Here's How To Make Your Naturally Curly Hair Look Amazing In 7 Days

Because your hair is your crown.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

With curls, every day is an adventure.

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed

Curly hair can throw you a curve ball every morning. But if you know a few tricks of the trade, you'll be setting yourself up for success.

The BuzzFeed Life Better Curls Challenge is here to help. By making a few small changes to your hair care routine, you'll be noticing big differences. All of these suggestions will take less than 15 minutes a day. And here's the best part: They'll help everyone — regardless of the type of curls you have.

We consulted with Jacquelyn Walent, senior stylist at Devachan Salon and curly hair specialist, for tips on how everyone can improve their curls.

Here's your schedule:

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Here's what you'll need:

Sarah Kobos / Via BuzzFeed

1. Hair mask

2. Diffuser

3. Cotton T-shirt

4. Apple cider vinegar

5. Baking soda

A few things before we start:

- Avoid using heat styling tools as much as possible. Anything that stretches out your curls (like a blow-dryer or a flat iron) will damage your curl pattern, which will make it harder to keep your hair in good condition.

- Every person's curls are unique. For specific questions about your curls, talk to a hairstylist who understands your hair.

Take a look at the ingredient labels on hair products. Toss and/or avoid anything with sulfates or detergents.

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The main component of healthy curls is moisture. Sulfates and detergents are the ingredients that make your shampoo lather up, which actually dries out your hair. When the hair shaft is dry, it sucks up moisture in the air and expands, which is why hair can get frizzy when the air is humid.

Now let's get things going, shall we?

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Day 1: Stop using shampoo.

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"The best thing to do with shampoo is go cold turkey. Eliminate a typical shampoo altogether, especially one with any kinds of sulfates or detergents, which will strip your hair of its natural oils," says Walent.

What to Do Today:

If you want to use a premade product, try a cleansing conditioner, which will help to get rid of product buildup in your hair without stripping it of moisture. Massage the cleansing conditioner into your roots with your fingertips in small, circular motions, then rinse out fully.

If you want to make a DIY product, use a pea-sized amount of baking soda mixed in water to gently exfoliate your scalp. Rinse your hair with a mix of 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 1/2 cup water (or, if you have a sensitive scalp, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 3/4 cup water).

"Apple cider vinegar has a pH that's very close to hair's natural pH level, so using it as a rinse can bring your hair back to its most natural state," Walent says.

What to Do From Now On: Use cleansing conditioner or apple cider vinegar whenever you would normally shampoo your hair. Use baking soda to exfoliate your scalp about once a month to avoid any irritation. Then, finish with your favorite conditioner.

Day 2: Sleep in a hair mask.

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"Moisture is a curl's best friend. Replacing any moisture loss in your hair with a deep conditioning treatment or a hair mask is the best way to bring life back to your curls," Walent says. She suggests using DevaCurl's Heaven in Hair mask.

What to Do Today: About 30 minutes before bed, use a Ping-Pong-ball-sized amount of hair mask (less for shorter hair, more for longer hair) from the mid-shaft to the ends. You can apply the mask to wet or dry hair. Use your fingers to comb through your hair for even distribution, and once you're done, pull your hair into a loose ponytail and secure it with a scrunchie (so you don't get a dent in your hair). Lay a towel over your pillowcase to avoid getting any of the mask on your pillow. When you wake up in the morning, simply rinse out the mask with water and style your hair as usual.

What to Do From Now On: Sleep in a hair mask two to three times per week.

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Day 3: Start drying your hair with a cotton T-shirt instead of a towel.

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"The texture of a terrycloth towel on top of the texture of curly hair is going to cause major friction, which will turn into frizz. Use a cotton T-shirt or paper towel instead," Walent says.

What to Do Today: When you're just about done in the shower, add a quarter-sized amount of conditioner to the ends of your hair and don't rinse it out. Then, scrunch your hair with an old cotton T-shirt to absorb the excess moisture.

What to Do From Now On: Never dry your hair with a terrycloth towel again.

Day 4: Use a diffuser that works for you.

Sarah Kobos / Via BuzzFeed

Using a blow-dryer or a flat iron will stretch out your curls, making them limp and taking away their bounce. "If you can't leave your house with a wet head, a diffuser is your best option for heat styling," Walent says. If you already have a blow dryer, all you need to do is use the diffuser attachment (it usually looks like a giant claw), which distributes the heat and air differently so that it's less damaging and it won't disrupt your hair's natural texture.

What to Do Today: Put your diffuser on the lowest heat setting possible and let it do the work for you. With your hair down, place the diffuser (facing the ceiling) at the ends of your hair and gently move it upward (lifting your hair up with it) to scrunch the curls from the bottom. Continue this motion all the way around your head. Don't use your fingers on your hair, because that will create frizz.

What to Do From Now On: When you need to heat style your hair, opt for the diffuser.

Day 5: Learn a no-heat hairstyle that's made for curls.

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"If you want to repair and restore your hair, the best thing to do is step away from the heat styling tools that stretch out your curls," Walent says.

What to Do Today: Choose a no-heat hairstyle that's designed for curly hair and give your locks a break from the flat iron. Here are instructions for how to do the twisted style above.

What to Do From Now On: If you can't completely eliminate heat styling tools, trade the blow-dryer or flat iron for a no-heat hairstyle at least once a week. Take a look at these 17 incredibly pretty styles for curly hair to get a few ideas.

Day 6: Notice every time you touch your hair — then STOP.

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Every time you touch your hair, you're not only disrupting the curl pattern, but you're also putting oils from your fingers into your strands. The best way to keep your curls looking their best is to keep your hands off them.

What to Do Today: Pay attention to the times you’re likely to touch your hair throughout the day. Is it while you’re working at your desk? Is it when you’re sitting in the car? Get into the groove of noticing your hand going up to touch your hair, then immediately pull away.

What to Do From Now On: If you’re a compulsive hair-toucher, try using Tangle Therapy to give your hands something to do instead of touching your hair.

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Day 7: Find a stylist who specializes in cutting curly hair.

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"You don't ever want to cut curls wet. If you cut curly hair while it's dry, you can see where the curls actually live and how they live their lives. You can cut specifically for the curls on dry hair," Walent says.

What to Do Today: Search DevaCurl's Salon Stylist Finder to find someone who specializes in curly hair near you. Make sure you have a conversation with the stylist before scissors enter the equation so you're on the same page about what you want your hair to look like.

What to Do From Now On: Once you find a stylist you like, stick with them for as long as you can.

YAAASS, you made it all the way to the end! Congratulations!

Hopefully your curls are starting to ~live their best life~ after following these tips. Now that you've learned these solid tricks, you'll be able to continue on the path to amazing curls!

Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed