5 misconceptions about curly hair that we keep passing on

Certain phrases about curly, frizzy, or coily hair have been passed down for generations. We've heard them from a grandmother, a hairdresser, a well-meaning friend.

The problem: many of them are false, or at best, very approximate.

Here are 5 misconceptions that we keep passing on, and what you really need to know about them.

1. "You have to brush often to control the curl"

It's often the opposite. Frequent brushing, especially when dry, tends to break the curl and create frizz rather than control it.

Textured hair generally untangles better with fingers or a wide-tooth comb, on damp hair, and as infrequently as possible.

2. "The curlier the hair, the stronger it is"

It's often the opposite. The tighter the curl, the harder it is for the hair fiber to conduct natural scalp sebum to the ends. As a result, very curly or coily hair tends to be drier and more fragile, not stronger.

3. "Curly hair doesn't need to be moisturized often"

This idea probably comes from a confusion between "oily" and "hydrated". Curly hair can look not very oily quickly, which suggests it doesn't need anything. In reality, it's often the opposite: the tighter the texture, the more it needs regular hydration to stay supple.

4. "You don't style curls before adulthood"

Many parents wait until their child is older before truly focusing on their hair care routine, thinking that "it will resolve itself with age." In reality, the specific needs of curly, frizzy, or coily hair exist from early childhood, and the earlier one adopts the right habits, the more natural the routine becomes for the child as they grow up.

5. "All curls are alike, one product is enough"

There is a great diversity of textures, even within the same family: two children can have very different curls from each other. A product that works perfectly for one texture may not work at all for another, even if both appear "curly."

In summary

Many of these ideas come from habits passed down without really being verified. They are not absurd – they often stem from a real observation, misinterpreted.

Better understanding your hair texture (or your child's) allows you to adopt more appropriate actions and stop reproducing habits that are actually useless.

Written by Esther