Caring for and mastering how to style curly hair can be a journey, but it promises a magnificent transformation! At BLU Salon in Monrovia, CA, we understand the unique needs of curly tresses. Many individuals with curly hair struggle with frizz and an untamed appearance, leaving them wondering how to manage their beautiful coils truly. This guide is dedicated to all our curly-haired sisters, offering professional tips and insights to help you tame your magnificent mane and confidently embrace your natural texture.
The Truth About Oil and Your Curls: Debunking Common Myths

It’s time to set the record straight: oil is for cooking, not for hydrating your hair. This might sound counterintuitive, especially with the prevalence of DIY remedies and common misconceptions, but the science is clear. Oils like coconut oil and even lighter varieties repel moisture fundamentally. Think about it: oil and water don’t mix. This simple scientific principle applies directly to your hair.
The molecular structure of most oils is too large to be absorbed by the hair shaft. This means that while oil might coat your strands, it won’t penetrate to deliver deep hydration. Instead, what often happens is that oil builds up on the hair’s surface, creating a barrier that prevents the much-needed moisture from getting in. Curly hair is inherently prone to dryness, and proper hydration comes from water, not oil. Leaving oils on overnight or applying heat won’t magically make them penetrate; they’ll sit on the surface, potentially suffocating your curls.
Furthermore, be wary of products containing silicones. While they might offer a temporary smooth feel, silicones can also create a buildup over time, effectively blocking water from being absorbed. If you apply a product to your hand and it becomes waterproof, that’s a clear sign it’s not ideal for curly hair seeking hydration. And those Pinterest concoctions? While well-intentioned, they often lead to more harm than good for delicate curls.
A small amount of lightweight oil can be beneficial after your hair is completely dry, used sparingly for added shine or to combat slight frizz for a finished, curly style. However, remember its role is purely cosmetic at this stage, not hydrating, and it must be thoroughly removed during your next wash to prevent build-up. At BLU Salon, we recommend BOB Professional Hair Care products, designed with your hair’s health in mind, avoiding ingredients that hinder true hydration. BOB’s Hi Hydrating Oil contains no silicones and is a perfectly light-weight solution to adding shine while decreasing the frizz
The Foundation of Beautiful Curls: Gentle Cleansing

Bringing natural, curly hair to life begins with a crucial first step: gently removing product buildup and residue. This process reveals your hair’s authentic form, allowing its natural luster to shine through. Many individuals unwittingly apply layers of oils, silicones, and heavy gels over time, which can hide the true beauty of their curls. Patience is key here, as it might take a few washes to break down these accumulated layers.
For this essential first step, we highly recommend BOB Professional Hair Care’s Free Rein Shampoo. This exceptional shampoo is formulated to gently yet effectively remove build-up without stripping your hair of its natural oils or causing damage. You might find it beneficial to perform two to three washings during a single shower. For each wash, leave the shampoo on for a few minutes. As the residue begins to break down, you’ll notice a significant increase in lather with each subsequent wash, indicating that your hair is becoming cleaner and more receptive to moisture, which helps you prepare and style your curly hair.
The Pasta Analogy: Understanding True Hydration
To truly grasp the importance of moisture for your curls, let’s consider an analogy that perfectly illustrates the concept: pasta.
Think of uncooked spaghetti: it’s thin, brittle, dry, and highly prone to snapping. Hair that lacks moisture behaves in precisely the same way. It’s fragile, lacks elasticity, and is susceptible to breakage.
Now, envision cooked spaghetti: it’s plump, filled with water, incredibly supple, and wonderfully bendable. It’s resilient and resistant to breaking. Hair that is properly moisturized mirrors this perfectly. It’s soft, pliable, and less prone to damage.
What makes dehydrated pasta plump, bendable, and not brittle? It’s the water that’s absorbed into the pasta. Noticeably, oil is never used to rehydrate pasta. So, if oil isn’t the solution for rehydrating dry pasta, why would it be the answer for rehydrating your hair? The logic is simple: true hydration for your curls comes from water, not from superficial oil coatings. This understanding is the big secret to learning how to style curly hair effectively.
The Big Secret to Style Curly Hair: Hydration is King!

The ultimate secret to successfully learning how to style curly hair isn’t about piling on an arsenal of products that will only weigh down your curls, dehydrate them further, and leave them looking dull. The true secret is hydration. Hydrated hair is healthy hair, and healthy hair is beautiful hair.
At BLU Salon, we swear by the “squishing technique” for infusing your curls with the moisture they crave. Here’s how to master it:
- Thorough Cleansing: Begin by thoroughly cleansing your hair with BOB Professional Hair Care’s Free Rein Curl Shampoo, as detailed earlier.
- Drench Your Hair: Crucially, keep your hair drenched in water. Rinse out the shampoo and do not squeeze out excess water at this stage.
- Apply and Squish: Apply a minimal amount of BOB Professional Hair Care’s Free Rein Conditioner or your favorite curly hair conditioner primarily to the tips of your hair. Then, with your head tilted, gently squish your hair upwards towards the roots. The top layers of your hair are often the most exposed and can get extra dry, so ensure you squish the conditioner up to these areas. (Think of the squishing sound socks make in a wet boot.)
- Water is Key: The most crucial aspect of this technique is understanding that you’re not trying to squeeze water out of your hair while squishing. Instead, you want to encourage the water to absorb into the hair along with a small amount of conditioning treatment. The mantra here is “more water and less conditioner.” Continue this process until your hair no longer absorbs more water.
- Rinse IF NEEDED: If you feel any significant residue from the mask or conditioner on your hair, you can lightly rinse. However, if you don’t feel a residue, it’s best not to rinse. The goal is to leave the hydrating mixture of water and a tiny amount of conditioner in your hair to maximize moisture absorption.
- Patience for Dehydration: If your hair is severely dehydrated, it may take some time to hydrate thoroughly. Think of a bone-dry sponge; you need to add water to rehydrate the sponge before it can effectively absorb water. Your hair works similarly.
- Seasonal Adjustments: Just like your skin, your hair’s hydration needs can fluctuate with the seasons. In drier climates, your hair will likely require more conditioning treatment. Adjust the amount of product you use accordingly to maintain optimal hydration throughout the year.
The Next Step: Detangling and Defining Your Curls

