Curly Hair Solutions™

WISH – MARCH 06 Play up your natural wave and end up with luscious, camera-ready curls. DO DON’T WASH Use a shampoo and conditioner with a low pH level like Curly Hair Solutions Silk Shampoo, $14, and Conditioner, $13. Anything higher than pH 7 can damage the cuticle and cause frizz. Don’t rinse hair with hot water. Cool water will help the cuticle lie flat, giving hair a smoother feel and appearance. CUT Cut hair in different lengths. A technique known as the Tunnel Cut (pioneered at Toronto’s Curly Hair Institute) trims hidden pieces of hair about two inches shorter than the rest. Don’t cut hair very short. Curls only start to take shape after approximately two inches of growth. STYLE Apply your styling product (gel, mousse or serum) immediately after washing. Curly hair is perfect to style when wet. Don’t comb hair it its natural direction of growth. Grooming the opposite way will add volume and encourage the top two inches of hair (that often lie flat) to be curly. DRY Allow hair to air-dry slightly before diffusing. This encourages curls to naturally separate. Use a drum diffuser or a blowdryer sponge – an accessory that goes over the barrel and allows the nozzle to get close to the roots and encourage more volume. Don’t worry about the finished style when drying hair. That should be done only after the hair is completely dry. Don’t over-blowdry your hair. Direct pressue causes breakage and frizz. A Cut Above We sent Ruth Alves, Wish Associate Art Director and resident curly hair tester, to Jonathan Torch at the Curly Hair Institute in Toronto to get the inside scoop. INSTANT RINGLETS – “My hair was really difficult to control – and used to get ‘bigger’ throughout the day, Jonathan gave me a cut that’s quick and easy to style. He used chunky layers to think my hair so the curls have room to move. This also gave my curls great definition. Bonus: my hair now takes less time to dry, and I use way less product. And I don’t have to spend time fussing anymore, because my curls fall naturally into place.” SEASONAL SWITCH: Jonathan also recommended longer layers for summer when curls have more bounce, and shorter layers for winter when the air is dryer and curls have a tendency to fall out.” CURL ENHANCERS EXTRA BODY – Bring out the bounce in curls and the body in waves – and even add texture to straight hair – with IV Cosmeceuticals Deconstruct Wave Enhancer, $25. SUPERHOLD – Restyle your hair just by wetting it with water based Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper, $14. SOFT LOCKS – Eliminate crunchy curls by using this foam on wet hair before diffusing. Marc Anthony True Professional Strictly Curls Volumizing Styling Foam, $10.