A high-flying mop top can be a hair styling nightmare, but it can also play to your benefit if you know how to tame it. Here are a few easy tips for wrangling that mane—because your hair should bend to your will, and not the other way around.
Refine Your Shower Technique
A few small tweaks to your morning routine can make all the difference later. Shampoo only once every 2-3 days to keep hair from growing dry, and use a moisturizing conditioner to cut back on frizz. You can even skip the rinse to have it function as a leave-in conditioner (or invest in an actual leave-in conditioner for maximum shine and smoothness). Once you step out of the shower, avoid a vigorous rub with your towel: Gently patting hair dry will leave a little moisture, and keep your curls together.
For Less Volume, Use a High-Hold Styler
If your goal is tight and tidy curls, you'll have to bring some firepower. Use a high-hold, matte-finish styling product, and work it in from the roots when your hair is still damp. (Applying while dry can actually make frizz worse.) Once your hair is dry, the product will block out humidity, and help your curls maintain their shape while keeping them close to your scalp. To avoid a crunchy texture, choose a styler that's soft and pliable.
For More Volume, Use a Sea Salt Spray
If you want to maintain (or enhance) your volume while keeping your curls neat, we can't recommend this more highly. A moisturizing sea salt spray will provide the perfect amount of hold to keep your strands together—without the sticky or crunchy texture of more intensive stylers. Just apply a few spritzes to dry or damp hair, and let it air dry naturally.
If All Else Fails, Use a Diffuser
While you may have reservations about investing in a blowdryer (or what's more, a blowdryer attachment), you can't argue with the results. Using a specialized diffuser will help to distribute the application of heat, giving your curls some serious volume while preventing frizz and flyaways. Just apply some sea salt spray to slightly damp hair, then work the diffuser through your curls on low heat and low intensity. It will only take one test drive to turn you into a believer.