Reader question:
Hello Cindy, I’m trying to embrace my natural curls more – the kind that spiral one day and weave into gentle waves the next, with a mind of their own! In a world of blowouts and flat irons, I’m looking for the best way to dry my hair. Could you share some of your tips on the best way I can dry my wet curly/wavy/coily locks to achieve that effortlessly chic, frizz-free look?
Katherine Harris
Provo, Utah
Hi Katherine, honestly…
The best way to dry wet curly/wavy/coily natural hair is to mostly air dry.
One tip is to use a butterfly clip to lift your hair at the root. I usually suggest three clips, two in the front parted where you usually part your hair and one in the back to hold up the hair. This is to ensure that as your hair dries the curl does not fall and to keep volume at the root.
2 Key Steps to Take:
- After washing you should wrap your hair in a towel to remove excess water.
- After leaving in a towel for a bit of time until it is not dripping wet you should apply a curl cream or a curl mousse. You want to use a product that will enhance your curl but also reduce the frizz. Keeping the frizz under control is very important when it comes to curly hair. Once it has gone frizzy it is hard to eliminate the frizz.
The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to curly hair is less is more. Blow drying curly hair is tricky. You don’t want to let the hair blow around as this will create frizz. If you do have to use a blow dryer you will want to use a diffuser on your dryer. When blow drying it is best to tip your head upside down. This will create volume at the root and stop curls from straightening. Try your best to keep hair in one place while drying, scrunch your hair in small sections in your hands and hold the diffuser over that section. Once hair is dry you can scrunch in a serum or oil and finish with a light hairspray for hold.