How to Cut Curly Hair

There's nothing wrong with wanting to mimic the haircuts of famous celebrities. They visit the hottest stylists and the best colorists, they sport the latest cuts and they make it look awesome. But because of this, we mistakenly think that their particular style will look great on us, completely disregarding the concept of facial structure. Not all cuts look good on all face shapes. And nothing is worse than trying to fight nature by forcing your hair to conform to a cut it can't control.

Wavy hair needs to be balanced with long layers starting around the chin. Wavy hair is typically thick and voluminous, so longer lengths that cascade just around your shoulders look incredibly sexy. It is critical that hair be trimmed every 8-10 weeks. Wavy heads who don't follow this rule may find themselves experiencing the terror of "triangle head", which is when the hair grows out and becomes poufy on the bottom but totally flat on top. Trimming the ends and the layers regularly will help hair keep it's shape.

Care for wavy hair with a moisturizing shampoo (such as Neutrogena Triple Moisture Cream Lather Shampoo) and a moisturizing conditioner (I swear by Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curls & Waves -- my curls have never been bouncier or more defined.) As I discussed in How to Control Curly, Frizzy Hair, it isn't necessary for wavy-headed gals to wash their every day, as this further dries out already dry hair. And don't listen when those with super-stick-straight hair tell you it's disgusting. Fine hair needs to be washed every day or it starts looking greasy; this is not the case with you. Lastly, do not rub hair vigorously with a towel once you get out of the shower as this destroys the cuticle and creates massive amounts of frizz.

Again, layers are the way to go if you want structure and definition for your curly locks. Curly hair can be worn super short only if it's cut close to the head no longer than three inches and conforms to the shape of the scalp. Long, flowing curls look gorgeous when layered at the chin and angled down. In the back, opt for fewer layers so the hair will appear to flow neatly backwards. Anything in between these two options is a death sentence.

Curly hair is deprived of moisture, so again, shampoo as infrequently as possible, using a moisturizing product when you do. The biggest challenge with curly hair is the F-word: frizz. Combat this by using a moisturizing or frizz-free conditioner like John Frieda's Frizz-Ease and deep conditioning once a week. Letting hair air dry is only acceptable if you've applied a controlling gel or mousse ahead of time. If you're going to blow dry, definitely use a diffuser attachment and don't stop until every strand is dry.