It's official - if there's ever been a time to own your effortless tousle and work your corkscrew curls, it's 2022.
If, like us, the thought of straightening your au natural texture one more time is worse than a dealing with yet another delayed flight, then we're here to show you how to ditch the irons and take a more organic approach to styling.
Forget the styling tools, and leave the heat damage at home, because enhancing your hair's natural movement need no longer be a daunting prospect.
Read on for how to encourage your curls minus the heated hair tools...
Matteo Scarpellini
10 Ways To Style Natural Curly Hair
- Twist wet hair with a towel instead of rubbing all over.
- Go easy with your hairbrush or try a wide-toothed comb.
- Ask for a 'feathered' cut at the hairdressers.
- Swap your hair serum for a curl creme.
- Use a diffuser on your hairdryer.
- Avoid anti-frizz products.
- Get a mousse with a modern 'non-crispy' formula.
- Choose light-hold hairspray.
- Get a deep conditioning treatment.
- Try salt spray.
Intrigued? Get the full info on the ten tricks you need to master your natural texture and become a fully fledged curly girl below.
How To Style Natural Curly Hair
1. Adopt the 'twist and press' method when drying
We're all guilty of rough drying our tresses after a shower, but the rigorous motion can crush natural curls and encourage a halo of frizz. Hairstylist Lee Stafford mentions that the much gentler 'press and twist' method will preserve curls and provide body.
'Simply take your towel and press and twist the hair rather than roughly rubbing it back and forth,' he said. 'Vigorously rubbing the hair to dry it will push the hair cuticles upwards which creates frizz.'
Imaxtree
2. Go gentle with the hairbrush
Curly hair tends to be more dry and brittle than other types, so pulling a hairbrush through it will cause breakage and iron out your curl's natural shape, but that doesn't mean you need to avoid it completely.
'Using a detangling brush on conditioned hair is a really great way to get your curls popping and it is the safest time to brush through your hair,' says Michelle Sultan, creative director of curl-focused haircare brand, Imbue. 'A wide tooth comb is also great and sometimes works better depending on hair length and density.'
ELLE Edit: Curl-Friendly Combs
3. Ask your hairstylist to feather the ends of your hair with a razor or scissors
This is one of the best kept secrets in hairdressing. Think of a synthetic ribbon – when you scrape the surface with the the sharp edge of a pair of scissors, the end shoots up into a curl; this is what feathering your hair will achieve.
Hello, all-over volume.
Imaxtree
4. Swap your oily serum for a light curl creme
Oils and serums are great for smoothing down fly-aways, but, if definition is what you covet, treat your mid lengths to ends to something lighter. The milky formula of curl creams helps curls reform in next to no time without weighing them down.
22 Of The Best Curly Hair Products For A Good Hair Day, Everyday
No Frizz Intense Moisture Mask
Living Proof
£33.00
Regular masking is imperative for all hair types, but especially for curls as they're more prone to dryness. This Living Proof mask replenishes moisture without coating the strands with silicone. It does the job in five minutes, perfect for quick, in-shower use.
Intensive Moisture Treatment
Bouclème
£26.00
This multi-tasking rich conditioner is hardworking must-have. It can be used as a 30-minute pre-shampoo treatment, as an overnight leave-on to let thirsty strands soak up the goodness, as a weekly mask or as a leave-on conditioner for bouncy, glossy curls.
No.7 Bonding Oil
Olaplex
£28.00
It goes without saying that it's important to use a heat protector before reaching for your styling tools but for hair that's especially fragile and dry, try this healing oil by Olaplex. It offers UV and heat protection up to 232°C while repairing broken bonds and restoring lustre.
Love Curl Cream
Davines
£22.00
This styling cream goes on as light as a serum. It keeps frizz and flyaways in check (if that's your bugbear) while adding definition to your curls.
HoliRoots Repairing Hair Mask
Fable & Mane
£28.00
Not only does this nourishing mask smell absolutely delicious (think creamy coconuts), it's also incredibly nourishing for very dry, lacklustre hair thanks to shea, cocoa and mango seed butter. Fable & Mane also harnesses the reparative powers of traditional South Asian ingredients in their formulas.
Hair-Wash
Bread Beauty Supply
£18.00
Bread Beauty Supply aims to simplify wash day through a tightly-edited range of products to suit all curl types. This gentle shampoo removes impurities and product build-up using a blend of plant oils to leave strands hydrated, not stripped.
Gentle Fro Pick
Flora & Curl
£6.00
This sturdy comb helps to detangle and add fullness to curly hair without tugging. Don't leave home without it.
Medium Conditioner
Pattern
£25.00
Trust Tracee Ellis Ross to create a haircare line that encourages every curl pattern to flourish. The comprehensive range caters to all curl types via specific formulas. This medium conditioner works best for low to normal porosity curls and those looking for enough hydration to keep things bouncy without weighing down the hair.
Long And Luxe Gro Edges
As I Am
£14.45
Next to maintaining immaculate edges, this formula by As I Am also promotes healthy growth and stronger strands thanks to hydrolised lupine protein.
Wild & Unruly Curl Enhancer
Larry King Haircare
£26.00
Whichever way you decide to wear your curls, this latest launch by Larry King promises to keep it looking top notch with its cocktail of moisturising ingredients. This one-and-done product provides heat protection, shine, volume, hold and definition. Limited baggage space on holiday? This will have you sorted.
Dream Coat For Curly Hair
Color WOW
£57.00
Spent years lusting after Disney-character worthy hair? No more. Color Wow has managed to bottle the secret to super shiny, lustrous hair with their Dream Coat collection, and this formulation specifically for curly hair types gives a mirror-like finish to hair without letting your curls fall flat.
Zhoosh Foam
Hershesons
£14.00
Lazy girls listen up! This multi-hyphenate product is an absolute must for those who like a quick hair fix but with results that look like they take hours. A curl definer, volumiser and all round great-hair day giver, the list of reasons we love this weightless foam is endless.
Nutriplenish Curl Gelee
Aveda
£26.50
Define your glorious curls with Aveda's hydrating gelee. Formulated with a superfood complex of mango butter, coconut oil and pomegranate oil, not only will it serve your curls their five a day, but it smells good too.
Curl Manifesto Gelée Curl Contour Gel-Cream
Kerastase
£26.15
Nail super soft curls that are seriously touchable with Kerastase's genius gel cream. Combining the holding power of a gel with the conditioning power of a cream, a few pumps of this ceramide-infused formula into damp hair is all you need for soft, defined texture whatever your curl pattern.
Chia Seed Curl Defining Hair Cream
The Inkey List
£7.99
More than just a great addition to a salad, chia seeds contain essential proteins and nutrients needed for super healthy curls. Whether your hair is coily, kinky or wavy, this lightweight vegan serum will have it looking shinier and stronger than ever.
Haute Performance Curl Revive Spray
Iles Formula
£46.00
Heavy lotions and thick curl creams aren't for everyone and can weigh your hair down instead of giving it life. Instead, spritz damp lengths with this ultra lightweight spray that defines curls whilst conditioning them. Finish with a diffuser for the ultimate 'I woke up like this' finish.
Only Curls Enhancing Curl Gel - £16
You might find thick, oily creams weigh down curls to the point where they seem to disintegrate but a gel is a great way to combat this. This revives curls to provide them with a hit of hydration, without leaving hair feeling heavy.
Manketti Hair Oil
Charlotte Mensah
£48.00
The queen of curly and textured hair, Charlotte Mensah knows a thing or two when it comes to getting your coils on point. Run a few drops of her award winning Manketti oil through your hair before bed for a nourishing overnight treatment, or smooth over dry hair to get rid of flyaways.
Curl Defining Whip
Virtue
£36.00
Formulated with the techy Alpha Keratin 60ku, Virtue's futuristic take on a classic mousse targets damaged hair to help reconstruct and hydrate worn out curls without weighing them down.
Curl Gloss
Oribe
£42.00
If defining your curls without making them crispy or crunchy is your goal, then Oribe's gloss is the one for you. This super luxe lightweight gel uses passion flower and Cupuaçu nut extract to fight humidity and leave your curls with mirror-like shine.
Curl Anti-Humidity Gel Oil
Bumble & Bumble
£25.00
This nourishing, gel-oil hybrid softens and loosens tight curls, making them so much more manageable, while the anti-humidity complex works to banish the crown of frizz that tends to appear in sticky weather.
5. Always use a diffuser when blow-drying
A diffuser is essential for evening out curl patterns. To give your curls some shape, simply turn your hairdryer on to the 'low' setting and drop them into the diffuser.
'Defined curls are going to be big in both volume and popularity,' says pro hairstylist Charlotte Mensah. 'Invest in a diffuser to ensure you get perfectly defined curls.'
14 Of The Best Hairdryers For All Hair Types
Best hairdryer
Supersonic Hair Dryer
Dyson
£329.99
When Dyson decided to enter the beauty world, they did so with a bang. This high-tech tool is the Bugatti of hairdryers, and impressed our testers so much that everyone said they'd swap it in for their current model.
It banished static and left our entire panel's hair feeling softer and looking bouncier, with their style lasting all day. It barely made a peep too, heated up accurately in the lab, and 91% were happy with how long it took to get red carpet ready.
Its newest feature, the flyaway attachment, delivered a suitably slick do for everyone, with one tester reporting such flawlessly tamed hair that they didn’t need to follow up with hair straighteners. The only quibble involved the control indicator light, which some testers found unclear.
Best innovative hairdryer
Halo
Zuvi
£349.00
Hailed 'the Tesla of hairdryers' prior to launch, we were excited to see if this futuristic bit of tech was worth the hype. The combo of infrared light and cool air aims to leave hair healthier than your average hairdryer – and our testers confirmed that it delivered.
Hair was left smoother and shinier, and the device was oh-so-quiet. Unlike a Tesla, however, you don’t have to hang around in a car park waiting for it to charge, as it uses 60% less power than your average hairdryer. Good for the planet and your hair – we're on board.
Best hairdryer for curly hair
Ionic Pro Dryer
Flower
£79.99
Drew Barrymore knows a thing or two about good hair, fact. So it’s no surprise that this colourful hairdryer from the Hollywood star's own brand, Flower, delighted our panel.
They liked that it wasn’t the typical black design and it proved a hit with our testers with natural curls. Those with afro hair were particularly thrilled by how speedily it dried and smoothed their curls. When it came to frizz, most saw a difference, with the majority reporting pillow-soft, healthier-looking hair.
Best professional hairdryer
Air Hairdryer
ghdamazon.co.uk
£119.00
Claiming to be twice as fast as your average hairdryer, our panel unanimously loved how intuitive this compact ghd model was to use, allowing them to adjust its heat settings easily and dry hair in a flash.
It wasn’t too noisy and it left tresses looking silky-smooth, thanks to a concentrator nozzle that precisely directs the airflow. Some testers found the highest heat setting so effective that their scalps got too hot, but our lab test proved the outer casing remained at a safe temperature to handle.
Best hairdryer for fast drying
2100W Hydro-Fusion Dryer
BaByliss
£59.99
A go-to for those days when you snooze your morning alarm, this efficient tool was as fast as Dina-Asher-Smith at drying our panel's hair, while it left most with shinier, softer ends.
Our testers would have liked it to look more luxe, but it was easy to manoeuvre from their roots to the back of their heads. Our lab test found it slightly slow to reach its maximum temperature, but this didn't affect its drying speed.
Best hairdryer for colour
Progloss 3950 Featherlite Ultra X Shine Hair Dryer
Revamp
£80.00
If you enjoy experimenting with colour, you'll know that it can come at a cost to your hair’s overall health. This clever machine aims to combat the problem by emitting a blend of oils (keratin, coconut and argan) to reduce dryness.
The result? Hair looked more vibrant and hydrated, as well as smoother and shinier. Many agreed it was as 'featherlite' as it claimed, too.
Best travel-friendly hairdryer
Hydraluxe Pro Hair Dryer
Remington
£164.99
£118.88 (28% off)
This machine was as compact as a Muji storage solution, without compromising on quality, making it the perfect travel buddy.
Hair was left softer and more volumised across the board, while the diffuser attachment came out on top for defining curls.
Best hairdryer for healthier-looking hair
The Airshot Pro Hairdryer
Cloud Nine
£199.00
We all want our hair to look noticeably better after styling, but some hair tools leave strands looking parched and bone dry.
Happily, this drier did the opposite, reviving strands to leave most of our panel with healthier, smoother and softer tresses. Did we mention it also minimised frizz for almost all of testers? It’s just that good.
Though not the quietest or most compact dryer out there (that long nose can be tricky to manoeuvre), most found it quick to use and those with afro hair appreciated how straight it left their locks. The cool shot function was ideal for drying naturally curly hair, too.
Best portable hairdryer
Fit Compact Hair Dryer
T3
£85.32
This compact tool is ideal for tossing into your gym bag or luggage for a much-deserved holiday, because gym or hotel dryers are never all that.
Our panel found it both lightweight and comfortable to hold and it impressed our testers with how well it managed to dry the back of the head and up close to the roots. The results weren’t that long-lasting and it wasn’t the quickest (due to its petite size) but it did leave most with softer ends, without causing any pesky static.
Best hairdryer for design
Helios Professional Hair Dryer
ghd
£179.00
£145.75 (19% off)
If iconic hair brand ghd knows one thing, it's styling tools. This latest hairdryer launch is designed for those who struggle with split ends, with a high-powered concentrated nozzle that claims to smooth the hair cuticle to give you your sleekest blow dry in half the time.
How did it do? Our testers reported shiny, soft hair after using it and loved the powerful airflow that left nothing but smoothness in in its wake. From an aesthetic point of view, they admired its luxe matte body that’s available in six different colours, including timeless black and a classy plum. Decisions, decisions...
ELLE Editors' Picks
Best hairdryer for taming flyaways
The Airshot Hairdryer
Cloud Nine
£139.00
Smooth is the word that comes to mind when describing this hairdryer. The ceramic heating elements are infused with vitamins to make hair silky soft and help tame any flyaways.
Incredibly simple to use, this features three heat settings so you can play around with what best suits your individual hair texture.
Best hairdryer for adding volume
Super Power Pro AC 2400 Hair Dryer
Babylissboots.com
£65.00
Specially designed to mimic the professional salon blowdry at home, the airflow technology is ultra speedy giving you a lot of power (think jet-engine style) but all within a sleek contraption. Hair is left looking sleek and perfectly volumised.
Best folding hairdryer
Featherweight Compact Folding Dryer
T3
£125.00
If the hairdryers in hotel rooms don't quite do it for your hair, it's important to have a compact one to take with you at all times that doesn't take up most of your suitcase.
This incredibly light tool provides the same powerful drying capabilities in a dinkier format so you never have to be apart from your hairdryer ever again.
Best hairdryer for fighting frizz
Professional Hair Dryer
Balmain
£120.00
Probably as bouji as hairdryers can get, this matte black design isn't just adorned with the Balmain fashion house logo, but the high performance tech also provides you with a frizz-free blowout every time.
It's designed to help seal the hair cuticle (ideal for those who haven't had time to fit in a cut) and give a moisture boost to dried out ends.
Get The Look
Follow Charlotte's step by step to perfect curls using a hair diffuser...
- Spray a bottle filled with a mixture of half water and half Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Conditioner. Tilt head to one side.
- Place large sections over diffuser cup.
- Dry on low to medium heat.
- Spray with Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil for a beautiful glossy shine.
Filippo Fortis/Imaxtree
6. Avoid 'anti-frizz' products
'Some anti-frizz products on the market contain silicones. This is harmful for curly hair as they do tend to weigh it down. Rather than going for anti-frizz make sure your hair is hydrated and nourished to make your most beautiful curls,' explains Sultan. Look for sulphate-free formulas with moisturising ingredients such as glycerin and plant butters.
7. Change up your mousse game
Mousse can be a game-changer. It's packed with malleable proteins that strengthen every curl without that stiff feeling.
'Modern-day buttery, whippy mega indulgent mousses, when used on curly hair, deliver intense moisture and create big beautiful defined curls with root lift,' explains Jonathon Eangland, hairstylist at John Frieda Salons. Sultan concurs, explaining that mousses can help create definition and leave curls feeling bouncy without weight in type 3 and certain type 4 hair. You can also cocktail your mousse with a curl cream for better hold.
ELLE Edit: Curl-Friendly Hair Mousse
8. Choose a light hold hairspray to lock in your style
Don't make the mistake of drenching your natural curls in strong hold hairspray to keep them in check. 'Our main aim is to keep our curls moisturised and luscious looking. High-alcohol hairsprays can be rather aggressive, which can dehydrate the curls,' says Eangland. Look for curl-specific hold spritzes or do a very light misting of low-alcohol hairspray.
13 Of The Best Hairsprays To Keep Your Hair Perfectly In Place
Be Curly Curl Enhancing Hair Spray
Aveda
£20.00
If you've been blessed with a set of curls but often find hairspray just leads to a whole head of knots, this enhancing spray will be a game changer. It gives you the same holding power of hairspray, without the stickiness or dryness, so your curls stay intact for longer.
Modern Hairspray Multi-Task Styling Mist
Hair by Sam McKnight
£24.00
Not only is this the chicest hairspray you will ever see but the fine mist is almost undetectable on ends and can be brushed out easily the next day so you don't have so spend the morning vigorously trying to wash it out with shampoo.
Reassuringly Firm Session Hold Hairspray
Percy & Reed
£7.50
All the hold without any of the stickiness, this hairspray will keep your styled hair intact throughout the day, even in the most humid of weather conditions.
R+Co Vicious Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray - £23.50
Ideal for enviable waves, this hairspray provides you with spanx-like hold whilst avoiding any brittleness, so your hair can swish to its heart's content.
Alcohol-Free Hair Spray
Bounce Curl
£19.95
This curl-friendly hairspray is chock full of nourishing ingredients such as black seed oil and aloe vera to keep curls bouncy and in place, without drying out the strands.
Amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray - £20
This fine mist creates an invisible shield around hair, making it totally weatherproof. Unlike a traditional hairspray that leaves hair as dry as a piece of toast, this adds a hit of hydration, leaving hair touch-ably soft.
Tecni.ART 6 Fix Hair Spray
L'Oréal Professionnel
£15.44
This fast drying formula will banish any unwanted frizz and provide superglue-like hold without the stiffness. We'll even go as far as to say it's windproof, which is about as good as a hairspray can get.
