How to Style Your Curly Hair, According to A Professional Stylist
There’s never been a better time to have curly hair. That’s thanks in large part to the growing number of entertainers taking their waves and coils onto stages, screens, and red carpets all over the world, providing the non-famous among us with plenty of examples of how to make the most of our own. And the result is a new take on what can otherwise be a moppy hairstyle: It’s a slick, light-catching spin on the slacker-esque shag. These guys make it look easy.
But don’t be fooled: Behind every movie-premiere strut is a professional celebrity groomer who coaches every hair into its place. KC Fee, whose advice helped this story come to life, is the reason Jeremy Allen White’s hair looks the way it does. We called her one of the best barbers to follow on social media, though she’s technically not a barber. Still, that doesn’t stop guys including Henry Golding, Ralph Fiennes, Luke Evans, Kumail Nanjiani, and Murray Bartlett from turning to her for their most important events.
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So we asked Fee to give some pointers on how the rest of us can get the same effect in our own hair. Read on for her professional-level tips on making your curly hair look great.
Wash Your Hair Less
Perhaps you’re hip to the idea that “daily shampooing” isn’t necessary. Overwashing can make hair look parched, even if you chase it with conditioner. And the more defined your hair texture, the more you want to push this wash-day deadline, according to fee Fee: “Maintaining an organic look involves washing every three to four days, with potential adjustments in the regimen, such as incorporating dry shampoo, to manage oil buildup.” The good news is that a simple daily rinse should flush away most of the buildup from your natural oil and the products you use.
THE BEST DRY SHAMPOO FOR CURLY HAIR
Prose Custom Dry Shampoo
When using dry shampoo, make sure to rinse it out at the end of each day—and don’t use it on the days when you’ve actually washed your hair, or when you don’t feel that much oil buildup. (Prose’s custom version, which can be formulated to target your specific needs, is probably the perfect “third day” product to help lift hair from the roots and absorb excess sebum.)
Get More Haircuts
While you don’t need to wash your hair super often, you do need to dial up the frequency on haircuts. See your barber every six to eight weeks at a minimum—but you’ll need to go even more often if you really want to maintain a picture-perfect shape. “The key to this style lies in regular haircuts for shape, as well as strategic layering for texture,” says Fee, adding that this intentional regimen allows you to take a minimalist approach to products. “Aim for a natural appearance without excessive styling.” The ideal target is to grow out the length on top while maintaining shorter sides and back.
Style Your Hair When It’s Damp and Clean
Before styling each morning, you should start with damp, clean hair. That doesn’t mean you need to do a full shampoo, but you should at least rinse out your hair. You can also spray in some water if you don’t want a full-on dousing.
Use a Leave-in Conditioner
“Transitioning from bed head to red-carpet ready involves dampening the hair, then applying a light styling product for hold,” says Fee. In this case, that property should promise to condition your curls, with words like “Leave-In Conditioner” or “Moisturizing Curl Cream,” or anything in that vein. In short, you want to pick a lightweight, hydrating, and cuticle-sealing product that protects your strands from moisture loss.
Here are three of Fee’s go-tos for her clients.
THE BEST LEAVE IN CONDITIONERS FOR CURLY HAIR
Kevin.Murphy Motion.Lotion<br>Najeau Leave-in-Conditioner<br>Roz Milk Hair Serum
Dry With a Diffuser
While Fee loves letting her clients’ hair air dry, she says you can also get added volume (and of course, faster results) by blow drying it. However, with any amount of texture, it’s important to use a diffusing attachment on the end of your hair dryer, to disperse the heat evenly. But if you can let it air dry, Fee advises as much: “Air drying often preserves the natural texture better,” she says.
But for White’s signature red-carpet curls, Fee dries the hair about 80 percent with a diffuser, allowing the rest to air dry. “The diffuser keeps the integrity of the natural texture while taking out some of the frizz,” she explains. And while most hair dryers will come with a diffusing nozzle, Fee likes using a Hot Sock Diffuser for hair dryer, which is a little un-flammable sock that neutralizes frizzing while allowing the hot air to gently dry curls.
THE BEST HAIR DRYER FOR CURLY HAIR
Dyson Supersonic Air Dryer
Of course, you can always go for a salon-favorite hair dryer too, which comes with all the attachments you might need. (The diffuser is that wide-faced one with little teeth that disperse the air around the scalp and throughout the curls.)
Use a Texture-Defining Finisher
Once the hair is dry (and in some cases, nearly almost dry), you want to apply the final touches—namely a texturizing spray or light-catching oil that elevates the style from Zoom-camera-ready to paparazzi-camera-ready.
But these finishing details might differ depending on the type of definition in your hair.
THE BEST FINISHERS FOR MOST CURLS
R+Co Salt Spray<br>Roz Santa Lucia Styling Oil
Many salon-favorite brands offer a version of curl-defining finishers, from oils to creams, to texturizing sprays. The aim is to have those curls really catch the light thanks to their definition and heart shine.
THE BEST GEL FOR CURLY HAIR
Paul Mitchell Ultimate Wave Lightweight Hair Gel
You might even consider a wave gel for a pinch of hold with a heap of shine.
THE BEST FINISHER FOR COILY HAIR
Mielle Coil Sculpting Custard
If you have coily hair, “A more moisturizing approach is advisable,” she says. “Utilizing products like a creamy leave-in conditioner on damp hair prior to the diffuser and finish with curl-defining cream for well-defined coils.”
THE BEST FINISHER FOR FINE CURLS
Sachajuan Hair Mousse
For fine curls: If your individual curly strands are extremely fine, or if your hair is thinning uniformly, then you might want to modify the regimen as well. “These hair types benefit from volumizing products, such as mousse or lightweight foam, to add body without weighing down the hair,” notes Fee.
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