Kaya is a natural hair advocate and helps people embracing their curly and coily hair with her online blog Comfy Girl with Curls. So when we were trying to think about inspiring women we wanted to invite on our blog, as part of the launch of our shampoos and conditioners for textured hair, the choice was easy! With her magnificent tresses and contagious self-confidence, Kaya agreed to share with us her natural hair journey and routine. Get inspired!
How do you feel about your coily hair? Do you like having this hair texture? If so, has this always been the case?
I adore my natural hair, and especially as an adult, my curls have become a huge part of my identity. I love how big I can make them, their versatility, and how taking care of them with a solid routine and amazing products feels like an ultimate act of self-care.
While my hair and I are currently on the best-of-terms, the journey to self-acceptance took some time. Years, in fact.
Growing up, I definitely attached a lot of negative words to my curls and coils. I often saw them as unkempt, unprofessional, and above all: unmanageable.
It took time to change these perceptions, but the key to overcoming those labels was learning how to manage my hair & how to style curly hair. I had to discover that my natural hair (and textured hair in general) needs a different hair care regimen than straight hair does.
So building out a routine for myself, educating myself on the best products, paying close attention to how my curls responded to different ingredients; it all helped me better-understand my hair, and learn to really appreciate it.
Can you guide us through your hair care routine for coily hair and give us your styling tips?
Since building out a proper regimen for me and my curls was essential, here are some non-negotiable tips that have helped keep my hair healthy:
- Ensuring I’m using the right products for my hair
This is going to look different for every person, as every curl needs a different type of love. The key is to listen to what your hair needs, and act accordingly.
As someone with type 4 hair, my curls and coils are prone to dryness and therefore breakage. So on my wash days, I ensure that I have a good shampoo that removes product build-up without leaving my hair stripped of hydration, as well as an ultra-hydrating conditioner to pack my hair full of long-lasting moisture.
Not sure what your hair type is? Check out this useful guide! Learning mine helped me understand its needs!
And did you know that ATTITUDE makes shampoo and conditioners specifically for the unique needs of textured hair? As part of their 100% natural, EWG VERIFIEDTM Super leaves TM collection, they have a curl amplifying set for wavy hair, a curl moisturizing set for curly hair, and an ultra-hydrating set for coils (like mine)!
- Introducing the LCO method when styling
After shampooing and conditioning my hair, I always make sure to put on a layer of three products so that moisture is locked in to last me the week.
“LCO” refers to the products that I apply to my hair and the order.
- Leave-in conditioner (usually water-based for extra hydration).
- Cream (a heavier product, usually intended to help with styling, which helps keep the water in).
- Oil (to seal all the products and moisture in).
Following these steps every wash day is critical to my natural hair health, and helps me achieve my hair goals!
- Minimizing Manipulation
Have you heard of fingers-in-hair syndrome? Okay, it’s not a real thing, but it’s an expression used to describe people like me who just can’t stop touching their hair. If
I’m wearing my curls out in a style that shows all its voluminous glory, there’s a really good chance my fingers will be in it constantly.
And the reality is that constant manipulation of textured hair leads to a higher chance of breakage. So my solution is to keep my hair in low-manipulation styles as much as possible! Twists and braids for most of the week, and then letting it be free on the weekends!
This also helps protect my ends (the most vulnerable part of my hair) from the elements, or from the friction of rubbing against my clothing.
Incorporating ATTITUDETM Super leavesTM
I mentioned ATTITUDE’s Super leavesTM hair products above, and I recently began including their Curl Ultra-Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner in my routine, and am super happy with the results.
They are high-performing; the shampoo does not leave my hair feeling stripped of moisture, and the conditioner is incredibly hydrating. The latter even offers enough slip, so that I can detangle my hair with it!
And in addition to being effective, these natural hair products are ideal for those looking to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle.
What makes ATTITUDETM Super leaves TM hair products so unique
There are a lot of hair products out there on the market, but not too many of them can balance performance, ingredient-consciousness, and sustainability.
Their Super leavesTM shampoos and conditioners are vegan, hypoallergenic, and EWG VERIFIEDTM. (The Environmental Working Group is an organization “dedicated to protecting human health and the environment”. They help consumers find “non toxic" beauty brands, and you can find a cosmetic ingredients analysis on their website!)
And being eco-friendly and ingredient-conscious doesn’t need to come with an astronomical price tag! Shop their textured hair products for yourself, and see just how affordable they are.
Kaya