[Toni]

Hey mdominican31!

Good to hear from you again!

With tight coils like these, I would imagine that at least some of the following you have learned the tried and tested way. Keep your hair long. The shorter, the tighter the curls AND tangles. Layers will fill your hair out into full roundness so I wouldn't do those either!
Keep your hair moisturized and never let it dry out as well as do NOT abuse it causing breakage. Condition regularly and COMB ONLY when wet, getting all the tangles out, use a wide toothed comb or plastic rake as it dries starting at the ends and working up towards scalp. When all tangles are gone, rake down the length as it dries to help relax curls a little and have them lay down.
NEVER flatiron your hair when it is wet, even if the products or iron says you can. Heat dries your hair out and you're asking for trouble (dried ends, frying any possible existing frizz, and causing potential future breakage. Oh dear! Likewise watch the blow dryer too. If you want to s***d up drying your hair, use a diffuser on the dryer. If you don't know what this is, it goes over the exhaust end and looks much like a speaker. LOL It slows the blast down so it doesn't blow hair all over, rather, you just feel the hot air. Until hair gets dry, you can rake a little while using it.

When your hair is completely dry...NEVER brush it. If you've ever done this, I'm sure you've been sorry. Rather finger comb it or use a plastic pick to get any tangles out. Your beauty salon or local beauty supply store will have some professional products to spray your hair to keep it supple, soft and moisturized (not greasy..like some curly products). CATWALK makes a line of "Curls Rock" products (for an example) with shampoo, conditioner and sprays.
Avoid wind and too much sun. You don't want anything that will tangle your hair or dry it out. All these things are damaging to your hair. Excessive tangling causes breakage as you try to free it and that is not what you want!!! If you hair does get tangled beyond the norm, shampoo it, condition it well and before you rinse, use a pick, starting at the ends, work out tangles. EASY does it, working your way up to scalp. This may take a while but worth saving your mane!!! After all, you don't want to cut it!!! YIKES.

Rinse well when done and make sure you can comb through, if not, repeat working ends to scalp again.....This is a great rule for curly heads. Work ends first, working up to scalp. Save your hair.

IF, you do want to try flatironing it, apply lots of heat protectant first, following directions. Actually, heat protectant is good idea before ANY heat is applied, even diffuser on dryer and especially if you use flatirons or large barrel curling irons to redo those curls.

A chemical straightening should NEVER be applied unless done by a professional. However, I still don't recommend it. Use at your own risk as breakage is a most definite possibility!!! The application is dangerous yet effective if the one applying it is professional and knows HOW. Even if they are good and it's done successfully, it has to have the regrowth done every four weeks and if you change your mind, growing it out is HORRIBLE, so don't let anyone talk you into it.

You can live happily with your curly locks. With the right care and products, people will envy you!!!