Curly hair is a gift. I mean who doesn’t want hair that can defy gravity and create most of its own volume? But without the right maintenance it doesn’t take much for this gift to become a curse. 

Some of the obvious DON’TS for curly hair include:

• Brushing hair 
• Using a hair dryer
• Using a towel to dry hair
• Overdoing the shampoo
• Using products laden with silicone
• Tying up hair too often  

While the best types of DO’S are:

• Using a wide-tooth comb and fingers to untangle hair when wet
• Applying leave-in conditioner 
• Air drying hair 
• Using a diffuser on a low setting
• Untangle hair with fingers while conditioning in the shower
• Pat dry with a cotton t-shirt or paper towel 
• Apply product while hair is soaked 
• Sleep on a satin pillow case to stop breakage and keep defined curls longer

The are a lot of products out there for hair and I mean a lot, so it’s easy to get confused about which one to use to get the right look for you. But among all of them is a hidden wonder! A cheap and amazing natural alternative that will make your curls bounce to the beyond and it’s all contained in one word.

Flaxseed.

This seed comes with many benefits and I don’t mean from eating them, although you can, but we’re gonna be a bit more creative than that! Flaxseeds contain Omega-3 fatty acids which once applied to your hair topically, begin a rejuvenation process. Fatty acids are important as they prevent hair loss and breakage while also providing strength, thickness, elasticity and the growth of new lush hair from a moisturized scalp. 

You can apply flaxseed product to your hair several times with no build up as it is immediately absorbed, holding your curls and creating a protective layer that keeps your hair’s integrity once it has dried and been styled. 

Make small batches of flaxseed gel that will last in the refrigerator, so there is little waste from throwing it away when it gets bad after a week. After all it is natural and will go bad no matter how many preservatives you put into it! 

Recipe

• 2 cups of cold water
• 1 tablespoon flaxseed
• Small pot
• Jar/squeezy bottle/pump bottle
• Pantyhose or a fine strainer 
• Small bowl 

Take a small pot and fill it with 2 cups of cold water. Add the flaxseed and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly to stop the seeds from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the mixture has a gel like consistency similar to egg whites. The longer you keep it on the stove, the thicker it will become and the stronger the hold will be on your hair. Once the mixture has reached your desired thickness, pour the contents through a strainer/pantyhose and into a bowl to cool. The mixture shouldn’t have any seeds in it and should be a brown tinted translucent color. Add any essential oils, flaxseed oil, argon oil etc. that you want and place in a glass jar/squeezy bottle/pump bottle when cool. It can keep in the refrigerator for up to week. Apply to hair after a leave-in conditioner and scrunch to enhance curl pattern. Once dry, loosen the crisp hold and fluff up to gain desired look. Make sure to wash the pot as soon as you finish.

Flaxseed gel without any added smells, has a subtle nutty aroma but is otherwise unnoticeable. 

You can try and play around with the recipe or try different combinations if flaxseed doesn’t give you enough hold by itself. You can even use it as a treatment until your hair becomes healthier or you find the right store bought product for you! 

Like all products your hair will take a couple weeks to get used to the new regime and you will experience an oily scalp as it tries to restore to its natural balance. You will start to see results of thicker, stronger hair in less than a month. But if you still don’t have the right style for you, maybe you need to get rid of the straight hair cut you have and go to a curly hair professional. 

Neel Loves Curls is Melbourne’s first and only curls only hair salon in Australia. Located on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, you can get the cut that you’ve always wanted by professionals who understand the genetic makeup of the curl and its daily demands. Their salon is full of curly hair accessories and products that you can buy as a guide on how to treat your new do.