Are you a curly girl with some hot Valentine’s Day plans? Then you’re in the right place. Whether you have a date with that special someone, you’re going out-out with the girls or you’re having a cosy night in with a takeaway, you’ve got to make sure those curls are popping. Not only are we going to give you some curly hair tips so your curls are in top condition, we’re going to show you how to style your curls into some super cute ‘dos. Cue the heart-eyes…
Top Tips for styling curly hair
You’ve got the curls, we’ve got the tips to help you get the best of them and make sure they’re happy and healthy.
Use a wide-tooth comb or detangler
When it comes to detangling curly hair, gently does it. Curly hair tends to be dry, dehydrated and prone to breakage so using the correct tools to detangle is essential. Don’t go in dry, only dentagle when the hair is wet, with a conditioning treatment in or using a detangling spray. We recommend using our Naturally Curly Wet Detangler and check out some detangling sprays. Detangling has never been so quick or easy!
Comb from the bottom, up
If you start brushing your hair from the roots, you’re only going to make any knots worse! You don’t want to apply any unnecessary force onto your hair, and brushing through endless knots will do just that. Start from the bottom of your hair, slowly working through any tangles until you reach the top of your hair. This method stops any pulling on your strands and reduces breakage.
Use a deep conditioning hair mask
As we said, curly hair tends to be dry so a deep conditioning treatment is a must when it comes to hydrating your curls - they’re thirsty, so let them drink up all those nutrients! You should aim to deep condition your hair 2-4 times a month, but if your hair is particularly dry, once a week is the goal. Aim to leave the deep conditioner on your hair for 5-30 minutes, but leaving it on longer will allow your hair to absorb all of that good hydration. Either deep condition in the shower, apply out of the shower and leave it on your hair whilst wearing a plastic cap (the cap retains heat, which allows the deep conditioner to penetrate the hair) or apply it and leave it in overnight. You sleep while your hair quenches its thirst!
Avoid split ends by getting regular trims
There’s nothing that will breathe life into your curls like getting a regular trim. You could have the healthiest, glossiest head of hair, but if your ends are dry, straggly and splitting, your hair isn’t going to shine as bright as it could. We know you may be growing your hair and length is important to you but trimming your hair will actually contribute to its length in the long run. If you don’t trim your hair regularly, the ends can snap off and you’ll lose that length in an unhealthy way. Try to get your hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks, or if your hair is healthier, trim it with the seasons. Make friends with the scissors and keep those curls bouncy!
Use hydrating products
What’s the secret to healthy curls? Say it with us, moisture! There are plenty of ways to add more moisture into your hair care routine, including using hair oils, hair masks and serums. Look out for shampoos and conditioners that are moisturising too, for that extra boost.
Use a diffuser to define curls
If you’ve got curls, the diffuser is your best friend - blasting your hair with a normal hairdryer is a no-no! A diffuser disperses the air used to dry your hair, reducing frizz and stopping it from disrupting your natural curl pattern. After shampooing, conditioning and following the rest of your hair care routine, spray your hair with heat protection spray and get to diffusing. Keeping the air flow on low, lift your hair onto the diffuser, section by section. Start with the ends of your hair and slowly move the diffuser up towards the roots. Hover the diffuser around the top of your hair, allowing it to slowly dry. For extra volume, flip your head upside down and use the diffuser to dry those hard to reach spots at the back. When your hair gets to 80% dry, stop diffusing. Allowing your hair to air dry for that last part will give you a hydrated and bouncy finish.
Use a curling iron when needed
We’re all about embracing your natural curl pattern, but there are some days when the curls refuse to curl. Stubborn little things. When this happens, it’s totally ok to grab a curling iron to tidy things up and give your curls a more uniform look. Just make sure when you take to the hot tools, your hair is completely dry and you’ve used plenty of heat protection spray to keep damage at bay!
