How to take care of curly hair in men

The widespread belief that only women desire curly, full-bodied, well-defined hair is wrong. Today, more and more boys and men with wavy, curly or afro hair are dedicated to caring for their hair, celebrating its natural beauty.

The growing awareness that curly hair needs proper care to best express its beauty has contributed to a growing trend among men: curly hair care through the use of specific products and proper styling techniques.

We at I Love Riccio are extremely proud of this trend because for years we have been constantly striving not only to satisfy customers at our salons throughout Italy, but above all to disseminate and educate on the curl culture of everyone: women, men and even children.

In this article we have selected the best practical tips for the care and treatment of male curly hair.

Even for men, a proper Night and Daily routine for curly hair helps keep curls defined and moisturized. Here are some healthy habits and best practices to adopt both at night and during the day.

Starting with the Night routine, there are two tips to always keep in mind:

1. The first is about using a pure silk pillowcase while you sleep: when you wake up you will notice a surprising improvement in your hair, with no frizzy, electric or overly dry hair.
2. The second tip, however, is for those with slightly longer hair: use the “pineapple” technique to protect your curls overnight. It consists of gathering the hair into a high ponytail on the top of the head before going to sleep, securing it with a soft cotton or terrycloth elastic (without tightening it too much). The next morning, simply remove the elastic, bend your head forward and, with the help of your hands wide open, shake your hair to make it regain volume.

Now let’s move on to the daily routine:

1. To restore volume and hydration when waking up, Refresh is a must. It will be sufficient to use a refresh product, spraying it on the hair (wet or dry, depending on the type of product that will be used). Spread it evenly over the hair with your hands, focusing on the most messy or flattened areas.
   Use the scrunching technique to liven up curls.
   Finally, dry your hair with a blow dryer and diffuser or in the open air, never touching it with your hands.

If you are short on time in the morning, the ideal way to do the refresh is to opt for products that can be applied directly to dry hair, such as Magic Curl Reactivator Refresh.

During the day it is best to keep hair manipulation to a minimum, if not to avoid touching it altogether. When it comes to curly hair, the principle of “less is more” is especially true so in addition to manipulating it as little as possible, it is advisable to avoid overloading it with products in an attempt to make it even softer, voluminous or defined.

Also avoid detangling hair when it is dry because it may break. It is best to do this only after shampooing, immediately after applying conditioner. To do this best, we recommend you use your fingers as if they were a rake, following the Rake technique, or help yourself with tools such as wide-toothed combs or specific brushes suited to your hair type.

Practices to avoid also include applying styling product to dry hair. You should perform this operation only on wet hair, otherwise it risks becoming dry, resulting in the appearance of frizz.

Finally, to maintain curl definition, we suggest limiting the use of hats: wearing headgear that is too tight or stiff can crush curls and compromise their natural shape, making it more difficult to maintain the desired look. If you really can’t help yourself, we recommend using hat styles with a looser fit. The choice of fabric is also crucial here: the best fabrics for curly hair are silk or satin. It is best to avoid using headgear made of synthetic materials, such as wool blends. If you want, you can opt for a hat made of wool but with an inner lining of silk or satin.

Choosing the right products for your curly hair is the essential step in taking care of it properly. We at I Love Curly have designed the CurlyMan specific line, ideal for curly men’s hair.

The set includes the gentle Drupe’n Wash shampoo, formulated to moisturize, condition and act as an antioxidant thanks to the presence of Ginseng extract, vitamins and minerals. Its formulation promotes oxygenation and strengthens follicles, stimulating hair growth. During application, it is recommended to massage for 2-3 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

The second product in the range is Bold mask, a nourishing mask that gives softness and shine to the hair, eliminating frizz. After washing the hair, it is recommended to massage the mask in, leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse. For curl definition, the third step is given by Clover Cream, a moisturizing styling cream capable of imparting elasticity and definition while restructuring and replenishing the hair structure thanks to the presence of keratin and collagen.

For application, it is suggested to massage a small amount of product onto wet hair lengths and ends, making sure to distribute it evenly throughout the curls with your fingers.

Next, scrunch and pat dry with a microfiber cloth or cotton T-shirt to remove excess water and product, and then proceed with blow-drying.