u/CurlyByAlanna

When I first started trying to take care of my curls, I genuinely thought I just had “bad frizzy hair.” Turns out I was doing almost everything wrong 

A few things I REALLY wish someone told me earlier:

• You do not need 15 products. A simple routine done consistently works better than constantly switching products every week.

• Wet styling changed everything for me. Applying leave-in/styling products on soaking wet hair gave me way less frizz.

• Dry brushing curls before I understood my hair type was basically self sabotage.

• Not every curl routine online will work for your hair. Density, porosity, climate, and even water quality matter way more than I expected.

• Protein overload is real. Moisture overload is also real. Took me forever to realize my hair could actually get worse from “too much care.”

• Diffusing on high heat destroyed my definition for months because I thought faster better.

• Satin pillowcases/sleep protection actually make a noticeable difference.

• Some wash days will just be bad for absolutely no reason and that’s normal

• For reference:

• Hair type: 2C/3A

• Porosity: medium-high

• Routine: sulfate-free shampoo 1-2x weekly, lightweight conditioner, leave-in cream + mousse, air dry or diffuse on low heat.

Curious what advice everyone else wishes they knew sooner

When I first started trying to take care of my curls, I genuinely thought I just had “bad frizzy hair.” Turns out I was doing almost everything wrong 

A few things I REALLY wish someone told me earlier:

• You do not need 15 products. A simple routine done consistently works better than constantly switching products every week.

• Wet styling changed everything for me. Applying leave-in/styling products on soaking wet hair gave me way less frizz.

• Dry brushing curls before I understood my hair type was basically self sabotage.

• Not every curl routine online will work for your hair. Density, porosity, climate, and even water quality matter way more than I expected.

• Protein overload is real. Moisture overload is also real. Took me forever to realize my hair could actually get worse from “too much care.”

• Diffusing on high heat destroyed my definition for months because I thought faster better.

• Satin pillowcases/sleep protection actually make a noticeable difference.

• Some wash days will just be bad for absolutely no reason and that’s normal

• For reference:

• Hair type: 2C/3A

• Porosity:medium-high

• Routine: sulfate-free shampoo 1-2x weekly, lightweight conditioner, leave-in cream + mousse, air dry or diffuse on low heat.

Curious what advice everyone else wishes they knew sooner

When I first started trying to take care of my curls, I genuinely thought I just had “bad frizzy hair.” Turns out I was doing almost everything wrong

A few things I REALLY wish someone told me earlier:

• You do not need 15 products. A simple routine done consistently works better than constantly switching products every week.
• Wet styling changed everything for me. Applying leave-in/styling products on soaking wet hair gave me way less frizz.
• Dry brushing curls before I understood my hair type was basically self sabotage.
• Not every curl routine online will work for your hair. Density, porosity, climate, and even water quality matter way more than I expected.
• Protein overload is real. Moisture overload is also real. Took me forever to realize my hair could actually get worse from “too much care.”
• Diffusing on high heat destroyed my definition for months because I thought faster = better.
• Satin pillowcases/sleep protection actually make a noticeable difference.
• Some wash days will just be bad for absolutely no reason and that’s normal

For reference:
Hair type: 2C/3A
Porosity: medium-high
Routine: sulfate-free shampoo 1-2x weekly, lightweight conditioner, leave-in cream + mousse, air dry or diffuse on low heat.

Curious what advice everyone else wishes they knew sooner

Okay so I have been on my curly hair journey for about two years now and I was fully convinced I just had bad hair. Like some days my curls would be popping, clumped, defined, actually bouncy. And then literally the next wash day it was straw. Pure frizz.

I tried changing products. I tried changing my whole routine. I blamed humidity. I blamed my genetics. I even blamed my ex at one point which had nothing to do with hair but still felt right.

Turns out it was my water the whole time.

I live in an area with hard water and the mineral buildup was literally blocking moisture from entering my hair shaft. So no matter how much conditioner I used or how long I left it in, my curls were just running on empty every single time.

