#Curlyhairdon'tcare : A guide to managing curly hair

Volumax Gel + straightened bottoms.

Having curly hair can be a blessing and a disaster at the same time. Our heads are gifted with pazazz, texture, and a bit of wildness. We are also given frizz, dryness, and more frizz. Curly hair is no doubt beautiful, but only once it is managed and treated properly.

After years of trying dozens of products and methods, I finally discovered these top few products.

Volumax: Volumizing style gel. (about $10 for 34 oz. at +SallysBeauty )

This is the best gel for curly hair. My secret is to apply it while your hair is still wet. I recommend to apply it in the shower, since it can get a little messy. Once you wash and condition your hair, try to squeeze all the water out. Divide your hair into half, and apply a palm full of gel on each side. I like to apply it from about an inch away from the scalp and run it all the way through to the ends. Make sure the gel is evenly spread by tilting your head and hair forward and running your fingers through it one last time. Next, securely tie a towel around your head and let your hair towel dry for about 20-30 mins. At last, make sure you let your hair air dry! Do not dry with blow dryer, or your hair will get frizzy. These methods help the gel settle into your hair naturally, and once it is dry (you can run your fingers through your hair to add more volume) it will seem as though your hair is naturally and perfectly curly. *picture above

Macadamia Natural Oil : Reviving Curl Cream - (most drugstores and salons carry. I bought mine from Marshall's!)

- I am a huge fan of this product. When I am in a rush, I apply about a palm full to my hair. I again apply this to wet hair, and run the product through with my fingers. I don't like using a comb since it removes the product from the hair. I then massage a small amount to only my ends, since this oil helps nourish and 'revive' your hair. Your curls will dry naturally and  frizz free. If you need to blow dry your hair, make sure the strength is on low and lightly dry your hair from the top.





The Curling Wand and straightener:

- The curling wands is my favorite tool when my hair is completely uncooperative. Some days my curls are just unmanageable and no product seems to fix its appearance. This is when the curling wand becomes my savior. I choose a few strands of hair from the most noticeable areas, especially those around the face. The diagram highlights the areas which make the biggest change.

Areas that need most attention

 

 

- I use a straightener most of the time. The worst area for curly hair are the ends. They are what cause the uneasy resting of the hair and even some puffiness. I like to straighten no more than 1/2" of the roots. This definitely helps the hair relax a little, and gives a much nicer look.