Loving Your Kulot: Expert Tips for Caring for Filipina Curls

In the Philippines, frizzy, dry, and rebonded hair is a common sight. At first glance, you might think it’s just a case of unruly strands, but look a little closer, and you’ll see something else: It’s hair that’s meant to be curly, but forced to be straight!

Rebonding, a popular chemical process that straightens hair, is often seen as a “fix” for those with wavy or curly hair. The Pinay’s obsession with straight hair doesn’t come as a surprise. We all remember watching shampoo and conditioner showing models with hair so long, bouncy, and shiny, a comb could effortlessly glide through the strands.

For years, straight hair has been the beauty ideal, while curls have been sidelined, or even mocked. Remember the lyric “basta kulot, salot” (curly hair is a plague) from Parokya ni Edgar’s Buloy that has been weaponized to bully anyone with naturally curly hair?

Overcoming “straight” beauty standards

Growing up surrounded by beauty standards that favor straight hair, it’s easy to feel like your curls just don’t measure up. Fashion designer and milliner Mich Dulce, known for her beautiful curls, knows the struggle well. “The challenge was never really about maintaining my curls. It was more about the social issues that come with curly hair in a country where beauty standards are always about straight, long hair,” she says.

When she was a little girl, Dulce’s grandmother would tell her to straighten her hair because her curls were “not nice.” Some kids even bullied her by throwing paper at her hair to see if it would get stuck. But Dulce never gave in to permanent straightening treatments, thanks to her mom, who always encouraged her to embrace her curls. “I think that’s the main contributor, right?” she says. Had her mom not encouraged her to keep it curly, she would’ve given in to the societal pressures. “And now it’s kind of like my trademark,” she says with a smile.

Dulce had a moment as a teenager that helped change her perspective: “Hair is made of the same thing as your skin, it’s the same cells as your skin and your nails,” someone once told her. This realization helped her accept her hair’s natural texture and understand that curls are nothing to hide.

Curly hair care 101 

Part of embracing curls is learning how to care for them. Many Filipinas grow up without the know-how to care for their natural curls, instead being bombarded by suggestions, even from hair care professionals, to just straighten their hair. 

So, Allure Philippines turned to the hair experts: Jasmine Baker, curly hair advocate, hairstylist, and owner of Quezon City-based salon Cutz and Curlz; Cherry Reyes, veteran hairstylist and Toni & Guy Philippines master franchisee; and Lourd Ramos, celebrity hairstylist and creative director of his eponymous salon. Together, they share their best tips for embracing and maintaining healthy, beautiful curls.

The first step: Get a haircut and grow out your natural curls.

Starting the journey to wearing your natural curls can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve been using chemical treatments for years. But the first step is often a big chop! All our experts agree: “You must have the courage to embrace your natural curls, which may involve trimming your rebonded ends or even doing a big chop,” says Baker. Acceptance will begin to grow with this step, she believes. Ramos suggests that a drastic cut (if you have rebonded hair) is key to seeing your true texture. “This is always the case at the salon, and it will take a year to get rid of the rebonded part,” he says. Reyes also believes that cutting off straightened ends is vital before transitioning to curly-friendly routines.

Cutting your hair can be scary, but as Baker says, one thing you need is patience. She acknowledges that it’s tough for some, especially for those who think curly hair is high-maintenance. But she insists that with confidence, anyone can pull off their curls. “If you have confidence, not only will you look and feel beautiful, but you’ll also find happiness in being yourself,” she says. 

Go without suds: Use sulfate-free shampoo.

The Curly Girl Method is a hair care routine designed specifically for curly hair, and it has one key rule: avoid sulfates. “Using a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo cleanses without drying out the curls,” advises Reyes. Since curly hair tends to be more dry by nature, shampoos containing sulfates and silicones can dehydrate it further by stripping away its natural oils. 

Baker also recommends moisturizing formulas to keep your curls hydrated. It’s important to know your curly hair type when picking products. For curls that are thick and coarse, Cantu Hair’s Shea Butter Sulfate-Free Cleansing Cream Shampoo is a good option. For fine, curly hair, she recommends brands like Aveda, Davines, and Schwarzkopf. 

In general, Baker recommends K18 Detox Shampoo Peptide Prep. “It’s a gentle clarifying shampoo to fight against build up, sweat, pollution etc, but feels soft, moisture after one wash,” she says. There are also affordable local options like Curlssential Gentle Clarifying Curl Shampoo and more from other brands like Baker’s own The Curlz Next Door, Curlico, and Luxe Organix. 

