If you’re stumped on how to care for curls, it’s likely because the advice out there varies wildly. It makes sense that with something as individual as hair pattern, it can be hard to nail the perfect curly hair routine – no two curls look the same, after all.
One of the biggest problems curly-haired girls face is frizz. Curled strands are more porous and prone to dryness and breakage (which is what creates that tell-tale halo), so they require more upkeep and prep. The second issue is definition. Have you ever woken up one day with 10/10 waves that you’ve never been able to recreate again? There are so many variables that can mess with your hair pattern, from humidity and wind, to the way you’ve slept, but luckily good prep and hydration can protect your precious curls.
Yes, it’s going to take experimentation to achieve your ideal curl routine. It’s a journey, but when you get there – and get past the initial fear of going sans heat – it might just change your life. The time saved is monumental: once you’ve found your post-shower routine you could gain a good 40 minutes (with long hair, anyway) in bed every morning.
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If you’re on a natural hair hype or just want to experiment with something beyond your straighteners, read ELLE UK’s helpful guide to embracing your natural curly hair:
Get to know your curl type:
'There are several different curl types but there are three main categories for me as a curl specialist,' says celebrity hair stylist Kendall Dorsey. If you're new to 'curl talk', you'll have heard a confusing array of letters and numbers being used, so let's break it down.
Type 2 hair includes all wavy strands, ranging from 2A (lightly waved) to 2C (S-shaped waves). 'This is what I call 'swavy' texture which is hair that has a more relaxed and flexible curl pattern,' says Dorsey.
Type 3 is 'what we call curly hair. It's a slightly looser curl compared to coils and can be anything up to 3C. This curl category can be defined by those who have extremely curly hair.'
Type 4 are straight-up coiled strands, often thought of as Afro-textured or kinky hair. 'Coiled curls are your finer texture curls and your tightest on the curl map,' says Dorsey.
![curly hair guide](https://cdn.statically.io/img/hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/zendaya-attends-the-dune-part-two-new-york-premiere-at-news-photo-1744113358.pjpeg?crop=0.811xw:0.907xh;0.128xw ""Dune: Part Two" New York Premiere")
You need the best curly hair products
It’s definitely worth experimenting with your ideal curl product before settling on your go-to. Serums and oils will smooth cuticles, and help soft and shiny waves form, but won't guarantee the best definition. A mousse adds volume and, in 2025, provided you know how much to apply, will not give you the dreaded ‘crunch’. A cream applied right can add real shine, but it's easy to add the wrong amount for your curl type – type 2s might have greasy weighed-down waves while type 4 will benefit from this a wet-look coil.
This nourishing cream smells amazing and creates soft, shiny curls and waves. It's technically a leave-in conditioner so it gets to work hydrating strands, too.
Seal those flyaways in with this nourishing anti-frizz cream. Best applied straight out of the shower, and best suited to wavy hair types.
If you have straight hair without even the hope of a curl, we reckon Color Wow's Dream Coat can squeeze a few beachy waves out of those strands. Seriously, it's that good.
Mousse called: it's back from the 1980s and much improved. Oribe's is worth every penny because it creates voluminous waves without the crunch.
Don't be daunted by the gel texture of this product, it creates weightless curls – and you can build it up during application to suit your curl type, whether type 2 or coiled.
Trust Fenty Beauty to nail a do-it-all product for every hair type. This cream hydrates curls while defining them, without weighing anything down.
How should you apply curly hair products?
The best tip a hairdresser told me when I started my curl journey was that you need to apply the product to your hair fresh out of the shower. I am talking sopping wet. This way you’ve sealed in that halo of frizz before the shorter hairs start to dry and become unruly. Do not towel dry your hair at all costs, this only roughs up the cuticle and encourages frizz.
Is air drying or diffusing better?
'Airdrying will always be the better option,' says Anabel Kingsley, Consultant Trichologist and Brand President at Philip Kingsley. 'Diffusing will rough the hair cuticle and you are using heat to cause the moisture to evaporate so you will always get more frizz.'
This is good news for women who want to cut their morning routine in half. It's less ideal in the winter when you're heading straight out of the door – cold air and wet hair are a recipe for irritated, dry and flaky scalps, so you might want to switch up your routine depending on the season.
Condition is key
Kingsley emphasises that moisture is key when it comes to good curls. 'Curls are particularly fragile. And, a little like a bend in a straw, the curl creates weak points along the hair shaft. Hydrated strands will have more stretch and elasticity, they will have more bounce, helping with curl retention, definition and frizz,' she shares. Kingsley recommends regular hair masks – which, yes, you might have heard is essential for everyone, but it's especially important for curly hair.
