Do you struggle with curly hair? The key is to see a hairdresser who knows how to cut and manage all types of curly hair. Here are some top tips on how to manage curly hair.
After a lifetime of battle, bad haircuts and countless straight blowdrys, most of our clients come to a place where they love their curly hair after a curly hair dry cut at Lily Jackson Hairdressing and mostly always wear it in a curly/wavy style (ie not in a ponytail which, in most instances, is not a hairstyle).
Many clients with straight hair dismiss curly hair as being “naturally beautiful” and they “wish they had curly hair”. Yes, curly hair cut and styled correctly does look amazing but not all curly hair is the same and you often have to do certain things to make it look “nice” and not frizzy. While these “things” don’t take alot of time, they do cost more money than going to the supermarket to get hair product and Just Cuts for a haircut.
So enjoy our tips, feel free to ask us any questions and most of all embrace your CURL POWER!
TIP 1: Invest in professional hair care for curly hair
For ALL hair types we recommend only using professional hair care, not the products purchased from supermarkets.
There are PLENTY of professional brands to suit all price ranges. We’ve done a fair bit of testing over the years and spoken to manufacturers – it’s really a case of you get what you pay for (in most instances). Paying $40 for a product that’s going to last you 6 months and give you 6 months of hassle free hair IS A GOOD COST EFFECTIVE CHOICE!
If you have colour in your hair then it is a doubly effective choice because the products you choose should also be colour safe and preserve the lovely colour in your hair (rather than have the colour dulled or washed out).
Clients have raved about the curl products from Oribe, R+Co and Wella that we carry. They notice a big difference in areas such as:
- overall longevity of the curl – their hair looks great for the whole day and not just for an hour or so.
- the ability to switch their hairstyle using different products – you can make your natural loose curl turn into a tighter and bigger curl by switching from acreamtoamousse.
- hair health and quality – curly hair products are jammed pack full ofmoisture giving ingredients which nourish the hair but don’t weigh it down (unless that’s what you’re looking for 😉).
TIP 2: Don’t towel dry curly hair
Rubbing your hair with a towel after you wash it does two things: it contributes to the cuticle layer of your hair being displaced and it also messes up the curls, both of which contribute to frizzy hair.
The best way is to gather your hair up into an absorbent towel and wrap it up. There are some microfibre towels designed especially for this. Lily Jackson Hairdressing stylists will show you a way to wrap a towel around your head without twisting it; it’s the way we do it for clients after their hair has been washed.
Leave your hair wrapped up in the towel for at least 5-10 minutes to absorb about 70% of the moisture.
Unravel the towel, place styling product in your hair using a scrunching motion to enhance the formation of the curl and leave to dry naturally (preferably indoors or in a draft free location) or diffuse dry. By following this tip you will definitely notice a difference in how your hair behaves for the rest of the day.
TIP 3: Get a SLOW DRYER and a diffuser
We are talking about a blow dryer of course, but one that delivers heat without the speed. Even most hairdresser’s hairdryers are way too strong – they’re geared for straight hair. That’s why the crappy hairdryers in most hotels and motels are perfect for curly hair!
Fortunately you don’t need to spend a small fortune – you can buy a hairdryer for less than $50 that comes with a diffuser and a low speed (they normally go on sale too because everyone else is buying the fast one’s!). Try to get an ionic dryer so it’s got all the features but not the speed because curls like to be treated with a soft touch, lots of warmth and no man handling!
Diffusing your hair dry should not take a long time – it just feels like it because you’re going slow, but you will be rewarded with little or no frizz and beautiful tresses that everyone will take for granted because “your hair is naturally beautiful”.
TIP 4: Pay for a great hairdresser who understands curly hair
Get recommendations from people who have hair styles and haircuts that you like – just stop them in the street.
We mentioned earlier that our clients embrace their natural curl and always wear their hair in the style(s) we create for them after a curly hair dry cut. What that means is that they wear their hair down in a curly or wavy style and it is cut in such a way to create a fantastic shape and ease of managment. The payback from getting a curly hair dry cut is immense: you don’t spend one minute wishing you didn’t have your hair or thinking you wanted it to be different… Well OK maybe the occasional day you might wish you had straight hair!
Our hairdressers at Lily Jackson Hairdressing know how to work with all types of curl (rather than cutting curly hair like straight hair).
TIP 5: Get a curly hair dry cut every 8-12 weeks.
Even if you’re growing your hair long.
One of the things about our haircuts is that they grow out so well. When 10 stylist says “I’d like to see you in 8 weeks” you might wonder why you would need to come back so soon, especially if you are growing it for length.
But at 8 and a half weeks you would know why – you might start to look like a cocker spaniel or just find the style suddenly difficult to manage! The weight of the hair would pull the top layer down and straight and the underlayers would curl out like big fluffy ears… not very attractive.
Getting your hair cut regularly is like having your nails trimmed – it keeps split ends at bay and it keeps your hair style looking good. Which means you feel good. A great hairstylist knows how to take weight out of the hair without affecting the overall length.
How to prepare for a Curly Hair Dry Cut at Lily Jackson Hairdressing
It’s important for us to be able to see your hair in its natural state prior to cutting.
So please observe these important guidelines if coming in for a curly hair dry cut:
- Please arrive with clean dry hair, worn out (not tied back), that has been left to dry naturally.
- Leave-in conditioner or moisturiser is ok.
- NO – hard gels, or sticky creams.
- NO – head bands, no ponytails, hair ties, sunglass kinks or hats please (these create unnatural kinks in your hair and will affect your haircut).
- Arrange your appointment for the day where your curl is in its best form.
Eg. If Day 3 post-shampooing is when you love your curl, that’s when we need to see you.