Curly haircare can be easy with the right aids to help you properly look after your tresses. Read on for some of my must-have curly hair tools for defined, protected locks.
As a curly-haired individual myself, I understand only too well that maintaining the health and vibrancy of one’s locks can be a delicate and time-consuming balancing act. From finding the right products to mastering the perfect styling techniques, the process of achieving bouncy, juicy curls can be both rewarding and challenging.
Wherever you are on your curly, wavy, kinky or coily hair journey, with the right set of curly hair tools and aids you can take proper care of your gorgeous locks – and they will certainly thank you for it!
Silicone Scalp Scrubbing Brush: For A Thorough Clean
Whether you wash your hair with shampoo or you cowash (wash with conditioner), sometimes it can be hard to give your scalp a truly thorough clean and rinse. One of my favourite curly hair tools is therefore a silicone scalp scrubbing brush as its soft-but-firm silicone prongs massage my scalp with just the right amount of friction to provide an invigorating scratch-free cleanse that feels amazing! The brush can also be used when rinsing your hair to ensure that all residue is removed from your scalp.
Wide-Tooth Comb: The Curly Hair Detangler
While some curly-haired folks have transitioned to exclusively using their fingers for detanglng, a wide-tooth comb can still be one of the most valuable curly hair tools in your arsenal. This type of comb gently detangles wet hair, helping to minimise frizz and reduce breakage.
Curl-Defining Brush: Create Juicy Clumps
One of the greatest secrets of achieving defined, healthy curls is to NEVER brush your hair. Except, that is, when it’s wet, and only at the end of the hair-washing process in order to carefully create curl clumps. These clumps can then be gently scrunched and plopped to remove excess water and set them, and later dried with a hairdryer (more on that below) or air-dried (although this can cause curls to elongate due to the weight of the water in the hair).
There are certain types of brush that work best for this technique, such as a Denman-style brush (in case you didn’t know, it’s possible to remove some rows of teeth from the brush to change the chunkiness of clumps produced) or a purpose-made curl defining brush.
Non-Terrycloth Towel: A Frizz-Busting Essential
Drying your hair with a traditional terrycloth towel is a recipe for frizz and damage, especially if you use it to vigorously rub your hair and scalp dry. Please stop!
Instead, opt for a satin, microfibre, or t-shirt cotton towel, or a microfibre turban, all of which are gentler on delicate curly hair strands. Be sure to use the ‘plopping‘ technique to help minimise disruption to your curl pattern when your wet hair is swathed in any kind of covering.
Hairdryer and Diffuser: To Dry and Set Your Curls
Much of the secret to having defined, bouncy curls is down to technique, and this applies to hairdrying, too. Many curlies opt to let their hair air-dry, but for me my absolute must-have curly hair tools are my hairdryer and diffuser.
There are many superb hairdryers on the market, including the Dyson Supersonic, the Shark SpeedStyle, and the Bellisima Diffon Supreme. I’ve tried myriad dryers over the years, and have found the thing that makes the biggest difference in terms of drying time and quality is the diffuser. I could not be without my Diva Pro XXL Diffuser. It is enormous and therefore ideal for anyone with a decent head of curls. It can be used with almost any hairdryer – I use mine with my many years-old ETI dryer, which has long since been discontinued, but this one is similar.
Hairdressers’ Scissors: For When You’re Feeling Snippy
Let’s face it, finding a hairdresser who knows how to properly cut curls and waves is a tough task, so it’s worth investing in a decent pair of sharp hairdressing scissors to help keep your ends neat and tidy or even give yourself a Big Chop if you’re feeling brave enough! Please don’t use kitchen scissors for cutting your hair – they typically cause split ends and can lead to severe damage.
I’ve owned a pair of these scissors for almost 10 years now and these curly hair tools have come to my rescue on many occasion when my curls needed a trim to bring back their springiness.
Curl Protection: A Curly Girl’s Night-time Ritual
After all the time and effort it takes to wash and style curly hair, we have well and truly earned a good night’s sleep. However, the very act of laying our head and curls upon a pillow can quickly undo all of our hard work as the slightly textured surface of a traditional cotton pillowcase can often be too rough for our wavy or curly hair, causing frizz, breakage, and loss of definition. We must therefore protect our tresses at night by using the right curly hair tools for the task. The items below can of course be worn during the day as well as at night if wished to keep hair out of the way.
Silk or Satin Pillowcase: For A Slippy Sleep That Is Also Skin-Kind
Investing in a silk or satin pillowcase can help minimise friction, allowing your curls to glide smoothly upon your pillow during the night and retain their shape into the morning. In addition, it’s also a top beauty must-have as the pillowcase’s smooth surface is thought to help prevent the onset of wrinkles.
Silk or Satin Bonnet or Turban
Wearing a silk or satin bonnet or turban to bed can help retain moisture and reduce frizz, keeping your curls looking their best while you sleep. They may not be the most glamorous of curly hair tools but if they keep your hair in good order for tomorrow I think they’re definitely worth it!
Hair Buff
Working in a similar way to a bonnet, a buff is a bit like a really deep hairband or sleeve for your hair that encases your curls and keeps them protected until morning. Personally I much prefer a buff to a bonnet as a buff prevents almost all movement of my hair so the shape and definition of my curls is retained much more effectively.
There are many different styles of hair buff available, and my favourites include the Bambonn, as well as these buffs from Amazon. I tie the ends at the top to ensure my hair stays tucked away for the night, which further helps keep it in tip-top condition.
Hair Wrap
The most suitable wrap to protect curls will be made from a soft, slippery fabric akin to a silk or satin pillowcase so as not to cause frizz. A silk scarf, a camping towel, a t-shirt towel or indeed just a regular cotton t-shirt (ideally long-sleeved as it’s easier to tie) you probably already own are all good options here. Purpose-made curly hair tools are great, but they’re even better when they don’t require any additional outlay!
Pineappling with a Scrunchie: An Up-do Without the Damage
Pineappling, the act of gathering your curls into a loose, high ponytail or folded-over bun, can be a game-changer for maintaining curl definition and reducing tangles and damage whilst you are in bed. This simple technique helps keep your curls elevated and protected while you sleep, ensuring you wake up with a fresh, bouncy look. Using a silk scrunchie to tie up your hair can minimise creasing and damage compared to regular hair ties, and combining pineappling with the use of a silk or satin pillowcase will provide top-level care for your curls.
Boss level curl tip: After removing your hair from a buff, bonnet or wrap (or indeed after taking your hair down after pineappling or clipping), resist the temptation to immediately fluff your curls. Instead, leave them alone for as long as you can as they will thank you by bouncing back to their full glory if you give them time to recover (my curls typically take 5-10 minutes). Fluffing and fiddling with your locks too soon will disturb the sleepy clumps and create unnecessary frizz.
My hair is my spirit animal because when it is freed from the buff it needs to be left alone for a bit to properly wake up and acclimatise to the day on its own, otherwise it will react badly!!
Claw Clips
Claw clips are a secure way of putting hair up without putting stress on a concentrated area in the way that hair ties do. I love these larger octopus claw clips for when I want all my hair up, and these medium sized octopus claw clips for a half up half down style.
By incorporating these invaluable curly hair tools into your routine, you’ll be well on your way to achieving and maintaining healthy, vibrant curls that bounce and shine.
Remember, every head of curly hair is unique, so be patient and experiment to find the perfect combination of products, techniques and curly hair tools that work best for you. With the right curly hair tools and a little TLC, your curls will undoubtedly flourish.
Take a look at my other haircare posts here.