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By Thami Kwazi

Lifestyle Print Editor


Root secrets: Lovely Qiniso Van Damme shares her hair care secrets

Curly queen and SA's first Bachelorette Qiniso Van Damme says consistency is the key when it comes to caring for her beautiful hair.


Many have seen her on the M-Net reality television love show The Bachelorette, as South Africa’s first bachelorette and judged by her social media accounts she has found love with fellow contestant Gareth Ehret.

28-year-old Qiniso Van Damme is in love and exploring other avenues of celebrity life.

With natural beauty to boot, many fans have wondered what she uses on her hair to maintain its natural curl and length. As one of the new ambassadors of Loreal Kerastase Curl Manifesto, she lets us in on her ultimate hair care secrets.

Tell us about your hair care routine?

My hair care routine revolves around moisture, moisture, and more moisture. Moisture to me does not necessarily mean oil, but nourishment and hydration.

What is your get-up-and-go style?

Wake up, take off my bonnet and inspect the situation, then use the Kérastase Revive spray and gently tease my fingers through my hair. Then I grab a hairpin, bundle up my curls and hit the road!

ALSO READ: Phumzile van Damme sends ‘stern’ warning to Qiniso’s new boyfriend Gaz

How often do you wash?

I rinse my hair about three times a week, conditioning it with the conditioner. After rinsing out the conditioner, I follow up with a pea-sized amount of the leave-in conditioner which truly supplies all of the moisture that my thirsty hair needs.

I only wash my hair with shampoo once every two weeks, with a focus on the scalp to remove any build-up of product.

How often do you heat-style?

I am a model and being someone else’s muse means fitting into their vision for your hair on a shoot. Outside of work, I only heat-style my hair when it’s time to have a trim.

I get my hair washed, blowdried and straightened at the salon. That way it becomes so much easier for me and my hairstylist to see any split ends and trim them more effectively.

What’s been your biggest hair struggle?

GROWTH. I thought that if I didn’t cut my hair, it would just grow! But it turns out that trimming your hair twice a year is ideal for hair growth.

And, that split ends travel up the hair shaft and that action promotes so much breakage.

What’s your best hair-care secret?

Consistency is key. You can only start to see results if you keep at it! Also, making my hair-care routine a part of my self-care practice brings so much joy and ease into the process.

Why did you team up with the Curl manifesto?

I teamed up with Curl Manifesto because so many people ask me about my hair-care practices and I am finally in a place in my life where I have confidence in my routine

What advice do you have for women struggling with their natural hair and not wanting to go to a salon out of fear?

My relationship with my hair improved when I changed my perspective and rather than see my hair as a struggle I saw it as something I had to devote time and love to.

When you throw love and care into your hair, it glows!

READ MORE: WATCH: The Bachelorette SA’s Qiniso and Gareth get down on Kenyan baecation

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