The Better Blog

When it comes to our hair, the grass is always greener on the other side of the salon. Many of us with fine, straight hair spent years trying to curl and volumize our locks. And those of us with waves and curls wished for the smooth shine of pin-straight tresses. And cowlicks? Don't get us started!r favorite sulfate-free, plant-based hair-care products to help you fall in love with your locks!

There’s something so luxurious about a trip to the salon, even if you’re just getting a haircut. Allowing someone to play with your hair for an hour while styling it to perfection is not only a great way to relax, but it just makes you feel good in the end. For curly girls, a haircut may be a bit more involved than those with straight hair, but with the right stylist, it’ll go off without a hitch. It’s all about understanding hair texture, curl definition and curly hairstyles! 

There are a few things to know, though, about getting a haircut for curly hair, especially mature curly hair, and finding the perfect curly hairstyles. We spoke with hairstylist Monica Davis, who is also the founder and editor in chief of My Straightener, for some details on the right way to cut curly hair (and how to take care of it at home between salon visits).

Hair plopping is an incredibly effective technique with a weird name. If you have dry, curly hair and deal with frizz, plopping is about to rock your hair-care world.

So, what is hair plopping?

Plopping gets its name from the literal action of plopping wet hair directly onto a wrap designed to protect and gently absorb water after a wash while scrunching strands into voluminous, defined curls. While it’s not always easy to style curly hair, this heat-free technique is a virtually effortless way to get soft, bouncy, frizz-free curls.

From stocking stuffers and gift sets to hair-care products that cater to all lifestyles, hair types and hairstyling habits, our ultimate holiday hair gift guide is packed with clean- and cruelty-free hair goodies designed to guarantee great hair days ahead for all the women on your gift list this holiday season.

Nothing washes away a bad hair day—or a bad mood, for that matter—better than an invigorating hair wash. But as anyone who has ever made the switch to sulfate-free shampoo knows, there are a few challenges that come along with using a sulfate-free formula when you wash your hair—namely creating that sudsy lather we typically equate with feeling clean.

While sulfate-free formulas may be more lather-resistant than regular shampoos, they are equally effective at removing dirt and excessive oil from your scalp—not to mention they offer a whole bunch of hair-nourishing benefits to boot!

Washing your hair with sulfate-free shampoo simply requires a little more shampooing savvy before you start, and a little extra effort along the way—all certainly worth it! That’s why we’re letting you in on the essential secrets to know for cleaning your hair!

Keeping curly hair moisturized and healthy takes a little bit of work, but oh is it worth it. While the texture of curly hair makes it harder for the hair strands to stay hydrated, there are more ways that can help beyond just doing a deep condition or using curly hair shampoos. It’s also really important to have enough natural oil in your curly hair to keep it sleek and moisturized, but you can always enhance those hair oils with an added dose of oil—like coconut oil or castor oil. Here’s what else you can do to keep curly hair moisturized.

Girls and their curls—it’s a complicated relationship. When all our styling efforts align, we love our curly hair. At other times, we can’t jump back into the shower or grab our flat iron faster for a hairstyling do-over.

Despite the whimsical ways of our curls, there are still some curly hair girls who embrace their ringlets rain or shine, while others haven’t let their curly locks see the light of day in years!

We caught up with two 40-something women with naturally curly hair. Ivy is a Wall Street exec in Manhattan who loves her tresses smooth and sleek. Annie is a creative marketer for a large nonprofit in Washington D.C. who steps out each and every day with her gorgeous red ringlets on full display.

We all have a specific hair type and, as a result, different hair issues—so it makes sense that every woman’s go-to shampoo looks a little different. While shampoos that are sulfate- and paraben-free are one of the commonalities in our aging hair handbook, we recognize that our delicate tresses have unique needs. That’s why we designed a collection of hair cleansing products to cater to all the hair issues your aging tresses encounter, from strands that are flat and thin to curls that have lost their shine and bounce. Keep reading to learn all about our problem-solving sulfate-free shampoos and everything you need to know when choosing the right shampoo for you!

Bounce Back Super Moisturizing Shampoo for Curly Hair is designed with a revolutionary curl-reviving 5-plant butter and oil blend containing coconut butter, Amazonian Cupuacu and Southeast Asian Kokum butters, and Buriti and Abyssinian oils, all incorporated to ensure that the hydration stays where you need it most >

What’s one thing that curly hair, straight hair and gray hair all have in common? They all become tangled at one point or another. Some more easily or severely than others. Major problems arise, however, when that tangled hair goes ignored and untreated, gradually morphing into matted hair and more often than not leading to hair breakage. The absolute last thing anyone wants to do is cut out various sections of hair, but tangled hair and hair breakage are no joke—especially when you’re dealing with delicate aging tresses. Before you result to the most drastic of measures, we’ve got a few tips on how you can detangle your tangled hair from the comfort of your own home—and we’ve tailored our tips to your hair type to make it super easy. When it comes to knotted, tangled hair—or even matted hair—it all comes down to how you detangle it (gently!) and what tangled hair products you use.

Whether you’re new to the curly hair-care journey or you’re just looking for the latest 411 on your curly hair, let’s get a few things out of the way. There’s simply too much misinformation out there about “the best curly hair products” and how they play into “hair physics.” The truth is, your friends and family with curly hair are still trying to figure it all out, no matter their age.

From Massaging Your Scalp To Boost Blood Flow, to Avoiding Heat and Chemical Treatments, Better Not Younger brings 10 Tips, Tricks and Styling Techniques to Care for Your Thinning Curly Hair.