Curly hair, don't care!?

No, WE DO! Here’s a guide to curl care, the South Indian way.

- Namita Thara Anne Alexander

Namita is your hair natural? Do you have extensions? It must be such a worry to maintain your long curly mane." These are a few of the many odd curiosities people have when they first encounter me. In a country like India, where women largely have thick hair genetically-FYI: Our country is the largest hair exporter for wigs in the world-the average curly hair Joe has still not found her rhythm.

Curly hair has undergone a remarkable transformation in the beauty industry. Once considered unruly and challenging, it is now celebrated for its natural texture and unique beauty. This shift from a preference for straight hair to an appreciation of curls, has brought about a wave of new hair care practices and products. But I still remain old-school. Colonisation and the Internet have made us adapt to many western practices, but just like how we swiftly moved from the Indian toilet to the western one, we also moved from indigenous cotton to terry cloth towels. In your hair care routine, nothing reigns more supreme than the 'thorth' (a traditional bath towel that is used in Kerala).

UNDERSTANDING TEXTURE

Curly hair, with its beautiful spirals and waves, requires special care to maintain its health and lustre. One common challenge for those with curly hair is dryness. Unlike straight hair, curls can have a harder time retaining moisture due to their structure. The twists and turns in curly hair make it more difficult for natural oils produced by the scalp to travel down the hair shaft, leading to potential dryness and frizz.

THE IMPACT OF WEATHER AND PRODUCTS