Most men with curly hair need four products: a gentle shampoo, a conditioner, a leave-in and a gel. The rest of the routine is technique. This week’s most upvoted post on Reddit’s curly hair forum used exactly that set-up after a cut from a curl-specialist barber.
The routine
- Wash two or three times a week with a sulfate-free shampoo. Daily shampooing strips the oil that curls need. Rinse with water on the days in between.
- Condition every wash and detangle with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb while the conditioner is in.
- Apply a leave-in to soaking-wet hair. Water is what clumps curls together, so don’t towel-dry first. Try Cantu Grapeseed Strengthening Leave-In.
- Scrunch in gel while the hair is still wet. Gel dries into a hard shell called a cast, which holds the curl shape. Try Cantu Avocado Hydrating Gel.
- Air-dry or diffuse on low heat. Don’t touch your hair until it’s fully dry.
- Scrunch out the cast once dry, with a drop of oil or serum on your palms. The crunch goes and the definition stays. Our scrunching guide shows the hand movement.
How much product to use
Start with a coin-sized amount of leave-in and two coin-sized amounts of gel for short hair. Double that at shoulder length. Use more if your curls frizz before lunch. Use less if they feel stiff after you scrunch out the cast. This was the most-asked question under the top posts. For specific picks, see our men’s curly hair styling products.
Day two: refresh
Mist your hair with water and a little leave-in, then scrunch. Don’t re-apply gel to dry hair; it flakes. Cantu Comeback Curl Next Day Revitalizer is made for this step.
Growing out a fade
Expect an awkward stage at around 3 to 4 months, when the sides catch up with the top. One grow-out post showed defined curls at 6 months, using only a shampoo, conditioner and gel. Ask your barber to shape the sides every 8 to 10 weeks without taking length from the top. Cutting curly hair dry, curl by curl, helps here: the barber sees where each curl actually sits.
What to ask your barber
- “Can you cut it dry, or check the shape dry?”
- “Keep the length on top. I’m growing it out.”
- “Remove bulk from the back so it doesn’t triangle.”
Sleep and the UAE climate
A satin pillowcase stops curls flattening overnight. See 5 ways to sleep with curly hair. Air-conditioned rooms dry hair out, and coastal humidity frizzes it outside. Use a stronger-hold gel in summer. Our humidity guide covers the swap.
Once a week: clarify
Gel and leave-in build up over time. Use a clarifying shampoo once a week, followed by a deep treatment masque.
