Tippi Shorter, who has tamed the tresses of Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, and Alicia Keys, knows there is no exact formula for curly hair. “All curls are different,” she says. “You must experiment to find the perfect product that gives you the result you are looking for.” But this doesn’t stop her from having an arsenal of easy-to-follow tips and tricks up her sleeve!
Slippery When Wet
Start your styling process in the shower when hair is wet. “Products tend to get a little messy, so the shower is a great place to apply,” explains Shorter. Afterwards, wrap your hair in a cotton t-shirt to allow the water to start draining. This way, the cuticle of the curl won’t be disturbed.
Living Proof Prime Style Extender, $20; sephora.com
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Brush it Off
“When working with curly hair, I suggest using a large paddle brush on medium to tight curls to make sure the product gets spread through the hair evenly,” explains Shorter.
Shu Uemura Large Paddle Brush, $78; shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com
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Fight Frizz
“If you are wearing your naturally curly hair straight, its best to use a blow dry balm or cream to help keep the hair smooth and frizz free,” says Shorter.
Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Cream, $25; nordstrom.com
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Blow it Out
Use a blow dryer with titanium. “It will eliminates static and break down water molecules for faster drying and styling,” says Shorter.
Gold ‘N Hot Signature Series by Laila Ali 1875 Watt Professional Ionic Dryer, $39.99; belsonproducts.com
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Au Naturale
Use a diffuser when drying hair until it is about 80 percent done, then allow the hair to air dry the rest of the way.
Ouidad Air Diffuser, $18; ouidad.com
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Wrap it Up
To preserve your blowout for a couple of days, tie your hair down with a satin scarf at bedtime. “The satin works to prevent the cuticles from frizzing out,” says Shorter.
Stay On Satin Hair Wrap, $3.99; sallybeauty.com
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Use Protection!
“If you flatiron your hair,” says shorter. “I suggest using a thermal protector as a barrier to protect it from the high heat settings often needed to get hair straight.”
Hair by Tippi Shorter Fluid Shine and Smoothing Mist, $12; hairbytippi.com
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