How to Control Curly, Frizzy Hair

In high school I discovered flat irons and began straightening my hair, which worked a little but always looked slightly fried and unnatural. Then one day I had an epiphany. I was fighting a losing battle. Instead of working against my hair, maybe I should start working with it? There had to be a way to make my God-given curls work in my favor. A friend of my mother's had long, curly hair, so one day I asked her how she got it to look so good? The answer she gave changed my life: products. Products! All it took was a little hair gel and a blow dryer diffuser attachment to achieve a look of loveliness. I took her advice, and have embraced my curls ever since. Here are the life-saving tips to creating manageable curls that I would be lost without:

2.) When you get out, gently squeeze excess water out using your hands, just enough so it's not dripping wet. Using a towel creates friction that causes frizz. Place a quarter-sized dollop of gel in the palm of your hand (I swear by Matrix's Biolage "Gelee") and run through your hair. Depending on the length of your hair, you may need to use more. Experiment with different amounts to find what works best for you. Not enough product and your curls will misbehave. Too much and your hair will look greasy and weighed down. Wash hands when finished.

3.) Flip hair back and forth over your head a few times and shake it out to separate the curls naturally.

4.) Lean over so all your hair is hanging in front of your face. Attach a diffuser to your blow dryer (diffusers enhance curls and control frizz by evenly distributing air) and start drying until hair is 90% dry. Conair sells diffuser attachments that are compatible with most standard blow dryers.

• People with curly hair really only need to wash their hair every other day or so due to the fact that daily shampooing will make your curls even dryer. If you do have to wash it every day, use a dandruff shampoo like Head & Shoulders, or a moisturizing shampoo like Herbal Essences "Hello Hydration".

• If you wake up in the morning and your curls aren't looking so hot, try a product like Pantene Pro-V Frizz Control Curl Revive. Mist over dry curls to give them moisturization and a frizz-free lift.

• Deep condition your hair once a week with a product like Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner. While in the shower, apply the conditioner from about the middle of your ears down to the ends (this keeps your scalp from getting greasy). Allow to absorb for 10-20 minutes, then rinse.

• If your curls are excessively dry or frizzy, apply a dime-size amount of John Frieda's Frizz Ease Hair Serum after you get out of the shower but before putting in your hair gel.

• Never use a brush on curly hair. De-tangle hair in the shower by running a wide tooth comb through your tresses while conditioning.

These days, curly hair is gaining in the ranks of popularity. Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson, Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks embrace the sexy unruliness of their natural look. If you are someone who was blessed with curly hair, consider yourself lucky. Since I began enhancing my curls rather than hiding them, the tables have turned dramatically. I can't tell you how many times people with stick straight hair have come up to me and said, "I would give anything to have your hair. No matter what I do, my hair just won't hold a curl!"