It’s official – if there’s ever been a time to own your effortless tousle and work your corkscrew curls, it’s 2022.
If, like us, the thought of straightening your au natural texture one more time is worse than a dealing with yet another delayed flight, then we’re here to show you how to ditch the irons and take a more organic approach to styling.
Forget the styling tools, and leave the heat damage at home, because enhancing your hair’s natural movement need no longer be a daunting prospect.
Read on for how to encourage your curls minus the heated hair tools…
Matteo Scarpellini
10 Ways To Style Natural Curly Hair
Twist wet hair with a towel instead of rubbing all over.
Go easy with your hairbrush or try a wide-toothed comb.
Ask for a ‘feathered’ cut at the hairdressers.
Swap your hair serum for a curl creme.
Use a diffuser on your hairdryer.
Avoid anti-frizz products.
Get a mousse with a modern ‘non-crispy’ formula.
Choose light-hold hairspray.
Get a deep conditioning treatment.
Try salt spray.
Intrigued? Get the full info on the ten tricks you need to master your natural texture and become a fully fledged curly girl below.
How To Style Natural Curly Hair
1. Adopt the ‘twist and press’ method when drying
We’re all guilty of rough drying our tresses after a shower, but the rigorous motion can crush natural curls and encourage a halo of frizz. Hairstylist Lee Stafford mentions that the much gentler ‘press and twist’ method will preserve curls and provide body.
‘Simply take your towel and press and twist the hair rather than roughly rubbing it back and forth,’ he said. ‘Vigorously rubbing the hair to dry it will push the hair cuticles upwards which creates frizz.’
Imaxtree
2. Go gentle with the hairbrush
Curly hair tends to be more dry and brittle than other types, so pulling a hairbrush through it will cause breakage and iron out your curl’s natural shape, but that doesn’t mean you need to avoid it completely.
‘Using a detangling brush on conditioned hair is a really great way to get your curls popping and it is the safest time to brush through your hair,’ says Michelle Sultan, creative director of curl-focused haircare brand, Imbue. ‘A wide tooth comb is also great and sometimes works better depending on hair length and density.’
ELLE Edit: Curl-Friendly Combs
Purple Haze Recycled Plastic Pik
Wide Tooth Detangling Comb – £13
Briogeo
3. Ask your hairstylist to feather the ends of your hair with a razor or scissors
This is one of the best kept secrets in hairdressing. Think of a synthetic ribbon – when you scrape the surface with the the sharp edge of a pair of scissors, the end shoots up into a curl; this is what feathering your hair will achieve.
Hello, all-over volume.
Imaxtree
4. Swap your oily serum for a light curl creme
Oils and serums are great for smoothing down fly-aways, but, if definition is what you covet, treat your mid lengths to ends to something lighter. The milky formula of curl creams helps curls reform in next to no time without weighing them down.
22 Of The Best Curly Hair Products For A Major ‘Do
Curl Crème
Making the chemical-smelling curl products that your mum used to use in the 1980s a distant memory is Ouai’s sublimely scented curl crème. Tested on a panel of 100 people with curly-hair, this magic cream pacifies frizz while letting your curls flourish. The tiniest amount is all you need, simply scrunch into wet hair and watch your curls spring to life.
Curl Conditioner
The secret to a good curl starts during your hair wash, so choosing a shampoo and conditioner that’s going to compliment them is key. Living Proof have harnessed a formula that makes curls 3x stronger and seriously defined after the first wash.
Dream Coat For Curly Hair
Spent years lusting after Disney-character worthy hair? No more. Color Wow has managed to bottle the secret to super shiny, lustrous hair with their Dream Coat collection, and this formulation specifically for curly hair types gives a mirror-like finish to hair without letting your curls fall flat.
Zhoosh Foam
Lazy girls listen up! This multi-hyphenate product is an absolute must for those who like a quick hair fix but with results that look like they take hours. A curl definer, volumiser and all round great-hair day giver, the list of reasons we love this weightless foam is endless.
Nutriplenish Curl Gelee
Define your glorious curls without the crispy finish with Aveda’s hydrating gelee. Formulated with a superfood complex of mango butter, coconut oil and pomegranate oil, not only will it serve your curls their five a day, but it smells delicious too.
Curl Manifesto Gelée Curl Contour Gel-Cream
Nail super soft curls that are seriously touchable with Kerastase’s genius gel cream. Combining the holding power of a gel with the conditioning power of a cream, a few pumps of this ceramide-infused formula into damp hair is all you need for soft, defined texture whatever your curl pattern.
Chia Seed Curl Defining Hair Cream
More than just a great addition to a salad, chia seeds contain essential proteins and nutrients needed for super healthy curls. Whether your hair is coily, kinky or wavy, this lightweight vegan serum will have it looking shinier and stronger than ever.
Curly Ever After – Curl Hold Spray
If you’re not lucky enough to work a natural curl, then a tong is a must. Keep your new found ringlets looking super shiny and damage-free with this heat protect spray that holds your hair in place for up to 24 hours.
