While those of us with straight locks envy the beautiful bounce and texture that curly hair brings, many of our naturally curly haired friends run to the straightener to try and tame their unruly mane.
We say it’s time to embrace your hair’s natural texture so we’ve asked L’Oreal Professional stylist Mariam Enegd for some tips on creating the perfect curly style.
Mariam Enegd is a L’Oreal professionnel Colour Trophy Winner and the manager/stylist at the L’Oreal Biba Clifton Hill salon. She’s seen all types of hair and certainly knows her stuff.
RESCU: What typical products can be used or are recommended and what kind of results are realistic?
Mariam Enegd: When you have curly hair, you need to look after it properly to stop it getting dry and frizzy. Cream products will help define the curl a bit better and provide texture and give more natural control.
RESCU: What professional treatments are available and what is your take on each (perms, relaxing treatments to turn ringlets into glamorous curls?)
Mariam Enegd: If you have natural curly hair you have the option of styling it using products specifically designed for your hair type or in-salon relaxing treatments. Chemically straightening the hair should be carefully thought out.
If you decide to use a relaxer you can do it chemically or you can do it with products that promise to temporarily tame the curls on a day-by-day basis. Sometimes this process will be used also to soften or eliminate wavy hair.
Chemical hair straightening, also known as relaxing, involves a process where the basic structure of overly curly or wavy hair is changed into a straight form. Both relaxing and permanent waving utilize fairly strong chemicals that are applied directly to the hair. While a perm is designed to add curls or waves, a relaxing treatment is designed to remove them. Personally I think people with beautiful curly hair should wear it more naturally and be proud of it! 
RESCU: What cut and styles are best suited for this kind of hair for women and men?
Mariam Enegd: I truly believe that curly hair looks hot short or long, it just needs to be cut right. It’s not easy to cut curly hair. It’s nice for curly hair to be slightly layered to enhance the curl, give it texture and spring up the shape. Similar with men, guys can look great with short back and sides, keeping the curls long on the top as a feature for them to play with. Or they can keep it a bit longer with texture. Perfect example, my boss Frank Apostolopoulos’s winning shot for the men’s L’Oreal Professionnel Men’s Colour Award 2010 (pictured right). Amazing hair!
RESCU: What styling tools (irons,wands,rollers) can be used to bring out the best in curly hair?
Mariam Enegd: If you want to be able to create a beautiful curl in your hair, using rollers or curling wands work really well. They’re also a great way to give more curl and shape for slightly wavy hair.
If you have a ringlet curl and you want to enhance your natural curl, a diffuser is the way to go. It tames the curl while drying your hair rather than blowing your hair around creating frizz. It’s a real natural and easy way to achieve beautiful curls.
RESCU: What ingredients should we look for in products for curly hair (silicone/oils/proteins etc)?
Mariam Enegd: Professional products stocked in professional salons all have a curl range that are specific for curly hair, most curly products have sulphates and amino acids that help to rebuild the lifeline of the hair and gives spring back to curls. The oils used are protein oils and are breathable. Silicone will suffocate hair and cause dehydration, which is why many of the new ranges out are silicone free.
Styling and hair care products best suited for curly hair:
L’Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Shine Curl Shampoo ($22.95)
L’Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Shine Curl Conditioner ($22.95)
L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.art Curl Memory Up spray – energy and vitality for curls ($22.95)
Don’t have curly hair? Stay tuned, because we’ve got L’Oreal experts’ answers to all your hair questions coming. Watch this space! In the meantime, check out our in-house hair expert blog by the fabulous Joh Bailey here.
