How to keep your curly hair shiny and glossy like Strictly contestant Alex Kingston
Caroline Brien
www.telegraph.co.uk
Article taken from Daily Telegraph
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Let’s hear it for the curls. This is how to keep them looking bouncy, healthy and youthful, whatever your age
At 62, actress Alex Kingston will be the oldest contestant light-footing it across screens when Strictly Come Dancing returns this Saturday. Stating that she’s “doing it for women of a certain age”, I would argue she’s also doing it for midlife women of a certain hair texture, as her press picture displays luxuriously bouncy and lustrous curls that look as though they’ve never been near a hair straightener.
The ER and Dr Who alum is among esteemed actresses, from Minnie Drive and Nicole Kidman to Thandie Newton and Andie McDowell, who have embraced and enhanced their naturally curly hair texture into their 40’s and beyond, making them stand out in a sea of ultra-sleek blow-dries.
“I think it probably feels liberating,” enthuses Tom Smith, a hairstylist, colourist and the co-founder of AEVUM salon. “Curls represent individuality and character, plus in midlife, many women have the confidence to reject old beauty ideals that celebrated smoothness above all else.
“They look youthful but also powerful and expressive thanks to their hair texture.” Zoë Irwin, the creative director at John Frieda Salons, agrees, adding: “When you get curls right, they are head-turning, super-flattering and elicit endless complements. Embracing that natural texture feels very modern too.”
Kingston’s curls are proof that frizz can be fought and shine isn’t reserved for straight locks. As someone with loose curls that form ringlets underneath if left unchecked, I’ve long been guilty of trying to squash, smooth and straighten them into submission. But armed with professional curl-enhancing advice, I’m inspired.
Careful care
Beautifully-cultivated curls start in the shower. “Hormonal changes make hair drier, finer or more fragile, so curls become temperamental and irregular,” explains Smith. “Midlife curls need more hydration, gentler handling and products that strengthen and add health, as well as define.
“The aim is to protect elasticity and keep the curl pattern resilient without weighing hair down.” While thicker, coarser curls may only need to be washed weekly and those that are finer can benefit from daily cleansing, he recommends finding a balance between the demands of your hair and keeping the scalp healthy too by avoiding dirt and product build-up.
I find Color Wow Curl Hooked, 100 per cent Clean Curl Shampoo with Root-Locking Technology and Coco-Motion Lubricating Curl Conditioner, £26 each, leave curls clean and nourished without any heaviness. Smith also favours a weekly moisturising mask for extra hydration. Cécred Moisturizing Deep Conditioning Mask, £35, is packed with rich butters and oils that make hair pliable without coating it.
Get curl-ready
Preparation is crucial for a bouncy, well-defined shape. “One of the most common mistakes is towel-drying, because it encourages frizz,” warns Luke Hersheson, a renowned hairstylist and the chief executive of the eponymous salons. “Use your hands to squeeze out excess water by twisting the lengths.” Styling products to enhance the end curl result range from creams which will benefit thicker, coarser locks, to lighter foams and lotions suited to finer curls.
Living Proof Curl Definer, from £17.50, helps boost definition by fortifying hair strength, which can be weakened as it needs to bend. A dollop will help make hair flexible and lively again. Gisou Honey Milk 5-in-1 Styling Cream, £25, also gives great frizz control, ramps up shine and has an impressive three-day “style memory” to help hold structure. When applying to wet hair, “use a wide-tooth comb or your hands, but definitely not a brush,” adds Hersheson. “You want to disturb curls as little as possible.”
Style to suit
Airdry or diffuse? Both have benefits, explains Hersheson. Letting hair dry naturally means less damage from heat as well less handling, which only increases frizz. However, “it might not bring out the curl as much,” he adds. “If you’re in a rush or really want to boost shape, diffusers are great.
“But you need to let the heat and tools do the work. Put on a low speed but fairly high heat, then be patient. The more you touch hair during the process, the frizzier it’s going to be.” Tame any fluffiness and boost reflective lustre with a little shine-enhancing oil, such as Morocconoil Treatment Mist, from £14.50, a featherlight version of the original that helps refine and energise shape while adding a glossy finish.
Stay in shape
One of my major hair foes is bedtime, as curls frequently go frizzy overnight and lack definition next morning. “We tend to use cotton bedding, but the friction of moving around at night – especially relevant during menopause – causes curls to fluff up,” says Irwin. “Switching to silk or satin pillowcases prevents that, as does putting your hair into a silk wrap.”
Try Silke London Hair Warp, £55, a pre-shaped turban made of mulberry silk that prevents rubbing and tangling to help curls keep their definition. It comes in eight glamorous colourways and looks very 1940’s-Hollywood-screen-goddess. Alternatively, Irwin suggests piling curls onto the crown and securing with a large silk scrunchie: “That way, you’re sleeping on the underneath sections, not the hair on top, so curls hold their shape better.”
Hit refresh
Be it the second or fifth day, curls can need reviving to give them back bounce and redefine the shape. While it’s tempting to add yet more styling product all over, both Irwin and Hersheson warn against this as it overloads both hair and scalp, leading to duller, less healthy locks.
Instead, Irwin says that she will, “spray just a little curl refresher on my fingertips then run it down a few pieces around my hairline, twisting them as I go. This makes the curl bounce up, but means hair can still has plenty of movement and won’t look lank or stiff.” My go-to is Sam McKnight Cool Curls, £28, which instantly restores curls to their full beauty while blocking frizz and improving pliability.
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