Curly Hair Styling Routine

Nicole Siri's Curly Hair Styling Routine

Can you suggest a curly hair styling routine?

When you finish washing your hair do not wrap it up in a towel. Try wringing it out in the shower and towel blotting it.

After you get out of the shower apply a leave in conditioner. The conditioner will help weigh down your hair and alleviate tangles, and give it the condition it needs.

With the leave in conditioner applied you can brush your curls (comb them, actually!) - use a wide tooth comb and start from the ends and work your way up. The hair is weak when it is wet. It can stretch and break more easily so be gentle.

Then apply your curly hair styling product.

Make sure you are using a water soluble product so that it won't build up on your hair.

For the most control in styling your hair try using a gel instead of mousse. Mousse is intended to make the hair lighter. A gel will give you more control.

I like to style curly hair so the curls have structure when they are dry and do not feel crunchy. To achieve a defined curl try sectioning your hair, instead of just scrunching the gel in. Section your hair with clips, so you can focus on one section at a time.

Make at least 4 big sections. If you take sections that are too small, your hair will look frizzy and flyaway when you are done styling it. If your hair is too short to physically clip into sections, just work on one part of your head at a time.

Apply your styling product to wet hair from root to ends in each section, one section at a time.

Use a good amount of gel so you evenly distribute it through the hair.

(Use about a nickel size amount for each section. You can alter the amount of gel per section depending on your hair's density.)

Use your fingers like a rake to move the product. Rake in big congested sections, encouraging your curls to stick together. Work the gel in really well.

The better you apply the product, the more control you will have over your curls.

If this is a different way to apply gel for you, realize it may take you a little longer to get ready. Once you continue styling your hair in this manner you will get faster and you will find what works best for you.

While it's wet or damp, try to not touch your hair, or toss it around too much or mess with it - motion creates frizz and fluff. After you have raked, you can scrunch lightly. I prefer lightly lifting the hair in the palm of my hand to enhance the natural bend, as apposed to an intense "scrunch".

Diffuse your hair till it is at least 80% dry. This will help enhance the curls. Gently take a big handful of hair and just hold it in place with your diffuser. After that section has a nice curl to it, do the next section.

Then let it air dry.

Curly Hair Styling Once Your Hair is Dry

After your hair is dry and the gel is set then you can toss the hair and "rough" it up a bit if you wish.

Curly hair often bounces up a lot when it is dry, but when you let your hair air dry with the product, applied as I have explained, gravity will be your friend. You can also create a little resistance for the curl by clipping some duck bill clips on the very ends of the curls while your hair is air drying.

Try not to toss, touch or mess with it until it is dry. The less you manipulate your hair when it's wet or damp, the better.

After the gel has dried take out the crunchy feel by pinching your curls and running your hands OVER the hair, not THROUGH the hair. This should help control the frizz.

The pony tail and twist method is a great trick for taking the crunch out. Here's how to do it:

place your hands palms down in the forehead area and push down on your hair. Move your hands firmly all the way to the back to form a pony tail. Once you have a pony tail take the whole amount of hair and twist it in one direction. Then, let the hair loose and the crunch should be minimized.

Whichever method you choose to de-crunch just make sure you do it! My pet peeve is wet, CRUNCHY hair. The goal in the end is SOFT, structured curl.