1-800-Hold-Me No-crunch Flexible Hold Hairspray
IGK Hair
£22.00
This does what it says on the tin and provides gravity-defying lift to hair, without any uncomfortable crunchiness. Formulated with avocado oil and omega 3 fatty acids, it provides instant shine with weightless hold.
Volumizing Hair Spray
Ouai
£22.00
The turbo jet engine of hairsprays, this mist will act as a push up bra to flat hair to provide you with an instant lift. Scrunch into roots for some added oomph.
Cult Favorite Firm & Flexible Hairspray
Color WOW
£24.00
Normally hairspray will leave you with a vodka-ry taste in your mouth (no matter how much you hold your breath) but this totally non-offensive spritz instantly melts into hair whilst providing a much needed boost.
Curly Ever After Curl Hold Spray
ghd
£18.95
For curls that stay fresh and bouncy with no tell-tale residue or crispiness, look no further.
Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode Hairspray - £25
Ideal for keeping baby hairs in-check, apply a touch of this to a toothbrush and style to your heart's content. It provides all-day hold without leaving any unwanted white residue behind.
9. Treat your hair to a deep condition treatment
Quench thirsty curls and encourage a lively bounce by treating your hair to an intensely hydrating conditioning treatment weekly or twice monthly, depending on your hair type.
'If your hair tends to get fluffy or have flyaways, masks with protein are great as they help your curls spring back to shape. If your hair is dehydrated look for masks that also have high moisture,' recommends Sultan.
18 Of The Best Hair Masks For Shinier, Stronger Strands
Best for breaking hair
Restorative Treatment Mask
VIRTUE
£65.00
Cult line Virtue takes things one step further than most haircare brands. Central to the line is a trademarked form of keratin, bio-engineered to be exactly the same molecular structure as the keratin in human hair. This means the formula can seek out strands in need of help and sink in seamlessly to repair from within. For hair that needs more than a quick gloss-over, this is the investment to make.
Best for coils and kinks
Hair-Mask Creamy Deep Conditioner
Bread Beauty Supply
£26.00
Finally breathing some much-needed life into the afro hair market is Bread Beauty Supply: the name to know if you're looking to make the most of your curls, coils or kinks.
This creamy, lemony-scented conditioner delivers incredible slip to textured hair and ensures curls bounce into shape with serious shine. Trust us, try it.
Best for thick, dry hair
Hair Mask
Le Labo
£31.00
Yes, London's favourite fragrance house also makes some pretty great hair and body heroes. This mask is as thick as they come and makes even the most parched of ends feel impressively soft. It rinses away with ease, but the scent thankfully lingers: a woody, heady incense blend that's every bit as good as Santal 33.
Best for shine
Chris Appleton Money Masque
ColorWow
£39.50
Formulated in collaboration with the stylist behind JLo's mane, you can likely imagine how good this one is. Perfect for use before a styling session, it's loaded with algae and kelp that draws in moisture without adding weight, meaning that blow-dry will look as big and bouncy as possible.
Best for a fine fragrance
Deeper Love Treatment Mask
Hair By Sam McKnight
£48.00
There is no-one better placed to create a haircare line than Sam McKnight. Throughout his incomparable career, he has worked on hair of every texture, colour and condition, and it's safe to say he knows exactly what works.
This month, McKnight finally expands his eponymous range to include shampoos, conditioners and styling products. The first thing to try? This lightweight yet deeply hydrating mask, which is best used before a big night out: expect shinier hair, less frizz, and a ridiculously delicious green scent (formulated by perfumer Lyn Harris, no less).
Best for a dry scalp
Scalp Care Dry Scalp Treatment
Living Proof
£28.00
An upset scalp will lead to lacklustre hair, which explains the influx of scalp-focused treatments currently flooding the market. One that cuts through the noise is Living Proof's effective dry-scalp remedy, which calms and soothes, leaving your skin hydrated and hair glossy, not greasy.
Best for total luxury
Gold Lust Transformative Masque
Oribe
£62.50
Yes, this one costs as much as a big night out, but boy is it worth it. The extra-rich formula envelops hair in moisture, resulting in bigger, bouncier blow-dries with an unbelievably glossy shine. The scent is expensive - think Champagne-o-clock in St. Tropez – and the experience truly indulgent. You deserve a treat...
Best for damaged hair
Botanical Repair Intensive Strengthening Masque
Aveda
£45.00
Botanical Repair is Aveda's answer to the influx of 'bond-building' treatments currently dominating the market. The vegan-friendly blend uses plant oils and butters that penetrate each strand, offering deeper repair than a traditional mask.
