A Curl activator is a product that has been trending on YouTube lately. Videos and Posts from Natural Hair influencers with shiny and well defined curls and coils may have you wanting to try out this trend. In this post I’ll explore what is curl activator, how can it be used, and if it is safe for natural hair.

Since an S-curl  is a type of texlaxer, I was very confused when I saw S-Curl activator trending in the natural hair community.  I did some research to determine if S-Curl activator is safe for natural hair.

The curl activator trending on YouTube and social media is called s-curl curl activator.  YouTubers use a bluish gel or a very thin water moisturizer. An S-curl is a type of white creamy chemical product, resembling a  relaxer, that is meant to loosen the texture of naturally kinky curly hair.

The  S-Curl texlaxer will permanently alter the state of your natural hair. S-curl texlaxer should not be used on your hair if you want to remain natural. A texlaxer chemically alters the state of your hair. To go natural again, you would need to grow your hair out.

The S-Curl Activator gel and the moisturizer , are safe for natural hair. These products are made primarily of water and glycerin. Just to be clear, the white creamy S-CURL product will permanently alter the texture of your hair. The blue gel that is made primarily of glycerin will not permanently alter the state of your hair.

What is a Curl Activator?

A curl activator is a product that helps curls clump together.  This creates the appearance of slightly larger curls. The clumped curls can make the hair look more curly, often referred to as defining your curls.

The type of Curl Activator trending on YouTube, is made by S-Curl. An S-Curl texlaxer permanently alters your hair. This causes hesitation when deciding whether to use the S Curl brand of activator.

If you are not comfortable using using the s curl activator, there are curl  activators available from other companies. They can often be found near the gels and styling foams at your local beauty supply store.

Can You use Curl Activators on Natural Hair ?

Most Curl Activators have glycerin and propoleyne glycol as the primary  ingredients. Glycerin and propoleyne glycol are humectants that attract water from the environment and help moistuze hair.

Glycerin is safe for natural hair. Humectants help to keep natural hair moisturized. However if you use them in a very humid climate, it could result in frizz. This is because too much water is attracted to the hair and the strands swell.

How to use Curl Activator

Generally, curl activators are used as sealants. Curl activators should be used with a leaving underneath. Some people choose to add gel for additional hold.

Due to the high glycerin content in curl activators, it can be a little bit sticky. It is best to apply curl activator to damp hair.

The best way to use Curl Activator is to replace it or mix it  with an oil in the “LOC” method. You would apply it to your hair over your leave in.  After you apply the glycerin you can put a cream based moisturizer on top.

Curl Activators are great for clumping curls, but have little to no hold. For longer lasing curls apply gel or mousse on top of the curl activator.

Using the curl activator in combination with a gel can reduce the crunchy feeling. Glycerin makes the gel more flexible.

DIY Curl Activator

If you make DIY hair products at home, it is possible to make a Curl Activator at home. You may have some of the ingredients on hand.

The primary ingredient in curl activators is a humectant. The following combinations would work well as a diy curl activator:

• Rose Water & Glycerin
• Aloe Vera Juice & Water
• Aloe Vera Gel & Water

The great thing about diy curl activators is that you can customize them to meet your hair needs. Ingredients to make your own Curl Activator can be found on amazon.

I recommend trying the combinations in a spray bottle. Dilute with enough water to spray through the nozzle of a spray bottle

Alternatives to Curl Activator

Glycerin is a humectant, it attracts water to the hair. Other humectants include:

• Aloe Vera Juice
• Honey

Naturally Curl has a great article about how humectants work for hair. The article contains an extensive list of ingredients in hair products that acts as humectants.

What is your favorite Curl Activator?

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