3 New Ways to Style Your Curls

by Lexi Novak

After years of denial and multiple attempts with a flatiron--thankfully there was no Facebook to publically immortalize my "awkward phase"--I finally came to grips with a fact: I have very curly hair. But now that I've embraced my ringlets, I've run into yet another dilemma, which is that wearing the same spirals every day can get boring. Since I don't want to just scald my hair straight, I asked celebrity hairstylist Diane Bailey, whose clients include Beyoncé and Lauren Hill, for some tips on how to reinvent curly hair.

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Voluminous Curls
For a "more is more" look, try allover volume with tight, springy curls. Start by almost completely drying freshly washed hair with a diffuser "to reduce frizz and preserve the natural curl pattern," says Bailey. Apply a curl styling mousse for added hold (such as Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse). Then, working in half-inch sections, wrap hair around rubber curling rods. "Hold them vertically to create a corkscrew effect," says Bailey. Twist the rods to the root and fold down the sides to hold them in place. Dry hair fully with a diffuser, remove the rods, and finger comb your curls to enhance volume. "Lightly mist with a finishing spray for shine and hold, such as SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Hold & Shine Moisture Mist," says Bailey (who is an ambassador for the brand).

Afro
This style is all about embracing and enhancing natural texture while maintaining shine. Smooth a hydrating curl cream, like Fekkai Lucious Curls Cream, through hair from root to tip, then section it into roughly two-inch pieces. Twist each piece tightly "into a tight cylinder to form a small bun or knot," suggests Bailey. Continue until all the hair is set. "The more knots you make [so, the smaller sections of hair you twist], the more texture you will have," she says. After hair dries completely, release the knots and gently tease the roots with a comb for added volume. "Seal in moisture and add a high-gloss shine with an oil-based finishing spray such as SheaMoisture Raw Shea Reconstructive Elixir, with argan oil and raw shea butter," says Bailey.

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Pin Curls
"Fine, wavy, curly hair is beautiful, but can be challenging to style. This technique helps manipulate the curl to enhance movement and shape," says Bailey. First, spray a volumizer over your entire head (she recommends SheaMoisture Yucca & Baobab Thickening Moisutre Mist) and apply a curl-enhancing mousse. Then, "starting at the tips of your hair, finger roll one-inch sections up the entire shaft to form a pin curl," says Bailey. "Anchor with duck-bill clips or bobby pins." Pin curl the entire head and set with a diffuser, making sure hair is completely dry. Remove the clips or pins and gently rake through with your fingers to loosen the curls. Finish with a light-hold hair spray.

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