Hey everybody!  Thanks for stopping by.  This post is all about a curly girl’s must-have tools for washing, conditioning, and styling.  Wash day for people with curly hair can seem daunting, but I guarantee you that having these few tools in your toolbox will make things easier for you!

Hair Clips

This is a MUST for anyone really, not just people with curly hair.  If you want to make sure that each strand of hair is taken care of and you don’t miss any sections, you should definitely use hair clips and there are lots of different kinds on the market to choose from.  Some people like Crocodile Clips or duckbill clips, but my hair loves those a little too much and I have a hard time getting them out.  So if you’re like me, feel free to stick with basic the banana clips that you can purchase at your local beauty supply store and I’m all for spending money on good hair products, not necessarily on the tools.

Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush

Now this is an exception to that rule, go ahead and spend your money on this!  I definitely believe in finger detangling because it reduces your chances of experiencing breakage, single-strand knots, and split ends.  But as someone with thick hair, I also know how time consuming it can be to rely solely on finger detangling.  One of the best things that ever happened to me: The Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush. Yes, it’s better than the wide tooth comb, Tangle Teezer, or whatever other tool you’re using to detangle your hair. The widely spaced flexi-bristles glide easily through hair without breaking or damaging your hair strands. This allows for the brush to gently release knots and move with your hair without pain or discomfort. It also has a wide handle that provides a comfortable, sturdy grip while using the brush.

Camryn’s BFF Gentle Edges Brush

I never thought I’d be one to jump on the “brush specifically for edges” bandwagon, I thought my rat tooth comb was doing the job just fine. But boy, was I wrong. Enter Camryn’s BFF Gentle Edges Brush. It’s a double-sided brush/comb with 100% pure soft boar bristle brush is designed to keep edges laid and smooth and the handle design allows for easy handling and on the go styling needs.

The Denman Brush

Can you say lifesaver?!  They come in a few different variations (different numbers of rows, teeth, etc.) based on hair length and density and styling goals.  This brush is actually a styling brush, created to help you clump your curls together (and that’s how you get that super defined look if that’s what you’re going for).  But some people do use it to detangle as well.

T-shirts

I know you’re probably wondering if I really mean t-shirts.  The answer is yes.  Grab your old dance recital t-shirt, your old tie-dye t-shirt, your family reunion t-shirt, or your 5K run/walk t-shirt (you have to have one of these lol) any kind will do.  Why, you might ask?  To dry your hair!  Believe it or not, towels and curly hair don’t really get along.  Ever have super defined curls in the shower, only to get out and dry your hair with a towel and see that your curls are all frizz?  Yep, that’s why.  The fibers in the towel and our hair strands tend to lock together, which creates frizz.  The t-shirt will soak up the water without creating frizz.  So when your next wash day comes around, give it a try.

Scrunchies

Yes, I know you probably own scrunchies, but are they the right kind of scrunchies?  The wrong kind will have a metal clasp and/or exposed elastic.  The right kind will NOT have metal at all and will completely enclose the elastic.  Please be sure that they don’t have metal on them!  I can’t stress this enough.  That little metal clasp will grab your hair and after that, it’s really really hard (in many cases impossible) to pull your hair out, which means that the metal pulls your hair out instead!  Try ouchless scrunchies or any kind that doesn’t have metal.  This will make it easier for you to use them to section and/or style your hair without running into any tangling issues.

Spray Bottle

Sometimes after washing and conditioning, it takes a little longer for us to get to the styling part and our hair gets dry.  In order for the products you’re using to really penetrate your hair and not just sit on top of it, you need moisture!  This is where your spray bottle comes in.  Instead of having to get back in the shower or under the sink to dampen your hair, grab your spray bottle and dampen your hair.

Plastic Processing Caps

If you want to up your deep conditioning game, consider diving into the plastic processing cap world and if you don’t want to buy those, use a produce bag or grocery bag.  Cover your hair with one of these things will you deep condition and watch your hair soak up that deep conditioner!  The plastic traps the body heat that typically exits your body through your head, and that heat will help to open up your hair shaft to allow the product to really penetrate.  I like to use two processing caps (because all of my hair won’t fit into one lol) and put a winter hat on top of it to really lock in that heat.  You can also use these caps to “bag” a section of hair that you’re not working on to help retain the moisture while styling.

Shampoo Brush

Last but not least, the shampoo brush!  This is something I just discovered a couple months ago but I don’t wash my hair without it now.  This brush has slight rounded tips that are actually meant to be a scalp massager (you can put batteries in it and massage your scalp!) but I use it simply as a shampoo brush.  Because I have low porosity hair, I’m more prone to product buildup on my hair and on my scalp.  So I add my shampoo or conditioner to my hair, grab the shampoo brush and really give my scalp a good scrub with it, and rinse everything out.  I’ve seen a considerable decrease in the amount of time it takes to really get my hair clean and I have this brush to thank.  Even if you don’t have low porosity hair, a shampoo brush helps you maintain a clean scalp without the irritation or soreness some people experience by using their nails to scrub their scalps.

That’s it and if you found this useful, chances are some of your friends will too.  So please subscribe and share this post!  Thanks for journeying with me.