Although there are a number of advantages that come from having natural hair, there’s no denying that this hair type can also be a challenge to maintain and style. Natural hair is known for its fragility, making it easily prone to damage. Style your hair incorrectly and you could exacerbate this, resulting in a dull and dry mane full of breakages, split ends, and frizz.

So, how should you be styling your natural hair if you want it to look its very best?

Read on as Evalectric shares some top tips and techniques!

But First…How to Prep Natural Hair Before Styling It

With natural hair being so vulnerable to damage, it’s vital that some prep work is carried out before you begin styling.

Your main aim is to give your hair as much moisture as possible. This starts with your choice of shampoo. Avoid formulas that could potentially dry your hair out, which many shampoos are prone to doing. Instead, you need a shampoo that will clean away dirt without stripping away your hair’s natural layer of oils, which is where the Evalectric Moisturizing Shampoo comes in. 

With that said, no matter how good your shampoo may be, don’t use it too often. Leave as long a gap as you can in between shampooing sessions. If your hair could do with a pick-me-up in between, consider co-washing instead. This involves washing your hair with a conditioner instead of a shampoo. For this to work well, you need a rich, hydrating conditioner, just like the Evalectric Moisturizing Conditioner. It’s infused with argan oil, which will give your hair a much softer finish. It will also lock moisture into your strands, countering the feeling of dryness.

Preventing Humidity-Induced Frizz

If you have natural hair, it can sometimes feel as though there’s no getting away from frizz. Again, this is down to how natural hair is so prone to dryness. This causes individual hairs to reach upwards and outwards in an attempt to grab onto some of the moisture that’s in the air around you. This is why natural hair tends to frizz up big time in humid conditions.

Frizz is often a big obstacle when it comes to styling natural hair. As you probably know, even a small amount of frizz can quickly ruin a hairstyle, roughing up the sleek finish that you were aiming for.

So, how can you keep frizz at bay?

Once again, moisture is the answer. The more hydrated your hair is, the less it will feel inclined to lean toward moisture. A good conditioner will go a long way in giving your hair a moisture boost but, unfortunately, this alone will often not be enough. 

This is why so many people with natural hair swear by hydrating hair serums, such as the Evalectric Hair Serum. This should be applied while your hair is still damp, which is when it’s most permeable. With a blend of aloe vera and vitamin E, it will hydrate and moisturize at the same time. This, in turn, will reduce the appearance of frizz, giving your locks a much smoother finish.

Investing in High-Quality Styling Tools

If you want to keep the appearance of damage and dryness to a minimum, heat-free styling is the way to go. However, there will still be times when you need to turn to heat to manage your mane. When this happens, it’s vital that you have some high-quality styling tools to use – anything sub-par will only magnify damage.

A good blow dryer is one of the must-haves. However, don’t use one while your hair is still soaking wet. The longer your hair is exposed to heat, the frizzier it will be. Instead, give your hair some time to air dry before finishing off with a blow dryer. 

For natural hair, a blow dryer with a diffuser is a must. This will allow you to control the airflow emitted by the device. You’ll be able to rock curls that look defined and voluminous rather than rough and frizzy. This is why the Pro Beauty Dryer from Evalectric comes with two diffusers, giving you even more flexibility. 

Another styling tool worth having in your arsenal is a flat iron. As gorgeous as your natural curls may be, you may still want to mix things up every once in a while and give straight hair a try. Since natural hair can be quite thick and coarse, look for a flat iron that can handle this, such as the Evalectric Deep Purple Classic Styler. With its wide ceramic plates, it will straighten your locks to perfection without leaving your strands looking damaged. 

If you’d prefer to go with titanium, which is known for heating up faster, the Evalectric Titanium Pro Coral would be a great choice. This device’s far infrared and negative ion technologies will help to keep your hair looking beautifully healthy.

Keep Your Hairbrush Around

Many people with natural hair choose not to use a hairbrush. They’re often told that combs are a much better tool, with some forgoing these as well in favor of finger combing. 

There’s nothing wrong with this, but there’s also nothing wrong with brushing natural hair. Sure, brushing can cause natural hair to turn puffy, but do it before bed or before a shower and you’ll be able to put things right in no time. 

It also means that you’ll be able to reap the benefits of brushing, the main one being the distribution of natural oils. A hairbrush is far more effective than a comb or your fingers when it comes to spreading the oils produced by the scalp down to the dry ends of the hair. The result? Hair that ultimately feels softer, smoother, and easier to manage.

Experimenting With Hairstyles

Just because you have natural hair doesn’t mean that you need to feel excluded when it comes to the many hairstyles that other hair types sport. However, at the same time, it’s worth keeping in mind that your gorgeous curls lend themselves better to some hairstyles than others. 

If you’re ready to start experimenting with styling your hair, here are a few looks to try:

The Cinnabun

Also known as the cinnamon bun hairstyle, this style is loved for being low-maintenance and protective. Here’s how to pull it off:

• Start by applying some styling gel to the edges of your hair along your hairline. This will encourage your strands to lie flat
• Gather your hair into a high ponytail and secure it with an elastic band
• Section your ponytail off
• Take one section and roll it, starting from the ends and moving toward your roots. Use a bobby pin to secure that roll
• Repeat these steps with the remaining section of your ponytail, until they have all been rolled and pinned
• Wrap and tie a silk scarf around your hair for a few minutes. This will help to lock your style in place

Afro Puffs

Afro puffs, which are also known as space buns, work beautifully with natural hair. They also only take a few minutes to create:

• Part your hair down the middle
• Brush your hair to remove any tangles and then tie your hair into two high ponytails, one on either side of your part
• Twist each ponytail into a bun, securing them with either bobby pins or an elastic band
• To soften your look, pull out a few strands from the front of your hair to frame your face

The Faux Bun

If your hair is short but you’d like to rock a longer and more voluminous style, the faux bun is the way to go. For this look, you’ll need to invest in some high-quality hair extensions: 

• Start by straightening your hair. This will make it much easier to work with
• Apply a styling gel to your locks, using your hands to smooth it in
• Tie your hair into a low bun, securing it with an elastic band
• Attach a ponytail extension to your bun and then braid it down
• Roll the extension clockwise, until it forms a bun of its own. Tuck the ends in and secure them with bobby pins

The Twisted Crown

This is a go-to look for every hair type, although it’s most commonly created with a braid. Using twists, however, will save you some time while also giving your hairstyle a unique edge:

• Create an angled side part that runs all the way from your hairline down to the ends of your hair, giving you two sections to work with
• Take one section and flat twist it, working from the top of your hair down to the ends. Once you’re done, secure the ends with bobby pins
• Do the same with the other half of your hair
• If you’d like your style to last overnight, wrap a silk scarf around your locks while you sleep

The Twisted Mohawk

The twisted mohawk is a hairstyle that looks pretty complex but is actually quite easy to create, as well as to maintain:

• Divide your hair into three sections; front, middle, and back
• Take some strands from each side of the middle section and braid them together, stopping before you reach the end. Tie those loose ends with an elastic band
• Tie the middle and back sections of your hair into separate ponytails
• Create small twists with each section, wrapping each twist around before pinning it in place
• Divide the front section of your hair into three and repeat the process, twisting and wrapping each one until you’ve recreated a mohawk

Summary

Although styling natural hair can seem challenging at first, there are plenty of ways to get around this. Start by ensuring that your hair is well-prepped and that you have all of the right styling tools. Then, take some time to experiment with different hairstyles until you’ve found a few that are not only easy for you to create, but also showcase your hair to perfection!

Click here to shop for more bestselling hair care and styling products from Evalectric.