Get the most out of your curls

Drying and styling
Out of the shower, wrap hair in a towel, but don't rub. Then apply a curl-defining lotion or cream -- such as Matrix Biolage Curl-Defining Crème or Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion -- containing silk protein or dimethicone (a silicone derivative), two ingredients that wrap around the hair like plastic wrap. "These ingredients coat the hair shafts, creating a slick seal that prevents the cuticle from getting ruffled up," says Cindy Leyland, operations manager at Beautymark in Vancouver. "Curls are more manageable and appear shinier." Stylists are adamant: don't use fingers to apply. Comb through hair using a wide-tooth comb to cover every tendril.

To dry, hands off is the best approach. "The biggest mistake is messing with your curls as they air-dry," says Charles Booth, founder of LaCoupe salons. "You want to allow the surface of the hair to set." If you're in a hurry and need to blow-dry, use a diffuser attachment to minimize disturbance of the hair's smooth outer layer. And leave hair slightly damp. "A little bit of moisture left in the hair allows curls to remain supple and the cuticle to lie flat," says Anthony.

Tip: Keep curls in their place by creating a no-budge curl cocktail. Mix a quarter-size dollop of your favourite curl-defining cream with a dime-size amount of a gel such as Pantene Pro-V Curl Defining Scrunching Gel or Aussie Tizz No Frizz Gel. (For finer hair, use a little less cream and a little more gel.) Apply to towel-dried hair before styling.

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