With the plethora of hair products lining drugstore shelves specially formulated to give your flat, bed-headed mane some lift, shape, body, and volume, what’s a curly-haired gal, looking to avoid just that, to do? Having tested any and every product on the market designed to tame fly-aways, define curls, smooth locks, and make the hair on my head appear as though it grows out vertically and not horizontally, I have emerged from my journey with two clear winners. The miracle products:
Frédéric Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Cream, $23
This thick yet silky hair cream developed by a world-renowned hair guru is well worth the investment. It uses olive oil as the prime ingredient to promote unbeatable shine while keeping hair in place. And since you only have to use about a dime-sized dollop, it might last you longer than you’d expect.
Rusk Sensories Smoother Passionflower & Aloe Leave-In Conditioner, $17
Forget stiffening gels and oily serums; Rusk presents a solution with the perfect consistency for dry, thick, damaged hair. It’s so lightweight, you can barely tell there’s any product in your hair.
Tips for Styling Curly Hair:
- Don’t wash every day. The natural oils from your scalp will nourish your hair between washes. This will reduce frizz and dryness – especially if your hair is color-treated.
- Comb it out in the shower. Before you rinse out the conditioner, use a wide-tooth comb to remove knots so your hair is smooth once it dries. Never brush dry curly hair!
- Don’t wring it out with a towel. When you rub your hair with a rough surface like a towel, the friction generates the worst enemy of curls – frizz. To avoid this bushy battle, wring excess water out in the shower with your fingers.
- Avoid heat. Excess heat styling (low-dryers, irons, etc.) will lead to split ends. Do yourself a favor and keep your hair’s exposure to heat (including very hot water) to a minimum.
- Combat frizz. Apply product with clean fingers through almost-dry-but-not-quite hair starting from about 1/3 of the way down the hair shaft to avoid weighing down roots and inviting excess grease and dandruff.
- It’s all about the cut. At the end of the day, your curls won’t sit nicely unless you have a professional cut some ample layers. A straight-across haircut will make your curls flat, lifeless, and will make your head look like an upside-down triangle. Opt for a bit of body at the top and a gentle tapering downward.
Curly girls everywhere, embrace the challenge!
-JD (check her out on the about page!)
