Curls can kink, crunch, frizz and fall. Keeping your curls looking good can sometimes seem like a full time job—but it doesn’t have to be if you know a few tricks of the trade. In order to face the various curly hair challenges and come out victorious, we turned to a man who really knows hair. Professional hairstylist Dallin James got us up to speed with some surprisingly unique tricks for curly haired gals.

1. Stop Washing Your Hair

“My first tip is to stop washing your hair.” Bold, we know. But there is some logic to his madness here. “The natural oils in your hair and scalp are the best thing for curly hair,” says James. “Try to only wash your hair 1-2 times a week with a mild-lather cleanser that won’t strip the oils from your hair.” Okay, so he isn’t suggesting tossing out all shampoo forever–just washing with a gentle formula on more of a biweekly basis. Try making a switch to DevaCurl Low-Poo or Redken Curvaceous Cream Shampoo. (Psst, if you want to try Redken’s shampoo and new line of curl care products before you buy them, you can! Sign up here.)

2. Forget the Bath Towel

At least for drying your hair. According to James, “The fibers in bath towels are like thousands of little hooks that will snag on your curl, making it frizzy.” The solution is, of course, to swap your bath towel for another absorbent material. His suggestion, however, is an unconventional one. “I recommend using a pair of your boyfriend’s clean boxer shorts – seriously – the fabric absorbs moisture without disturbing the curl.”

3. Experiment with Product

James likes to scrunch a small amount of shaping wax like Aveda Light Elements Shaping Wax or Matrix Glow to Pieces Shine Wax to keep curls nice and separated with just the right amount of shine and hold. But he notes that no two heads of curly hair are the same, so play around and experiment with products until you find what works for you.

 

What do you do to keep the spring in your spirals? Share your curly hair tips below!

Photos: Thinkstock