Sustaining curly hair might be exhausting. My 3A curls can solely thrive once they’re deeply hydrated, which implies nourishing them with ultra-moisturizing conditioners, leave-in therapies, and styling lotions to assist preserve my texture. Whereas I’ve discovered a product lineup that has helped my curls stand the take a look at of time (or at the very least, the take a look at of sweat and humidity), TikTok launched me to a brand new solution to apply them that guarantees to take their moisturizing skills to the subsequent stage.
The “bowl technique,” which went viral on social media earlier this 12 months, entails slathering your hair with a leave-in conditioner or curl cream and dipping it part by part right into a bowl of water. As you dip, you’re meant to scrunch every particular person part and let the water run again into the bowl. Lately, I made a decision to search out out for myself if this trick was actually as game-changing as TikTok promised, however first, I chatted with some specialists to know the science behind it.
@curlyzia.xo Nonetheless get messages each day of individuals saying how a lot this helped. Makes me smile a lot 😍🙌🏼 #ziasbowlmethod #bowlmethod #curlclumps ♬ Residence – Edith Whiskers
Associated Tales
How the bowl technique works
Most individuals with a naturally curly texture, like mine, have what’s referred to as “excessive porosity hair.” The extra porous your hair is, the tougher it’s for strands to carry onto moisture, which explains why curly women are usually extra vulnerable to dryness, breakage, and frizz. Due to this, it is additional necessary to saturate them with as a lot moisture as doable, which is the place the bowl technique is available in.
“The truth is with any hair texture, the extra moisturized and hydrated your hair is, the higher your curls/waves will look,” says Sophie Rose Gutterman, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist.
Whereas nobody can fairly appear to agree on why the bowl technique is simpler for hydration than merely washing your hair within the bathe, there are just a few theories. Superstar hairstylist and textured hair specialist Michelle Sultan (who has achieved nice outcomes utilizing the tactic on her personal hair) thinks it is as a result of dipping your hair in water encourages the curls to clump collectively to reinforce definition and management frizz, whereas Gutterman believes it might probably assist deepen hydration and product penetration.
One factor’s for positive, although: The bowl technique actually solely works on hair that has at the very least a little little bit of pure curl to it. “Consider this technique as a hair bathtub. Whereas it could work for others, it could not work for everybody,” says Gutterman. Sultan explains that it seemingly will not flip your stick-straight strands into ringlets, and Gutterman notes that as a result of the curl-enhancing merchandise are diluted with water, “it is probably not as efficient for those who actually need the maintain, definition, and management from frizz.”
What occurred once I tried it
With all of that in thoughts, it is sensible that TikTok’s evaluations of the bowl technique have been blended—curly-haired of us appear to have discovered success, whereas these with straight hair have both seen short-term outcomes or no outcomes in any respect. Based mostly on the stylists’ recommendation, although, my hair ought to be the best texture to reap the total advantages from the method.
As soon as I discovered a bowl that was giant sufficient to suit my hair (which was extra of a wrestle than you’d anticipate), I stuffed it up with water, received my favourite curl-defining cream and gel from Dwelling Proof, and patiently dipped my hair backwards and forwards. Then, I rigorously scrunched my hair with a cotton t-shirt (one other trick professionals advocate for preventing frizz) and let it air dry. In the long run, my curls seemed bouncy and outlined, a lot in order that I felt like my hair had simply come out of the salon. It was completely frizz-less, with S-shaped ringlets, and as soon as it was dry it felt tremendous light-weight. Extra importantly, my hair wasn’t as crunchy because it usually is once I scrunch it with product sans bowl.
As superb as my hair seemed, although, the entire thing was type of a manufacturing. It left me with a really messy rest room (there was water in all places), my neck felt strained and drained, and my hair took three hours to dry after being soaked with a lot water. Plus, once I tried the bowl technique for a second time just a few days later, I seen it left behind a heavy product build-up on my hair that weighed down my curls.
So whereas the bowl technique technically “labored” for my hair, it is not going to exchange my present curly-hair routine—actually, I haven’t got the vitality to undergo the method repeatedly. In the event you’re in search of a much less time-intensive solution to up your personal hair’s hydration, each stylists advocate utilizing a moisturizing masks. For greatest outcomes, apply it within the bathe and let it sit for a couple of minutes within the steam. “Just like the bowl technique, the warmth from the steam opens the hair’s cuticle and permits all of the protein of the masks to penetrate the hair’s cortex,” she says. When it is time to rinse, use chilly water to shut the cuticle and actually lock within the moisture.
Need much more magnificence intel from our editors? Comply with our Fineprint Instagram account for must-know ideas and methods.
