Introduction to the Beauty of Indian Curly Hair
India has gained Independence a long time ago, but still we used to believe many things which the Britishers imposed on us, and one such thing was straight hair. In ancient times, beauty of a women was scaled by her long, straight and dark hair. Straight hair were considered as the best and professional.
On the other hand, curly hair were shown as unkempt and unprofessional. Indian curly hair has always been in the debate. And the reason is the thinking related to hair.
Even after Independence, fashion industry in India used to promote straight hair only. Slowly, as we are reaching new heights, people are getting aware, we can see a shift in attitude towards curly hair. People have started accepting curly hair in their natural state.
Influencers and celebrities like Nandita das, Mithila palkar and Masaba gupta have also started embracing their natural Indian curly hair and giving every other curly haired person confidence in doing so.
Let’s understand Indian curly hair in more detail-
Understanding the Diversity of Indian Curly Hair Textures
Indian curly hair is diverse in nature. It varies greatly among individuals due to genetics, regional influences and personal hygiene level. Let’s understand Indian curly hair in little more detail-
- Genetic Diversity- Genes play a major role in deciding the curl texture and pattern. India is a country with rich ethnicity, each ethnicity has different hair characteristics. Therefore, the genetic diversity plays a great role in deciding the hair texture, curl pattern and hair thickness.
- Curl Pattern- Indian curly hair can range from loose waves to tight curls. The curl pattern is influenced by the shape of hair follicle too.
- Hair Density- Indians have different hair density. Some have thick curls, while some have fine hair with less density. And all these affects the hair texture.
- Hair Diameter- Hair diameter refers to the thickness of the hair strand. Indian curly hair differ from coarse to thick hair to finer strands. And this hair diameter decides the susceptibility of hair breakage.
- Cultural Practices- Cultural practices means how you take care of your hair. Traditional cultural practices involves oiling your hair, using home-made hair mask and styling your hair which protects the curls. All these practices affects the hair health and appearance.
- Hair Porosity- Porosity means hair’s ability to absorb moisture and keep it locked in the hair. Indian curly hair varies in hair porosity. The difference in hair porosity can change your hair texture and also your curl pattern.
Care Tips for Maintaining Indian Curly Hair
In the above section, we have understood that Indian Curly Hair is diverse in nature. Now, let’s see how to care and maintain Indian curly hair–
- Moisturize regularly- Keep your curls moisturized and hydrated. Curly hair tend to be dry, so it is necessary to moisturize these curls and condition them regularly.
- Deep condition- Give your curls the care of deep conditioning once in a week. This deep conditioning treatment helps to nourish and hydrate the curls.
- Do not wash too much- Do not wash your curls too much. Once or twice in a week is good to keep your scalp clean and make sure there is no product build-up. Also, less washing helps to keep the natural oil in the scalp.
- Wide tooth comb- Detangle your hair gently by using wide toothed comb or your fingers. Do not brush your hair after they are dry, as this leads hair breakage and frizziness.
- Satin pillowcase- Sleeping on satin pillowcases helps to reduce friction and prevent frizz. You can also use satin bonnet to protect your curls while sleeping and reduce hair tangling.
- Regular trimming- Regular trimming of curls helps to keep the curls fresh and bouncy. It reduces the split ends and keep the curls healthy.
- Hydration- Using hair products is nice, but it is also necessary to hydrate yourself from inside. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking 7-8 glasses of water daily. This will remove the toxins from the body and promote overall hair health.
- Limit heat styling- Minimize the use of heating tools like curling iron and straightening, this leads to dryness and split ends.
Styling Techniques Tailored for Indian Curly Hair
Some of the popular hairstyle for Indian Curly Hair are-
1. Natural Curls-
Embracing your natural curls and letting them flow in their natural state, is one of the best hairstyle. It is a low maintenance hairstyle which varies from loose waves to tight coils.
2. Curls Updo-
This is one of the common hairstyle for Indian curls. Creating your hair in updo gives you an elegant and sophisticated look.
- Brush your hair with a wide toothed comb.
- Make a section and take some curls.
- Tie them up in a bun style.
- The left hair you can either braid or leave them open.
- An amazing hairstyle is ready.
3. Braids and Twists-
Braids and twists are termed as protective hairstyles, they help to protect the curls from getting tangled. There are many styles which you can opt in braids and twists such as- French braid, Fishtail braid etc.
Corset French Braid:
- In this French braid your hair from both sides.
- Bring the braid to the back of your hair.
- Secure them in Mohawk-style ponytail.
- Finish it off by using clips.
4. Messy Topknot-
This is one simple hairstyle, which is easy to make and looks stylish too.
- Grab your curls from everywhere.
- Bring the curls on the top of your head.
- Tie them up with an elastic band.
- You will see curls falling from above.
5. Side Swept Low Ponytail-
This hairstyle is sure to grab a lot of attention. It looks like Elsa from Frozen.
- Start making this hairstyle with a clean and dry hair.
- Brush your hair with wide toothed comb.
- Decide on which side you want the ponytail.
- Gather all your hair and bring it on that side.
- Secure your hair with a tie.
- Loose few strands around your hair to soften the look.
FAQ Section: Common Queries about Indian Curly Hair
Q.1. How does the climate affect Indian curly hair?
A.1. Climate is the biggest enemy for curls. Humid climates can enhance curls, while dry climates may require more moisture to avoid frizz. So, protect your curls from the environment
Q.2. Can Indian curly hair be straightened or heat-styled?
A.2. Indian curly hair is no different from other types of curly hair. They can be styled by using heating tools like flat irons or curling iron.
Q.3. How do I prevent tangling in Indian curly hair?
A.3. Tangling in Indian curly hair can be tackled by using wide toothed comb or fingers. Also, try using protective style to protect the hair from tangling.
Q.4. Are there specific Indian hair care traditions for curly hair?
A.4. Indians mainly believe in home remedies. They use DIY hair mask, oil their hair and use natural ingredients like amla and coconut oil to nourish and moisturize their hair.
Q.5. What products work best for defining Indian curly hair?
A.5. Apart from using home remedies, it is also necessary to use curly hair products to keep the curls defined. Hair products like Curl-enhancing creams, leave-in conditioners, and natural oils are recommended for defining curls.
Q.6. How can I protect Indian curly hair while sleeping?
A.6. Use a satin or silk pillowcase or wrap the hair in a satin scarf to minimize friction and frizz. You can also use satin bonnet, to protect your hair at night.
Above are the ways by which you can deal with Indian curly hair. Indian curly hair is very diverse in nature, they are affected by climate and lifestyle.
In the above blog, you have also come to know how to care for your curls and some protective hairstyle which protect your curls through extreme weather and friction in the night.
How do you care for your Indian curly hair?