What finally changed things for me was getting a shower filter, doing a chelating wash once a month to strip all that buildup, and actually learning how to do Squish to Condish properly because I was absolutely half doing it before and wondering why it was not working.

My curl clumping improved within two wash days. I stood in my bathroom and genuinely teared up a little.

If you have been struggling and feel like you have tried literally everything, please look into whether hard water might be your issue. It does not get talked about nearly enough in this community and it wasted almost a year of my journey.

Drop your hard water experiences or fixes below. I really want to know I am not alone in this.

Routine for anyone asking:

Clarifying wash: Once a month chelating shampoo to strip mineral buildup

Cleanser: Low poo sulfate free cleanser in between

Styling: I have been using the Controlled Chaos Curl Creme. It is sulfate and paraben free and was created by a hairstylist which is why I think it actually works for my hair type instead of just sitting on top of it

Drying: Diffuse on low until about 80 percent dry then air dry the rest

Sleep: Pineapple with a satin scrunchie

Okay so I have been on my curly hair journey for about two years now and I was fully convinced I just had bad hair. Like some days my curls would be popping, clumped, defined, actually bouncy. And then literally the next wash day it was straw. Pure frizz. Sadness.

I tried changing products. I tried changing my whole routine. I blamed humidity. I blamed my genetics. I even blamed my ex at one point which had nothing to do with hair but still felt right.

Turns out it was my water the whole time.

I live in an area with hard water and the mineral buildup was literally blocking moisture from entering my hair shaft. So no matter how much conditioner I used or how long I left it in, my curls were just running on empty every single time.

What finally changed things for me was getting a shower filter, doing a chelating wash once a month to strip all that buildup, and actually learning how to do Squish to Condish properly because I was absolutely half doing it before and wondering why it wasn't working.

My curl clumping improved within two wash days. I stood in my bathroom and genuinely teared up a little.

If you have been struggling and feel like you have tried literally everything, please look into whether hard water might be your issue. I feel like it does not get talked about nearly enough in this community and it wasted almost a year of my journey.

Drop your hard water experiences or fixes below. I really want to know I am not alone in th

Okay so I have been on my curly hair journey for about two years now and I was fully convinced I just had bad hair. Like some days my curls would be popping, clumped, defined, actually bouncy. And then literally the next wash day it was straw. Pure frizz. Sadness.

I tried changing products. I tried changing my whole routine. I blamed humidity. I blamed my genetics. I even blamed my ex at one point which had nothing to do with hair but still felt right.

Turns out it was my water the whole time.

I live in an area with hard water and the mineral buildup was literally blocking moisture from entering my hair shaft. So no matter how much conditioner I used or how long I left it in, my curls were just running on empty every single time.

What finally changed things for me was getting a shower filter, doing a chelating wash once a month to strip all that buildup, and actually learning how to do Squish to Condish properly because I was absolutely half doing it before and wondering why it wasn't working.

My curl clumping improved within two wash days. I stood in my bathroom and genuinely teared up a little.

If you have been struggling and feel like you have tried literally everything, please look into whether hard water might be your issue. I feel like it does not get talked about nearly enough in this community and it wasted almost a year of my journey.

Drop your hard water experiences or fixes below. I really want to know I am not alone in th

Okay so I have been on my curly hair journey for about two years now and I was fully convinced I just had bad hair. Like some days my curls would be popping, clumped, defined, actually bouncy. And then literally the next wash day it was straw. Pure frizz. Sadness.

I tried changing products. I tried changing my whole routine. I blamed humidity. I blamed my genetics. I even blamed my ex at one point which had nothing to do with hair but still felt right.

Turns out it was my water the whole time.

I live in an area with hard water and the mineral buildup was literally blocking moisture from entering my hair shaft. So no matter how much conditioner I used or how long I left it in, my curls were just running on empty every single time.

