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How 11 Women With Natural Curls Style Their Hair

Jasmine Sanders, Jillian Hervey, share their DIY styling tips.

Headshot of Julie SchottBy Julie Schott
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In a perfect world, after we wash our hair, the wet strands would coil up and separate into a fluffy pile of corkscrew curls. The reality is that air-drying requires more expertise than it might seem. Here, we ask 11 women with naturally curly hair, from Jasmine Sanders to Jillian Hervey, for the secrets to their enviable air-dried curls.

Shelby Hayes

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I use shampoo, conditioner, and then I put mousse in it and pin it with curls to keep it voluminous. I like DevaCurl. Every other day or so, whenever it gets frizzy, I just wash it. I take a chunk of my hair and pin it so it stays elevated on my head, and then I just take them out and shake it. Make it even bigger.

Tarah Rodgers

<p>I use <a href="http://www.devacurl.com/no-poo-curl.html" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">Devachan No-Poo Shampoo</a> and their <a href="http://www.devacurl.com/one-condition-decadence.html" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">Decadence Conditioner</a>.&nbsp;I usually deep condition once a week and wash it maybe once a week. But I'll use conditioner to wash it maybe twice a week.&nbsp;Devachan [salon]<span class="redactor-invisible-space">&nbsp;</span>has&nbsp;this <a href="http://www.devacurl.com/devafuser.html" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">claw diffuser</a> that you attach to your blow dryer, which–<span class="redactor-invisible-space" data-verified="redactor" data-redactor-tag="span" data-redactor-class="redactor-invisible-space"></span>I don't know the brand of my blow dryer–<span class="redactor-invisible-space" data-verified="redactor" data-redactor-tag="span" data-redactor-class="redactor-invisible-space"></span>but it's amazing.&nbsp;Devachan only does curly hair and they sell their products at Ricky's, so I get all their products.</p>
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I use Devachan No-Poo Shampoo and their Decadence Conditioner. I usually deep-condition once a week and wash it maybe once a week. But I'll use conditioner to wash it maybe twice a week. Devachan [salon] has this claw diffuser that you attach to your blow-dryer, which—I don't know the brand of my blow-dryer—but it's amazing. Devachan only does curly hair and they sell their products at Ricky's, so I get all their products.

Jasmine Sanders

<p>Start using a cotton T-shirt to dry your hair instead of using towels. Towels weigh down your curls a lot. It gives you a good bounce when you use the cotton T-shirts because it doesn't strain your hair at all. I also like to let it air dry instead of using any type of blow dryer or anything. If you are going to use a blow dryer, use a diffuser. For the most part, I like to let my hair air dry.&nbsp;I love <a href="http://www.moroccanoil.com/us_en/hair-care/all-hair" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">Moroccan oil's</a> curl products. They have amazing curl products, they have an amazing <a href="http://www.moroccanoil.com/us_en/hair-care-smoothing-mask-us" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">smoothing mask</a>&nbsp;that's great for rehydrating your hair.&nbsp;It takes all of 15 minutes and you just get all of the moisture back that you have been burning out of your hair all week.&nbsp;</p>
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Start using a cotton T-shirt to dry your hair instead of using towels. Towels weigh down your curls a lot. It gives you a good bounce when you use the cotton T-shirts because it doesn't strain your hair at all. I also like to let it air dry instead of using any type of blow-dryer or anything. If you are going to use a blow-dryer, use a diffuser. For the most part, I like to let my hair air dry. I love Moroccanoil's curl products. They have amazing curl products, they have a smoothing mask that's great for rehydrating your hair. It takes all of 15 minutes and you just get all of the moisture back that you have been burning out of your hair all week. 

