Modern Salon
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

How-To: Moisturizing Curls to Lengthen and Define

Shrinkage is one of the biggest concerns of curly clients who want to maintain luscious length. The tighter the coil, the more fragile the strand, meaning that gentle moisturizing is the key to elongated curls.

Elizabeth Jakaitis
Elizabeth JakaitisAssistant Editor
February 9, 2016
How-To: Moisturizing Curls to Lengthen and Define

 

1 min to read


Shrinkage is one of the biggest concerns of curly clients who want to maintain luscious length. The tighter the coil, the more fragile the strand, meaning that gentle moisturizing is the key to elongated curls. 

Tighter curl types have a zig-zag pattern that can be so tight that curls shrink up to 75% of the hair's actual length. Due to the high density (number of hair strands on one square inch of scalp) of this curl pattern, many assume that the hair is coarse and strong—but in fact the strands are almost always baby fine and delicate.

Ad Loading...

These kinky curls require moisturizing, so avoid shampooing every day, but use frequent deep conditioning treatments and moisture-surged leave-ins. 

SheaMoisture’s Curl Care collection includes a CocoShea Biolipid Complex that helps define and lengthen even the tightest curls to reduce shrinkage. Natural lipids sheathe hair strand to help block humidity.

Here, Celebrity Stylist David Lopez shares with us his how-to for implementing SheaMoisture's salon-exclusive line. 

For more information, visit sheamoisture.com.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Style

Ad Loading...
Ad Loading...
Style|Articles|Feb 23, 2026

The Pixie Cut: A Short Style with a Long Black History

Before the pixie cut became a Hollywood symbol of modern femininity, it was already living, breathing, and evolving in Black culture. Texture expert and Moroccanoil Global Color Ambassador Greg Gilmore gives us an overview of the iconic Black women who popularized the pixie over the past century.

Ad Loading...