5 Ways to Protect Curls from Sun & Heat Damage

Aren't you guys extremely excited about how warm the weather has been?! On a scale of 1 to 10 we're at 20 right now - that is until it gets too unbearable to part from the AC. As the temperature rises, we are continuously reminded of how important it is to protect our skin and sunscreen becomes a top priority.

While putting all the focus on our skin, we tend to overlook protecting one of our most valued assets - our hair! The sun can cause just as much damage to your tresses as excessive ironing and blow-drying.

Here are 5 ways to protect your hair from sun and heat damage while stylishly weathering the elements:

1. Turban It Up: Take advantage of the turban trend. It will keep the sun from deep frying your hair. Just wear a silk bonnet underneath and you're set! There are no limits to which colors and patterns you can rock. Need a little inspiration? Stylists June Ambrose & Joy Adaeze are known for their turban-wear.

2. Hats Off To Ya: As curly girls we tend to make excuses as to why we aren't able to wear hats. Newsflash ladies! Natural hair artist Janelle Monae knows how to rock a hat or two. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. A cute bowler hat or any hat of your choice will shade your hair and prevent any unwanted crispy split ends.

3. That's A Wrap: You don't have to completely tuck it all in. Head wraps are hassle free, cute, and simple. This method keeps your hair out of the way and can also serve as an alternative to sprucing up an old hairdo. Just make sure the exposed hair is well moisturized and sealed with a natural sunscreen.

4. Betcha didn't know! Avocado, Sesame, Jojoba, Coconut and Macadamia Nut oils are all natural sunscreens. Stumped?! Yeah, we were too. If you're not into the whole head-wear shabang, this little piece of info will go a long way.

5. Gimme Moisture: Natural Hair Care 101: Moisture is your hair's best friend. Keeping your hair moisturized is crucial, especially in hotter & drier weather. It's simple, use your favorite H2O-based leave-in or moisturizer and seal in with one of the oils listed above.

Snag our cheatsheet below so you don't forget!

How do you protect your curls? Soundoff below!

- Gracie J

Drop The Dryer: Curlformers

Alright folks! Nikita of My 12 Month Natural Hair Challenge is back with another installment. Check out how she made use of Curlformers to style her locks...

Want curls, but don't want to us heat? Curlformers are the answer. I had never heard of them before watching Naptural85's video, but they seemed to really work for her so I started doing some research. I found them for a good price and decided to give them a try.

I purchased a bag of the long and wides which came with 40 Curlformers and 2 hooks and ended up using all 40 curlformers after I washed and moisturized my hair, and separated it into 6 sections using plastic duck clips (I find that the plastic ones are much kinder to my hair than the metal ones).

 I kept a spray bottle full of water with me to make sure that my hair was damp before going into the curlformer. I also combed my hair out with a tail comb before it went into the curlformer.

I had already detangled when I conditioned my hair, but I wanted my hair to be as smooth and detangled as possible going into the curlformer. Sleeping on these things was not at all pleasant. I suggest you sleep on the fluffiest of pillows when you do this lol.

Here are the results!

Give them a try and let us know how it goes! Have a cool heat-free style to share? Send us your picture and description at dropthedryer@gmail.com!