Thoughtfully, it comes in two textures: the Light is perfect for finer hair, while Rich is an extra-thick treat for coarser manes. Whichever you choose, you're in for stronger, shinier hair (and a deliciously good scent, too).
Best for all hair types
The Future Youth Treatment Mask
Arkive
£14.00
£9.33 (33% off)
Leading stylist Adam Reed is a true Fragrance Head, so when we heard he was to launch his own line, we expected an aromatic treat. And boy were we right: this sensorial wonder imparts notes of fresh flowers and sticky rhubarb with every hair swish.
And that's not all: of course, it works wonders on turning around dry, lacklustre lengths too. With shea butter, coconut oil and baobab oil, it's a recipe for seriously glossy strands.
Best for brittle and breaking hair
Nounou Hair Mask
Davines
£23.00
We've been recommending this absurdly named hair mask for years, and it remains one of our all-time favourites today. Designed with snapping ends in mind, it works to fortify fragile strands without weighing down roots, delivering bounce, strength and shine.
Even better, Davines is a true leader in the sustainability realm: this mask is made with tomatoes sourced from a family-owned Italian farm, helping to encourage crucial biodiversity in our soils.
Best for reviving highlights
Serie Expert Metal Detox Mask
LOréal Professionnel
£26.00
£23.40 (10% off)
Fun fact: the minerals in your shower water are likely preventing those expensive highlights from looking their best. Copper deposits in particular can lead lengths to take on a dull tinge: but thankfully, this clever mask is here to reverse the damage. It works by removing those unwanted deposits and feeding hair with moisture instead, resulting in brighter blondes and more vibrant browns. Genius.
Best for coloured hair
Hydrate Softening Treatment
Pureology
£29.90
£22.43 (25% off)
An undersung gem, this aromatic mask makes crispy ends feel softer after just one use. The whole line is designed with colour-treated hair in mind, so you can trust it to keep your highlights bright and balayage shining.
Best for blonde hair
Blond Absolu Masque Ultra Violet Treatment
Kérastase
£40.00
£30.00 (25% off)
Ask anyone with icy-white hair and they'll tell you this is the ultimate hair mask. Yet to be beaten, Kérastase's purple-tinted treatment balances brassiness and brings frazzled strands back from the brink in as little as five minutes. Work it into a Sunday pamper session to keep that expensive balayage looking bright.
Best for textured hair
Deep Conditioner
Dizziak
£22.00
This extra-thick deep conditioner is particularly great for curly or Afro hair types, with power ingredients like quinoa protein and coconut to revive crunchy curls. It was formulated by an ex beauty editor who couldn't find anything good enough for her own coily hair, so expect great things.
Best for snapping hair
Art of Hair Ultimate Reset Masque
Shu Uemura Art of Hair
£52.65
£36.85 (30% off)
If all else fails, up the ante and slather on Shu Uemura's most intensive treatment. Ultimate Reset is formulated with protein, so works to repair hair that's stretching out of shape due to bleach and heat. It's potent – and there is such a thing as too much protein – so save it for a once-a-fortnight treatment.
Best for bleached hair
No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask
Olaplex
£26.00
It's no secret we love the original Olaplex bond-repair treatment, but we admit hopping in and out of the shower to use it is a bit of a faff. Lazy girls, listen up: this mask delivers all of the benefits of the famed original with none of the effort. Simply slick it on after your shampoo, wash your face, and enjoy your sleeker, stronger lengths.
Best for pre-shampoo
Hair Rituel Pre-Shampoo Purifying Mask
Sisley Paris
£76.00
You've probably heard of the effects that pollution can have on our skin, but we often forget about the role it plays with our hair health.
This white clay-based formula acts like a purifying mask for your scalp and hair, soaking up excess oil, pollution particles and other unwanted build-up, leaving your hair ready to absorb the benefits from the rest of your routine. It smells truly incredible, so massage it in and sit back for 30 minutes before jumping in the shower.
Best for frizzy hair
Nurture Deep Moisture Mask
JVN
£21.00
We all know that Jonathan Van Ness has excellent hair – and now we know why. A highlight from his own line, this frizz-fighting cream contains the brand's central hemi-squalane, which sinks into strands to hydrate from the inside, rather than simply slipping over the surface.
10. Don't be afraid of salt sprays
To invigorate your curls, water is your BFF. 'Use a water spray and spritz the hair. Then, reapply your leave-in conditioner, gels or serums to reactivate the curls,' says Sultan. That said, if you're someone with looser curls, a good salt spray can do a great job of creating texture and revitalising the wave or curl.
