Curly Cut Aftercare

The first few days are all about letting your curls settle into their new shape. Resist the urge to wash right away!

• Don't wash for at least 2 days. Let the shape settle and your curls find their natural pattern in the new cut. This is especially important for dry cuts.
• Refresh with a spray bottle. If your curls need a pick-me-up, lightly mist with water mixed with a small amount of leave-in conditioner. Scrunch gently.
• Sleep on silk or satin. Use a silk/satin pillowcase or a satin bonnet to reduce frizz and prevent your curls from getting crushed overnight.
• Hands off! Avoid touching, twisting, or playing with your curls — it breaks up the curl clumps and creates frizz.

Wash day is where the magic happens. Take your time — this isn't a rush job.

1. Use a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfates strip moisture from curly hair. A gentle, sulfate-free cleanser keeps your curls hydrated. [Product recommendation TBD — will update with Jessica's picks]
2. Condition generously. Apply conditioner from mid-length to ends. Let it sit for 3–5 minutes. Use this time to gently finger-detangle.
3. Scrunch, don't rub. When removing excess water, scrunch your hair upward with a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt. Never rub with a regular towel.
4. Apply styling products to soaking wet hair. This is key! Your curl cream, gel, or mousse works best when applied to hair that's still dripping wet.
5. Diffuse on low heat or air dry. If using a diffuser, keep it on low heat and low speed. Cup your curls up toward your head. Or let your hair air dry if you have time.
6. Wait for the "scrunch out the crunch." Once your hair is fully dry, gently scrunch out any gel cast to reveal soft, defined curls.

You don't need to wash your hair every day — in fact, curly hair does better when you don't. Here's how to keep it looking good between wash days.

• Refresh with water + leave-in. Spray your curls lightly with water (or a water/conditioner mix), scrunch, and let the curls bounce back.
• Never brush dry curly hair. Only detangle when wet, in the shower, with conditioner in your hair. Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb.
• "Pineapple" at night. Gather your hair into a high, loose ponytail on top of your head before bed. This preserves curl shape and prevents crushing.
• Avoid heat styling. Flat irons and curling irons can damage your curls over time. If you do use heat, always use a heat protectant spray.

To keep your shape looking fresh, I recommend rebooking every 8–12 weeks for a curly cut. If your curls are growing out faster or losing shape, you might want to come in sooner.

[Rebooking interval TBD — will customize based on Jessica's recommendations]