I'm A Curly Hair Stylist & Here Are 3 Major Care Tips You May Forget About

"Curls are not made to be perfect. People have so many different curl patterns that grow out of their head that go in all different directions. Once I learned that about my own hair, it helped me embrace the chaos in life. It helped me embrace the differences and diversity of everything," says curly hair expert Sunny, founder of the wellness and hair salon Lumiere Vive, on the most recent episode of Clean Beauty School. "So when I look at curls, it's not just the hair itself; it's a spiritual experience of just embracing every part of who you are." 

First things first: "If the hair is heat damaged, there's nothing I'm going to be able to do. There's no treatment that's going to help. If your hair is burnt, you're going to have to trim or cut it off," says Sunny. Yes, heat damage can be that harsh on the hair, especially if it's fragile to begin with (like coils and curls tend to be). 

We say this a lot around here: Healthy hair and skin start internally. "Eating healthy and drinking a lot of water is my No. 1 tip for growing your hair because if you're eating poorly and you're really not drinking a lot of water, your body and your hair is going to show it," she says. 

When people think curls or damaged strands, the most common advice is to load up on hydration. Don't get us wrong: You should! But you also need to be smart about cleansing and removing buildup. 

"People don't really know that buildup is something that can loosen your curl pattern. If you have a lot of oils, sweat, dirt, and products on your hair—it's going to weigh the hair down and stretch out the pattern," she says. "If your hair isn't full and bouncy, it's a sign you need to clarify your hair."