Haute Performance Curl Revive Spray
Heavy lotions and thick curl creams aren’t for everyone and can weigh your hair down instead of giving it life. Instead, spritz damp lengths with this ultra lightweight spray that defines curls whilst conditioning them. Finish with a diffuser for the ultimate ‘I woke up like this’ finish.
Larry King Hair Care Liquid Hairbrush Conditioner – £42
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A hair brush can be a nemesis to curls but this liquid conditioner manages to melt away any knots and tangles without destroying your natural bouncy curls. No comb needed.
The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray
Humidity can cause curls to deflate at a rapid rate so it’s best to pre-empt it by spritzing this before you go out in the heat. This creates a force field to protect hair from fizzing whilst keeping your hair protected from UV rays.
Paid Content
Pantene Gold Series Intense Hydrating Oil – £7.99
Pantene
This deeply hydrating oil instantly absorbs into your hair to help repair fragile and broken strands. The benefits don’t stop there – it also gives locks a lustrous shine thanks to its argan oil-infused formula.
Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control – £24
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If you struggle to define curls, this will be your new best friend. The light-weight cream nourishes ends and provides subtle definition to strands to make curls appear bolder and bouncier.
Only Curls Enhancing Curl Gel – £16
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You might find thick, oily creams weigh down curls to the point where they seem to disintegrate but a gel is a great way to combat this. This revives curls to provide them with a hit of hydration, without leaving hair feeling heavy.
Manketti Hair Oil
Charlotte Mensah
US$17.00
The queen of curly and textured hair, Charlotte Mensah knows a thing or two when it comes to getting your coils on point. Run a few drops of her award winning Manketti oil through your hair before bed for a nourishing overnight treatment, or smooth over dry hair to get rid of annoying flyaways.
Curl Defining Whip
Formulated with the techy Alpha Keratin 60ku, Virtue’s futuristic take on a classic mousse targets damaged hair to help reconstruct and hydrate worn out curls without weighing them down.
Curl Gloss
If defining your curls without making them crispy or crunchy is your goal, then Oribe’s gloss is the one for you. This super luxe lightweight gel uses passion flower and Cupuaçu nut extract to fight humidity and leave your curls softer than ever.
Davines Love Curl Hair Mask – £23
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Formulated with lusciously moisturising almond extract and other detangling, conditioning agents to minimise breakage and brilliantly boost shine, this nourishing mask is your curly hair’s best friend.
Curl Defining Gel
Don’t let the word gel put you off. Pull a 50p-sized amount of Boucleme’s hero product through your lengths for ultra-glossy, vivacious curls – absolutely no stickiness and zero crispy bits.
Curl Anti-Humidity Gel Oil
This nourishing, gel-oil hybrid softens and loosens tight curls, making them so much more manageable, while the anti-humidity complex works to banish the crown of frizz that tends to appear in sticky weather.
Moroccanoil Treatment 100ml – £34.85
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Curly hair can often feel dry and rough, but just a few drops of Moroccanoil’s superstar treatment lends an intense hit of hydration, leaving strands plump and healthy.
Be Curly Style-Prep
Packed with wheat protein and babassu oil, this clever lotion breathes life into each and every curl. To define, blow-dry using a diffuser.
5. Always use a diffuser when blow-drying
A diffuser is essential for evening out curl patterns. To give your curls some shape, simply turn your hairdryer on to the ‘low’ setting and drop them into the diffuser.
‘Defined curls are going to be big in both volume and popularity,’ says pro hairstylist Charlotte Mensah. ‘Invest in a diffuser to ensure you get perfectly defined curls.’
