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Curly hair: How to get the polished look?

agrace

I have naturally curly hair. Now that I am in my early thirties, I've accepted it but I don't always love it. The truth is that to me my curls project a sort of fun, spunky, whimsical image but not the polished, classic image I would like. When I have my hair straightened from blowing it out, I feel *so* much more polished. I love the way I feel when it is like that. I can't do that all the time nor do I want to. I'd just like a way to have my curls look more polished. I did just go get a trim and a highlight, so I know that keeping hair in tip top condition is a must.
Does anyone have any tips on achieving a polished look with crazy curls?

Tortoise accessories? headbands? what works for you?
Thanks!

General

15 replies

Latest reply was from londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Christie

The easiest way I've found is to pin it using hairpins. I pull it into a low ponytail (but don't secure this), twist it up, tuck the ends back under the twist and pin. I keep the twist low, just above the nape of my neck. Too high or too loose (ie ringlets everywhere) feels too young or "prom"-like. I like curl definition to show, so its not like this a super-structured look for my hair, but its definitely not wild or crazy. I think its contained and sweet.

BTW, I love the words you used to describe curls.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Product, product and, yes, I'm afraid, yet more product!

I had been using two products, and with my recent switch to an angled bob, I've added a third. *eek*

In all, I'd say my hair takes about 5 minutes to run some goop through it and scrunch.

I use the Kevin Murphy line, simply because my salon does, but if you google the products below, you can probably find similar items. I do highly recommend this line, though.

Here are my products:

* Leave in Luxury (to make coarse hair sleeker)
* Motion Lotion (for curls)
* Easy Rider (to piece out some tendrils and bangs)

I notice a huge difference if I skip any of them, particularly the leave in conditioner.

Good luck!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Thanks for posting this agrace, I have also embraced my natural curls and would love to know peoples secrets.

julijuli

I haven't posted in so long - but I just have to say that a few minutes ago I checked into a hotel in Portland. THe desk clerk had the most beautiful, polished longer curly hair. I think she probably did use a lot of product but it was longer with softer ringlets at the front and more curl in the back. I wish I could have taken a picture and/or asked her what she did to her hair because it looked great! I'm in my PJ's now and won't be going downstairs anytime soon!

garmenta

I let the sides and back of my curly hair do whatever they want, but I put curl cream into the locks in front and twist them when they're damp. It produces a nice ringlet effect. I haven't noticed any difference between one curl cream and another--I've used the expensive salon stuff and the cheap stuff from Target, and both work.

rute

Veteran

I just put a foam to curly hair (studio line, from L'oreal) after washing my hair with the hair still damp.

I used to blow it but I have given up... it's a lost battle and I was tired of getting nervous at the sign of any rain or humid weather.

Lee Hovey

I laughed when I read this thread because hair really is one of those "grass is greener" things. I has stick straight hair, that won't even curl with product and hours of labor. In high school my parents took me to glamour shots for my senior pictures and the hairdresser spent 2 hours trying to curl my hair, and only the front sides had curl and by the end of the one hour shoot the curl was nearly gone already.

The point of all that is, as someone with stick straight hair, I have always been envious of those ladies with gorgeously curly/wavy hair, because I like that fun, spunky, whimsical effect that you are tired of agrace!

Though I will admit, I enjoy the fact that I can shower at night, and go to sleep with completely wet hair. When I wake up all I have to do is run a comb through it and it's still straight.

agrace

LeeHovey - the grass is most definitely greener. Those with straight hair seem to always have a polished look to me. If I went to sleep with wet hair (which I have done before) I would wake up with a mushroom on my head and it would be full of tangles like you would not believe!

I think shine is a big factor. naturally curly hair tends to not have a lot of shine. Shine definitely makes hair look polished and that is something it is hard to achieve for my natural curls.

Roseand Joan - I have always thought your cut and big, soft loose curls look very polished. My hair is crazy corkscrew ringlets, I often think if it were just bigger softer curls it would be easier to achieve the look I want....:) there goes that green grass!

julijuli - if you find out, please share her secret (the clerk)!

I am thinking about upgrading a few hair accessories - maybe some leather headbands or a croc embossed ponytail holder. I love tortoise too.

Lee Hovey

Agrace has you tried putting your damp hair into large curlers and letting it dry that way? I have a girlfriend with curly curly hair who does that and it helps her get larger bouncy curls. Though I am sure this technique might yield different results depending on texture, etc.

