Pro Hairstyling Tips for Curly Hair

All curly-haired women have heard the words: “Your hair is so pretty – I wish I had curls!” But taking care of curls is harder than it looks: environmental factors (humidity!), the natural shape, texture and attributes of your strands and your hair’s health (and more) all play a role in having a good curl day.

Curls require special care. They tend to be drier than other hair types (and therefore more prone to frizz) because their kinks can actually prevent the scalp’s natural moisturising oils from travelling down to the ends. The key to curl power? Finding the right products and techniques to bring out their shape and keep them healthy. Try these expert pointers.

1. Comb curls correctly

Fight the instinct to detangle wet hair from the top down: start at the ends, because that allows you to work through strands carefully rather than building up knots toward the bottom and then yanking through them, which can cause breakage. And use a wide-toothed comb rather than a brush.

“Curly hair is fragile, and each curl bend is a potential breaking point,” explains hairstylist Andrita Renee. “Using a wide-toothed comb is the gentlest way to detangle curls and it doesn’t disrupt the natural curl pattern as much as a brush would.” Our pick? KYK Haircare Stroke Me Comb.

2. ‘Cocktail’ your products

“Mix together two or more hair products to meet your specific styling needs,” Renee suggests. It’s a common technique for curls because they can vary in type from fine and thin to coarse and thick and require both shaping and softening.

Her two favourite blends: a smoothing serum with a mousse, and styling gel with coconut oil. These duos deliver maximum hold without leaving strands dry or crunchy. (To apply, rub half the recommended amount of each product between your palms and then rake through hair from roots to tips with fingers.)

For a one-step solution, try a serum, which helps smooth curls and simultaneously separate and define them. Another option: smooth a dollop of styling cream onto hair with wet hands: the combination refreshes the curls’ shape while keeping them frizz free.

3. Amp up conditioning

When your curls are particularly dry or dull, it’s time to moisturise. Use your fingertips to apply a five cent coin-sized blob of styling cream or oil to your ends either wet or dry, giving them extra moisture and bounce. Or use a hair serum, such as Hair Shots Insta Lustre, designed to be added to your conditioner and packed with smoothing, gloss-inducing actives, lipids and oils.

If your curls regularly look fried or frizzy, try using a leave-in conditioner as one-third of your product cocktail. For thinner hair, spritz on a lighter conditioning spray.

If your hair is medium to thick and needs heavier hydration and definition, then smooth on a cream-based leave-in conditioner.

4. Diffuse to boost shape and body

A diffuser, the crown-shaped attachment that comes with many hairdryers (or can be purchased separately), is key for drying curls to look full and defined. It works by dispersing your hairdryer’s stream of hot air across a larger area, which can produce less frizz than using the narrower nozzle, helping even out your curl pattern and boost volume.

To diffuse hair, first squeeze out excess moisture post-shower by gently scrunching it using a microfibre towel. (Avoid using a traditional towel or making a towel turban, which can disrupt your curls’ shape and cause frizz.) Apply your styling and leave-in hair products, using a heat protectant at the end to shield hair from damage.

Plop large sections of strands into the diffuser, cupping it around your curls. Repeat this process until all hair is dry.

5. Refresh (or create!) curls

Grab a curling iron to add curls to straight or wavy hair or perk up limp spirals. “If you have curls, pick an iron that’s about their diameter,” says hairstylist Sabina Yannone. “If your curls are too tight, go up a size to stretch them,” and to get tighter curls, try a smaller barrel.

Clamp roughly 2.5cm-hair sections about two centimetres from the bottom, twisting away from your face, stopping a few centimetres from the roots. Another option: a curling wand, which usually has no clamp, letting you reshape curls as needed without a full redo.