Adolescence brings many challenges: navigating school, looking for new friendsand (sometimes most annoyingly) taming your hair. Like many high school students, I spent countless hours trying to use heat tools to recreate the sleek, straight hairstyles that dominated magazine pages and TV shows in the 2010s.
But after nearly a decade of (unsuccessfully) trying to emulate Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff’s signature style on my thick, frizzy hair, I realized that flat ironing wasn’t for me. So I ended the cycle for good two years ago, when I decided to chop off my hair into a set of super-tousled layers. No more time spent burning my ears and steaming my hair—I was going to they experience
At the salon, my hairstylist took a razor to texture my hair and remove the extra weight weighing me down. I nervously hoped for the best as I left the chair—but when my previously straight hair started growing back wavy the next day, I started to panic. Was my entire head actually curly? overnight? (Is that possible?)
Your hair texture can change for a lot of reasons: Thinning it with a razor, no longer using hot tools, or getting a “curly cut” from your hairstylist can all be factors, says Steven Serrato, hairstylist and owner of Serrato Style in New York City, SELF tells SELF. But learning to pull off a new hairstyle can be tricky—and, as Serrato says, there are a few things you need to do to change up your style. So Lots new hair products popping up so it’s hard to know where to start.
So for six months after my haircut, I double-checked curl charts, took advantage of free bangs at the salon to ask stylists for advice, and watched a lot of “curly girl method” TikTok videos to come up with a plan for my newly wavy hair. Now, I’m a big fan of my 2B, sometimes 2C hair texture—and I’ve been armed with plenty of advice from professionals on how to style it. After much trial and error, I’ve finally found a pattern that works for me and my hair.
Oh, and one last tip: While hair creams and sprays are great, they’re not everything. “If you’re having to use more than two styling products to get the hair you want, you either need a haircut or the products aren’t the right ones for your hair,” says Serrato. (Want to know if your hair is wavy, curly, somewhere in between, or just not reaching its full potential? Consult a salon professional.)
Ouai Detox Shampoo
“Everyone should wash their hair at least once a week, no matter what the texture,” says Serrato. She also recommends using clarifying shampoo once a month to remove as much product as possible (which makes styling much easier).
Even though I’ve tried a few different options, I always come back to Ouai Detox Shampoo. One of its main ingredients, apple cider vinegar, has been shown to remove buildup and leave your hair looking smoother and shinier. I love how quickly it lathers up, and it leaves my scalp feeling really clean. Plus, it’s free of sulfates that can damage your hair and has a light, floral scent that doesn’t linger after you shower—which I like because it won’t compete with other scents you might want to apply.
Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Hair Mask
Chemicals, dyes, heat, and environmental factors can cause stress on your hair that can change the way it looks and feels. A good conditioner reduces dryness and frizz to bring out your best hair.