Cyndia Harvey’s Top Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Natural Curls

WELCOME TO THE CONSULT, YOUR VIRTUAL APPOINTMENT WITH THE WORLD’S MOST IN-DEMAND BEAUTY EXPERTS.

Building a client roster with celebrities like Michaela Cole, Timothee Chalamet, and Kendall Jenner on it is no easy feat. And being trusted to handle the hairstyling on major campaigns for brands like Vogue, Versace, and Miu Miu is an entirely different beast of a triumph. The truth is, Black women are still rare sightings in these spaces, but against all odds, internationally renowned hairstylist and creator of the short film This Hair of Mine, Cyndia Harvey, has done both. What’s more? The London-based artist uses her refined skills and exclusive access to drive inclusivity and present curls, coils, and natural hair textures as art for the entire world to see.

Here, Harvey shares her expert care tips for curly and textured hair. “First of all, time and patience are key. That has to be the number one investment and approach you should take with your hair: love, time, and patience,” she explains. Read on for more.

DON’T NEGLECT YOUR SCALP

Over the years, the sentiment in online hair care circles has leaned more and more toward cleansing less, citing the stripping effects of many shampoos as a reason to lather up less frequently. But Harvey says pushing it too far ultimately does more harm than good. “Cleaning the scalp is so important and perhaps my number one tip for all hair types, but especially for those with curly hair,” she explains. “You should be cleansing your scalp every 7 to 10 days to remove any product build-up, sweat, or impurities.” Harvey walks the walk, too, revealing that she prioritizes scalp care in her own routine. “When it comes to my own hair, scalp care is king. On wash days, my priority is making sure that I treat my scalp with non-abrasive scrubs and scalp treatments that contain exfoliating ingredients,” she adds.

“Frizz is natural, and edges are beautiful—they don’t always need to be tamed…”

STICK TO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU

“Whilst the natural hair community are true innovators and have influenced an entire movement within the industry, there is also a lot of confusion as to the dos and don’ts for natural hair,” Harvey shares. “So many good and functional ingredients have been blacklisted, but I say work with ingredients that work with your hair as opposed to what’s trending,” she emphasizes. “Your routine and styling is all about a balance. Take using heat for example. You can use heat, but not excessively and on a lower setting that doesn’t destroy the bonds or lead to mechanical damage when implementing styling practices,” she advises.

DO LESS

Too much of just about anything tends to have less than favorable consequences and according to Harvey, this goes for over-manipulating your hair with daily styling or protective styles that place undue stress on it. “Give your hair a break in between,” she urges. “With the tension caused by consistent cornrows or the same parting manipulated repeatedly, it can cause damage. Imagine walking on a path in the grass continuously. The grass in the path will remain damaged if not given the time to repair and re-grow,” she explains.

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