Curly hair textures need a little extra love. Although no product is perfect for every curl type, we rounded up seven must-try brands that target everyone from the loosely waved to the kinkiest naturalistas. Expand your hair care horizons — and curly hair repertoire — with some of our top picks.
Moroccanoil is known for its shine-enhancing, hydrating products for all hair types. But practically anyone can benefit from the brand's Intense Curl Cream ($32), a lotion that's an absolute lifesaver for damaged ends and overprocessed hair of all textures. It's especially great for those whose hair is too fine or thin for oils or serums, because the formula combs through looking soft and natural instead of greasy, but still smooths down follicles and makes your hair feel amazing. Our curly-haired tester especially liked how gorgeous her curls looked after blow-drying, even without the use of a diffuser.
A word to the wise, though: use it sparingly, as a little goes a long way. You'll also have to like the scent, which is reminiscent of Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo. Beyond that, we can't say enough good things about this stuff, especially because it's versatile for curly girls or straight sylphs alike.
Whether your hair is straight, curly, short, or long, here's a quick and easy way to give your style extra volume and texture. All you need is some hair spray, a flat iron, and about nine minutes of your time. Check out my how-to now.
For Hilary Swank's SAG Awards look, stylist Robert Vetica was inspired by the voluminous curls of iconic 1960s Bond girl Ursula Andress. It's the kind of undeniably sexy hair that never goes out of style, so for the full tutorial, just keep reading.
Our jaws hit the floor when we saw Maggie Q's gorgeous curls at the People’s Choice Awards. You can get the look at home with tips from her hair stylist, Richard Marin, who created these curls. Find out how to re-create the look when you read more.
Kerry Washington was as pretty as could be at the recent reception for her forthcoming movie, We the Peeples. Smooth and spiraled curls like hers aren't too difficult to create, but following a few guidelines will make your life easier. For tips, keep reading.
The recession has adversely affected salons across the US, but it's been disproportionally hard on small, locally-owned salons that cater to African-Americans. Apparently, with clients going longer and longer between appointments to save money and the popularity of formerly profitable treatments like relaxers on the wane, hundreds of shops have been forced to shutter. Their stylists then head to larger salons, often corporate owned.
It's already bad to have locally-owned businesses closing, but salons can be community anchors, and their loss is deeper than simply no longer having a neighborhood beauty parlor. Hopefully, the closings will finally get large salons to actively hire stylists who can work with very curly hair. But, being able to walk into your nearest salon and be sure that they can work with your hair no matter its texture still seems a long way off. What do you think the fallout from losing so many community salons will be, and do you think they'll make a comeback?
We've seen Natalie Portman wearing everything from a sophisticated side updo to a gamine pixie, but did you know that underneath those chic strands lies a naturally curly head of hair?
Her stylist, John D., says that since Natalie is constantly getting her hair done, her wavy hair needs extra moisture. He recommends using a hydrating product to smooth and defrizz wavy and curly hair. (For the premiere of Black Swan, he used Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream [$32] on Natalie.)
Know someone who loves her curls? Then these gift ideas are sure to put a smile on her face. The design of this t-shirt ($36) is all about natural-hair love, while a saucy statement tote ($14) takes a stronger stance against chemical straighteners. Or, go the tried-and-true hair care route. In lieu of a lump of coal, stuff stockings with Carol's Daughter Feeling Naughty set ($40), a defrizzing product trio and headband to match. For someone who's been very, very good, consider a sampler of Miss Jessie's curl cremes and conditioners ($64) — or just divvy the potions up among a variety of curly-haired friends.
Maintaining curly hair is not always easy, but when done just right — witness Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon's look at Gucci's Children Collection launch — those soft and springy strands can look carefree. For tips on attaining movable frizz-free curls like Garcelle's, keep reading.