It goes beyond conditioning, though, says Dorsey. 'To combat frizz you need to cleanse your scalp with a really good residue-free shampoo, which removes everything from the outer layer of the cuticle.' A weekly detox will help keep your scalp squeaky clean – you need to counteract the product you'll inevitably be using to keep those curls in tact.
Speaking of residue – the quality of your water really does make a difference. After a month of showering with Hello Klean's water filter, which removes 99% of chlorine and heavy metals, I noticed my curl pattern improve and my scalp stop feeling sore.
K18 HAIR Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask
Regular masks are essential for curly hair, even more than most, because it's more prone to dryness.
Hello Klean Shower Filter 2.0
Skip the chlorine and heavy metals that weigh down your curls and dry out hair with a shower filter.
Living Proof Clarifying Detox Shampoo
Prevent product build-up dragging your curls down by detoxing with a clarifying shampoo once a week.
Elasticizer Therapies
Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer is an icon for a reason: this deep-conditioning treatment will add bounce to brittle curls.
Beauty Pie's leave-in spray is good for both curl definition and conditioning. The mask is a great once-a-week hydration boost.
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil 50ml
Applying a little hair oil to your tresses before bed will help prevent strands drying out.
Aftercare matters
Most people complain that their curls look great on hair wash day but after a night of sleep they’re frizzy and unruly.
Invest in a great second-day spray or product. A salt spray with revitalise and reform any curls or waves that have been mussed up during your sleep. Resist the temptation to brush through bed hair as it will only create frizz and ruin the formation of wave patterns.
If you want to go the extra mile to prevent ruining your curl pattern when your head hits the pillow, you need to quite literally look to your pillow. Silk pillowcases or bonnets will prevent pulling and snagging.
Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Curls Refresh & Revive Mist
Hershesons Air Dry Spray
SILKE Hair Wrap - The Mila
Your haircut is super important
One of the best things I ever did for my hair was cut it to one length. Well, almost – my natural fine strands around the hairline due to postpartum hair loss and damage creates a natural gradation at the front. Whenever a hairdresser has tried to layer or thin out my hair, I have found my waves tend to frizz instead of forming.
And yet when I speak to hairdresser Gustav Fouche, he insists that 'curls need layers to create and support their shape.' This tells me everything I need to know about how everyone's curl journey is different.
'The choice of cut will depend on the client’s curl type and personal preference. For instance, a heavily layered cut, such as a shag, can result in big, bouncy, voluminous curls. Alternatively, a softer, more structured look like a graduated bob with subtle layers through the top can also work beautifully.'
Fouche is also adamant that curly hair should always be cut dry. 'Cutting hair wet removes the curls and volume, effectively eliminating two of the three dimensions we work with. This makes it much harder to accurately gauge how the shape will sit and behave once dry.'
The Ultimate Curly Hair Routine
1) Wash and condition your hair as usual – a curl-specific shampoo will make a difference but it's not essential. Don't forget to rotate once-weekly detox washes and hair masks.
2) Wring out hair very gently then apply your favourite curly hair products while strands are still saturated. Some products (like Bread's hair gel or a classic mousse) require root-to-ends application, but most will suggest mid-lengths onwards. Make sure to read the instructions to get the best of your chosen formula.
3) Scrunch strands by tipping your head upside down, cupping your hands around the ends and pushing upwards to encourage definition. For a wet-look curl, you can actively create coils by creating twists.
4) Air dry for best results, or use a diffuser on low heat and speed.
5) If frizz remains, apply a finishing serum, hair spray or oil to smooth any flyaways.
6) Sleep on a silk pillowcase or with a silk hair bonnet to keep curls intact overnight.
7) Refresh curls in the morning with a salt spray. Do not brush hair.
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Abigail Southan is our Senior Fashion Ecommerce Editor and has five years' experience as a writer and editor in the industry. Abigail has a BA in History from the University of Bristol and an MA in Fashion Journalism from Central Saint Martins. Abigail currently covers all things style and shopping across titles including Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Esquire and Red. On a daily basis, she helps readers buy better with how-to-wear guides, first-person product reviews and deep dives into the latest trends. Previously, Abigail has worked for The Sunday Times’ Style and Fabulous magazine as their first ecommerce writer and was a founding editor of Sun Selects. She has also written for Net-a-Porter, I-D, Man About Town, Wonderland and 1 Granary, and has interviewed the likes of Paris Hilton, Dua Lipa and Christopher Bailey. You can follow Abigail on Instagram at @abigailsouthan.