Our fave curly styles
Now we’ve gone through our tips for healthy curls when styling, onto the fun(ner) part! While there are a plethora of gorgeous and creative styles you can play with, we wanted to focus on those simple, easy-to-do styles that will have you feeling cute for V-Day. The easier they are, the more time you have for the romantic stuff…
The Low Wispy Bun
Instagram: @kisha.alejo
Instagram: @alex_youngg_
Perfect for those with loose waves or curls, this low bun is a soft, flirty option - we’re obsessed with those face-framing loose strands.
1. Style your hair as usual, according to your curly hair routine.
2. Pull out a few strands around the front of your face and make sure they’re extra defined, either using your fingers or a curling iron.
3. Gently massage your roots with your fingers to add a bit of volume at the crown and loosen up your curls.
4. Choose your parting. For this style we love a side parting or slightly off-centre parting.
5. Using your fingers, start raking your hair back section by section, leaving those strands at the front.
6. Keeping things loose, gather all your hair at the nape of your neck.
7. Pull your hair tie from your wrist, onto the hair, forming a loop when you’ve pulled your hair halfway through the hairband.
8. Twist the hair tie and grab the remaining bits of hair and then secure them over the loop, leaving you with a loose bun with pieces hanging out.
9. Make little adjustments, pulling out extra strands where needed.
The Sleek Pony
Instagram: @thatsk.trina
Sleek at the front, fluffy at the back, this hairstyle has date night written all over it and is ideal for anyone with type 3 curls. The beauty of this style is it doesn’t require freshly washed hair - we’re sold.
1. Using a wide-tooth comb, part your hair in the middle.
2. Grab a fine mist bottle and spray the top of your head, getting it nice and wet.
3. Grab some leave-in conditioner, spread it on the top of your head and using your wide-tooth comb, smooth out any lumps.
4. Get some gel and start smoothing the front section of your hair, ready to tend to your edges, and smooth it across the rest of the top of your head.
5. Using a bristle brush, smooth out the top of your hair. Gather your ponytail in your hand so you know exactly where you have to smooth.
6. Keep smoothing! Get your hair as slick as possible.
7. Once you’re all smoothed out, get your hair tie and secure your ponytail.
8. Once the pony is secure, get a bit more gel to really smooth away any flyaways.
9. Using an edge brush, style your edges to how you like them best.
10. Time to fluff! Flush out your ponytail, making it as voluminous as possible.
The Half Up, Half Down
Instagram: @makeupbylulz
Best for when your curls are freshly washed and extra defined and bouncy, this hairstyle is girly, yet sexy and it’s perfect for type 3 hair.
1. Complete your curly hair care routine as usual.
2. Separate the top layer of your hair vertically, from one ear to the other.
3. Once the hair is separated and gathered, pull out some face-framing pieces from the front of your hair.
4. Using a fine mist bottle,spray the gathered hair at the root, soaking it.
5. Grab some gel and spread it on that top section of hair.
6. Using the Original Tangle Teezer, start smoothing your hair up vertically.
7. Using a hair tie, secure the half ponytail at the top and centre of your head.
8. Grab the front pieces of hair that you left out of the ponytail and dampen them using the fine mist bottle and then wrap them around your finger, going away from your face on each side and then pin them down while they dry.
9. Once dry, unpin them and wait for them to drop.
The Slick Bun
Instagram: @lanasummer
Instagram: @monifa_x
Nothing makes us feel more powerful than a slick bun! Perfect for most hair types, as long as your hair has some length, this look is certain to make anyone go all heart-eyes for you.
1. Grab a fine mist bottle and wet the areas of your hair that you’ll be smoothing down.
2. Smooth gel around your whole head, following your hairline.
3. Loosely fasten your hair into a bun on the top of your head, while you work on spreading the gel and smoothing down any bumps and flyaways.
4. Keep smoothing and making the hair as sleek as possible using a brush.
5. Using a hair tie, secure the bun at the very top of your head.
6. Tuck and pin any hair that’s sticking out of the bun.
And there we have it! The hairstyles that will make everyone around you feel like they were shot by cupid, and the tips to keep those curls looking and feeling their best.
