12 SECRETS TO STYLING CURLY HAIR
Curly-haired beauties, you’re the envy of everyone! But as you well know, while curly hair is undoubtedly beautiful, it can be a real pain to style. Curls can be unpredictable, and with so many {curly hair} products available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
But trust us, with a {good curly hair routine} under your belt, the right formulas and some savvy styling tips, those good hair days will become all the more frequent.
To help you on your hair journey, we’ve enlisted the help of {Cult Concierge} expert {Ryan} (who has his own head of 3A curls), who’s shared his 12 secrets to styling curly hair. Happy, hydrated and frizz-free curls incoming!
1. CHOOSE HYDRATING AND NOURISHING PRODUCTS
Good styling starts with the perfect prep, so take time to pick a shampoo and conditioner that are specifically formulated for your curl pattern and hair needs.
Type 2 waves/loose curls, start with {Bouclème Curl Cleanser} and follow with {We Are Paradoxx Volume Conditioner}.
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£17.00
Type 3 curls, wash your hair with {Pattern Cleansing Shampoo} and condition it with {BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY hair-mask: creamy deep conditioner}
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£20.00
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£26.00
Type 4 coils, shampoo your curls with {BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY hair-wash: gentle milky hair cleanser}, then follow with {BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY hair-mask: creamy deep conditioner}.
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£18.00
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£26.00
2. DRY YOUR HAIR IN A T-SHIRT INSTEAD OF A TOWEL
Currently using a regular towel to dry your curls? That rough texture causes frizz and ruins your curl pattern, so switch to a cotton T-shirt or a microfibre towel like the {Kitsch Eco-Friendly Microfiber Hair Towel} instead. And don’t go crazy rubbing your hair dry – wrap your sopping wet curls up on top of your head (in your T-shirt or microfibre towel) and leave them be, and you’ll be left with smooth, defined, frizz-free curls.
3. AVOID WEIGHING DOWN YOUR CURLS WITH TOO MUCH PRODUCT
When your curls are feeling a little dry, it can be tempting to go to town with product. But apply too much – or the wrong type – and your curls will be weighed down. Pick a finishing product designed for your curl type, put a small amount on your fingertips, then work it through the ends of your hair for hydration and definition.
Here are Ryan’s pick of the best {styling products} for your curl type:
Type 2 waves/loose curls: Glide {Oribe Matte Waves Texture Lotion} through damp hair.
Type 3 curls: Apply {Pattern Leave-in Conditioner} to soaking wet curly hair, then finish with a few drops of the {BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY Macadamia Oil} to add shine and reflection
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£25.00
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£25.00
Type 4 coils: Start with {Dizziak Deep Conditioner}, and finish with {Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino and Quinoa Frizz Control Gel}
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£21.00
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£22.00
4. USE A WIDE-TOOTHED COMB OR CURL-APPROPRIATE BRUSH (AND ALWAYS ON SOPPING WET HAIR)
Curly hair is fragile, and the last thing you want to do is cause any breakage! So put aside your regular hair brush and use a wide-toothed comb like the {WetBrush Go Green Detangling Comb - Tea Tree}, or a curl-appropriate brush like the beautiful {Pattern Shower Brush} instead. This is the gentlest way to detangle curls, and it won’t disrupt your natural curl pattern as much as a brush.
And always, always, always comb your hair while it’s sopping wet. This encourages your curls to clump together and dry in their natural pattern, whereas combing dry hair will break up the clumps that have started to form.
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£17.00
5. COMB YOUR HAIR FROM THE BOTTOM UP
While we’re on the topic of combing techniques, make sure you start by detangling your ends and then work your way up towards your roots. This will help you to gently and easily detangle any knots, rather than dragging them all down and creating a bigger problem for yourself!
6. TWIST AND CURL INTO SHAPE
Give your curls a little helping hand by twisting them into shape while they’re still wet. A bit of gentle encouragement can help tame unruly areas and style your curls just right – you might want to twist and pin, braid certain sections or even scrunch your whole head.
7. TRY THE “PINEAPPLE” METHOD TO KEEP CURLS DEFINED OVERNIGHT
To protect your curls at night and keep them from getting flattened or tangled while you sleep, give the “pineapple” method a go! Essentially, it involves gathering all your hair on top of your head, tying it loosely with a super soft hair scrunchie (we recommend the {Kitsch Satin Pillow Scrunchie} for extra protection against frizz), and sleeping with it like that. In the morning, remove the scrunchie, shake out your hair, and your curls will be frizz-free and full of volume.
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8. SLEEP ON A SILK PILLOWCASE
On a similar note, sleeping on a silk pillowcase like the {Slip Silk Pillowcase - Queen} will also help to prevent frizz and tangling while you’re getting your kip. No more waking up to an unruly mane, it’s all smooth, shiny curls going forward.
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£89.00
9. USE A DIFFUSER TO ADD BODY AND EVEN OUT YOUR CURL PATTERN
If you’re a blow dry kinda guy or gal, then repeat after me: I solemnly swear to always, ALWAYS, use a diffuser. A diffuser attachment like the {Drybar The Bouncer Diffuser} (attached to the {Drybar Buttercup Blow-Dryer}) helps to spread the heat flow evenly, avoiding the frizz and damage that’s caused by direct heat. It’ll help to style your curls by adding body – especially if you blow dry your hair upside down – and it’ll help your curls to even out and hold their shape.
For best results, apply your new favourite hair products and thermal hair protectant, then let your curls air dry for as long as possible. When you’re ready, select a medium heat setting, tip your head forward, plop a section of your hair into the diffuser and hold it near your scalp. Once that section is 90% dry, move on to the next section. Repeat until you've got defined curls all over!
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£139.00
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£29.00
10. REFRESH YOUR CURLS WITH A CURLING IRON
If you’ve woken up with slightly misshapen and unruly curls, then styling your curls with a curling iron can work wonders. Pick a curling wand that’s a similar diameter to your natural curl pattern, wrap strands around it, and you’ll have perfectly redefined curls in no time!
{amika’s The Chameleon 5 Barrel Interchangeable Curling Kit} is the perfect choice, with a changeable barrel size to help suit your specific curl pattern – which will inevitably vary around your head. And remember to always use a heat protector like the {ghd Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray} when styling with heat.
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£23.95
£285.00
11. OR USE A CURL-REFRESHING SPRAY
A curl-refreshing spray – we love {Pattern’s Hydrating Mist} – breathes life back into curls so that they look just as gorgeous in between washes. Spritz liberally over your 3rd or 4th day curls (with a little extra water if required) to refresh and reactivate them. Give them a good scrunch and your hair will air dry back into place – the right place, that is!
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£7.00
12. GET REGULAR TRIMS TO AVOID SPLIT ENDS
Split ends create frizziness, so visit your stylist regularly for a trim to keep your hair healthy and strong. Choose a stylist that’s a specialist in curly hair so that you can trust that they’ll know what’s best for you and your specific curl pattern and texture.
And there you have it! 12 tips to help you style your curly hair so that going forward, every day is a good hair day.
