Work with, not against, your hair this summer

The path to the perfectly formed curls you deserve begins in the shower. “One of the biggest challenges with curly hair is that the cuticle is irregular,” says Colin Ford, artistic and education director for Kérastase Paris. “There are varying levels of thickness along the hair shaft; some parts are weak, while others are stronger.” This is why curls are prone to breakage and major frizz. “Normal shampooing aggravates the situation,” explains Ford.

Enter Kérastase’s Cleansing Conditioner, part of the new Curl Idéal line, designed so that curls form more evenly. The creamy low-lather formula gently cleanses without allowing hair fibres to rub together, keeping curls intact. A Pro-Keratin complex in the formula doses hair with protein and ceramide, strengthening the cuticle, while elastin gives hair spring. To add definition post-wash, Ford recommends using a cream formula for curls in need of weight and mousse for extra bounce.

 

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Kérastase Paris Curl Idéal Oléo-Curl ($56); Curl Idéal Cleansing Conditioner ($69); Curl Idéal Mousse ($46).
 

Pick a hair woe: 

1. Help! My hair has no personality. Redken Beach Envy Volume Wave Aid ($25) will give you the beach-y waves of a sea-salt spray without any actual drying sea salt. (Read text at right to find out why this is huge.)

2. Help! My hair is greasy. Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray ($32) is what you’d get if dry shampoo and hairspray had a baby. Spray it on limp hair—roots, bangs or wherever it’s needed—to jack up the volume.

3. Help! My hair is impossible to brush. “When your hair gets curlier and coarser, it becomes harder to brush,” says Amson. “It’s better to do it in the shower so you’re not breaking the curl apart. Make sure that your hair has conditioner on it, so it has more slip.” Try Tangle Teezer Compact Styler ($25).
 

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AVOID THE THIRST TRAP

Summer: the magical season when hair appears to triple in size within a day. “Hair expands and gets frizzy because it lacks moisture,” says hairstylist Sarah Amson, co-owner of Bang Salon in Toronto. “A lot of people shy away from hydrating products because they think they’re going to weigh their hair down, but there’s moisture for every hair type.” If you have fine hair, use a leave-in spray; those with medium and coarser textures can opt for a cream.

 

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Try: Kevin.Murphy Staying.Alive ($28), Garnier Whole Blends Avocado Oil & Shea Butter Nourishing Rinse Out Mask ($9) or Bumble and Bumble Bb.Curl Custom Conditioner ($42).