16 Of The Best Sea Salt Sprays For Big Beachy Textured Waves
L'Oreal Tecni Art Beach Waves Spray Salt Texturiser - £16.50
Spotted backstage at the Bora Aksu SS22 show, hairstylist Daniel Martin used this Spray Salt Texturiser to attain the 'cool girl that just got out of bed look.' Martin played with each girl's natural hair texture, embracing those with wavy hair by tonging loose beach waves and spritzing this through the ends to get a 'semi-bed head' look.
Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist - £25
Sometimes when you have poker straight hair it's impossible to fake beachy waves by just spraying product onto towel dried hair (no matter how much you spray, trust us we've tried). So when going sans heat isn't an option, try manipulating loose waves with a pair of straighteners, flip your head over and spray Cool Girl with abandon. Be prepared for waves that look effortlessly undone (check) and hold all day (check check) without any tell-tale crispy styling residue. Plus, the scent (floral with a hint of pepper and spice) is in a league of its own.
R+Co Dreamhouse Cold Pressed Watermelon Wave Spray - £27
If you're lucky enough to actually be heading to the seaside, you'll want to throw a bottle of this in your straw bag. Why? Not only does this leave your hair smelling incredible (think woodsy, rustic beach-house vibes), it defines waves while keeping them soft and protects hair from the damaging effects of UV rays. Not to mention, the packaging is adorable.
Innersense Create Waves - £24
For lovers of ritualistic beauty routines, Innersense's Create Waves spray might just be the holistic addition your hair needs. Formulated with aloe vera to give moisture to your hair, amethyst crystal powder (yes really), and scented with lavender oil, not only does this spray deliver surfer chic waves, it'll also leave you blissfully calm.
Sun Bum Texturizing Sea Spray - £15.99
A true gem of the ocean, this salt spray contains black lava sea salt, seaweed and sea kelp to harness that windswept, tousled beachy hair without the unfortunate dryness that a day in the sun can impart. Oh, and the formula helps to shield hair from humidity, meaning your waves will stay relaxed and frizz-free.
Fudge Professionals Sea Salt Spray - £11.50
This spray is as close to the sea as your hair can get without getting your feet wet. Drawing on ingredients such giant sea kelp, red algae and ocean salt minerals, it also contains UVisiShield technology to help protect hair from UVA and UVB rays and leaves a tropical scent trailing behind you all day.
Evo Salty Dog Salt Spray - £22
Want that dried-in-the-sun beach wave look without having to leave your bedroom? This is a great choice for straight and wavy hair types as it adds fullness as well as definition.
Percy & Reed Beyond The Beach Texture Spray - £16
Harnessing the saltiness of the British Coast, this texturising spray is infused with Cornish sea salt and Pro Vitamin B5 to leave hair tousled and soft but with a lasting finish.
Sachajuan Ocean Mist - £21.90
This is basically the Mediterranean sea, bottled. Its ability to make locks look accidentally perfect, voluminous and mermaid-like sans the gritty, brittle feel is pretty much unrivalled - no wonder it has a huge celeb following.
Playa Beauty Endless Summer Spray - £27
Formulated with sea salt harvested from Southern California, Playa's nourishing formula protects your hair from damaging UV rays whilst giving your lengths the most realistic Cali girl waves ever.
Philip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist - £25
Essentially like taking a trip to a tropical beach, this contains a blend of coconut, aloe vera and orchid, to give you those naturally perfect island beach waves without any dryness.
Ouai Wave Spray - £22
Jen Atkin is the queen of carefree, windswept waves, so adding this baby to her award-winning OUAI collection was always a given. For flexible, shaggy and windblown waves, veil over damp or dry hair, run your fingers through, et voila. Think Kim Kardashian at the 2014 VMAs.
We Are Paradoxx Volume Texture Salt Spray - £20
This vegan formula gives waves endless amounts of texture without leaving hair feeling weighed down or crunchy. It also adds a sunlit gleam to ends, so hair looks a whole lot healthier.
Davines Sea Salt Spray - £18.50
If you're looking for a salt spray to add a bit of grit to hair to solidify those curls, this is the one for you. It acts like hairspray (without the stickiness) to keep waves intact all day long.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray - £10
Not sticky or overly salty, Bumble and Bumble's Surf Spray is the closest thing to a dip in the ocean - and it doesn't come with a mouthful of seaweed. For that dishevelled, beachy look, tip your head upside down and go wild.
Redken Fashion Waves - £16.30
Slip backstage at Fashion Week and you'll spot a bottle of Redken's Fashion Waves near most hair stations. Harnessing epsom salt, it separates layers to give hair amazing definition while imparting a semi-matte, effortlessly tousled finish. Kate Moss, eat your heart out.
FAQs
How can I encourage my natural curls? ›
- 1Ditch the shampoo. You may like the squeaky-clean feeling that traditional shampoos give your hair but the chemical laden formulas will only weigh down your curls and promote frizz. ...