14 Of The Best Hairdryers For All Hair Types
Supersonic Hair Dryer
The Bugatti of hairdryers, when Dyson decided to enter into the beauty world, they did so with a bang. This high tech tool impressed our testers so much that everybody plans to swap it in for their current model. It banished static and left our entire panel’s hair feeling softer and looking bouncier, with their style lasting all day. It barely made a peep, heated up accurately in the lab and 91% were happy with how long it took to get red carpet ready. Its newest feature, the flyaway attachment, delivered a suitably slick do for everybody, with one tester reporting such flawlessly tamed hair that they didn’t need to follow up with hair straighteners. The only quibble involved the control indicator light, which some testers found unclear.Key specificationsAttachments: Concentrator nozzle, diffuser, smoothing nozzle, gentle air attachment Cool shot: YesCord length (m): 2.56Hanging loop: NoIonic technology: NoNumber of speed settings: 3Number of heat settings: 3Wattage (watts): 1600
Best professional hairdryer
Air Hairdryer
Claiming to be twice as fast as your average hairdryer, our panel unanimously loved how intuitive this compact ghd model was to use, allowing them to adjust its heat settings easily and dry hair in a flash. It wasn’t too noisy and it left their tresses looking silky-smooth, thanks to a concentrator nozzle that precisely directs the airflow. Some testers found the highest heat so effective, it burnt their scalps, but our lab test proved the outer casing remained at a safe temperature to handle. Key specifications Attachments: Concentrator nozzle Cool shot: Yes Cord length (m): 3.00 Hanging loop: Yes Ionic technology: Yes Number of speed settings: 2 Number of heat settings: 2 Wattage (watts): 2100
Best hairdryer for fast drying
2100W Hydro-Fusion Dryer
A go-to for those days where you snooze your morning alarm or are short on time, this efficient tool was Dina-Asher-Smith-fast at drying our panel’s hair. Everyone was happy with how quickly it dried wet hair, leaving 83% with shinier, softer ends. Our testers would have liked it to look more luxe, but it was easy to manoeuvre from their roots to the back of their heads. Our lab test found it slightly slow to reach its maximum temperature, but this didn’t affect its drying speed.Key specifications Attachments: Concentrator nozzle and diffuser Cool shot: Yes Cord length (m): 2.42 Hanging loop: No Ionic technology: Yes Number of speed settings: 2 Number of heat settings: 3 Wattage (watts): 2100
Best hairdryer for curly hair
Ionic Pro Dryer
Drew Barrymore knows a thing or two about good hair, fact. So it’s no surprise that this colourful hairdryer from the Hollywood star’s own brand, Flower, delighted our panel. They liked that it wasn’t the typical black design and it proved a hit with our testers with natural curls. Those with afro hair were particularly thrilled by how speedily it dried and smoothed their curls. When it came to frizz, 80% saw a difference, with 90% reporting pillow-soft, healthier-looking hair.Key specifications Attachments: Concentrator nozzle Cool shot: Yes Cord length (m): 3 Hanging loop: Yes Ionic technology: Yes Number of speed settings: 2 Number of heat settings: 3 Wattage (watts): 2000
Best hairdryer for afro hair
EH-NA98 Hair Dryer
Afro hair with kinks and curls need more TLC when it comes to drying hair, which is where this Panasonic gem comes in. Our testers with afro hair loved its hot and cold mode, which auto-adjusts between cold and hot air so you can get the job done without damaging fragile strands. It even comes with a scalp mode, which lowers the temperature so as not to burn your delicate skin. It helped keep frizz to a minimum and our panel’s styles stayed shiny, soft and intact all day. Key specifications Attachments: Concentrator nozzle Cool shot: Yes Cord length (m): 2.65 Hanging loop: Yes Ionic technology: Yes Number of speed settings: 3 Number of heat settings: 4 Wattage (watts): 1800
Best hairdryer for healthier-looking hair
The Airshot Pro Hairdryer
We all want our hair to look noticeably better after styling, but some hair tools leave strands looking parched and bone dry. Happily, this drier did the opposite, reviving strands to leave 80% of our panel with healthier, smoother and softer tresses. Did we mention it also minimised frizz for 80% of testers? It’s just that good. Though not the quietest or most compact dryer out there (that long nose can be tricky to manoeuvre), most found it quick to use and those with afro hair appreciated how straight it left their locks. The cool shot function was ideal for drying naturally curly hair, too. Key specifications Attachments: Concentrator nozzle x2 Cool shot: Yes Cord length (m): 3.03 Hanging loop: Yes Ionic technology: No Number of speed settings: 3 Number of heat settings: 2 Wattage (watts): 1600
Best hairdryer for wavy hair
Proluxe Ionic Hair Dryer
Testers loved this dryer’s ‘premium and luxurious’ feel and noted its powerful airflow, which helped them dry their hair at pace each morning. It comes with a diffuser, which our panel found effective at emphasising natural waves and curls, leaving them with a volumised, frizz-free finish. Everybody appreciated the five adjustable settings, allowing for a fully customisable blowdry.Key specifications Attachments: Diffuser and concentrator nozzle Cool shot: Yes Cord length (m): 3.02 Hanging loop: Yes Ionic/ion technology: Yes Number of speed settings: 2 Number of heat settings: 3 Wattage (watts): 2400
Best hairdryer for adding shine
Forza Pro Hair Dryer
Leaving strands as lustrous as freshly applied lip gloss, every tester raved about how much this dryer boosted shine. If that wasn’t enough, it reduced frizz and added smoothness for 91%. Everybody was pleased with how well it created body and volume and all testers with curls and waves loved how effectively the diffuser attachment enhanced their hair’s natural texture. It proved comfortable to hold for 82% of our panel, but some found it slightly too heavy.Key specifications Attachments: Concentrator nozzle x2 Cool shot: Yes Cord length (m): 2.82 Hanging loop: Yes Ionic technology: No Number of speed settings: 2 Number of heat settings: 3 Wattage (watts): 2300