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Lineisy Montero

<p>When I was growing up, my hair was really crazy but now it's more tame. So, all I do is wash my hair daily. Every morning I just use a <a href="http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/product/16209/39710/Bb-Curl/Bb-Curl-Multi-Content/BbCurl-sulfate-free-shampoo/index.tmpl" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">shampoo</a> and <a href="http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/product/16209/39711/Bb-Curl/Bb-Curl-Multi-Content/BbCurl-custom-conditioner/index.tmpl" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">conditioner</a> from Bumble and bumble.</p>

When I was growing up, my hair was really crazy, but now it's more tame. So all I do is wash my hair daily. Every morning I just use a shampoo and conditioner from Bumble and bumble.

Marisa Bryant

<p>I always air dry. I never towel dry. If you are going to squeeze excess water out, I use a small cloth or I even take one of my old T-shirts out, and I do it that way because it gives me the best curls. I use <a href="http://www.devacurl.com/products/cleanse-and-condition.html" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">DevaCurl products</a> because they're the healthiest for my hair and make it smell really good. It's lightweight. Usually it's good to use just coconut oil too, the more natural the better. It dries more wavy but my trick and secret is using a really mini, mini curling iron just to do around the tops so then it's a little more full. I usually cornrow my hair. I only wash my hair twice a week. I'm ethnic so washing it everyday will ruin my hair.&nbsp;</p>
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I always air dry. I never towel dry. If you are going to squeeze excess water out, I use a small cloth or I even take one of my old T-shirts out, and I do it that way because it gives me the best curls. I use DevaCurl products because they're the healthiest for my hair and make it smell really good. It's lightweight. Usually it's good to use just coconut oil too, the more natural the better. It dries more wavy, but my trick and secret is using a really mini, mini curling iron just to do around the tops so then it's a little more full. I usually cornrow my hair. I only wash my hair twice a week. I'm ethnic, so washing it every day will ruin my hair. 

Mélodie Vaxelaire

<p>I use <a href="http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/shampoo-conditioner-products/index.tmpl" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">Bumble and Bumble</a>, sometimes the Curls, the name is Curls, or sometimes the—I don't remember—eight oils, or something like that.&nbsp;I wet my hair everyday, and I don't wash my hair everyday, just with water and then I put some conditioner, leave-in conditioner.&nbsp;I brush my hair, I leave the conditioner and I use a towel but not too much, to keep the water and the product and then I leave it just to dry, the natural hair.</p>
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I use Bumble and bumble, sometimes the Curls, the name is Curls, or sometimes the—I don't remember—eight oils, or something like that. I wet my hair every day, and I don't wash my hair every day, just with water, and then I put some conditioner, leave-in conditioner. I brush my hair, I leave the conditioner, and I use a towel but not too much, to keep the water and the product. And then I leave it just to dry, the natural hair.

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Wallette Watson

<p>I normally use DevaCurl, because my hair's curl pattern used to be &nbsp;curly and then straight. I've never had any chemicals in it or anything like that, but it was curly and straight from heat damage, and then I started using DevaCurl and it brought my curls back.&nbsp;I normally wash it and then I'll put in a leave-in, put it in a bun, and then take it out and just like, fluff it as much as possible.&nbsp;I'll&nbsp;sometimes use&nbsp;<a href="http://www.garnierusa.com/products/haircare/sleek-and-shine/sleek-care/sleek-and-shine-intensely-smooth-leave-in-conditioning-cream-10-2oz.aspx" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">Garnier, their leave-in conditioner</a>, or <a href="http://www.devacurl.com/supercream.html" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">DevaCurl's Super Cream</a>.&nbsp;I'll wash it once a week because my hair will get dry if I wash it too much.</p>
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I normally use DevaCurl, because my hair's curl pattern used to be  curly and then straight. I've never had any chemicals in it or anything like that, but it was curly and straight from heat damage, and then I started using DevaCurl and it brought my curls back. I normally wash it and then I'll put in a leave-in, put it in a bun, and then take it out and just like, fluff it as much as possible. I'll sometimes use Garnier, their leave-in conditioner, or DevaCurl's Super Cream. I'll wash it once a week because my hair will get dry if I wash it too much.

