THE LONG GAME
Salon Grange’s Shelley Pullar has advice for keeping curls on course for three days straight.
PHOTOS DEBORAH DE GRAAF
There’s a particular kind of confidence that comes with a really good curls day. When the shape is right, the movement is effortless and every curl seems to know exactly where it belongs, everything else just falls into place. The trick is making that feeling last.
Achieving beautiful curls doesn’t necessarily mean washing your hair every day. With the right preparation and a little care between shampoos, curls can look fresh, defined and full of life for three days, or sometimes even longer. Let’s look at how.
Day one: Moisture, definition and hold. The foundation of good, long-lasting curls is moisture. Apply leave-in conditioner to soaking-wet hair, then follow with a curl cream or gel while the hair is still very wet. This encourages the curls to naturally come together, creating definition and helping to lock in moisture.
When it comes to curly hair, one product does not suit all. The individual thickness of your hair strands plays an important role in choosing the right formula for you.
If you have fine hair, your individual strands are thinner and can be easily weighed down, so lightweight products such as mousse or foam are often ideal.
Medium hair gives you more freedom, with combinations such as mousse and gel working well, depending on the level of definition and hold you’re after. For thick or coarse hair, richer conditioning and stronger hold are often beneficial. Just remember that too much product can create build-up and leave your hair feeling heavy.
Once your products are applied, use a curl brush, beginning from underneath the hair and working upwards towards the roots. I also use mini clips around the crown and hairline to create height and prevent curls from drying flat against the scalp.
Now, leave them alone. Allow your hair to air dry completely, or use a diffuser on a low heat and low speed.
Once completely dry, gently scrunch your curls with clean, dry hands to soften any crunchiness. The finished result should be soft and touchable, but with enough hold to carry you through the days ahead.
The secret happens while you sleep. If there’s one step I wouldn’t skip, it’s protecting your curls overnight. Using a silk or satin scrunchie, gather your hair into a very loose ponytail high on top of your head. Keep it loose, as the aim is to preserve your curl pattern, not create a new one with a hair tie.
For even less friction, sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase, or in a silk or satin bonnet. They’re the simplest ways to help minimise frizz and preserve definition.
Days two and three: Refresh, don’t restart. The days between washes should be about refreshing, not starting again. Lightly mist your hair with water from a spray bottle. I like to add a small amount of Clever Curl Leave-In Curl Cream and shake it well before using it as a refresher. You’re looking to lightly hydrate and re-energise your curls, rather than saturate them.
Gently scrunch the hair upwards with your hands and, if needed, add a few mini clips around the crown for extra lift. Leave your curls to dry naturally while you get ready for the day. If any curls that lose their shape, wrap them around your finger and allow them to dry.
The secret to lasting curls is preparation, hydration and knowing when to leave them alone. Give yours the right foundation on wash day, protect them overnight, and refresh rather than rewash, and you’ll enjoy beautifully defined hair for longer.
Clever Curl has a gorgeous giveaway for the first 24 UNO readers who book a curl cut at Salon G. You’ll receive their new Long Hold Curl Gel, designed to provide longer-lasting hold without stickiness, plus Curl Oil for shine and definition, all valued at $90.