Best portable hairdryer
Fit Compact Hair Dryer
This compact tool is ideal for tossing into your gym bag or luggage for a much deserved holiday, because gym or hotel dryers are never all that. Our panel found it both lightweight and comfortable to hold and it impressed testers by how well it managed to dry the back of the head and right up close to the roots. The results weren’t that long lasting and it wasn’t the quickest (due to its petite size) but it did leave 88% with softer ends, without causing any pesky static. Key specifications Attachments: Concentrator nozzle Cool shot: Yes Cord length (m): 2.7 Hanging loop: No Ionic technology: No Number of speed settings: 2 Number of heat settings: 3 Wattage (watts): Not disclosed
Best hairdryer for design
Helios Professional Hair Dryer
If iconic hair brand ghd knows one thing, it’s styling tools. This latest hairdryer launch is designed for those who struggle with split ends, with a high-powered concentrated nozzle that claims to smooth the hair cuticle to give you your sleekest blow dry in half the time. How did it do? Our testers reported shiny, soft hair after using it and loved powerful airflow that left nothing but smoothness in in its wake. From an aesthetic point of view, they admired its ‘luxurious’ matte body that’s available in six different colours, including timeless black and a classy plum. Decisions, decisions…Key specifications Attachments: Concentrator nozzle Cool shot: Yes Cord length (m): 2.86 Hanging loop: Yes Ionic technology: Yes Number of speed settings: 2 Number of heat settings: 2 Wattage (watts): 2000
Best hairdryer for taming flyaways
The Airshot Hairdryer
Smooth is the word that comes to mind when describing this hair dryer. The ceramic heating elements are infused with vitamins to make hair silky soft and help tame any flyaways. Incredibly simple to use, this features three heat settings so you can play around with what best suits your individual hair texture.
BaByliss Super Power Pro AC 2400 Hair Dryer
babyliss boots.com
£65.00
Specially designed to mimic the professional salon blowdry at home, the airflow technology is ultra speedy giving you a lot of power (think jet-engine style) but all within a sleek contraption. Hair is left looking sleek and perfectly volumised.
Featherweight Compact Folding Dryer
If the hairdryers in hotel rooms don’t quite do it for your hair, it’s important to have a compact one to take with you at all times that doesn’t take up most of your suitcase. This incredibly light tool provides the same powerful drying capabilities in a dinkier format so you never have to be apart from your hairdryer ever again.
Best hairdryer for fighting frizz
Professional Hair Dryer
Probably as bouji as hair dryers can get, this matte black design isn’t just adorned with the Balmain fashion house logo, but the high performance tech also provides you with a frizz-free blowout every time. It’s designed to help seal the hair cuticle (ideal for those who haven’t had time to fit in a cut) and give a moisture boost to dried out ends.
Get The Look
Follow Charlotte’s step by step to perfect curls using a hair diffuser…
Spray a bottle filled with a mixture of half water and half Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Conditioner. Tilt head to one side.
Place large sections over diffuser cup.
Dry on low to medium heat.
Spray with Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil for a beautiful glossy shine.
Filippo Fortis/Imaxtree
6. Avoid ‘anti-frizz’ products
‘Some anti-frizz products on the market contain silicones. This is harmful for curly hair as they do tend to weigh it down. Rather than going for anti-frizz make sure your hair is hydrated and nourished to make your most beautiful curls,’ explains Sultan. Look for sulphate-free formulas with moisturising ingredients such as glycerin and plant butters.
7. Change up your mousse game
Mousse can be a game-changer. It’s packed with malleable proteins that strengthen every curl without that stiff feeling.
‘Modern-day buttery, whippy mega indulgent mousses, when used on curly hair, deliver intense moisture and create big beautiful defined curls with root lift,’ explains Jonathon Eangland, hairstylist at John Frieda Salons. Sultan concurs, explaining that mousses can help create definition and leave curls feeling bouncy without weight in type 3 and certain type 4 hair. You can also cocktail your mousse with a curl cream for better hold.
ELLE Edit: Curl-Friendly Hair Mousse
Shea Butter for Natural Hair Wave Whip Curling Mousse
Favoloso Natural Defining Mousse
Rossano Ferretti Parma
£34.00
8. Choose a light hold hairspray to lock in your style
Don’t make the mistake of drenching your natural curls in strong hold hairspray to keep them in check. ‘Our main aim is to keep our curls moisturised and luscious looking. High-alcohol hairsprays can be rather aggressive, which can dehydrate the curls,’ says Eangland. Look for curl-specific hold spritzes or do a very light misting of low-alcohol hairspray.
13 Of The Best Hairsprays To Keep Your Hair Perfectly In Place
Be Curly Curl Enhancing Hair Spray
If you’ve been blessed with a set of curls but often find hairspray just leads to a whole head of knots, this enhancing spray will be a game changer. It gives you the same holding power of hairspray, without the stickiness or dryness, so your curls stay intact for longer.
Modern Hairspray Multi-Task Styling Mist
Hair by Sam McKnight
£22.00
Not only is this the chicest hairspray you will ever see but the fine mist is almost undetectable on ends and can be brushed out easily the next day so you don’t have so spend the morning vigorously trying to wash it out with shampoo.