Dilia Martins

<p>I just wash it with conditioner and then I towel dry it a little bit. Then I put a lotion, a lot of lotion actually.&nbsp;Usually&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sheamoisture.com/Hair_c_1502.html" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">Shea Moisture</a> or <a href="http://www.mixedchicks.net/products.html" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">Mixed Chicks</a> or anything that is really moisturizing. Then I put tons of hair gel so it forms a cool pattern. Then I just let it air dry. It's pretty basic.&nbsp;I cold wash it every other day. Then on a certain day I will wash it with shampoo, just to not dry it out.&nbsp;Well, sometimes but I usually just use a lot of conditioner to just soak it in to make sure it's very moisturized. I don't really use masks that much.</p>
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I just wash it with conditioner and then I towel dry it a little bit. Then I put on lotion, a lot of lotion actually. Usually Shea Moisture or Mixed Chicks or anything that is really moisturizing. Then I put tons of hair gel so it forms a cool pattern. Then I just let it air dry. It's pretty basic. I cold wash it every other day. Then on a certain day I will wash it with shampoo, just to not dry it out. Well, sometimes but I usually just use a lot of conditioner to just soak it in to make sure it's very moisturized. I don't really use masks that much.

Herieth Paul

<p>I use this <a href="http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/product/9358/23196/Products/HairdressersOil/hairdressers-invisible-oil/index.tmpl" target="_blank" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">Bumble and bumble serum</a>, it has argan oil. I wet my hair after my shower and just massage that into my hair and hopefully it curls my hair, or sometimes it leaves it the way it wants–like frizzy, if it's really hot outside–and that's it! That's all I do, everyday. Luckily, for shows I get my hair styled for me, but If I'm going to run errands or castings that's what I do.</p>
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I use this Bumble and bumble serum; it has argan oil. I wet my hair after my shower and just massage that into my hair and hopefully it curls my hair, or sometimes it leaves it the way it wants–like frizzy, if it's really hot outside–and that's it! That's all I do, every day. Luckily, for shows I get my hair styled for me, but If I'm going to run errands or castings that's what I do.

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Afrodita Dorado

<p>I wash with <a href="http://www.tresemme.com/product/category/332746/moisture-rich" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">TRESemmé&nbsp;shampoo and conditioner</a>, and then when I get out of the shower,&nbsp;I put more conditioner and I leave the conditioner in my hair. It's the best conditioner for all my hair. And because, again, my hair is defined. It's the best one because I use another one like <a href="http://www.garnierusa.com/products/haircare/sleek-and-shine/sleek-care/sleek-and-shine-intensely-smooth-leave-in-conditioning-cream-10-2oz.aspx" data-tracking-id="recirc-text-link">Garnier</a> or good brands. TRESemmé is the only one I can use and my hair is really good.<span class="redactor-invisible-space" data-verified="redactor" data-redactor-tag="span" data-redactor-class="redactor-invisible-space" style="background-color: initial;" rel="background-color: initial;" data-redactor-style="background-color: initial;">&nbsp;</span><br></p>
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I wash with TRESemmé shampoo and conditioner, and then when I get out of the shower, I put more conditioner and I leave the conditioner in my hair. It's the best conditioner for all my hair. And because, again, my hair is defined. It's the best one because I use another one like Garnier or good brands. TRESemmé is the only one I can use and my hair is really good.

Jillian Hervey

<p>A coconut oil soak on your hair once a month adds a lot of nutrition. So you just go and buy literal coconut oil and melt it, place it in your head, and have it [in] for an hour as it sits. Then you wash it out and it just makes your hair stronger and softer.&nbsp;</p><p><span class="redactor-invisible-space" data-verified="redactor" data-redactor-tag="span" data-redactor-class="redactor-invisible-space"></span></p>
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A coconut-oil soak on your hair once a month adds a lot of nutrition. So you just go and buy literal coconut oil and melt it, place it in your head, and have it [in] for an hour as it sits. Then you wash it out and it just makes your hair stronger and softer. 

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