The Curly Hair Style Guide

If you have curly hair, you know that there are unique challenges that come with it. Not only are there are a number of do’s and don’ts that you have to follow to maintain your hair, but styling it can be complicated. Having curly hair that is both manageable and beautiful often comes down to simply choosing the right products for your hair, from shampoo to hairspray. Here are some of our favourite picks for making the most of your curly hair.

Cleansing and Conditioning
One important thing to know when choosing a shampoo for your curly hair is that it doesn’t really matter whether you use one that claims “curly hair”, “volume”, “straight hair”, or “coloured hair”. If you already have curly hair, using a shampoo that claims to enhance curls isn’t going to make a significant difference in how your hair looks or feels, unless the shampoo uses gentler cleansers than other shampoos. Because curly hair tends to dry out and need more moisture than straight hair, it’s important to use a gentle shampoo that isn’t leeching moisture from your hair. Try a sulfate-free shampoo, like Organix Healing Mandarin Olive Oil, which will cleanse your hair of impurities without drying it out.

Using conditioner is extremely important for curly hair; unless your curls are extremely fine and tend to get weighed down with residue from hair products, condition your hair every time you wash it. An amazing salon pick is Bedhead’s Hi-Def Curls Conditioner, which not only fights frizz like a champion, but smells amazing. L’Oreal Re-Nutrition Conditioner, which is infused with Royal Jelly, also does wonders for keeping the frizz down. Whatever conditioner you decide to use for you hair, make sure you apply it liberally to ever strand, taking extra care with the tips.

Styling
When your hair is still wet, there are a number of great products you can implement to make it easier to style.

Instead of a traditional frizz serum, try Live Clean Exotic Nectar Argan Oil. You don’t have to use as much as you do with a serum to get the same results, and it comes in a bigger bottle–two things that are great for your budget. This paraben-free product is also a wonderful restorative therapy for your hair, as it heals dryness and damage over time. Argan Oil is the same ingredient that is in the pricey Moroccan Oil available at salons, but for a fraction of the price. Apply a small amount to your wet hair right after you get out of the shower and work through with your fingers.

If you use heat tools on your hair, whether you blow dry or flat-iron from time to time, try Chi Keratin Mist. It`s a leave-in conditioner that infuses your hair with the proteins it needs to stay healthy, which are often lost through heat styling.

A popular hair product for curly hair is mousse–scrunching it through wet hair and then letting it air-dry or diffusing it is an easy way to style. However, did you know that using mousse could be damaging your hair over time? Many mousses contain harmful alcohol, which can actually cause dryness and frizz, the very things you`re trying to avoid. Mousse’s primary role is to act as a volumizer, and most curly-haired girls, unless they have fine hair, don’t need to worry abvout volume. So consider ditching your mousse and opting for a curl cream instead. Marc Anthony Curl Lotion is an excellent, paraben-free product with a hint of lemon scent, and has the texture of a creamy gel, without leaving the crusty, hardened mess that we often associate with hair gel. La Coupe Cream Gel has a similar texture. For either of these products (or similar products), scrunch through your hair the same way you would with mousse. After replacing mousse with a gentler styling product, you will notice a difference in your hair`s manageability.

If really don`t think you can ditch your mousse, try an alcohol-free one, like Joico JoiWhip Firm Hold Mousse. This foamy product, which also includes UV protectors to prevent sun damage, will give you the same volumizing results as your regular mousse without drying out your hair.

Finishing
Whether you let your curls air-dry or blow-dry them, once it`s dry, many products can help you sculpt your hair into the perfect package.

John Frieda Secret Weapon Styling Creme is a fantastic finishing cream that smoothes down flyaways and frizz that may have reared their ugly heads while you were blow-drying. Squeeze a small amount into your hands and smooth over areas that need extra attention. Marc Anthony Moisture Gloss is a similar product that tames frizz once your hair is dry, and contains a hint of glitter to really help your hair shine.

Wen Sweet Almond Mint Texture Balm is a unique product that does wonders for giving your curls the perfect definition. Sold in `stick` form, kind of like deodorant, it has the texture of a pomade, but it isn`t as thick as most traditional pomades. Rub into your hands and work through your hair to smooth it out, define your curls, and add incredible shine.

Hair spray is another product, like mousse, that has the potential to be damaging to your hair. Try Nexxus Maxximum Super Hold Finishing Mist, which  holds your curls without leaving them hardened and stuck together.