5 Women with Different Hair Types Share Their Hair-Care Routines

What's Your Hair Story?

In reality, hair doesn't fit neatly into the curly, wavy, or straight categories we've established over the years. It comes in all textures and widths—and demands very specific care. We asked five women with gorgeous strands to tell us how they care for their unique types.

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Rachel

"I'm Puerto Rican, and my hair is coarse and thick and has tons of volume. I learned to love my hair at a really young age because it just took too long to straighten."

Her Hair-Care Routine:

• I shampoo just once a week to avoid drying out my hair.
• I detangle by combing conditioner through my hair while I'm still in the shower.
• I don't brush my hair once it's dry, to avoid frizz.
• I always get my hair cut—preferably when it's dry—by someone who understands curls.

Product Musts:

Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner ($20; target.com), Wella Elements Hair Strengthening Serum ($11; amazon.com)

Ansley

I have kinky hair, which demands love and patience. Getting on board with this texture is the most important thing you can do to care for it, because it means you'll start experimenting to make it look its best instead of trying to fight it."

Her Hair-Care Routine:

• A lot of my hair-care essentials are found in nature. Once a week, I whip up a homemade mask of avocado, egg yolk, coconut oil, aloe vera gel, and jojoba oil and use it after cleansing.
• I co-wash every other day.
• At night, I pineapple my hair: Pile it up in a scrunchie on top of my head and tie a silk scarf around it, so it doesn't rub against the pillow and get fuzzy looking. I then use a pick or fingers to detangle in the morning.

Product Must:

Ouidad Curl Immersion Low-Lather Coconut Cleansing Conditioner ($36; amazon.com)

Daphne

"My mother is Dutch and my father is Indonesian, so my texture is a mix of baby-fine and straight and thick and wavy. I sleep with my hair down because if I put it up in a scrunchie overnight, it will have a dent in it all day. It really hangs on to anything you do to it." (

Her Hair-Care Routine:

• I always use cloth-covered elastics, which are gentler to fine hair and don't leave marks.
• My hair care is minimal. I don't color or use conditioner to avoid stripping it or weighing it down.
• Once a week I use a clarifying rinse.

Product Must:

Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo ($5; amazon.com)

Zazoe

"My hair is fine, but I have a lot of it. It can be limp up top and wavy on the bottom. I work out a lot, so I have to shampoo my hair often. To compensate, I've all but stopped using a blowdryer, so I don't strip my hair of all its moisture."

Her Hair-Care Routine:

• I condition only the ends, so everything doesn't go flat and limp.
• Once a week, I use a moisturizing mask for allover hydration to keep my mane shiny and silky.

Product Musts:

Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo ($10; sephora.com) and Hydrating Conditioner ($10; sephora.com), Lush H'Suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment mask ($22; lushusa.com)

Kaci

"My hair is thick and wavy. Until recently, I straightened it every day. But now this look is in, so I play up the curl." (Here are 4 essential tips for how to style wavy and curly hair.)

Her Hair-Care Routine:

• I use a microfiber towel, a cotton T-shirt, or even a paper towel to blot, so I don't rough up and ruin the texture.
• Between shampoos, I'll co-wash [that's cleansing only with conditioner] to keep my hair soft and supple.
• To reduce frizz, I'll a spray bottle with water and add a drop of styling cream to it. I mist the mixture onto damp hair, then dry it with a diffuser.

Product Musts:

DevaCurl One Condition Original ($10; devacurl.com), SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Blow Dry Crème ($10; target.com)