Stylists, vloggers, and natural hair lovers gathered to learn the do’s and don’ts of kinky curly hair. During a speed dating event hosted by the Curly Girl Collective, women got to share their tricks and mingle with the experts. Here Hair Rules master curly stylist, Dailey Greene, gives us her top three secrets to a good hair week.

Water Weekly: A hair routine high in H₂0 will help your curls stay springy and hydrated. “Would you go a week without washing your face?” Greene asks. “Your scalp is an extension of that skin. It needs water at least three times a week.” We recommend using a suds-free cleansing conditioner like Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream to help detangle and clean hair without stripping it of essential oils.

More is More: When you spend $30 on the latest cream, it is instinct to savor every drop. But with a head full of curls more is necessary to ensure every strand is saturated (think handful, golf ball, half-dollar sized portions). “Curly girls have a lot of hair to cover - a quarter size of anything isn’t going to do the trick,” Greene explains.

Do Not Disturb: Styling hair wet gives natural women the best chance at enhancing the curl pattern they already possess while minimizing frizz. We love Kinky Curly Curling Custard for maximum hold. Greene applies styling product like she is slicking back a high ponytail, then splits hair down the middle to coat the crown. “A lot of women forget the middle of their head where hair is the thickest,” she says. Using fingers instead of a comb will help clump your curls together. Then “bend over and shake like hell” so that your hair falls into place naturally (who knew the bend-and-snap could be a styling method).

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