VELCRO ROLLERS

Use the most gentle, natural shampoo possible. I live in a humid place so I have to wash the roots every day. I use Hamadi shampoo which is 100% natural and biodegradable and Hamadi shea butter conditioner. Unfortunately the Hamadi products are stupidly expensive, but most shampoos just make my hair puff up and totally uncontrollable probably due to the sodium laureth sulfate mentioned in the above post.

Frederik Fekkai makes a great curl cream for all types of curly hair, I just goop it on while my hair is really wet, scrunch it up and let it dry.

Just before I go outside I spray it with Pureology Glossing mist. This is the best anti friz I’ve ever tried.

1. Suds are your enemy.
Sodium laureth sulfate, the ingredient in shampoo that makes the “suds,” is the number one enemy of curly hair. It has nothing to do with the product’s ability to clean, and strips your scalp and hair of natural oils and moisture. Look for “no poo” products that leave out the sodium laureth sulfate. If you’ve gotta have the clean feeling, shampoo and rinse twice.

2. Curly hair is thirsty hair.
Frizz is nothing but dry hair’s desperate thirst for moisture. Drench your hair with moisture, leave in gobs and gobs of moisturizing conditioner, and stay away from the hair dryer.

3. Banish terry cloth from your head.
Drying your curls after a shower with a terry cloth towel is like sticking velcro to your curls. It sucks out too much moisture, grips the hair follicle in funny places, and separates natural curls that are forming. Use a microfiber towel or paper towels instead … and gently blot (don’t rub!) out the excess water while your head is tipped over.

4. Nourish the ends.
Curls typically fray at the ends, where the deadest part of your hair is seeking moisture. After blotting out excess water, rub some conditioner between your palms and cup the ends of your hair in your palms. It will keep the dry ends of your curls from getting thirsty.

4. Look but don’t touch.
Touching curly hair in the middle of the drying process pulls curls out of their natural formations. If you must blow dry, use a diffuser and stop when your hair is still damp. If you’re air drying, LEAVE YOUR CURLS ALONE until they’re bone dry! If you want volume at your roots, use small clips to hold your roots up until the drying is done.

5. Fire your stylist.
Very few stylists understand the rules above, and most cut curls the same way they cut straight hair. Find a stylist who specializes in curly hair (use naturallycurly.com) and find out whether s/he has been trained in the “Deva Method.” It’s amazing what a good hair cut can do!

I don’t know if these are tricks but this is what i do to my hair everyday.

Combining products:
I use Mousse & Spray gel (from Lorea’l-curly),Anti-Frizz Serum (John Frieda or Pantene) & Shine (Garnier)

I mix the mousse & serum and apply it while my head is upside down and scrunch.
then the spray-gel (regular gel weighs my hair down) and last the shine.

Once this is done i really don’t touch my hair…hands-off all day!!

Also…i wash my hair just twice a week….the rest of the days i just rinse with water.

garnier fructis surf hair + garnier fructis sleek and shine anti-frizz serum for when i want my super thick slightly wavy asian hair to look beachy.

sebastian number 9 + anti-frizz serum for when i want my hair straight.

gel + cream for when i want my hair to have hold.

whatever it is, i always have to have the one two knockout punch of products so my long thick hair doesn’t do the triangle pyramid thing.

having layers also helps!

i just wish i had figured this stuff out when i was in high school rather than being known as the pony tail girl.