If you lot've landed on this story, we likely share something in common: A lifelong struggle with properly managing curly hair, which besides means a never-ending search for the correct products and hair tools. So when I recently had my pilus cut by a stylist who dropped some major knowledge and gave me some of the best curly hair tips I'd ever heard, I couldn't wait to come here and share what I'd learned.

One twenty-four hour period when I realized my ends were more dissever than our state's politics, I finally said enough was enough and scheduled an appointment with master stylist Ona Diaz-Santin, owner of 5 Salon Spa in Fort Lee, New Bailiwick of jersey. I'd seen her piece of work posted past several "curly hair influencers" on Instagram, where she'due south earned the nickname "The Hair Saint." And as soon as I sat in her chair, I could tell why: After more than 20 years of styling, Diaz-Santin has the kind of calming, Zen energy that makes fifty-fifty the worst pilus crunch seem not that bad—making the experience experience less like a cut, more than like a spa day.

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The daughter of a Dominican mother who owned salons in Queens and Jersey, Diaz-Santin has worked with all kinds of pilus throughout her career—but her specialty is curls. (Makes sense when yous accept i look at her own fabulous ringlets.) Just what I found near refreshing about Diaz-Santin is that she believes nosotros shouldn't subscribe to a i-size-fits-all mentality for curly hair; co-ordinate to her, every caput is completely unlike and should be treated equally such. "I requite props to the 'curly hair salons,' just I don't believe that there is one single cut or one single product that works for anybody—you accept to become to know your hair and what it needs. And your stylist should, too."

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Here, the best curly hair tips from Diaz-Santin, that take not only changed how my hair looks (which is, if I do say and then myself, fantastic) simply too how I feel about my hair. I hope they'll do the same for y'all, besides.

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Afterwards my cut with Ona. Curls healthy, soul refreshed!

i. When you're going for a cut, be as specific equally possible with your stylist.

With every client who sits in her chair, Diaz-Santin begins their session with a conversation. "I ask all of my clients, 'What do you lot honey near your hair? What would you alter if y'all could? What exercise you hope to get out of your visit today?'" she says. "Communication with your stylist is one of the biggest keys to making sure y'all walk out of the salon happy, both within and out."

While Diaz-Santin maintains that at that place is no one set up haircut that works for all curly hair, she does typically apply versions of what's called the "sliding technique," a way of cutting that layers the hair to add together texture and remove bulk. But when I specifically told Diaz-Santin during our chat that I did not want my hair thinned out—and also, that I didn't want to lose likewise much length, since I'd noticed previous "curl experts" tended to chop off way more inches than I wanted—she used a gentler touch during the cut to help shape my hair without removing too much volume or length.

two. You might not want to skip the shampoo.

Information technology'southward a common belief in the curly hair customs that co-washing—or washing with conditioner just—is the way to become. Many believe that shampooing is actually not great for curls, because the majority of shampoos contain sulfates, which rob the hair of moisture—important for frizz-free curls.

Only the key to healthy pilus, according to Diaz-Santin, is a healthy scalp—and when the scalp hasn't been cleaned, there'due south ends upwardly existence a lot of build upwards at the roots, which tin bear on the health of the hair. So even if you lot don't use shampoo every time you launder, she does recommend shampooing at to the lowest degree a few times per month to clean the scalp. And if you do make up one's mind to...um, 'poo, she recommends these gentler products:

Gentle Shampoos for Curly Hair

Wella Invigo Enrich Shampoo 250ml

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And y'all can too try these curly hair shampoos.

System Professional Hydrate Mask

System Professional Hydrate Mask

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3. Consider a hydrating mask.

Just like wearing a primer is the fundamental to a perfect, long-lasting makeup look, Diaz-Santin says that the "prep" process is essential for achieving what she calls "juicy curls" that are shiny, boisterous, and free of frizz. "A lot of people are focused on conditioners, which is bully, simply applying a hydrating mask every few washes tin can really bring new life into your curls and also continue them salubrious and shiny until your next launder," she says.

Later on conditioning her clients, Diaz-Santin typically applies a hydrating mask‚ like Arrangement Professional's, here on the left (which has worked wonders on me, even during my own at-h0me washes later my appointment at 5 Salon). She then lets it sit for a few minutes earlier the adjacent stride...

4. After yous've conditioned, run cold water through your pilus for a few seconds.

Rinsing your hair with cold water does indeed help forbid frizz, according to Diaz-Santin. It aids in closing the cuticles, and is especially constructive if you've practical a hydrating mask—the absurd h2o seals everything together. Diaz-Santin rinsed me with cool h2o at her salon, and I've since tried it domicile and agree that it does make a departure. But, of course, only if you follow all of the steps to make your hair its best, like...

5. Detangle your pilus subsequently the shower—and without conditioner.

If you're anything like me, you've spent far too much time in the shower with a broad-tooth comb working your wait through knots. And I've also washed it, as many stylists before had recommended to me, while wearing conditioner, which I thought was supposed to make the entire process easier. But Diaz-Santin warns that detangling while wearing conditioner can actually cause even more tangling. Instead, she recommends beginning postal service-shower, and starting with the next step.

seven. Before you detangle, separate your hair into 4 sections.

Start by parting your hair horizontally, separating your hair from earlobe to earlobe to divide it into two big sections. Then, separate each of those halves vertically into 2 pieces, so you cease upwards with four cross sections. Next, twist and screw each private section into a minor bun, so clip three of them to your scalp to give yourself room while you detangle the fourth section.

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8. Utilise a spray bottle to add moisture.

