No-fuss products and time-friendly ways to get your mane looking on point.
No-fuss products and time-friendly ways to get your mane looking on point.
Full disclosure: I may spend at least half an hour on my makeup routine, but when it comes to doing my hair, I’m more of a wash-and-go kind of girl. I’d like to believe you don’t have to use multiple products to get awesome hair, but can it really be done? I challenged celebrity hairstylist Ark Lin to come up with a minimalist haircare routine – think one brush, one styling product, and a shampoo and conditioner duo – for straight, wavy, and curly hair.
If you have straight hair, you need...
A PADDLE BRUSH
Great for detangling wet hair, this also doubles as a styling brush to help direct air flow evenly throughout your hair for a sleek blowout. WE LIKE: Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush, $52.
A FRIZZ-FIGHTING SERUM
Humid weather can cause even straight hair to frizz, so use a lightweight serum with natural oils to hydrate tresses and help combat frizz. Choose one that also has silicones to coat strands for a glossy finish. WE LIKE: L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Nourishing Oil, $29.
A RETEXTURISING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER DUO
It’s easy for straight hair to look and feel limp and lifeless; keep yours looking healthy, smooth and bouncy with haircare designed to improve hair elasticity and prevent damage. WE LIKE: L’Oreal Professionnel Pro Fiber Reconstruct Shampoo, $26, and Conditioner, $29.
3 TIPS FOR SLEEK, STRAIGHT LOCKS
• Use products with silicones to maintain the shine and lustre of your hair. Not sure how to tell if a product has silicones? Look out for ingredients that end with “-cone”.
• Use haircare with sunprotection benefits and avoid spending too much time in chlorinated water. Straight hair tends to be more affected by chlorine, and too much of it can make strands dry and frizzy.
• Visit your hairstylist for regular trims as straight hair is more prone to split ends compared to other hair types.
If you have curly hair, you need...
A DETANGLER
Curly hair is quite prone to breakage, so you’ll need a brush that’s tough on tangles yet is still gentle enough not to snag and break strands. WE LIKE: Tangle Teezer The Original in Panther Black, $30.
A CURL-ENHANCING STYLING CREAM
Pick one without silicones, as these tend to weigh down curly hair and leave it feeling heavy. WE LIKE: Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer, $48.
A MOISTURISING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER DUO
Curly hair tends to be dry and coarse, so go for formulations with hydrating ingredients such as shea butter, oils and aloe for soft, glossy curls. WE LIKE: Aveda Be Curly Shampoo and Conditioner, $46 each.
3 TIPS FOR SHINY, FRIZZ-FREE CURLS
• Instead of a towel, use a microfibre cloth to dry your hair without causing frizz.
• Sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce breakage-causing friction – cotton pillowcases tend to tug on hair when you toss and turn while sleeping.
• Go to sleep with your hair in loose braids – this will protect the shape of your curls. Once you untie the braids in the morning, apply a 20-centcoin- sized curl enhancer to tame flyaway strands.
If you have wavy hair, you need...
A HEATED, ROUND STYLING BRUSH
This will define your natural waves for a straight-outof- the-salon look. Pick a ceramic one – ceramic is said to retain and distribute heat evenly, preventing damage to the hair. WE LIKE: GHD Ceramic Vented Radial Brush in Size 4, $45.
A DEFINING CREAM
Use this before styling to ensure your waves stay defined. Avoid hairsprays as these often leave hair feeling “crunchy”. WE LIKE: Liese Wave Defining Foam, $10.90.
A LOW-LATHER SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER DUO
Like curly hair, wavy hair is more prone to dryness than straight hair. To ensure silky-smooth, frizz-free tresses, use haircare products with low-lather formulas that don’t strip hair of its natural oils. WE LIKE: Redken Curvaceous Cream Shampoo and Conditioner, $24 each.
3 TIPS FOR SOFT, BOUNCY WAVES
• Go for a layered cut so your hair doesn’t look overly unkempt when it grows out.
• For perfect, face-framing waves, tuck damp hair behind your ears – once it’s fully dry, you’ll get a natural bend that frames your face perfectly.
• Apply a wave-defining product on your locks, from mid-length to the ends, then tie your hair into two low buns before you head to bed. Untie them in the morning and voila: defined waves.