Reassuringly Firm Session Hold Hairspray
All the hold without any of the stickiness, this hairspray will keep your styled hair intact throughout the day, even in the most humid of weather conditions.
R+Co Vicious Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray – £23.50
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Ideal for enviable waves, this hairspray provides you with spanx-like hold whilst avoiding any brittleness, so your hair can swish to its heart’s content.
Alcohol-Free Hair Spray
This curl-friendly hairspray is chock full of nourishing ingredients such as black seed oil and aloe vera to keep curls bouncy and in place, without drying out the strands.
Amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray – £20
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This fine mist creates an invisible shield around hair, making it totally weatherproof. Unlike a traditional hairspray that leaves hair as dry as a piece of toast, this adds a hit of hydration, leaving hair touch-ably soft.
Tecni.ART 6 Fix Hair Spray
L’Oréal Professionnel
£14.58
This fast drying formula will banish any unwanted frizz and provide superglue-like hold without the stiffness. We’ll even go as far as to say it’s windproof, which is about as good as a hairspray can get.
1-800-Hold-Me No-crunch Flexible Hold Hairspray
This does what it says on the tin and provides gravity-defying lift to hair, without any uncomfortable crunchiness. Formulated with avocado oil and omega 3 fatty acids, it provides instant shine with weightless hold.
Volumizing Hair Spray
The turbo jet engine of hairsprays, this mist will act as a push up bra to flat hair to provide you with an instant lift. Scrunch into roots for some added oomph.
Cult Favorite Firm & Flexible Hairspray
Normally hairspray will leave you with a vodka-ry taste in your mouth (no matter how much you hold your breath) but this totally non-offensive spritz instantly melts into hair whilst providing a much needed boost.
Curly Ever After Curl Hold Spray
For curls that stay fresh and bouncy with no tell-tale residue or crispiness, look no further.
Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode Hairspray – £25
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Ideal for keeping baby hairs in-check, apply a touch of this to a toothbrush and style to your heart’s content. It provides all-day hold without leaving any unwanted white residue behind.
9. Treat your hair to a deep condition treatment
Quench thirsty curls and encourage a lively bounce by treating your hair to an intensely hydrating conditioning treatment weekly or twice monthly, depending on your hair type.
‘If your hair tends to get fluffy or have flyaways, masks with protein are great as they help your curls spring back to shape. If your hair is dehydrated look for masks that also have high moisture,’ recommends Sultan.
36 Of The Best Hair Masks To Banish Frizz And Bring Back The Shine
Best hair mask for scalp care
Revitalising Scalp Mask
Our natural instinct is to drench lacklustre hair in lotions and potions, but it could be your scalp that’s to blame. This pre-shampoo mask relieved irritation for 73% of testers and helped smooth and boost shine for 86%. Over half enjoyed a volume boost at their roots and 71% were delighted by how intensely hydrated it left their hair. It’s simple to use – apply to a dry scalp, massage in and leave for 10 to 20 minutes.Key Specifications Paraben free: Yes Volume: 200ml Best suited for: Irritated scalps
Restorative Treatment Mask
Fallen in love with this summer’s oyster grey hair trend, but not loving the damage it’s wreaked on your strands? Make this restorative mask your go-to for emergency bad hair days. It aced our lab test with its smoothing superpowers and left 92% of our panel with a shiny, silky finish. Everybody loved its luxurious scent and it improved dryness for 85%, meaning no more straggly scarecrow hair.Key SpecificationsParaben free: YesVolume: 150mlBest suited for: Coloured hair
Best pre-shampoo hair mask
Elasticizer Deep Conditioning Treatment
This luxe pre-shampoo treatment was originally developed for the one and only Audrey Hepburn to help hydrate her brunette mane after long days of filming. So if it’s good enough for Audrey… Our testers reported softer hair after only one use and liked that it didn’t leave their ends feeling greasy or heavy. It gave bounce and definition to those with natural curls, but the majority of the panel would have preferred a less messy pump dispenser.Key Specifications Paraben free: Yes Volume: 150ml Best suited for: Damaged, dry, fine hair
Best hair mask for colour-treated hair
Everything Mask
Josh Wood is the colour king, and this mask didn’t disappoint. Though not the most hydrating choice, over a third of our panel said it lifted their colour and 73% saw a reduction in frizz. It performed highly in our lab test for smoothing and left 60% of testers with healthier-looking hair. The pump dispenser helped reduce product wastage, too. For maximum benefit, use it twice weekly for five minutes.Key Specifications Paraben free: Yes Volume: 140ml Best suited for: Dry, damaged, coloured hair
Best hair mask for hydration
Totally TLC Hydrating Mask
If major nourishment is called for, look to this creamy mask for moisture. It took 87% of our panel’s tresses from thirsty to hydrated, leaving 93% with that healthy, freshly cut feel. It left almost everyone with smoother, shinier hair, while also helping to minimise any unwanted frizz. The best part? It only takes three minutes to get going – ideal if you’re running late, again.Key Specifications Paraben free: No Volume: 175ml Best suited for: Coloured, damage, dry hair