Once your hair is wonderfully hydrated, just like that cooked pasta, supple, smooth, and soft, it’s time for the crucial step of detangling.
Always detangle your hair while still in the shower. Keep a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush readily available in your shower caddy. Begin gently removing tangles at the very ends of your hair, gradually working your way upwards. This bottom-up approach is crucial in preventing breakage and minimizing discomfort.
To keep your beautiful curls defined and styled, a quality gel or styling cream is indispensable for curly hair. We highly recommend BOB Professional Hair Care’s Free Rein Curl Cream for a soft, defined hold that lasts all day long without crunchiness. You can also create a cocktail of Free Rein Curl Cream + BOB’s Shining Armor to defrizz and protect your hair from heat damage.
While still in the shower, place a small amount of Curl Cream into your hands. Then, working in smaller sections, apply the Curl Cream to the ends of your hair using the same “squishing” technique you mastered with the conditioning treatment. Squish the product upwards into the hair. If you don’t hear a slight squishing sound as you work the product in, add a bit more water. Remember the key: less product, more water. Water helps to even out the hair’s porosity, allowing the product to distribute more uniformly throughout your curls. Evenly distributing your styling cream or gel is paramount to achieving defined, frizz-free curls.
The Final Step To Style Curly Hair: Drying and Finishing Your Style
Learning how to style curly hair also means understanding what not to do to minimize frizz and maintain curl definition.
- Never use a regular terry cloth towel to dry curly hair. The rough texture can disrupt the curl pattern and lead to frizz.
- Never rub curly hair dry. This friction is a primary cause of frizz.
- Never leave curly hair wrapped up tightly in a towel for extended periods.
So, what should you do to manage curly hair without frizz?
Instead of a traditional towel, use a smooth cotton material, such as a soft cotton T-shirt or a microfiber towel, to gently squeeze excess water from your hair. If you notice your curls starting to separate too much or frizz during this stage, it’s often a sign that you’re rubbing the hair dry instead of gently squeezing it, or that your styling cream/gel wasn’t applied evenly. If this happens, don’t panic! Add a bit more water to style curly hair if you accidentally cause frizz by separating the curl or drying too aggressively.
For drying, you have two excellent options:
- Air Dry: This is the gentlest method for your curls. Allow them to air dry naturally.
- Gentle Diffusing: If you prefer to use heat, opt for a diffuser attachment on your hairdryer. Aim the movement of the air from the scalp towards the ends. Support your curls with the diffuser, being careful not to get too aggressive with your scrunching or move the hair too much before it’s 100% dry. Excessive movement of the curl before it’s fully dry will invariably result in frizz.
When your curls are fully dry, they should initially resemble a “wet look” or feel a bit firm if you’ve used a stronger gel. Once your curls are 100% dry (and we mean completely dry!), it’s time to gently scrunch out any “crunch” to soften your overall look. To style curly hair, work from the top down. The more you scrunch, the softer and more voluminous your curls will appear. If you have longer hair, consider scrunching the ends less, leaving them a bit more defined. This helps prevent the ends from frizzing as your curls move and are touched throughout the day.

For added volume at the root, style curly hair by using a rat-tail comb or even a chopstick to gently lift the hair at the roots while diffusing. For maximum volume, once your hair is 100% dry, flip your head upside down and gently massage the hair at the scalp, being careful not to disturb the rest of your beautiful curls. A word of caution: shaking out your curls or combing through them once they’re dry will almost always result in more frizz.
To add a touch of shine or if your ends are still slightly frizzy, finish your look by scrunching in a small amount of BOB Professional Hair Care’s Hair Oil. It’s incredibly lightweight, smells amazing, and leaves your curls looking soft, shiny, and perfectly polished.
Finally, remember that regular trims are essential for maintaining the health of your curls. Trims help remove split ends and ensure your hair falls into a beautiful, well-defined shape.
Learning how to take care of and style curly hair is a rewarding journey that can result in truly jaw-dropping, beautiful hair that will make you fall deeply in love with the curl nature gave you! At BLU Salon, we can style your curls into the exact cut you desire, creating a look that achieves the perfect proportions you’re after. Whether you prefer a wild and full look or a tidy one, we have you covered. You can also book a deep conditioning treatment with a blowout, and we’d be happy to walk you through our styling method! We can help you master your technique to style curly hair!