How do I style curly hair?

by Rebecca
(NSW)

I have similar hair to yours and would love to know what products you use and how you style your hair. I feel I have no control over how my hair looks - some days it looks great and other days I look like a gollywog! I would like my hair to look styled rather than unkept but I don't like straightening it!

Jane's answer...I do sympathize Rebecca!

It took me many years of trial and error to master my hair!

For years I spent hours blow drying it straight, then flipping it into a Farrah Fawcett style. This was great if there was no moisture in the air. However, at the slightest whiff of damp it would go frizzy! Ugh.

I finally learnt how to work with it, rather than against it. I now don’t like straightening my hair either, although occasionally for a different look I will get the hairdresser to use a flat iron on my hair, this may last a day or 2, if I’m careful. However, I would never dream of chemically straightening my hair.

My biggest tips are...

• Don’t comb or brush your curly hair!


• Get a great cut from a good hair dresser who understands curly hair

To style, use a curly hair styling product after you’ve washed your hair, when it’s still wet. Then style it by taking a small bunch of strands and twirling it around a finger. Repeat all over your head. It takes a while to start with. However, I now find it takes me 5 minutes and I can do it on the run. I let my hair dry naturally, then shake my head and ease out some of the curls with my fingers.

The days I’m not washing my hair I might apply some more curly hair product, or just use water to damp down my hair and re-activate the curl.

Easy!

If you want to dry your hair use a diffuser, on a heat setting, after twirling. Heat "shrinks" your curls and defines them. Then blow cold air over to "expand" or "fluff-up" your hair.

To get a different look you can experiment with the thickness of the sections you twirl, or use large rollers (if you can be bothered) to get a smoother, bigger curl look.

I’ve tried several curly hair products. The best ones are only available from hair salons or specialists hair product suppliers.

My favorite was a range of organic products from MOP (Modern Organic Products). I used their 'C-System Hydrating' range of shampoo and conditioner and the 'C-System Texture Lotion' leave-in styling product. Sadly, this product has now been discontinued.

I'm now using the Aveda "be curly" range of products. I use the leave in curl enhancer with other shampoos and conditioners as well. (For example see the range on the UK Aveda website -- to select a different country scroll to the bottom of the page and click the "Country" button.) While these products aren't 100% organic they do contain mostly natural ingredients.

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