EXPERT SERIES: Sacha Mitic On Curls Culture & Care

 

We get expert advice on curls culture and care, from Sacha Mitic of SACHAJUAN haircare.

Sacha Mitic, co-founder of SACHAJUAN haircare, gives us his expert advice on curls culture and care. Cold air, bracing winds and central heating can all leave curls parched - the right treatment and care products are critical to keeping curls healthy and frizz-free. Keep reading to learn more about curls plus how to care for and style them.

 

Curls Culture: What You Should Know About Curls

An estimated 55% of Europeans have a wave or curl in their hair, so no wonder as we became known for our product range, we found more clients asking for advice on how to care and style for curls.

Curly hair has long been a source of inspiration in art, and its beauty holds a fascination for the whole hairdressing and product development industry.

There are many curls classification systems out there, with all sorts of codes and numbers attempting to segment curly hair types. We have a simpler perspective. Your curls are unique.   

In fact, each curl pattern is determined by each strand as it grows. Whilst their proximity to one another starts to form a more regular curl pattern, each individual hair forms its own shape determined by the unique shape of its follicle – the more elliptical and less round, the more likely the hair is to curl – and the shape of the root positioning in the scalp – the more angular the tighter the curl will form as the hair will turn back on itself as it grows. The result is your very own personal array of curls and waves which will evolve as your hair rejuvenates itself through the natural growth cycle.

This personal curl formation is affected by daily weather and temperature fluctuations, the hair colouration process, certain medications and the hormones that evolve in our life stages; such as parenthood and the menopause.

Curls lose moisture faster because more platelets of the cuticle are elevated as the curl twists and curves down its length.  Curls also struggle to replenish their own moisture as the shape of the curl slows the journey of hair’s natural moisturiser, sebum traveling down hair the shaft.

Curls Culture: Treatment & Care

Every curly client has a personal journey of finding the perfect care and style regime. We’ve always spent time with our clients creating unique combinations of our products to help them care for their hair. SACHAJUAN’s treatment and styling range contains many products that work to help hydrate and perfect curls. But it was our curly clients love of our Hair Repair that started us questioning whether we could create a perfect care system designed specifically for them. Many clients described the ease of styling after using Hair Repair and because the washing process holds such a critical opportunity to boost and seal in moisture, it’s the foundation of every curl care regime.

SACHAJUAN’S new Curl Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment have been specifically developed to give curls intensive nourishment. The range harnesses Ocean Silk Curl Complex combing wheat proteins with minerals from two cold water algae to rehydrate and repair damage. This caring combination smooths curl’s cuticle, sealing out frizz, repairs split ends and provides enduring moisture. Leaving the curl treatment on wet hair for ten minutes also provides a great foundation for styling, making the creation of soft, bouncy curls that last, easier.

Your own curl texture and styling regime will dictate how often will feel optimal to use the curl treatment versus the conditioner. The tighter your curls, the more moisture loss your hair will be susceptible to. Heat styling will further dry out curls, so start with a treatment, once a week and then see if an additional mid-week boost works for you.

A cleansing cream or conditioner can also play a role in the perfect curl-care regime. Unless you work in a profession such as garden design, or decorating, chances are that the lengths of your hair won’t be “dirty” when you come to wash it. SACHAJUAN Cleansing Cream offers a way to refresh and re-balance the moisture of curls. Its cream formula gently lifts sebum oils from the scalp, whilst boosting moisture, shine and swing. You could try using Cleansing Cream mid-week and switch to Curls Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment when you have more time for deeper cleansing and care at the weekend.

Another excellent product for curl care is SACHAJUAN Leave in Conditioner. However beautifully curls are formed in the styling process, they can get ruffled and fluffy overnight.  SACHAJUAN Leave in Conditioner comes in a fine pump spray, meaning it’s easy to distribute across the curl array. Sprayed onto curls in the morning, Leave in Conditioner boosts moisture and re-activates the styling products, without weighing curls down, leaving them soft, defined and shiny.

Curls Culture: Styling

The right combination of styling products to curate your curls is also unique. We work with clients to change and adapt their styling regimes according to their preferences of style and the impact of the seasons. Products such as SACHAJUAN Intensive Hair Oil, Styling Cream, Shine Serum are often used as a preparatory base. We combine and nuance this with a defining product such a SACHAJUAN Mousse, Volume Cream, or Ocean Mist. Don’t be afraid of Mousse for Curls. Old fashion formulations of the 80’s could dry curls, but SACHAJUAN Mousse offers a buildable definition which isn’t sticky nor drying.

Encouraging The Perfect Curl

Once the styling products are applied as a base on wet hair and combed all the way through, it’s time to encourage the perfect curl formation. Flip your hair forward between your knees and using a soft, absorbent towel; gently scrunch curls, scooping them upwards towards the scalp and using the towel to squeeze out excess moisture and encourage the optimal natural curl barrels to form. Once you have this foundation of your perfect array developed, use a diffuser to gently dry curls, keeping your hair upside down during the drying process.

Once you’ve dried your hair, it’s time to seal and define your curls to give them some style stamina. We use products such as SACHAJUAN Finish Cream, Matt Wax, or Intensive Hair Oil to gently run through and across curls to encourage shine and definition. Finally use a light hairspray such as SACHAJUAN Light & Flexible to seal in the shape, and protect from humidity.

The perfect combination of products for your curls and desired style really is a unique and personal choice. But it’s thrilling when you reveal the true simple beauty of your curls. So take advice from your hairdresser on the perfect product combination for you.

With thanks to Sacha Mitic for his invaluable advice. You can discover the history of SACHAJUAN here or shop the full range online at allbeauty.