Curly hair needs a different routine than straight hair. Most of what we learned growing up (shampoo every day, brush it out, towel it dry) works against curls. Once you have the right routine, curls get easier, not harder. This is the complete routine we teach in the chair, built entirely on Oribe, from wash day to keeping your curls going through day three.
Why Curls Need Different Care
Curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair. The oils your scalp makes travel easily down a straight strand, but every bend in a curl slows them down, so the ends of curly hair rarely get enough. That's why moisture comes first at every step of this routine. Curls are also more fragile at each bend, so how you wash, comb and dry them matters as much as what you put on them.
Oribe labels its curl products by curl type: 2 for waves, 3 for curls and 4 for coils. Not sure which one you are? Ask your stylist at your next appointment.
Wash
Most curls don't need a daily wash. Every shampoo removes some of the oil your curls are already short on. Two or three washes a week is plenty for most curly hair, and tighter coils can often go longer.
Before you shampoo, protect your ends. Smooth a little Eternal Curls Polish & Protect Oil or Priming Lotion through your ends before you get in the shower. It cushions your lengths against shampoo and gives you a head start on detangling.
Oribe Eternal Curls Moisturizing Shampoo
This is your everyday wash for waves, curls and coils. It's part of Oribe's Eternal Curls collection, formerly called Moisture & Control. Work the shampoo into your scalp with your fingertips, not your nails, and let the lather rinse down through your lengths. Don't pile your hair on top of your head and scrub, because that's how tangles start.
Oribe Eternal Curls Cleansing Crème
A non-foaming cleanser that cleans without stripping. It's ideal for tight coils and very dry or fragile hair, and it's a great swap for shampoo when your curls need a gentler wash.
Once a month: Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo
Gels, creams and LA's hard water all build up on curls over time, leaving them heavy, dull and harder to define. A monthly clarifying wash resets your hair so your products work again. Always follow it with conditioner.
Condition
Oribe Eternal Curls Intense Conditioner
Use it every time you wash, whatever your curl type. Be generous. Your hair should feel completely coated and slippery from mid-lengths to ends. That slip lets you detangle without breakage, which is exactly what you'll do next. Rinse with cool water to help seal the cuticle and lock in moisture.
Comb
How you detangle decides how much breakage you get. Three rules:
- Only detangle when your hair is wet and full of conditioner. Never brush dry curls. It breaks up your curl pattern, causes frizz and snaps fragile strands.
- Start at the ends and work up to the roots. Hold the hair above the spot you're combing so you never pull on your scalp.
- Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers. Skip fine-tooth combs and brushes.
Oribe Italian Resin Wide Tooth Comb
Its wide, smooth teeth glide through wet curls without snagging. Comb through while your conditioner is still in, then rinse.
Oribe Priming Lotion Leave-In Conditioning Detangler
Once you're out of the shower, work Priming Lotion through your hair. It's a silicone-free leave-in for every curl type. It adds slip for easy combing, smooths the cuticle, protects from heat and preps your hair for styling.
Style
Put your products in while your hair is still very wet. Curls clump and define best when product goes on before they start to dry, and that's how you keep frizz away. Then gently scrunch out extra water with a microfiber towel or a cotton T-shirt. Skip the regular bath towel, because rubbing roughs up the cuticle.
Layer your products in this order: leave-in first, then a cream for moisture, then a gel or mousse for hold.
For waves and curls (types 2 to 3)
Oribe Curl Shaping Mousse
For waves and looser curls that fall flat under heavier products. It gives you definition and frizz control without the weight.
Oribe Curl Control Silkening Crème
A light cream that hydrates, fights frizz and defines, with curl hold that lasts up to three days.
Oribe Curl Gloss Hydration & Hold
A lightweight glossing gel that adds shine and natural hold. Layer it over the crème for curls that keep their shape all day.
For curls and coils (types 3 to 4)
Oribe Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Crème
A rich cream that layers in moisture for tighter curls and coils that drink up product.
Oribe Curl Gelée for Shine & Definition
Gel for hold, shine and serious frizz control. Smooth it over your crème, section by section.
Oribe Eternal Curls Polish & Protect Oil
Your finishing step. Once your curls are completely dry, warm a few drops between your palms and scrunch them in. It softens any stiffness, seals your ends and protects against humidity.
Dry without frizz
- Air-dry or diffuse. Air-drying gives you tighter, more defined curls. Diffusing on low heat and low speed gives you more volume.
- Hands off while it dries. Touching wet curls breaks them apart and causes frizz.
- Expect a little crunch. If you used gel, your curls may feel stiff once dry. That's the gel cast, and it's a good thing, because it held your curls in shape while they dried. Once your hair is 100% dry, scrunch it out with a few drops of oil.
Refresh on day two and three
Oribe Mystify Restyling Spray
Mist your hair with water or a few spritzes of Mystify to reactivate yesterday's product. Then scrunch and reshape any curls that need it. There's no need to wash or restyle from scratch.
Treat
Weekly: Oribe Eternal Curls Deep Treatment Masque
Once a week, use the masque in place of your conditioner. It restores moisture, elasticity and strength, which is what keeps curls bouncy instead of limp or frizzy. Tighter curls and coils can use it every wash day. Heat helps the masque absorb, so if you have time, sit under a warm towel or heat cap for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing. That isn't always realistic, though, and the masque still works without it.
Nightly: protect your curls while you sleep
Before bed, loosely gather your curls into a high ponytail at the very top of your head (also called a "pineapple") with a soft scrunchie, so you're not sleeping on them. Then sleep in a satin or silk bonnet or on a satin or silk pillowcase to keep friction from frizzing your curls overnight. Doing one of the three is good. Doing all three is amazing.
Go easy on heat
Too much heat can permanently loosen your curl pattern, and once heat-damaged curls stop springing back, the only real fix is growing them out. If you blow out your curls, prep with Oribe Straight Away Smoothing Blowout Cream for heat protection, and never go above 360 degrees.
Get a cut made for curls
Dry, split ends won't clump or define no matter what you put on them. A cut designed around your curl pattern keeps your shape and your ends healthy. Here's why curly hair needs a specialist.
Your Curly Routine at a Glance
- Every wash: Eternal Curls Moisturizing Shampoo (or Cleansing Crème), then Eternal Curls Intense Conditioner, combed through with a wide-tooth comb
- Right after: Priming Lotion, then your stylers on very wet hair
- Waves and curls: Curl Shaping Mousse or Curl Control Silkening Crème, plus Curl Gloss
- Curls and coils: Styling Butter, plus Curl Gelée, finished with Polish & Protect Oil
- Weekly: Eternal Curls Deep Treatment Masque
- Monthly: The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo
- Nightly: loose high ponytail ("pineapple"), satin or silk bonnet, or satin or silk pillowcase
- Day two and three: Mystify Restyling Spray to refresh
Book a Curly Hair Appointment in Downtown LA
Not sure which products fit your curls? Ask us at your next appointment and we'll build your routine with you. Park & Eve is located at 527 W. 7th Street, Suite 600 in Downtown Los Angeles. Open Tuesday through Saturday. Book online or call 213.992.9365.