Tame your curls with these products
Managing curly hair is no easy task. For starters, it’s basically a weather barometer right there on your head. On humid days, my hair is going to give Diana Ross a run for her money. On dry days, half of my curls look great and the other half look like limp noodles. My curly hair happens to be extremely thick. I’ve lost pens and pencils in there. And then there’s the shedding. I shed nearly as bad as my pugs. The only time I’ve seen my husband’s gag reflex was cleaning out our bathtub drain.
So how does a curly hair girl tame the wild beast on her head? With an army of products and a fantastic stylist, that’s how. Kelly Mason, owner of Green Pea Salon, is my hair magician. I would follow him to the ends of the earth. He saved my hair from constantly looking like a giant mushroom. I had a natural Princess Leia situation happening. He also has introduced me to my arsenal of products that I rotate in and out of my daily routine.
There are a ton of curly hair products out there. Most don’t work on my hair. They’re either too heavy or too greasy. My secret weapons come from Bumble & Bumble and Kevin Murphy. I can use all of these products together and never have to worry about weighing down my curls. They condition, they fight frizz and they give me the shine that dry, curly hair often lacks.
Shampoos, conditioners and dry shampoo
When I wash my hair, which is typically once or twice a week, I switch between Kevin Murphy Hydrate-Me.Wash and Hydrate-Me.Rinse and Bumble & Bumble Curl Shampoo and Conditioner. Both shampoos wash out days-old product, and the conditioners put the right amount of moisture back into my locks without making my curls too soft. Bonus: They both smell nice.
I rely on dry shampoo the rest of the week. I try not to use aerosol products, so I prefer the powder dry shampoos. OscarBlandi Dry Shampoo is my all-time favorite, but Bumble & Bumble Pret-a-Powder works just as well. For aerosol versions, I like R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo and Klorane Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo. Both work like the powder versions, absorbing oils without leaving ashy residue. All of these products give me the right amount of volume to perk up my curls after a few days of no washing.
Styling
I don’t stray from Bumble & Bumble with styling products. My current favorite product comes from their newly revamped Curl line. If you weren’t a fan of their original curl line (like me), give the new line a whirl. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how fantastic these new products are.
The new Curl Anti-Humidity Gel-Oil is a standout in this new line. This product is exactly what it says. It’s a gel and an oil. A little goes a long way (true of all Bumble products) and I rarely need to use Defrizz when I use this product. My curls curl, have shine and body, and very little frizz.
On dry shampoo days and after workouts, I freshen up my curls with Curl Pre-Style/Re-Style Primer or Tonic Lotion. Both smell great and bring my curls back to life. The Curl Primer has a little more tack, which keeps my curls from clumping together. One of these products along with a small drop of Defrizz is all I need in the morning to make my hair look like I just washed it.
My hair has enough volume on its own that I don’t use a lot of styling spray. When I do, I switch between Bumble & Bumble Holding Spray and Spray de Mode. Both products give the right amount of hold without weighing down my hair or making it sticky. There’s no helmet-head with these sprays.
Occasionally I go one day too long without washing my hair. On those days, I spray a little ThickeningDryspun Finish Spray over the places that need a little oomph. If your hair isn’t as thick as mine, this would be a great spray to use more regularly to add more volume.
Curly hair can be high maintenance, but once you’ve found your perfect cocktail of hair products (along with your perfect stylist), it’s smooth sailing. Try some of these products and let me know what works for you. Tweet me at @stellashops.
Whereto buy locally
Bumble & Bumble
- 12 South, 2900 12th Ave S.
- West Nashville, 4015 Charlotte Ave.
- Hill Center at Green Hills, 4015 Hillsboro Pike, Ste. 107
- Opry Mills, 218 Opry Mills Drive
- Cool Springs, 545 Cool Springs Blvd, Ste. 158
- Green Hills, 4009 Hillsboro Pike, #101
Kevin Murphy
- 12 South, 2900 12th Ave. S.
- West Nashville, 4015 Charlotte Ave
Hillsboro Village, 1911 21st Ave. S.
R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo
- Belmont, 2009 Belmont Blvd
- East Nashville, 519 Gallatin Ave.
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Carla Antonelli justified her shoe and handbag addiction by starting her blog,Stella Shops, which talks about all things fashion and style and where to find it in Nashville's best local boutiques. When she's not shopping, blogging about shopping or Instagramming photos of her two pugs, Mingus and Lula, you'll find her doing all things marketing and strategery at TN Media . Other vices include Cab Franc, gin martinis, triple cream brie and anything with dark chocolate. Carla lives in Hillsboro Village.