How to be a Curly Girl: My Devacurl Curly Hair Routine

Only girls with curly and wavy hair truly know the struggle: you wash your hair, you attempt to allow it to dry "naturally", sans excessive products and you end up looking like a low-rent version of 1970s Diana Ross after becoming trapped in a wind tunnel. Not a good look. So, you start all over again, hair wet as a drowned rat, slather on the gel and spend the next ten hours drying to a crispy, crunchy-haired mess.

This was my unique struggle until I discovered the flat iron and began to straighten my unruly curls into submission. I would look like Kate Moss and the rest of the supermodels with their pin-straight long hair, even if I had to burn my hair to a crisp to make it happen. Motherhood came along and I no longer had the time or energy for this grind and I cut it into a bob, only making my life more difficult in moments when only a ponytail will do. So, I decided to hit Youtube and master those curls, once and for all. I would be 1980s Nicole Kidman and I would envy myself. Only it's really not so easy... that is until you find the right routine and adhere to it like it's your job.

So, here's my routine that seems to work for now: hope another desperate curly gal finds this post and finds it helpful!

First, find yourself a couple of great youtubers (my faves are CurlyPenny and India Batson). Watch their videos and try our a bunch of strategies. Find a day when you are not going anywhere and try out some hair masques, different st

yles and drying routines. It's helpful, entertaining and weirdly comforting to know that even chicks with gorgeous curls know the struggle.

Then, research the Curly Girl Method and pay attention to the chemicals you are coating your hair in. Before you know it, you will be Sulfate/Silicone/Paraben-free and maybe even enjoying your curls for once. Give it some time and don't give up. If you persist, there will come a time when your hair beautiful and frizz-free, even if it's only for an hour after you leave the bathroom.

So, here's my current routine and products. Maybe they will work for you! ( A rare selfie of the finished style is below. Be kind; it was a humid day!)

1. Co-Wash (or curly-speak for Shampoo) with As I Am Coconut cowash, focusing on the roots and finger combing through the length. It's in a giant tub that is super cost-effective and can be found at Target and Wal-Mart. It's super moisturizing and smells beautiful. I discovered this through India Batson and she's right: it's a "holy grail", ride or die product for curls and waves.

2. After rinsing the co-wash, condition with Devacurl's One Condition Original, concentrating on the ends. It's also super moisturizing (curly hair loves the moisture). Finger comb through and let it sit for 2-3 minutes in the shower while you finish doing all your other beautifying shower stuff. Then comb through in the shower and rinse with cold water to seal the moisture in.

3. Keep that hair sopping wet when you hop out and comb through with a wide-tooth comb or fingers. No brushing and definitely no rubbing with a towel: it will create the enemy, frizz. Apply a leave-in conditioner of your choice (I like OGX Quenching Coconut Curls, despite the silicones), just a little.

4. Then, apply Devacurl's Ultra Defining Gel all over. I use two quarter size amounts and rake it through. I then flip my hair upside down and scrunch upward to the roots. I use the Devatowel microfiber towel to scrunch out the excess moisture, flip my head back over and voila! I find my part, finger curl the areas that make me look like a Fraggle and air dry. Hands off once it begins to dry: too much touching does scary things to curls.

5. Optionally, you can use a diffuser for a couple of minutes to dry just a bit to speed up the air dry process, but use a cool setting and a heat protectant. Keep that diffuser still and don't get too crazy.

That's it! I'm learning to embrace the natural curls, crazy as they may be at moments. They make me feel like myself and are unique. Have no fear; all curly girls know the struggle. One moment you may feel like Botticelli's Venus and the next like bomb went off in your hair; it's all the beauty of natural curls.

(This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own. Devacurl has a great line of products and they have been miraculous for me. I love to try and review new curly products, so, hi Devacurl!)