002. TEST RUN: Setting off your Curls.

This is coming really fast after the introduction post, but I figured that I would do something that didn't require pictures from my personal stock so that you would know that I am not, in fact, a crazy person.

So, I'm going to talk about soft curls. All the celebrities have been rocking this for a while now, and I feel like it's a look that not everyone can achieve. This is a serious lesson that you need to learn if you want to look good, and it is, in fact, my first cardinal rule: If it doesn't work for you, don't try to work it anyway!!!! I cannot stress this enough. If you have pin-straight hair that doesn't hold a curl for more than twenty seconds, don't spend two hours curling your hair for you to walk outside and have it fall limp. It's a waste of your sanity, to be honest. It's the same concept behind wearing clothes that aren't too small. Always wear what's best for you. :]

SO. On to.. Setting off your natural curls/waves.

Recommended for: Moderately wavy to moderately curly hair. Ringlets tend to need a little more care, and if your hair is hardly wavy at all, its a lot less trouble to just straighten it and call it a day!

A lot of people seem to think that curls and waves need a ton of product to look good and will scrunch their hair to death with mousse, gel or hairspray. If your hair is even slightly wavy, you don't need all that! (Unless that is the specific look you're going for.) I will admit that it takes a lot of effort on some of the more humid days to keep my hair looking nice, but even then, it never looks that big. You just have to do it right! I have thick Italian hair that is somewhere between wavy and curly (the longest parts are wavy, the shortest parts are curly). This works for me without a ton of product!!

Here we go:
1) First off, wash your hair!!!! Always use a shampoo and conditioner that is good for your hair and scalp type. I use a combination of Head and Shoulders Resorting Shine Shampoo (There is no shame in flakes, especially with the changing of the seasons! Head and Shoulders also keeps my oily scalp in check. Holla to my Italian girls!) and Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Shampoo & Conditioner because my hair is very starved for moisture, as I am constantly blowdrying, straightening, and chemically processing it. I like to comb the conditioner through and put my hair up in a clip while I shower so it has a chance to soak up.
2) Towel dry your hair so it is still pretty wet. Now, this is a weird step, but it'll make all the difference when you're not fighting tangles out of your curly hair later! Spray your hair all over with Mane N' Tail Detangler. I used to use this on my horse's tail but it's good for animals AND humans! Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb to avoid breakage, making sure that you get the Detangler all through your hair.
3) Now it's time for the serious product. This is the ONLY product you really need, whether you are straightening your hair, curling it, or letting it dry naturally! This is the product I refer to as my "super secret". It makes your hair smell wonderful, look shiny, keeps away frizz.. It might as well be a miracle. Depending on how long your hair is (and how wet it still is), pump a dime sized amount of Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum into your hand. Rub your hands together and then work the Super Skinny through your hair, starting at the roots. Work it through your whole head, using your fingers to coat evenly from root to tip. OPTIONAL: If it is particularly humid or nasty outside, add a pump of Paul Mitchell Quick Slip Styling Cream. It has a bit of hold to it, so it helps keep the strands from getting too frizzy.
4) There are several ways you could go from here. At this point, I will separate out my bangs and some of the shorter front pieces and blowdry them before I straighten them. If I have enough time or don't care that my hair is still wet, I will let my hair AIR-DRY. Yes. I said it. Let me say it again. AIR-DRY. There is nothing wrong with letting your naturally curly or wavy hair air dry! All that heat isn't great anyway. At this point, you have the product in your hair that will keep it from getting too frizzy or big. If this seems like too big a jump for you, go to step 5a.
5a) Attach a diffuser to your hair dryer and turn it on low. Blow dry as you normally would. (For those of you who have never used a diffuser, it's very simple. Just kind of push the hair up from the ends using the diffuser and hold it for a minute. Do this for your whole head and repeat until your hair is dry.) Don't do too much scrunching with your hands. The diffuser is doing this for you. If you use the diffuser, your curls tend to be tighter than if you had just let it dry on its own.
5b) If your curls turned out too tight for your liking, use your fingers to loosen them. DO NOT take a brush to them unless it is a SOFT BRISTLED brush and won't take the curl/wave out.
6) You're all done!! Now is the time to add something cute (I like rolled up and tied up top bandanas, berets, and headbands), or just leave it alone.

Stay tuned for next how-to: Underwater Eyes.

-Marissa