Best hair mask for curly hair
Intensive Moisture Treatment
For curls in dire need of some TLC, try this mask from black-owned brand, Bouclème. It smoothed 86% of our panel’s tresses, with one tester commenting on the “juicy” look and feel it gave their hair. It helped balance out any dryness for 83%, resulting in replenished strands, and its creamy texture proved a favourite for mess-free application. Key Specifications Paraben free: Yes Volume: 250ml Best suited for: Curly, afro hair
Best hair mask for afro hair
Hair-Mask Creamy Deep Conditioner
Bread Beauty Supply
£26.00
Our testers with afro hair were particularly fond of this mask, as it boosted hydration and smoothness simultaneously, while leaving curls more defined. It reduced frizziness for 87% of the panel, without leaving hair feeling heavy or greasy. It passed our smoothing lab test with flying colours and boosted shine for 80% of testers. Our only niggle involved its packaging – it was tricky to dispense from at times, but its design is practical for frequent travellers. Key Specifications Paraben free: Yes Volume: 345ml Best suited for: Curly, dry, damaged, afro hair
Best hair mask for heat-damaged hair
Miracle Hair Mask
Claiming to pack 10 benefits (including protecting colour and minimising breakage) into a single tub, this mask helped replenish heat-damaged hair. It helped relieve dryness for 79% of our panel, with the added bonus of boosting shine and minimising flyways. Happily, 64% were pleased with how much healthier and revitalised their hair looked after use.Key Specifications Paraben free: No Volume: 240ml Best suited for: Dry, damaged, coloured hair
Best value hair mask
Extra Strength Damage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil Hair Mask
This bargain buy will save both frazzled hair and money. Costing less than £10, it ramped up hydration for 77% of our panel, and didn’t stop there. It gave 69% of testers glossy manes and left 77% with replenished, healthier-looking locks. It didn’t do much to minimise breakages, but it did smell amazing, so we’ll take one.Key Specifications Paraben free: Yes Volume: 168g Best suited for: Damaged, dry, frizzy, chemically-treated hair
ColorWow + Chris Appleton Money Masque
Not only did this mask have to cross the Atlantic to get to us (and boy was it worth the wait), but it also draws on the treasures of the ocean for its super nourishing formula, harnessing the conditioning properties of Mediterranean Sea Kelp and Algae, while Blue Sea Kale strengthens and fortifies weak strands. Did we mention it smells amazing?
Colour Enhancing Mask Dark Brunette
When your hair colour starts looking a bit lacklustre between colourist appointments, don’t reach for the box dye. TRESemmé have made refreshing your shade as easy and hassle free as possible with their range of Colour Enhancing Masks; All you need to do is apply like a normal hair mask, chill out for 3-15 minutes (depending on how intense you want the colour) and viola- salon-worthy shine and enriched colour without the drama.
Hair Rituel Pre-Shampoo Purifying Mask with White Clay
You’ve probably heard of the effects that pollution can wreak on our skin, but we often forget about the role it plays with our hair health. This white clay-based formula acts like a purifying mask for your scalp and hair, soaking up excess oil, pollution and other unwanted build-up, leaving your hair ready to absorb the benefits from the rest of your routine.
Got thick hair that can never seem to get enough hydration? This unassuming green tub is packed with mighty moisturising power, using plant lipids and butters to nourish the hair and leave it looking shinier and feeling healthier. It’s so good you won’t want to stop running your hands through your hair all day, trust us.
The Future Youth Treatment Mask
When you hear that an industry legend like Adam Reed is launching their own haircare line, you pay attention. Especially when the line includes a hair mask as good as this. Formulated with a blend of baobab oil, shea butter and coconut oil, think of this as a high fat diet for your glossiest hair ever.
Serie Expert Metal Detox Anti-Deposit Protector Mask
LOréal Professionnel
£22.10
Find that your freshly balayaged or highlighted hair doesn’t stay that fresh for long? Avoid coppery tones and frazzled ends by applying this mask once or twice a week. Practical (it’ll only take a minute of your time to get to work), high performing and colour-protecting, this leaves our hair feeling super soft for days on end.
Custom Hair Mask
Function Of Beauty
£19.00
If you’re a fan of a completely tailored beauty routine, prick up your ears. This completely customisable hair mask from Function of Beauty lets you choose up to five hair goals, from anti-frizz to fixing split ends, select your preferred fragrance and colour and comes with cute stickers. What more could you want?
Organic Coconut Melt
Fan of a multi-hyphenate product? This 100% coconut-oil mask can not only be used on your face and body to deliver a dose of moisture, but it makes a great dry-hair mask too. Leave on overnight for a deep condition, and make sure to shampoo thoroughly afterwards.
Be Gentle, Be Kind Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Superfood Mask
And the award for the hair mask with the most adorable name goes to Briogeo! As well as improving your mood, this superfood-powered hair mask smooths and strengthens your hair using avocado, spinach and kiwi fruit extract. Think of it as one of your five a day.