Mojo Riley

Agrace, have you ever checked out the naturallycurly site? I would say it's the youlookfab of the the curly-haired world

I learned so much from reading that site, I can't begin to tell you. I know there was an old post here where some of the members revealed themselves as naturally-curly's "Curly Girl Method" adherents. I follow this program, and it has dramatically improved the condition of my hair-although I haven't had a cut in about 6 months, so it's looking a little crazy lately, lol! The site also has a bunch of ideas for updos and other styles.

One thing I noticed recently, is that if I think of my hair as an accessory, it's easier to achieve a polished look. Although curly hair will never really look "buttoned-up" or "prim," I think it can still look polished. So if I wear something sleeker, I will leave my hair down and curly to add something "special," but if I have on something more voluminous or something heavily patterned, I will wear it up or straightened to make sure that it's not "too much," visually speaking. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but it seems to work as a way to balance out the overall look.

I also tend to (although it's not a strict rule) wear a necklace and/or bracelets if I have my hair curly so there's not to much going on "up there", and if it's straight, I try to wear pretty, feminine earrings to soften the look. I've been told throughout my life that I look intimidating (which totally befuddles me, since I'm pretty goofy and tend to laugh and smile a lot), but I think it has to do with my features, and it is what it is. I think wearing my hair curly or wavy mitigates that a little bit and makes me look more approachable.

I don't think there's anything wrong with playing around with your look, but I do hope you learn to love your curls! We've been inundated for so long with the ultra-flat-ironed look, but really, throughout most of history, women were in search of curls, waves, and volume, so consider yourself blessed! It does seem like we're (finally!) swinging back in the other direction, with more women embracing their natural texture. I know I feel more like "myself" when I let my hair do its thing, even if it does drive me batty on occasion!

Taffy

THe products that I use right now are: Wired by Rusk and John Frieda's anti frizz serum

I must admit, I am quite anti regular store products, so I was pleasantly surprised by the anti frizz serum.

Also, if you go to Quidad.com, you can order a lot of products that are specifically for curly hair, and I've had good luck with them as well. (They are a salon specifically for curly hair...maybe someday I'll get to visit....) They're products also have great herbal smells, just as a plus.

My most important tip though, is what I saw Nick Arrojo do on What not to wear. While hair is towel dried, but already product-ed, take 1 inch sections and twist them around one of your fingers until the entire shaft is twisted. It will then rest and dry as a ringlet. This is when my hair looks the best.

Good luck!

Christie

Stacie, good points about balancing your outfit with your curls. I like those ideas.

Taffy, my stylist does this for me too! She doesn't do it everywhere, but only in certain places, of various curl sizes, and it looks very natural.

Products containing dimethicone (or most other forms ending with -cone) DO add artificial shine, but can only be washed out with Sodium Lauryth Sulfate, which dries your hair and strips it of its oils and natural shine. A vicious cycle ... the "cones" to add shine, and to avoid build-up, you wash them out using a product that creates more need for shine. Naturallycurly.com and other "curlygirl" websites give good info about avoiding those harsh products and helping your hair become its best.

Anonymous

I love, love, love curly hair and wish mine was more curly. You are a very lucky person to have curls.
I tried to bring out the curl in my hair and bought products from the hair salon for that purpose. It worked well on other people in my family but not on my hair. It could be the age of my hair, I don't know.
When I was younger I wanted straight hair, now I want curly hair!! Go figure.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

How long is your hair Agrace?

When my hair was longer I would section damp hair into four sections and twist and pin the sections into buns at the nape of the neck. Once the hair was dry I would remove the buns and the hair would be sleek on top and wave from chin length.

Curiously, if I have an important day at the office I nearly always straighten my hair. Curls can seem so frivolous and playful. I don't know how this stereotype formed but it sure is inconvenient.

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I have thick, wavy boardering on curly hair. I know your pain! It also curls more on one side than the other!

I have found that a hairdresser who understands how to cut curly hair is the answer. It has taken me 3 years in London to find one, thankfully now I have found one I have a cut that actually works.

As my hair is really thick and if I was to dry my hair straight it would take me about 45 minutes, time I don't have (or want to have) in the morning.

I don't own straighteners and while I have been tempted last time my hairdresser cut my hair he commented that he could tell I didn't straighten my hair as it was in really good condition for curly hair, so now I don't think I will.

If I want to go for a sleeker look then I tend to tie my hair in a ponytail, either mid head or at the nape, then I pull a few curls out and pin them slightly looser to slightly soften it.

At the moment my hair is just below shoulder length and I am currently debating whether to cut it to chin length, but the flexibility of being able to pop it in a ponytail just so useful.

Naturallycurly.com is a fantastic site, I had never seen it before. I am also off to evaluate my hair products!