How to Style Curly Hair: The Basics to Know
Whether you're a hairstylist advising your client or you're on a curly hair journey of your own, perfect styling is the key to the bounciest, most defined ringlets. So, let's look at the best hair products and curly hair tips to maintain a frizz-free mane from AM to PM. Here's your comprehensive guide to flawless styling...
Let’s Start With Hair Washing
How curly hair is washed has a big impact on the finished look, so in some ways, styling really starts with your choice of shampoo. You need the right formula – plus a shape-defining conditioner – to get natural curls ready for drying and styling. But what works for one curl type doesn’t always work for another, which is why experimenting is key to finding your perfect routine. Your locks might love co-washing or you could find that a damage-repairing shampoo keeps your ringlets bouncy. So, take your pick from these cleansing and caring must-haves...
If You’re Co-Washing...
… then try NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner. It’s specially formulated to gently cleanse, purify and condition wavy or curly hair without stripping natural oils away. Simply massage it into wet hair, work it in for a few minutes, then thoroughly rinse this low-foam cleanser from strands. No need to follow up with a conditioner – the blend of Jojoba Oil and Panthenol will leave locks touchably soft and defined.
If You’re Shampooing...
… reach for NutriCurls Micellar Shampoo. Just like micellar cleansers for your skin, this nourishing shampoo harnesses molecules called micelles that trap impurities, so they can easily be rinsed away. The big benefit of this is that locks are purified while the scalp and strands are respected. If you're dealing with dry hair, try focusing shampoo on the roots only, then let the lather run through lengths and ends when you rinse.
If Hair is Damaged...
… then ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo is your perfect pick. It nourishes strands, deeply cleanses away harsh pollutants, and kick-starts the bond-rebuilding process. A consistent routine is key, so follow with ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner or, for a weekly boost of intensive care, ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask. Both are packed with a skincare-inspired blend of AHA and Omega-9 to nourish from the inside out.
Use a Deep Conditioner or Hair Mask
As we mention above, if you’re using ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo, the matching Mask and Conditioner are must-haves. They’ll keep damaged hair nourished from one wash to the next, so curls look and feel healthier. However, if you’re using NutriCurls Micellar Shampoo, NutriCurls Deep Treatment For Waves & Curls will be your weekly essential. Rich, creamy and intense, it helps to prevent frizz for luscious, touchable tresses. Apply it to the lengths and ends of hair, allow it to absorb for up to five minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Squeeze Out Excess Water
Before applying a conditioning product – whether that's NutriCurls Detangling Conditioner or ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask – make sure you're dealing with damp hair. You don't want curls to be soaking wet at this stage. So, very gently squeeze out excess water – you may even want to blot dry with a microfiber towel – then massage your moisturizing conditioner through lengths and ends. This allows strands to really soak up and absorb all of that nourishing goodness.
Make Sure You Detangle
Detangling is best done when hair is wet and drenched in a conditioner or hair mask, so don’t rinse out conditioner without working through those pesky knots first. Use a wide-tooth comb and start at the ends, instead of dragging through strands from root to tip. Once you've dealt with one section of knots, move higher up and detangle the next section. Keep going until no more knots can be found, then rinse curls with warm water.
Choose Your Curly Styling Product
Now let's talk styling products. While all curl types need a styler to fight frizz and boost definition, the texture will differ depending on the natural curl pattern. So, blot (don't rub!) just-washed tresses with a microfiber towel or soft cotton t-shirt, then prime for drying with one of these styling essentials...
Start With Damage Repair...
This is one tip for all hair textures. Before you work in your curl cream, mist, oil or mousse, treat and prevent damaged hair with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. The leave-in treatment is a breakthrough in the curly care world, repairing hair damage in 90 seconds* while offering 99% less hair breakage**. Spray from root to tip, allow it to absorb, then go. You can either use it on its own or, as it's so lightweight, layer it with another styler.
If You’re Styling Loose Curls...
You don't want to weigh down waves or fine, loose curls, so keep your styling products light. Work in EIMI Soft Twirl, a light foam that enhances volume and definition, while defying frizz. Massage it into the roots for body and lift, then (very gently) scrunch through the lengths and ends. The trick is to flip hair upside down, place your palms facing upwards at the ends of curls, then use flat hands to delicately press the ends up towards the scalp. Softly, softly is key.
If You’re Styling Tight Curls...
For tighter curls, NutriCurls Curlixir Balm is the rich, defining styler you need. It's even suitable for high hair porosity, giving coarse locks a boost of intense nourishment. Apply it to towel-dried strands or, if curls are very dry, mist with water first and then layer in the balm. This quick trick will help to lock extra nourishment in. Then, flip hair upside down and – as in the wavy hair step above – use palms to push the ends of the hair up to the scalp. Flat hands are key until you reach the root – only then do you give hair a scrunch. This way, you'll define ringlets without damaging or disrupting the natural texture.
Another way to distribute your styling product is with the 'prayer hands' method. It's simpler than it sounds: all you have to do is squeeze product into the palms of your hands, then place a hand on either side of a section of hair (so it's in between your 'prayer hands'), and glide downwards from roots to ends.
Different techniques work for different curl patterns, so we recommend trying scrunching on one hair wash day and prayer hands on another to find out which one works best for your unique goals.
Pick a Drying Method
Your curls are clean, your hair product is in, and now it's time to choose the right drying method for you. Here are your options, each designed to guarantee a good hair day…
Plopping Curly Hair
Even if you plan to let hair air dry or you're using a blow dryer, we recommend you start with plopping to guarantee bouncy curls from roots to ends. Here's how it's done:
Step 1: On a flat surface, lay out a soft, cotton t-shirt. The neck and sleeves should be closest to you, and the torso should be spread out in front.
