TOP TIPS FOR STYLING CURLY HAIR

If you’re new to the world of styling curly hair, you might be forgiven for having a frustrating relationship with your curls from time to time. Why are they suddenly flat? Why are they so prone to frizz and tangling? And why, oh why, are they not popping on days when you need to look good?

Figuring out how best to care for your curls can take time, as everyone’s hair is different and there’s a huge range of products to choose from. Our advice? Discover your curl type, then look at our hints and tips and develop a new, healthier relationship with your hair.

Oil dry, damaged curls before washing

If you’re struggling with tangled, dry or frizzy curls, you can try adding oil throughout your lengths before you wash your hair. Try adding a few pumps of Dream Curls Creme Oil to your hair, and let it sit from 30 minutes up to an hour to deeply penetrate your strands.

When you feel your hair’s ready for washing, follow up with Dream Curls Shampoo and Dream Curls Conditioner. Double shampoo if you feel you need it to remove all the oil.

Use a pre-dry curl product before drying curly hair

Before drying your hair, always use a hold product like a curl jelly or mousse for curls. This will a) encourage uniformity when your curls dry and b) help your curls last for much longer.

If you’re not a fan of the ‘crunchy’ cast that can form when you use curl products, try our Dream Curls Advanced Hydrating Jelly  for smooth curls without the crunch, and hold for up to 24 hours. If you prefer using mousse and you want to remove a cast with minimal fuss, wrap dry hair in a satin scarf and gently ‘scrunch out’ the crunchy cast for soft curls with no crunch.

Use a diffuser when you dry your hair

Trust us, this is a game changer. If you’re used to using your usual hair dryer nozzle, you might find you’re ending up with bone-dry, frizzy curls that won’t behave. The key to using a diffuser is to start gently drying your hair just above the roots using a low heat, and taking it easy, until you feel a ‘cast’ start to form. For the uninitiated, a cast is when you feel the styling products you’ve used on damp hair harden or ‘set’ as they dry, forming defined, firm curls.

Once you feel the products begin to set, you can then use the ‘pixie diffuse’ technique until your hair’s dry. Try to avoid touching your hair or fiddling with it until it’s dry, as you’ll transfer oils from your hands to your strands.

What’s pixie diffusing?

Good question. Pixie diffusing is a slightly slower way of drying curls, but the results tend to be better.

• Attach the diffuser to your hairdryer and set it onto a low heat, medium setting
• Tilt your head sideways or upside down
• Gently take a section of your hair (a palmful is fine) and bring it towards the diffuser. Hold the hair in place for 30 sections, and gently ‘scrunch’ the hair inwards towards your scalp for bigger curls and increased volume
• Repeat the process until your hair’s around 80% dry

Your diffusing technique can take a while to perfect, but lots of fans of this method say their curls are larger, more defined and more uniform after drying.

Don’t brush dry curls

We’d recommend that you never, ever brush dry curly hair - brush it or comb it through while it’s wet to detangle, and then add products if you need to.

Brushing your hair when it’s dry stresses your hair out, and disrupts your hair’s natural texture and curl pattern.

Clarify your hair as often as it need it

We’d always recommend using a curl-friendly shampoo and conditioner for the best in curl care - our sulphate-free Dream Curls shampoo and conditioner range has been formulated for cleansed, nourished curls with unbeatable bounce.

However, if you’re struggling with product build-up and lank, flat curls, you may find you need to use a clarifying shampoo once a month or so to remove product build-up - especially if your fave products are silicone-based. Our Detox + Repair shampoo removes product build-up - follow with a conditioner for curly hair to ensure your curls stay hydrated.

If you’re trying to refresh curls without using water or heat, our Dream Curls Oil-Infused Wave-Revitalising Spray hydrates and defines curls and waves in between washes.

Protect your curls

Take a 360 approach with curl protection, and you’ll soon start to see great results.

• Protect your hair when you sleep by using a satin or silk sleep bonnet - the ‘slippery’ weave of the fabrics will ensure curls slide over each other and don’t build up staticky tangles due to being rubbed over cotton or polyester all night. If you’ve got longer or voluminous curls put your hair up in a super-high pineapple ponytail, and use a silk or satin pillowcase.
• Use a deep conditioner as often as you feel your curls need it. Our Dream Curls Ultra Nourishing Deep Conditioner is suited to coiler, kinkier hair, and our Dream Curls Deep Conditioner is better for curls and waves. Both products are expertly-formulated to care for, nourish and hydrate tangled, dry hair.
• Always use heat protection before styling - even if you’re using your diffuser on a low setting. It’ll protect the integrity of your curls and prevent frizz, dryness and split ends.

Learn curly hair styling techniques which work for you

If you’re struggling with getting Instagrammable curls, do some research and find curl influencers who can teach you the best ways to get the most out of your curls. Lots of curly girls recommend starting with learning how to brush style curly hair - check out YouTube for videos on how to style your hair, find subreddits on Reddit that suit your hair needs, and browse TikTok.

Another great tip is that our Dream Curls range is designed to be mixed and matched - there’s no set way to use our products, so feel free to use a combination to get your perfect style.

Find a hairdresser who understands your curls

Last - but certainly not least - find a curly hair specialist to cut your hair. A good haircut can make or break your style, and it’s worth doing your research to find someone who knows what they’re doing. Ask family and friends for advice, browse reviews of your local area, and ensure your stylist is trained in cutting curly hair.

It’s a good idea to bring along pictures of cuts you like to show your stylist, so you’ll both have a good idea of how you’d like the finished product to look.