Anyone who has curly hair knows that it’s not like anything else.  It curls if you look at it cross-eyed, straightens out in the most unusual and unfortunate places, and is generally unruly.  That being said, there are a few things you can do to help tame the curly beast.

Perhaps the most important thing to do for curly hair is to moisturize it.  The shafts of curly hair break easily when they get too dry, leading to the ever-dreaded frizz.  Many experts recommend only washing curly hair every other day or even every third day, if you can stand it.  When you do wash your hair, be sure it’s with a good moisturizing shampoo (Nexxus Therappe is a good one to try) and always follow-up with moisturizing conditioner.   It’s also a good idea to use a deep conditioning hair mask once a week or so.  You can buy one, like Garnier Fructis Fortifying Deep Conditioner, or just use plain old mayonnaise.  Work a small amount through damp hair, leave it on for five minutes or so, then rinse it out and shampoo and condition as usual.

Styling methods like blow-drying, straightening and curling can dry out and damage hair, so try to avoid them as much as possible.  If you can’t wait for your hair to dry, dry it with a diffuser so the impact of the heat is lessened.

Possibly equally important to taming curly hair is getting the right cut.  When you’re checking out stylists, be sure that they have experience with and understand how curly hair works.  The right cut gives you lift in the right places, while at the same time avoiding all possible poodle-like effects.

Once you’ve moisturized your hair and gotten a good cut, it’s time to look for hair products.  There are about a zillion on the market; sprays, mousses, gels, all aimed at getting curly hair to de-frizz and curl beautifully.  Some give different textures to your hair once they’ve dried; it’s a good idea to experiment with a few to find out what works best for you.

Finally, embrace your curly hair.  It’s natural to occasionally look at stick straight hair longingly and think, “If only…” and of course it’s fun and different to straighten your hair occasionally.  But you may as well come to terms with this fact now: fighting your curl is a battle you’re not going to win.  It will always be there, and it’s a lot easier to go with the flow than against it.

Work with what you’ve got, enjoy it, keep it moisturized, and you’ll be good to go!

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