Styling Curly Hair

Finishing Naturally Curly or Wavy Hair For Different Looks

This page provides details for styling curly hair to create a range of looks. Tame frizzy hair into smooth coils or pump up the volume on a wavy hair style. Curly hair can be versatile, so long as you use the right products and techniques for the look you're trying to achieve.





These techniques are for the finishing stage of styling curly hair.
For best results, also see these related pages:

Combat Frizzy Hair With These Essential Tips
Curly Hair Product and Tools - Get the Right Stuff for the Job!
Curly Hair Style Techniques - Smooth and Tame Naturally Curly or Wavy Hair

Curly Hair Finishing Techniques

Increase Shine Try a light silicone (spray if your hair is fine) or pomade for definition and shine. If your hair is medium to coarse and still slightly fuzzy, coat your hands in hair pomade (anti-humectant for those who suffer the pains of humidity). Pick up individual sections of curl throughout the top. Slide your hands down the strand with a slight twisting motion.
Reduce Shrinkage If your hair has a tight corkscrew curl that tends to shrink to half its length as it dries, try attaching small metal clips to the ends of a few strands, particularly across the bottom. The extra weight will be just enough to reduce shrinkage, bestowing to the world the full splendor of your twisted tresses in all their length and glory.
Tame Unruly Cowlicks To soften curl, smooth frizz or redirect cowlicks around the face, use a hot air brush to smooth out a small section of bangs. Be sure to use a small enough brush to maintain some of the curl so these sections blend with the rest of your hair. Read the page on styling hair with a roundbrush and blowdryer for instructions.
Tweak and Define To accentuate the wilder side when styling curly hair, coat your hands with a wax, clay or sculpting putty and scrunch it into your hair, plunge your fingers right in underneath and push the hair up towards your scalp, give it a squeeze and carry on around your head. Smooth any recurring fuzzy pieces by pinching your fingers around the section and sliding through to the ends.
Vamp It Up For added lift and support (especially on fine hair)...tilt your head, gently pushing the hair upwards, and spray with an aerosol hair spray. You can make subtle changes in the shape of your hairstyle by doing this. If you want even more volume, lift sections straight up and spray underneath. Hold the sections up for a few moments to let the hairspray dry.

Try out new hair colors and styles on your own photo.
Find your next look without the commitment.