Get the most out of your curls

When she was in her teens, Laurie Mackenzie dreamed of being a straight-haired girl. She would tug and pull, slick and smooth to no avail -- her natural corkscrews just bobbed back into perky place. Today, Laurie, the copy chief for Canadian Living and Homemakers magazines, has developed a more "amicable" relationship with her hair. "I've learned that you just can't fight curly hair," she says. "The curls always win."

Letting your hair's natural bent win is a good move -- especially now. Catwalks are crowded with curls and manufacturers can't get curl products onto the shelves fast enough.

Need more convincing? It takes a professional approximately 35 minutes to straighten a head of curls; at home, double that time. "There's never been a better time to give you and your hair a break," says Toronto hairstylist Marc Anthony, who created his Strictly Curls line of products to help curly-heads break their blow-dryer addictions.

Here's how to get the most from your curls with the least fuss.

A cut above
A good cut makes all the difference between wonderful and way out. For curly-heads, layers are a must. "But be sure to get layers cut in at the right length," cautions Anthony. "Too short and your hair will be too round and full; too long and the hair will fall flat." Ideally, ask your stylist for mid-length layers that bring spring to your spirals.

Fabulous versus frizz
Curly hair tends to be dry -- that's because the protective outer layer of the hair shaft, the cuticle, is pieced together much like fish scales; when curly hair loops and bends, those scales lift, releasing moisture. The result: frizz.

A gentle shampoo packed with moisturizers is the first line of offense against the dreaded frizzies -- for example, LaCoupe Perfect Curls Bounce Curl Enhancing Shampoo and L'Oréal Paris Vive Curl-Moisture Shampoo, which contain restorative proteins and shine-boosting ingredients. The claim to fame of the New York-based Deva line of shampoos (available at specialty beauty stores) is that they're latherless. The company's No-Poo and Low-Poo DevaCurl suds-free shampoos stay mainly on the scalp and come packed with essential oils.

Tip: Really thick, coarse curls can benefit from a leave-in conditioner, such as Aveda Elixir Daily Leave-On Hair Conditioner. "The leave-in will provide extra weight and added conditioning," says Anthony.

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