Don’t skip this: Conditioner is a must.

It’s your curls’ best friend when it comes to locking in moisture and keeping frizz under control. Baker says conditioning is a must for curly hair for “detangling and hydration purposes.” For these, the Davines Love Curl Conditioner does the job well. Meanwhile, Dulce trusts Herbal Essences Coconut Water & Jasmine Hydrated & Refreshed Conditioner. 

There’s a lot of debate about whether or not to wash your hair every day—and let’s be honest, it’s a pain not to be able to do so in our tropical climate—but Ramos says shampooing daily isn’t an issue as long as you follow up with conditioner. “Apply it on the ends, not the roots,” he advises. 

Reyes also suggests conditioning regularly and deep conditioning weekly to “combat dryness,” a tip that Baker fully supports: “Incorporating a deep conditioning treatment into your routine provides extra moisture,” she explains. 

Leave it in: Add curl-defining products.

For long-lasting curl hold, Baker suggests applying a leave-in conditioner like the Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Leave In Conditioner or curling cream, followed by a mousse or gel. If you need a wash-and-go routine, streamline your products: Wavy and curly hair can benefit from a mousse for hold and definition, while coily hair will benefit from both a mousse and gel to lock in the shape.

For best results, it’s important (again) to know your hair and curl type. For tighter curls, Reyes says to opt for heavier creams or gels. For loose curls, she recommends using lightweight creams or soufflé-type formulas to enhance curls without weighing them down. For wavy hair, Reyes advises using a sea salt spray for texture and volume, followed by a hair smoothing mist. The Label M range, tested by Toni & Guy hairstylists, is a good place to start for these products.

Learning to love your curls

There’s no shame in admitting that at some point, you might have tried to change your natural curls. But you’re reading this, and that means you’ve already done—or are likely interested in overcoming—the hardest part: accepting your curls and breaking free from beauty standards favoring straight hair. Take it from curly-haired girls like Baker: “To start embracing our natural hair, we must recognize that it is part of our identity,” she says. “Loving ourselves is the highest form of confidence, and that’s where it begins.”

Baker’s curly hair routine involves using the right products and giving your hair extra TLC, but there’s also another way to embrace your curls, which is Dulce preferred approach: just letting your hair be. “For me, my whole life, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, should I put baby oil? Should I put mousse? Should I put gel?’” Dulce reflects. “I don’t do any of that now. I wake up, shampoo and comb my hair in the shower, put on [leave-in] conditioner, and I’m done.” She continues, “For me, that’s even more straightforward than having straight hair, right? It’s so easy and it’s so fast. And every day it looks fine,” she adds.

For Dulce, finding the right products is, of course, still important, but she believes it’s freeing to leave the house without worrying about what products to use. And whichever approach you choose, remember: It’s your hair, your say.

The 3 best tips for curly hair

1. Go easy on the heat.

Heat styling can seriously affect your curls, so if you’re on a journey to healthier hair, it might be time to dial back on the tools. “Protecting curls starts with minimizing heat styling,” Reyes emphasizes.

Baker, a hairstylist with curly hair herself, also stresses the importance of using heat protectants before reaching for your blow dryer or flat iron. “I understand that Filipinas like to change their hairstyles from time to time, so a blowout can be necessary,” she explains. “However, it’s important to remember that high heat can cause damage, so always use a heat protectant to prevent harm from heat tools.” 

The BrioGeo Farewell Frizz Heat Protectant, is a favorite of Baker’s. “This will help keep your hair from drying out quickly this summer,” she says. 

2. Protect your curls from humidity.

“Filipinas with curly hair often face frizz, dryness, and difficulty maintaining curl definition, especially in our humid tropical climate,” Reyes points out. To keep our curls in check in our weather, Reyes suggests using a leave-in conditioner and a humidity shield. The Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, known for its frizz-fighting and humidity-proofing powers, is a go-to choice among hairstylists for curly hair. Baker also recommends Aveda Be Curly Advance Coil Definer Gel, a lightweight styling hair gel “ideal for those who want long-lasting hold and frizz control.” She also advises making regular washes a part of your routine to remove excess oil and buildup. 

3. Give your hair an occasional treat.

If you’re dealing with heat damage from styling tools or chemical damage from treatments like rebonding, coloring, or perming, Baker recommends going for a repairing treatment, “such as K18 and Olaplex to help repair and strengthen your hair and curls.” For hair that’s never been exposed to heat or chemicals, Baker suggests a curly hair treatment to moisturize and nourish curls. The Kerastase Curl Manifesto Treatment is designed for curly, coily, and wavy hair.