Photo Nate Steiner

Those of us born with naturally curly hair are on the constant hunt for styling tips that apply to curls.  True, we might never have smooth shine and total control, but curly hairstyles offer their own unique beauty when styled and taken care of properly!

How To Make The Most Of Your Naturally Curly Hair

1. Get A Great Cut

The success of your hair style begins and ends with a great haircut.  This is especially true with curly hair that has a tendency to frizz, flip, flop and fro.  Find a stylist with experience cutting curls – adding shape and texture to curls requires different techniques than straight hair.

How can you tell it’s a good cut?  On long hair, a great cut should last 3-4 months without losing it’s shape and style.

2. Wash The Top, Condition the Bottom

Shampoo will dry out curly hair, while conditioner can weigh it down.  But you still need to get clean, right?

Lather your shampoo at the roots where your scalp is producing oil and build up.  The rinse out will be enough to remove any product from the rest of your hair without over drying it.  When it comes to conditioning, focus on the eds and avoid the roots.  Too much heavy moisturizing at the top of your head will kill your volume.

Try Aveda’s Be Curly Shampoo and Conditioner to ramp up the curl.

3. Put Away The Brush

Never, ever, EVER touch curly hair with a brush.  Ever.  The only combing those ringlets need are from a pick, wide tooth comb, or your fingers.  And only when it’s wet!  Once your hair dries, any attempts to pick, comb, brush or tousel curly locks will sap shine and bring on frizz.  I have no idea why.  (But, no! Really! I’m an expert! Listen to me!)

4. Use A Curling Cream

Mouse doesn’t give enough control and gel can leave your curls crunchy and very 1990s White Rain Spritzer looking.  A curling cream (or creme) or lotion is the perfect combination for enhancing your natural texture.  Work the lotion through damp hair that has been combed out.

Photo Amazon

I use Aveda’s Be Curly Curl Enhancing Lotion (I am an Aveda slave, I admit it).

5. Diffuse, Diffuse, Diffuse

The blow dryer can be your worst enemy or your best friend, depending on how you use it.  The ONLY time a blow dryer should come near curly hair is with a diffuser on the end of it.  This allows your hair to dry almost like naturally, but with more volume and shine and less frizz.  I also recommend spraying on a “heat protecting spray” before blow drying to eliminate the heat damage and resulting POOF.

Photo Amazon

I do most of my blow drying with my head upside down, but I like a lot of volume.  You can scrunch with the diffuser with your head upright for a more mellow look.  Whatever you prefer, remember to stop when your hair is about 80% dry.  Let the air do the rest of the work once you’ve got the style, shape and curl pattern under control.

And that’s it!

I finish up with a little pomade and hair spray to add shine and hold the volume I made myself dizzy to get – but you can look great with a more “natural” look as well.

Stop fighting the natural curls and embrace that hot head of hair!  Just a few tweaks and you’ll find you have the most hassle free, dramatic look in town.

Miss Britt is infamous for her blonde, curly locks.  As well as her inability to write a byline that points to her personal blog but doesn’t make use of words like “locks”.