Treatment Masque
If there’s someone that knows all about super smooth, shiny hair, it’s A-list hairstylist Jen Atkin. Apply her Treatment Masque once a week to damaged lengths and let the shea butter and hydrolized keratin hydrate and strengthen brittle cuticles. Leave it on for at least ten minutes and enjoy OUAI’s signature Melrose Place scent while it works its magic.
Omega 9 Hair Mask
Apply Rahua’s lavender and eucalyptus infused hair mask to wet hair and comb from root to tip. Leave the deep treatment to do its thing for 15 minutes (whilst you get halfway through an episode of ‘Bridgerton’) and reveal smooth, shiny hair courtesy of Restorative Ungurahua Oil and sunflower seed oil once you rinse off.
Pureology Pure Hydrate Superfood Mask – £28.60
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Famous for its shine-inducing, colour-protecting shampoos, Pureology’s mask is just as worthy of recognition. 100% vegan, coconut and avocado oils enrich the hair, whilst protecting any colour too. Just 5 minutes will do the trick.
SOS Supercharged Repair Hair Mask
Is it just us or does the scent of Aussie’s legendary 3 Minute Miracle hair mask immediately bring back memories of post-festival baths and university sleepovers? The most nostalgic scented mask ever (that happens to also be seriously good for your hair thanks to a blend of Australian superfruits), leave this on for super nourished, healthy-feeling ends. What’s more, Aussie are donating £1 to WWF for every SOS Repair or Moistuire hair mask sold, so you can be good to your hair while doing good for nature.
Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Mask – £28
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Their scalp-saving and growth stimulating hair oil is a favourite of beauty editors, but this mask is lesser known. Super rich (just a little goes a long way), it’s enriched with a whole host of super foods and oil extracts (coconut, banana, licorice, jojoba, sesame, grape, olive… shall we go on?) giving health back to your hair.
John Frieda Hydrate & Recharge Deep Soak Masque – £7.99
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The texture of this mask is like a super thick yoghurt, so you know straight away it’s going to be nourishing just by the feel. Intensified with monoi oil and keratin, hair will drink it up and be build back to strength from the inside out.
If you are looking to spend less than a tenner, and have change for lunch, this is a great option. In only two minutes, the hyaluronic acid-infused formula helps to smooth frizz and boost shine. Especially good on sun or central heating frazzled locks.
Redken All Soft Heavy Cream – £27
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The longer you leave this on, the better. Pop it on in the bath and leave for a good 15 minutes to let the argan oil, protiens and amino acids do their work to revive brittle hair. We know hair can’t really ‘glow’ like skin, but this somehow adds just that.
Sachajuan Hair Repair – £25
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Formulated with Sachajuan’s renowned Ocean Silk Technology to promote cell regeneration and encourage growth, this sulphate-free hair mask leaves you hair silky and manageable.
Regenerating Mask with Prickly Pear Oil
Blended with Prickly Pear Seed Oil, one of the richest natural sources of Vitamin E and antioxidants, this deeply nourishing formula leaves hair shiny and protected without weighing it down.
Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment
Filled to bursting with moisturising barley, smoothing jojoba oils and quinoa protein, which works to repair from the inside out. If your hair is giving you Straw Man vibes, this is for you.
Davines NOUNOU Nourishing Repair Mask – £23
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If you’ve been mistreating your hair with chemicals and heated styling tools, delve into this. Adored by hairstylists and colour junkies all over the globe, it will banish brittleness, and bring back bounce. What more could you want?
Living Proof Restore Repair Mask – £33
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With regular use of this luxurious but lightweight mask, hair is proven to become a huge 20 times more resilient to split ends and damage. Can’t argue with the facts.
Dizziak Deep Conditioner – £22
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This deep conditioner (aka mask) is particularly great for curly or Afro hair types, with lovely ingredients like quinoa protein and coconut to revive crunchy curls.
Elemis Frangipani Monoi Hair and Scalp Mask – £33
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If you don’t have time/CBA to shower, mask, shower again, then this is one for you: just slather on, top with a cap, and sleep with it on overnight. A rinse in the morning will unveil smoother, shinier hair. The scent lasts for days (if not the entire week) even after washing.
Blonds might have more fun, but their hair doesn’t. The constant dyeing and bleaching takes its toll, and colour can quickly fade without proper attention. This mask hydrates whilst stopping the dreaded brassy tones.
Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector – £26
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This clever formula, previously only available in your hair dressers, seeks out broken bonds (caused by chemical, heat and mechanical damage) to repair and restore them. Use as a pre-shampoo mask for salon-worthy shine.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ultimate Reset Masque – £52.65
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If all else fails, up the ante and layer this on. This luxe treatment works deep to repair damaged fibres, from roots to tips. A real treat for your locks.