What finally changed things for me was getting a shower filter, doing a chelating wash once a month to strip all that buildup, and actually learning how to do Squish to Condish properly because I was absolutely half doing it before and wondering why it wasn't working.

My curl clumping improved within two wash days. I stood in my bathroom and genuinely teared up a little.

If you have been struggling and feel like you have tried literally everything, please look into whether hard water might be your issue. I feel like it does not get talked about nearly enough in this community and it wasted almost a year of my journey.

Drop your hard water experiences or fixes below. I really want to know I am not alone in this.

Okay so I have been on my curly hair journey for about two years now and I was fully convinced I just had bad hair. Like some days my curls would be popping, clumped, defined, actually bouncy. And then literally the next wash day it was straw. Pure frizz. Sadness.

I tried changing products. I tried changing my whole routine. I blamed humidity. I blamed my genetics. I even blamed my ex at one point which had nothing to do with hair but still felt right.

Turns out it was my water the whole time.

I live in an area with hard water and the mineral buildup was literally blocking moisture from entering my hair shaft. So no matter how much conditioner I used or how long I left it in, my curls were just running on empty every single time.

What finally changed things for me was getting a shower filter, doing a chelating wash once a month to strip all that buildup, and actually learning how to do Squish to Condish properly because I was absolutely half doing it before and wondering why it wasn't working.

My curl clumping improved within two wash days. I stood in my bathroom and genuinely teared up a little.

If you have been struggling and feel like you have tried literally everything, please look into whether hard water might be your issue. I feel like it does not get talked about nearly enough in this community and it wasted almost a year of my journey.

Drop your hard water experiences or fixes below. I really want to know I am not alone in this.

Okay so I have been on my curly hair journey for about two years now and I was fully convinced I just had bad hair. Like some days my curls would be popping, clumped, defined, actually bouncy. And then literally the next wash day it was straw. Pure frizz. Sadness.

I tried changing products. I tried changing my whole routine. I blamed humidity. I blamed my genetics. I even blamed my ex at one point which had nothing to do with hair but still felt right.

Turns out it was my water the whole time.

I live in an area with hard water and the mineral buildup was literally blocking moisture from entering my hair shaft. So no matter how much conditioner I used or how long I left it in, my curls were just running on empty every single time.

What finally changed things for me was getting a shower filter, doing a chelating wash once a month to strip all that buildup, and actually learning how to do Squish to Condish properly because I was absolutely half doing it before and wondering why it wasn't working.

My curl clumping improved within two wash days. I stood in my bathroom and genuinely teared up a little.

If you have been struggling and feel like you have tried literally everything, please look into whether hard water might be your issue. I feel like it does not get talked about nearly enough in this community and it wasted almost a year of my journey.

Drop your hard water experiences or fixes below. I really want to know I am not alone in this.

Okay so I have been on my curly hair journey for about two years now and I was fully convinced I just had bad hair. Like some days my curls would be popping, clumped, defined, actually bouncy. And then literally the next wash day it was straw. Pure frizz. Sadness.

I tried changing products. I tried changing my whole routine. I blamed humidity. I blamed my genetics. I even blamed my ex at one point which had nothing to do with hair but still felt right.

Turns out it was my water the whole time.

I live in an area with hard water and the mineral buildup was literally blocking moisture from entering my hair shaft. So no matter how much conditioner I used or how long I left it in, my curls were just running on empty every single time.

What finally changed things for me was getting a shower filter, doing a chelating wash once a month to strip all that buildup, and actually learning how to do Squish to Condish properly because I was absolutely half doing it before and wondering why it wasn't working.

My curl clumping improved within two wash days. I stood in my bathroom and genuinely teared up a little.

If you have been struggling and feel like you have tried literally everything, please look into whether hard water might be your issue. I feel like it does not get talked about nearly enough in this community and it wasted almost a year of my journey.

Drop your hard water experiences or fixes below. I really want to know I am not alone in this.