Step 2: Flip your head upside down so curls are resting close to the neck area of the t-shirt. You want to 'accordion' them onto the shirt, so they're gathered up on top of your head.
Step 3: Once curls are gathered near the neck of the t-shirt, with your head still upside down, grab the bottom of the t-shirt and pull it up over the top of your curls so they're completely covered.
Step 4: Grab the sleeves, gather the loose fabric and twist at the sides. Then tie the sleeves at the back of your head, so the t-shirt is secured, with your curls tucked inside.
Step 5: Leave the t-shirt tied on until you're left with semi-damp hair. You can even keep hair plopped overnight if your curls tend to take a long time to dry.
Air Drying Curly Hair
After plopping curly hair, untie the t-shirt and let strands loose. And then do... nothing. You may want to lightly press and 'clump' curls together, but air drying requires very little else. One of the biggest benefits of letting locks dry naturally is that you're not exposing them to heat tools, so it's a great way of keeping hair healthy – if and when you have the time to skip a blow dry.
Blow Drying Curly Hair
When you don't have time for air drying, an ionic hair dryer with a diffuser will help you out. That diffuser is the secret to evenly distributing heat, so you don't blow curls out of shape, leaving hair frizzy and dry. Simply follow these steps:
Step 1: After attaching the diffuser to the dryer, take a section of hair and place the ends of that section in the head of the diffuser.
Step 2: Switch the dryer on, and guide the nozzle up towards the root, so the lengths are pushed up.
Step 3: Hold the diffuser there until curls are dry, then release. Repeat these steps on all sections of hair.
Step 4: If, when you're done, ringlets still need extra help to stay frizz-free and maintain curl formation, apply a little extra styling product. Remember to keep it light; it's easier to add more than it is to remove excess.
Image Credit: @nicolerevish
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
Revive Curls In Between Washes
When it's not hair wash day but waves and curls need a refresh, try this quick and easy step-by-step:
1. Work Through Tangles – If Needed
You don't want to over-comb curly hair – and you definitely don't want to brush it – but if lengths are super knotty then they need detangling. So, assess hair from roots to ends to check for stubborn tangles, then work through them with fingers or a wide-tooth comb. A gentle approach is needed, which means prepping with a leave-in conditioner, like NutriCurls Milky Waves. Then delicately ease knots apart using your hands, or slowly comb through tangles in small sections so you don't trigger frizz.
2. Apply Your Go-To Styling Hair Product
NutriCurls Curlixir Balm can be topped up on dry hair in between washes, so don't be afraid to add more product to level up day-to-day definition. If hair is craving moisture, mist lengths with water from a spray bottle first, then apply the balm to locks by (very) gently squeezing it into strands, taking care not to crush the curl pattern. You can also try the finger coiling method. Simply separate hair into sections, then take the end of one of these sections and twirl it around your finger until it's tightly spiraled. Release the curl downwards, then move on to the next section until all strands have been coiled.
3. Protect Hair While You Sleep
Always waking up to flat hair? Then keep hair curly and bouncy with overnight protection. Your best technique is pineappling, which involves tying locks high up on the top of your head with a scrunchie or silk hair tie. Once secured, hair should resemble a pineapple – which explains the name! Then, head to bed with tresses protected. In the morning, shake curls loose, and go back to step one: detangling.
Dos and Don'ts For Styling Curls
Do...
- ... consider curly bangs. Not only are they trending right now, but they also add instant shape to your style. Try grow-out bangs to lengthen your face shape, or blunt bangs to add width to features.
- ... embrace protective styling. Dutch braids, French braids and box braids are great for tucking strands away, so water and heat can't easily get to them. For extra shielding (and a boost of shine), spritz with EIMI Glam Mist. This weightless spray veils strands in protection against humidity-induced frizz and UV exposure.
- ... give hair a reset shampoo when needed. If roots feel oily or lengths are suffering from silicone buildup, a clarifying shampoo will rebalance your scalp while maintaining healthy curls. Try INVIGO Aqua Pure Purifying Shampoo. It eliminates impurities without stripping strands of natural, essential oils, making it ideal for an initial reset wash once every month or two. Follow up with a creamy conditioner, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner, plus your favorite curl products to keep your curl pattern intact.
- ... use dry shampoo to bridge the gap between wash days. Especially on finer hair types, a misting of EIMI Dry Me is perfect for keeping an oily scalp at bay, while giving major hair volume at the roots.
Don't...
- ... scrub at locks with a regular towel. Instead, after shampooing and conditioning, blot hair dry with a cotton t-shirt or microfiber towel. Your goal is to gently but effectively press out the moisture rather than rubbing and ruffling up the hair cuticle.
- ... use a flat iron with a twirling method to try to define lackluster curls. While this technique works for creating curls through straight hair, a curling iron or chopstick is best for boosting curly hair types.
- ... brush curly hair. Brushing dry curls can lead to frizz, so make sure you use a large-tooth comb or your fingertips if locks need detangling.
- ... style without heat protection. Delicate curls deserve a hard-working shield, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In; a lightweight cream that cares and protects. It safeguards the hair shaft against the five biggest hair concerns: frizz, breakage, friction, UV exposure and, of course, direct heat (up to 450°F/230°C). Do a little product cocktailing by applying it after using curl creams or balms, but before using any heat tools.
Now you've got all the curly hair styling tips you need, we'd love to see your results. Share them on Instagram and tag us @WellaHairUSA. We can't wait to see those defined curls!
* When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue instrumental test vs. non-conditioning shampoo.
