Much like riding a bike, styling curly hair is one of those things that takes a fair amount of time and practice before you can really nail it. I should know, I've pretty much dedicated my life to finding products that deliver their magical promises and are really worth the money.
There are of course a lot of products that have made it onto the shortlist, but for the purpose of this article, I'm choosing to talk about my top three, desert island products, the ones that I can really rely on to whip my curls into shape.
Before I met my favored three, I had resided myself to the fact that frizz was an ever present part of my life—something that, ultimately, I would just have to get over and accept.
I relied heavily on oils, which I would douse my locks in to no end. Whilst they did dampen the frizz, they also left my hair limp and looking like I'd dunked my head into a deep-fryer—and it doesn't look good at all. Today, I still love hair oils, and I think they're great. I just don't feel the need to use half a bottle. Why? Because my trusted products are doing all the work! Allow me to introduce them:
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair!™ Super Moisture Shampoo
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo, P2,100, Sephora
Anyone with curly locks knows (or should know) that getting those ringlets in formation starts with your shampoo. It took me several years to work this out, but once I had, it was much smoother (no pun intended) sailing.
Since this discovery, I've made my way through all the curly hair cleansers the world has to offer, and while I've found some good ones, this one takes the cake. Unlike any other formula, this clever hybrid combines the cleaning action of a shampoo and the hydration of a mask, so it doesn't strip the hair or leave it feeling dry. Plus, it's packed full of nourishing and reconstructing ingredients, including biotin and algae.
IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm
IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm, P1,690, Sephora
Curly hair is naturally drier than other types, so it needs extra hydration. As I mentioned before, I was getting through ALL the hair oil—worrying amounts in fact, in a bid to tame my tresses. Turns out, if you've got the right products containing the right ingredients, oil is just an after thought.
This does everything it says on the tin. It contains hero hydrators, coconut oil, argan oil and shea butter and never leaves my hair feeling sticky, nor does it weigh it down: Two things that i've found with a lot of curl balms. It gives my curls better shape and hold, cuts out the frizz and leaves it shiny AF. My advice is to apply it when your hair is still wet, straight after you're out the shower, and use a walnut-sized amount (you can add more if your hair is thicker or longer). I prefer combing it through with my fingers and focusing more on the ends.
Virtue Polish Un-Frizz Cream
Virtue The Polish Un-Frizz Cream, $40/P2,035.74
My hair isn't crazy curly, but, thanks to all the bleach I've covered it with. It's super dry which massively exasperates the frizz. Most products work by making the hair appear smoother, rather than actually repairing the damage. Virtue uses savvy, strand-rebuilding Alpha Keratin 60ku technology to rebuild it from root to tip, so your hair gets healthier with each use.
It moisturizes, smoothes, and conditions, locking out humidity and leaving your hair oh-so soft. I tend to use it straight after the IGK balm. I'll tailor the amount to my hair's needs at the time, combing it through with my fingers again. It's important to note that I use these products if I'm planning to blow-dry my hair straight, too. They work like a charm, smoothing and setting my style through the heat and rain.
So, there you have it. It's the secret combo that hits the spot every time. You're welcome.
Follow Gabrielle on Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on Cosmopolitan.com/uk. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.
