Here’s your cheat sheet to mastering the effortlessly rumpled-yet-sexy “It girl” curls.
Bae Suzy
Jourdan Dunn
Olivia Palermo
Aveda Pramasana Exfoliating Scalp Brush, $46.
BEFORE SHOWERING
Brush your hair and scalp. This helps to detangle your hair to prevent matting when you shampoo, as well as loosen the buildup of dirt, dead skin cells and styling products, which makes them a lot easier to wash off later. Use an exfoliating scalp brush with looped bristles that’s kinder to your mane and roots.
ORBIS Natural $599. Repair Volumising Type Conditioner, $23 (420 ml).
IN THE SHOWER
Use the right cleansing products. A volumising shampoo or conditioner that doesn’t contain oil and silicones, like this ORBIS conditioner, effectively cleanses and hydrates your hair weightlessly.
Always use tepid water. If you find that your hair tends to get rough or frizzy even after a wash, you could be using water that’s too hot, which opens up the hair cuticle and causes nutrients to be lost. After washing with lukewarm water, give your tresses a shot of cool or cold water to seal the cuticles.
Original & Mineral Atonic Thickening Spritz, $12 (50 ml).
AFTER SHOWERING
Don’t towel off vigorously. Get rid of excess water by pressing hair lightly into a soft towel or cotton T-shirt instead of roughly tousling your hair, which can damage and break wet strands.
Heat protection is a must. Safety first! It’s vital not to skip this step before using hot tools, as heat will no doubt fry your tresses and cause your hair to weaken over time. Simply mist your hair all over with a heat-protecting spray. Original & Mineral’s Atonic Thickening Spritz doubles up as a volumising spray to give fine hair added oomph.
Dyson Supersonic, $599.
Blow-dry your hair completely. If you’ve ever heard your hair sizzle when using a flat iron or curler, it’s probably because your hair was still slightly damp. For salon-worthy results and burnt-free tresses, always blow-dry your hair until it’s totally dry before using a heat styling tool. The futuristic Dyson Supersonic is a high-tech powerhouse that has an internal heat sensor so it won’t fry your strands.
Rose Byrne
WHEN STYLING
Create a sultry deep side part. Using a fine toothed or rat tail comb – that’s a comb with a thin, tapered end – draw a line starting from the highest point of your eyebrow all the way to your crown. For an even deeper parting, start from the outer corner of your eyebrow.
OUAI Memory Mist, $42 (126 g).
Prime your hair. Instead of keeping it for the very end, blast your mane with hairspray before curling for better hold. This is especially helpful if your hair is naturally very straight and curlresistant. The multi-tasking Memory Mist by OUAI provides thermal protection and is formulated with unique memory polymers that help to lock in your hair’s shape and texture until your next wash.
Diptyque Eau Rose Hair Mist, $70 (30 ml).
For a quick refresher, give your mane a spritz or two of scented hair mist formulated with fruity or floral notes to keep you feeling and smelling fresh. The best hair fragrances are lightweight and double up as shine-enhancers, as they’re formulated with essential oils to nourish and give your hair a healthy sheen.
ghd Gold Professional Styler, $295.
THROUGHOUT THE DAY
A flat iron is the trick to lived-in waves. Grab hold of a section of hair (the smaller the section, the curlier your hair will be), clamp down three to four inches from the root and begin bending and twisting the iron down the lengths of your hair. Leave the bottom one to two inches straight to keep the look more natural.
Jenna Dewan Tatum
Another method is to braid your hair in random sections, before clamping down on each braid with the flat iron. When you loosen the braids, your hair will be perfectly wavy. Run your fingers through to muss it up.
IGK Beach Club Volumising Texture Spray, $45 (5 oz).
Set your curls. For grit and hold to ensure your waves last for a longer time, use a lightweight texturising spray or pomade to add volume and definition, keeping the curls in place without weighing them down or leaving them crunchy and crispy. A sea salt spray works just as well.
