Routine for coily hair & tips on how to care for coily hair

A good haircare routine is essential for coily hair types. This hair type is the driest and most fragile out of all hair types, due to the shape of the strands. Coily haircare is all about protection, moisture and hydration. Here are some of our best tips on how to take care of coily hair, and the best products for coily hair. 

What is coily hair? 

Coily hair, also known as Type 4, refers to hair that forms tight curls in a zig-zag pattern,  the coils tend to form an “O” or “Z” shape. Coily/afro hair can have a variety of textures, ranging from soft to coarse, and fine to densely packed. 

Why does coily hair need extra care?

Generally, this hair type is the driest and most fragile out of all hair types, due to the shape of the strands. The “O” or “Z” shape of coils makes it hard for the scalp’s natural oils to travel down the hair shaft, leaving it in need of added moisture. In addition, coily hair has fewer cuticle layers than other hair types, and these cuticles tend to be raised, making the hair vulnerable to breakage. Because of the thin and raised cuticle layer, coily hair can be more prone to frizz and tangling. All of these factors mean that a good haircare routine is essential for our coily community! 

Knowing your Curl Type is very important as this will dictate the best products for your hair type. Take a look at this article to find out your curl type and some of our product suggestions! 

How to take care of coily hair 

Use protective styles

Protective hairstyles are coily hair’s best friend! Opt for small braids, box braids, bantu knots, and twist-outs, to keep your hair looking amazing and avoid having to regularly re-style it. For the best results, try not to have the style too tight, opt for two weeks styled, and give it a one-week break before re-styling.

Protect your hair while you sleep

Protecting your hair while you sleep is important for all hair types, but coily hair especially! We recommend a silk or satin pillowcase (also great for your skin btw!) or a silk/satin bonnet. This will help protect your fragile strands from abrasion, and also help prevent moisture loss (cotton is a great material when worn on the body, but it can absorb the moisture from your skin and hair whilst you sleep). 

Protect your hair from the heat

Heat is rarely good for your hair, regardless of your hair type. For our coily haired fam, we always recommend using the Propolis Infused Heat Protecting Spray if you’ll be using any kind of heat styling tools. You can also apply this product before heading into the sun, as it contains a UV filter which will keep your strands protected. 

The best products for coily hair

You may feel like you’re doing everything right for your hair type, but if you’re using the wrong products, none of this will make a difference! Coily hair will see the best results when using products that are deeply moisturizing and hydrating. Ingredients such as our Mirsalehi Honey will help to draw moisture into the hair, whilst ingredients like coconut oil, argan oil, baobab oil, and panthenol are all amazing for nourishing the hair and locking in this moisture. Our Honey Infused Conditioner, Hair Mask, Leave-In Conditioner, and Honey Hair Oil include these moisturizing hero ingredients! 

Pre-shampoo treatment for curly and coily hair

Pre-shampoo treatment is great for both curly and coily hair. This helps prevent moisture loss whilst washing and prevents frizz. You can do a simple pre-shampooing treatment by applying our Honey Infused Hair Mask or Honey Infused Conditioner to dry hair, leaving it on for 20 to 30 minutes before following up with your usual washing routine.

Try co-washing

Co-washing means you only use a conditioner and no shampoo to wash your hair. This is the perfect way to cleanse drier, more fragile hair types. It helps to cleanse the hair without stripping it using harsh cleaning agents often present in shampoos. Simply wet your hair in the shower and wash it using your conditioner. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. 

Use a deep hair mask weekly

The Honey Infused Hair Mask is a must for our coily community! This thick, creamy product will help deeply condition and moisturize your hair, and keep it looking and feeling the healthiest it's ever been. We recommend using it once to twice weekly depending on how dry or damaged your hair is.

For a deep treatment, apply a liberal amount of the mask from root to tip on damp hair, then wrap your hair in a heat cap, cotton t-shirt, or towel to create heat. You can then leave the mask on for as long as possible (even overnight). After this, you can simply rinse the product out or follow your regular washing routine.

LOC it in: the LCO method

One tried and true method for maintaining beautiful coily hair is the LOC (LCO) method. This easy-to-remember abbreviation breaks down into Liquid/Leave-In Conditioner, Oil, and Cream. These are two of the preferred orders for you to apply these products to ensure maximum hydration. 

Step 1: Using your Gisou products, we would recommend the following: Start out with your “liquid” product. The term "liquid" in the LOC method refers to products that are water-based. We recommend our Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner as a lightweight, fast-absorbing source of hydration. This community favorite will gently detangle your hair and leave it soft and hydrated. 

Step 2: Follow up with your “cream” product. We would recommend our Honey Infused Hair Mask if you’re looking for a thick, rich treatment, or our Honey Infused Conditioner for something more lightweight. Both of these products are enriched with Mirsalehi Honey from the Mirsalehi Bee Garden, formulated to hydrate and replenish hair while improving its elasticity, shine, and health. 

Step 3: Finish off with “O” (Oil). This is where our hero product, the Honey Infused Hair Oil, comes in. This luxurious hair oil is enriched with Mirsalehi Honey from our very own Mirsalehi Bee Garden, formulated to rebuild and repair hair to the core. The beauty of a hair oil is that it creates a layer around the hair strand that prevents water from escaping, helping hair stay moisturized for longer.

Lightweight hydration

For the days when you don’t want to go all out with products using the LOC method, you can add instant hydration to coily hair by spritzing it with water. Simply use a spray bottle to lightly dampen (spritz) your natural hair with pH-balanced water. You can follow up with the Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner. This product is formulated to hydrate, smooth, detangle and protect hair from heat damage, pollution and breakage. With a nourishing blend of Honey, Baobab Extract, Argan Oil and Panthenol, the leave-in conditioner offers the perfect lightweight hydration boost. 

Detangling coily hair

Despite being thought of as a more coarse or thick hair type, coily hair can actually be very fine, making it susceptible to breakage. Take time two to three times per week to gently detangle your hair with the help of products and a wide-toothed comb. Our Gisou Comb is the perfect tool to effortlessly detangle your hair without pulling or breaking it. Divide your hair into sections and use the LCO or LOC method mentioned previously. You can then follow up with your comb to effortlessly detangle your strands. 

Wrapping up

We hope this has given all of our coily gals and guys some new tips and tricks to care for and get the most out of your hair!