10. Don’t be afraid of salt sprays
To invigorate your curls, water is your BFF. ‘Use a water spray and spritz the hair. Then, reapply your leave-in conditioner, gels or serums to reactivate the curls,’ says Sultan. That said, if you’re someone with looser curls, a good salt spray can do a great job of creating texture and revitalising the wave or curl.
16 Of The Best Sea Salt Sprays For Big Beachy Textured Waves
L’Oreal Tecni Art Beach Waves Spray Salt Texturiser – £16.50
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Spotted backstage at the Bora Aksu SS22 show, hairstylist Daniel Martin used this Spray Salt Texturiser to attain the ‘cool girl that just got out of bed look.’ Martin played with each girl’s natural hair texture, embracing those with wavy hair by tonging loose beach waves and spritzing this through the ends to get a ‘semi-bed head’ look.
Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist – £25
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Sometimes when you have poker straight hair it’s impossible to fake beachy waves by just spraying product onto towel dried hair (no matter how much you spray, trust us we’ve tried). So when going sans heat isn’t an option, try manipulating loose waves with a pair of straighteners, flip your head over and spray Cool Girl with abandon. Be prepared for waves that look effortlessly undone (check) and hold all day (check check) without any tell-tale crispy styling residue. Plus, the scent (floral with a hint of pepper and spice) is in a league of its own.
If you’re lucky enough to actually be heading to the seaside, you’ll want to throw a bottle of this in your straw bag. Why? Not only does this leave your hair smelling incredible (think woodsy, rustic beach-house vibes), it defines waves while keeping them soft and protects hair from the damaging effects of UV rays. Not to mention, the packaging is adorable.
Innersense Create Waves – £24
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For lovers of ritualistic beauty routines, Innersense’s Create Waves spray might just be the holistic addition your hair needs. Formulated with aloe vera to give moisture to your hair, amethyst crystal powder (yes really), and scented with lavender oil, not only does this spray deliver surfer chic waves, it’ll also leave you blissfully calm.
Sun Bum Texturizing Sea Spray – £15.99
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A true gem of the ocean, this salt spray contains black lava sea salt, seaweed and sea kelp to harness that windswept, tousled beachy hair without the unfortunate dryness that a day in the sun can impart. Oh, and the formula helps to shield hair from humidity, meaning your waves will stay relaxed and frizz-free.
Fudge Professionals Sea Salt Spray – £11.50
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This spray is as close to the sea as your hair can get without getting your feet wet. Drawing on ingredients such giant sea kelp, red algae and ocean salt minerals, it also contains UVisiShield technology to help protect hair from UVA and UVB rays and leaves a tropical scent trailing behind you all day.
Evo Salty Dog Salt Spray – £22
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Want that dried-in-the-sun beach wave look without having to leave your bedroom? This is a great choice for straight and wavy hair types as it adds fullness as well as definition.
Percy & Reed Beyond The Beach Texture Spray – £16
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Harnessing the saltiness of the British Coast, this texturising spray is infused with Cornish sea salt and Pro Vitamin B5 to leave hair tousled and soft but with a lasting finish.
Sachajuan Ocean Mist – £21.90
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This is basically the Mediterranean sea, bottled. Its ability to make locks look accidentally perfect, voluminous and mermaid-like sans the gritty, brittle feel is pretty much unrivalled – no wonder it has a huge celeb following.
Playa Beauty Endless Summer Spray – £27
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Formulated with sea salt harvested from Southern California, Playa’s nourishing formula protects your hair from damaging UV rays whilst giving your lengths the most realistic Cali girl waves ever.
Philip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist – £25
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Essentially like taking a trip to a tropical beach, this contains a blend of coconut, aloe vera and orchid, to give you those naturally perfect island beach waves without any dryness.
Ouai Wave Spray – £22
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Jen Atkin is the queen of carefree, windswept waves, so adding this baby to her award-winning OUAI collection was always a given. For flexible, shaggy and windblown waves, veil over damp or dry hair, run your fingers through, et voila. Think Kim Kardashian at the 2014 VMAs.
We Are Paradoxx Volume Texture Salt Spray – £20
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This vegan formula gives waves endless amounts of texture without leaving hair feeling weighed down or crunchy. It also adds a sunlit gleam to ends, so hair looks a whole lot healthier.
Davines Sea Salt Spray – £18.50
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If you’re looking for a salt spray to add a bit of grit to hair to solidify those curls, this is the one for you. It acts like hairspray (without the stickiness) to keep waves intact all day long.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray – £10
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Not sticky or overly salty, Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Spray is the closest thing to a dip in the ocean – and it doesn’t come with a mouthful of seaweed. For that dishevelled, beachy look, tip your head upside down and go wild.
Redken Fashion Waves – £16.30
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Slip backstage at Fashion Week and you’ll spot a bottle of Redken’s Fashion Waves near most hair stations. Harnessing epsom salt, it separates layers to give hair amazing definition while imparting a semi-matte, effortlessly tousled finish. Kate Moss, eat your heart out.
