiral structures that make up a beautiful head of curly hair have the added potential of being more prone to knots and tangles—when you add in dryness and frizziness, you could have a serious detangling mission on your hands.

The Dos of Curly Hair Care

Nothing says healthy, beautiful hair like a head of shiny, bouncy curls. While curls and waves are often envy-inducing, out of all the hair types, those with naturally curly hair know their strands require a little extra effort when it comes to styling. These are the best hair care tips for naturally curly hair you might not already know about.

Step 1: Detangle and Brush

The delicate care required to maintain curly hair is especially important when you’re brushing it. Brushing techniques can vary depending on your hair's thickness or the tightness of your curls, but follow these general steps to comb curly hair correctly.

Tip #1: Comb Correctly

Use a wide-tooth comb to divide your hair into sections.
Start near the ends of your hair to help gently tease out tangles and knots, and comb out each section with smooth, downward strokes.
If you’re noticing excessive resistance, try re-wetting your hair or applying a moisturizing leave-in product to help further detangle and soften it.

Step 2: Wash and Condition

A thoughtful wash routine helps protect moisture, reduce tangles, and support curl definition. Small adjustments—like how you prep, section, and rinse—can make a noticeable difference in how your curls look and feel.

Tip #2: Try a Pre-Shampoo Treatment

Apply a pre-shampoo treatment (pre-poo) as the first step of your shower routine, typically using hair oil, nourishing hair butter, or household recipes with coconut or avocado oil. This provides a nourishing, protective layer that stops your shampoo from stripping away essential moisture.

Tip #3: Section Your Hair

Since natural and curly hair are more prone to knots and tangles, consider sectioning your hair in the shower. Dividing curls into sections improves product distribution, simplifies detangling, and prevents breakage.

Tip #4: Use Cool Water

Always use cool water on wash days, as hot water can strip natural oils, promoting frizziness and dryness. Cool water helps seal the hair cuticles, locking in moisture and enhancing natural curl definition.

Tip #5: Prioritize a Hydrating Shampoo

Proper curl care focuses on moisture and hydration. For beautifully defined curls, wash your hair with a gentle, moisturizing curl shampoo. Use a sulfate-free formula to avoid extra dryness and damage, and swap in a clarifying formula once a month.

Tip #6: Moisturize With a Curl Conditioner

Follow every shampoo with a curl conditioner to tame frizz while enhancing the natural bounce and definition of your curls. These help define the natural curl pattern, leaving your hair soft, manageable, and ready for styling. Since this doesn’t always provide enough moisture, scrunch a leave-in conditioner into your curls from mid-lengths to the ends. Additionally, adding a weekly hydrating hair mask to your curly hair routine can support root-to-end hydration.

Step 3: Dry and Maintain

How you dry and care for your curls after washing plays a key role in preventing frizz, preserving definition, and protecting overall hair health.

Tip #7: Plop Your Hair/Dry Gently and Carefully

Hair plopping is exactly what it sounds like. Once you’ve washed and conditioned your hair, simply place it on a microfiber towel (or an old t-shirt), wrap it, and let it dry. You’re essentially letting the microfiber towel do the styling work, absorbing excess water without rough-drying your hair, which can lead to frizz and a broken curl pattern.

Tip #8: Use Satin or Silk Pillowcases

Getting ready for bed? Don’t sleep on satin or silk pillowcases. Cotton pillowcases can leave your hair frizzy and damaged, while satin or silk pillowcases let your hair glide smoothly across the surface, reducing friction and potential damage and frizz.

Step 4: Provide Extra Care With Curly Hair-Approved Products

Finding products that work with your curls is a delicate balance of trial and error that can take time to master. So we've put together a bonus list of curl-loving products to address all your curly hair needs.

Tip #9: Use an Exfoliating Sea Salt Scrub

Buildup on your scalp can lead to blocked follicles and dry hair, which is where scalp exfoliation comes in. Salt scrubs, infused with sea minerals, work wonders in adding volume and accentuating the natural curls without weighing them down, resulting in a bouncy, effortlessly stylish finish. Use a salt scrub weekly to exfoliate your scalp and curly hair.

Tip #10: Add Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatments

It’s also important to incorporate deep-conditioning treatments and hair masks into your routine once a week. These intensive treatments provide your hair with extra hydration, nourishment, and reparative benefits.

Tip #11: Deliver Extra Moisture With a Leave-In Hair Milk

A leave-in hair milk is a lightweight way to hydrate and define curls without weighing them down. Formulated with ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and aloe vera, it enhances natural texture while helping control frizz and protect against heat. Simply apply to towel-dried hair and style as usual.

Tip #12: Consider Curl Creams for Heat and Humidity

A curl cream not only helps detangle and define your curls but also helps fight frizz and protect against heat damage, without weighing your hair down. If your hair is prone to extreme frizz or you live in a humid environment, use a curl primer to maintain healthy curls, even in high-humidity conditions.

The Don’ts of Curly Hair Care

In addition to the above hair tips, try to avoid the following when caring for your curly hair.

Tip #13: Skip Shampooing Every Day

Wondering how often you should wash your hair? Overwashing can strip natural oils, leaving hair dry or triggering excess oil. Since curly hair is already prone to dryness, aim to wash about once a week and adjust based on how your hair responds. You can also try swapping in a dry shampoo to extend time between washes.

Tip #14: Don't Forget Conditioner

We’ll keep saying it: The key to beautiful and healthy curls is proper moisture! Make sure you’re not skipping conditioner after you wash your hair, and swap in extra-nourishing hair masks as needed.

Tip #15: Take a Break From Heat Styling

The curlier your hair, the more you should limit heat styling, which can strip moisture and disrupt your curl pattern. If you do use heat, let hair partially air-dry first and always apply a heat protectant. When blow-drying, use a diffuser to evenly distribute airflow and reduce frizz and damage.

Davines hair model holding LOVE CURL Primer

Refine Your Curly Hair Care Routine With Davines

Naturally curly hair looks its best with the right care—but that doesn’t mean overhauling your routine or budget. Focus on hydrating products, limit heat styling, and use tools like wide-tooth combs and silk or satin pillowcases. Simple techniques like air drying or plopping can also enhance your natural texture.

Regular trims are key to preventing split ends and keeping curls healthy, even while growing them out. For best results, work with a stylist experienced in curly hair—and don’t forget to share your favorite tips in the comments!