"While you're detangling, wetness is cardinal to making sure you tin easily work your mode through knots," Diaz-Santin says. Before detangling each of my sections, she sprayed each clamper three or four times just to give it some added moisture. "H2o is likewise helpful to make certain your product tin can practice its task. I'm not a fan of putting products in the hair when it'due south already dry—they'll work all-time when your hair is still in its dampest form."

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ix. Use a moisture brush.

I know. I know. A brush? I'll admit that this particular tip was controversial for me, likewise, because I've ever been taught that wide molar combs are the golden standard for detangling curls. And putting a brush anywhere near curly hair sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. (Can't you merely hear the hair ripping from your caput when yous think of the word brush?!)

Simply this particular tool is really fabricated for moisture pilus, with a bristle technology that glides through strands without tugging...almost like magic. After Diaz-Santin used this tool on me—and and so, when I later used it on my ain—I found that there was a lot less pilus lost during the detangling process. And information technology besides injure much less than tugging a comb through my knots.

10. Detangle from the bottom showtime, and then the heart, and so the top.

It might seem counterintuitive, but instead of starting at your scalp and working your rummage or brush downwardly, Diaz-Santin showed me that by starting with brushing the ends, with a end in the eye, by the time yous get to the height of the hair, everything else is detangled—so information technology'south much easier for your brush or comb to glide through. "Ends to roots!" was her refrain. And information technology works: I detect now that once I get the knots out at the bottom, pushing through detangling from the top is a breeze.

11. Don't exist afraid of your fingers.

Diaz-Santin pointed out that we're oft so worried near finding the perfect curly hair tools that we forget about a given one: Our hands. Finger-combing can be much gentler on the pilus while detangling, she says. And while edge brushes are great for smoothing babe hairs, she also recommends applying production directly to your fingers and using them to rummage through and lay down fly aways.

This is an image

12. Be nice to your hair!

Think when I mentioned that Diaz-Santin is super Zen? While sitting in her chair, she reminded me that only like annihilation else on our bodies, our hair responds best when we're dainty to it. In other words, not just is taking care of it regularly—with the best products and cuts—super of import, just also, exist gentle. "Washing hair day should be something that you lot look forrard to—not something you lot dread," she says. "And you actually don't accept to go ripping through your hair to go through tangles and knots. But past taking your time and handling your hair gently, you lot'll find that it will be a lot less painful and fourth dimension consuming. Plus, your curls volition both look and feel better."

13. For bouncier curls, exist generous with your product.

In this case, less isn't more. As she styled my hair, Diaz-Santin made sure to really work the production—for my thick hair type that needs stiff hold, she recommended Sebastian's Liquigel texturizer—through each section afterward she detangled. And once again, she wasn't agape to use her fingers and actually comb the product through each section; using your finger like a comb will help to split and form ringlets. She used almost two quarter'south worth of production for each of the four sections of my head. Liberally covering the hair with product volition help achieve bouncier curls.

Curly Hair Products

Sebastian Texturizer, 5.1 oz.

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xiv. Air dry out whenever possible—and when you tin can't, diffuse.

I think one of the get-go lessons most curly girls learn is that our hair ordinarily looks better—and less frizzy—when we permit it air dry versus blowing it out, and Diaz-Santin agrees that information technology's the best method to let the products actually soak in and work their magic on your hair. But of course, life doesn't ever make it that easy, and when you lot're running low on fourth dimension and don't want to go out the business firm with a moisture caput, it's fourth dimension to break out the diffuser, a accident dryer attachment that softens the release of air while drying to prevent frizz.

Hair Dryer Diffusers

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xv. Use a satin pillowcase when sleeping—or necktie your hair in a pineapple.

As if humidity and air current weren't enough, another major crusade of frizz is friction—peculiarly when yous toss and plough in the middle of the night. To avoid mussing up your mane while yous catch your Zzz's, Diaz-Santin recommends a satin pillowcase, like i of these—which volition smooth curls instead of agitating them like cotton.

Another no-fail method is styling your hair in a "pineapple" earlier bed past loosely tying upwardly your hair on top of your head—ends facing forward if it's long enough—to relieve them from getting flattened in the middle of the night.

Need a visual? Curly influencer Carolina Contreras, a.1000.a. Miss Rizos, has a peachy tutorial:

xvi. To add volume, clap your easily between your curls.

If you lot're skeptical about how this sounds, you're non alone. My offset thought was Doesn't motion equal frizz? But if yous need to add a petty book to your curls subsequently they've dried completely (keyword: completely!) Diaz-Santin has a little method she's come upwards: Flip your hair upside down, then clap your hands quickly a few times betwixt your curls. This gives but the right corporeality of added volume without shaking the curls or causing frizz.

Showroom A:

17. Wash your hair at to the lowest degree once a week.

Over again, Diaz-Santin doesn't have a one-size-fits-all playbook for things like frequency, because it all depends on the pilus blazon. She says that curly girls with thinner pilus may want to wash their hair more than often, because the hair can get greasy and weighed down afterward a few days, while those of us with thicker hair can probably terminal a few more days. Simply she recommends anybody wash their hair at least once a week, non only because your curls volition probably be gear up for a revamp by then, just also because it'south important to take care of them. "Just similar your mind and your spirit, your hair needs self-care, also!" she says. "Having that ritual in one case a calendar week is of import for keeping those curls as healthy as possible.

eighteen. Become your hair trimmed at a minimum of every four months.

To go along your hair as good for you every bit possible and to avoid split ends (which equals frizz!) Diaz-Santin recommends people with curly hair become a trim every six to 8 weeks. But she admits that might not always be the almost practical, so she suggests every four months or and so if possible.

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