Styling hair, naturally

Taking care of our hair is one of those jobs that can sometimes make our day, or feel like a chore on others.

And I feel like I've gone through it all.

I've always known to an extent my hair is curly, but growing up I had no idea how to look after it. If I left it to air dry it could look like a lion's mane (think Doc from Back to the Future), with curly strands hidden underneath, but I knew using heat would cause long term damage, and the times I did straighten my hair, it would bounce back to curls if it ever rained.

So as a teenager my hair spent most nights in braids, creating somewhat consistent waves that I didn't mind. Learning how to style my hair has meant I am now an expert in creating any braid - lace, french or fishtail, and I've become pretty skilled with straighteners and curling wands too.

But I still hadn't figured out how to be happy with my natural hair texture. And this was simply because I'd never done the research, and didn't understand it.

I don't know about you, but my hair seems to love the sea. The salt water clings to my hair, and when left to dry in the sun, I end up with tousled waves that I don't want to wash away. Salt sprays help a little in bringing that texture to my non-holiday hair, but none have been able to replicate the power of the sea.

My friends used to be jealous of my thick, wavy hair, whilst I envied their sleek straight locks (how easy it must have been to maintain!). But now I have a better understanding of my hair texture, I'm actually pretty happy with what I've got.

It's not easy, and requires dedication to see real change, but it's been worth it. I don't follow the curly girl method as strictly as others do, but I take what I like from it to produce a process that my hair likes. It involves a lot of scrunching and squishing, along with cotton or microfibre hair towels and scrunchies, but I've noticed a curl pattern emerge over the years, and can proudly say I now only style or braid my hair when I fancy a change.

Even my weekly wash routine changes every now and then depending on what I'm after. Sometimes I get bored of frizz-free curls, and prefer something a little more undone. So I leave products out from time to time to see how it affects my hair.

But more than anything the discoveries have been in relying less on chemicals to make my hair look good, and instead embrace the power of nature's ingredients.

Products from UK curl company, Boucleme, have slowly brought out my hair's natural texture whilst being kind to the planet. I'm still figuring out the best way to apply the styling creams and gels they offer, but the fact I can now wear my hair naturally with confidence is a sign their products must be doing something right.

Shampoo and conditioner are a continued challenge, however. I've stopped using sulphates and silicones (the two biggest concerns for anyone with wavy/curly hair, but unnecessary ingredients for any hair texture), but some shampoos are too thin to really cleanse, while others suspiciously foam too much for a sulphate free product, replacing SLS (Sodium Laurel Sulphate) with natural alternatives.

How your hair is cut can impact how your hair behaves, so ask your hairdresser for advice - image courtesy of Wix

And when it comes to finishing products, pure Argan oil has been a saviour in preventing damage, reducing frizz and increasing shine, whilst making my own salt spray is the best way to recreate the sea's magic. After following a recipe found in Jess Arnaudin's book, Plant Based Beauty, the spray produced more texture and shine than any shop-bought product ever gave me.

So what's my advice to you? Embrace your natural texture, as with some love and care it will likely be beautiful. Try to rely less on hair products, even if the endless shelves of stylers is tempting, and trust that less is more. It might even be worth letting your hair's natural oils take control for a while, letting go of any products just to find out how your hair wants to sit.

It requires patience, commitment and trial and error, but I like that it's a bit of an experiment. Yes, my hair dries differently every time I wash it, and it doesn't always look good. But I like that unpredictability. And knowing I can style my hair poker straight or curl it into loose waves means it's more versatile than ever.

So give it a go. Wash you hair and see what happens. If you really don't like what you see, you can always start again.