- 2 Co-Wash. ...
- 3 Condition. ...
- 4 Plop. ...
- 5 Style. ...
- 6 Refresh.
- Overnight Braids. This is one of the easiest ways to get loose curls. ...
- Hair Rollers. Have you ever seen hair rollers before? ...
- Headband. ...
- T-Shirt Hair Halo. ...
- Twists. ...
- French Braid. ...
- Conclusion.
An increase in androgens in females can actually change the shape of the hair follicle from round to flat and this can instigate a change in texture from straight to curly.
How can I permanently straighten my hair without damaging it? ›Keratin Treatment (Brazillian Treatment)
The Keratin hair straightening method involves soaking your hair in keratin to give it a straight and frizz-free look. This technique is a lot safer than the other chemical straightening methods for your hair in the long run. It also provides sun-protection to your hair.
Permanent hair straightening treatments are a form of chemical processing for your hair. Depending on which method of processing you use, hair that's naturally curly or textured can be altered to lay flat and lose its curl.
How do you get rid of frizzy hair permanently? ›- Give Your Hair a Cold Water Rinse. ...
- Opt for a Conditioning Shampoo. ...
- Use a Microfiber Towel or Cotton T-Shirt to Dry Hair. ...
- Detangle Hair With a Wide-Tooth Comb. ...
- Use a Blow Dryer With Ionic Technology. ...
- Hair Serums are Key for Removing Frizz. ...
- Use a Hair Mask to Nourish Hair and Get Rid of Frizz.
Curly hair is dominant, so someone is more likely to have curly or wavy hair if at least one of their parents does. Recent research points to trichohyalin, a protein in hair follicles, as having primary influence over hair curl. However, there are many genes contributing to hair curliness, most of them unknown.
How rare is natural curly hair? ›Less than 20% of people have naturally curly hair. The percentage gets even smaller when you consider the scores of guys out there who don't embrace their curls.
Does hair get curlier with age? ›As you get older, your curls may drop, loosen, or even form new curl patterns due to hormonal changes, like menopause. Environmental factors such as gravity, climate, and pollution also play a part. The thinner and weaker your aging curly hair is, the less likely it is to actually curl.
How many times can I straighten my hair a week without damaging it? ›It's generally suggested that heat styling be done not more than once a week. Natural hair should always be freshly shampooed, conditioned, and completely dry before heat styling. Straightening dirty hair with a flat iron will only burn oil and dirt, which will lead to more damage.
What is the healthiest way to straighten your hair? ›
Research suggests that using your flat iron at around 310 degrees Fahrenheit provides the optimum amount of straightness with the least amount of damage. With that in mind, if you're in the market for a new iron, look for one that displays the temperature instead of just low and high settings.
How long does it take to permanently straighten hair? ›Q: How long does a Permanent hair straightening process take? A: 2 – 3.5 hours, depending on the hair type, length of hair, amount of hair and overall health of the hair. The general process of Permanent Hair Straightening is outlined on this page.
What is Japanese straightening? ›Japanese Straightening, also known as thermal reconditioning, is a thio-based chemical procedure which uses heat to restructure the hair's protein bond, enabling those with frizzy, curly, or wavy hair to experience permanently straight hair while at the same time preserving the health and improving the feel, texture, ...
Does milk straighten hair? ›Milk is considered a natural straightening ingredient. It contains casein and whey protein, which not only smoothen your hair but also naturally straighten them. Milk can also be used to repair your damaged hair.
What triggers frizzy hair? ›There are four primary factors that cause frizz: the environment, diameter of the hair fiber itself, level of curl, and the amount of damage. Avoid long and hot showers, excess exfoliation, and hot tools like traditional hairdryers and flat irons to prevent frizz.
How do you get rid of frizzy hair in 5 minutes naturally? ›How do I get rid of frizz in 5 minutes? To get rid of frizz in 5 minutes, apply a heat protectant spray or hair serum after towel-drying. Next, detangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb and style it with a hairdryer. Finally, seal everything with a few drops of lightweight oil.
Can coconut oil help frizzy hair? ›Coconut oil works well as a hair refresher, and because it keeps water out, it can also prevent frizz. Simply run a few drops through the hair before scrunching or twisting it.
Is there a shampoo that straightens hair? ›But before you reach for your heat tools, you should know there's another option out there: hair straightening shampoo. Straightening shampoos are packed with powerful ingredients like keratin and shea butter that leave your locks silky-smooth.
Does lemon juice straighten hair? ›Lemon juice has a cleansing and straightening effect and helps add lustre to the hair. Hot oil therapy helps the hair absorb the oil better, making it smoother and straighter.