Embracing the curly.

Why yes, I have naturally curly hair. In fact, it suddenly came in when I was about 13 and hasn't changed much since. And you're right -- I don't love it. At least, I haven't ever loved it in the past because it's difficult to find the right products for styling curly hair. You don't want anything you have to work into your hair with your hands because that creates friction which means FRIZZ. And frizz is just downright awful.

You also need something lightweight so it won't mat your hair down on top, making you look very sad and triangle-shaped. But you want it to hold your hair together in uniform, individual curls. Gel happens to be good at this, but it a) needs to be worked into the hair with your fingers (frizz alert!) and b) is very heavy. And sticky. That's c).

So what do you use? Plain hairspray is too sticky and really doesn't work. I've used some spray-on curl enhancers in the past, but I find them to look greasy and uneven.

In other words, styling curly hair is a trial-and-error process which also happens to be a royal pain in the butt.

My curly sister, Mariah, recommended I use Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves ($3.50). I added some Suave Professionals Captivating Curls ($3) on top of that, let it air-dry for about 15 minutes and then blow-dried it with a diffuser.

Et voila. Curls! Non-frizzy, uniform, bouncy and soft curls.

It's a Christmas miracle.

Do you have curly hair? Try these products today! Let me know if I was just lucky or if they really work.