If you've had curly or wavy hair all your life like me, you know it's not always easy to handle.  It wasn't until the past couple of years that I have really loved my hair.  The solution between good curly hair and bad curly hair is in the products and how you care for your hair.

In this guide you will find:

• Keys to great hair
• How to Care for Curly Hair
• Products Everyone with Curly Hair Should Try

Keys to Great Curly Hair

Here are my Top 5 Keys to Great Curly Hair

1. Find the right stylist!  Not all people cut curly hair correctly.  If you walk away from your hair cut and your hair doesn't behave for days or more, you have the wrong stylist!  Don't be afraid to try new people if you think your stylist is cutting your hair wrong.  Ask people with great cuts who their stylist is, if you don't like the stylist you can always go back to your old stylist.
2. Invest in A Good Ionic Blow Dryer with a Diffuser.
3. Avoid using products that contain silicone.  We've all seen the frizz and shine serums, and they work.......for a few days or a week or so, and they they dry and frizz your hair out more than it was before you started using it.
4. Never use a brush or small toothed comb on your hair.
5. Use Moisturizing Shampoos and Conditioners.

How to Care for Curly Hair

1. Shampoo your hair with a moisturizing shampoo.  Once or twice a month use a clarifying product, which will get rid of all the build up that weighs down curly hair, followed by your normal shampoo.  My favorite clarifying products are the Fekkai Apple Cider line.  It may be costly, but a bottle should last you a year or more.  It is available through Ebay (sometimes), Sephora, and Nordstrom.  You could also try products offered by Neutrogena and other brands found at your local retail store.
2. Condition your hair using a moisturizing conditioner.  Comb conditioner into your hair with a wide toothed comb or pick.  When rinsing conditioner, never fully rinse product.  Leave a small amount of conditioner in your hair.
3. When hair is damp, apply your favorite styling product.
4. Comb your hair with a wide toothed comb.
5. If time permits, twirl your hair using your finger in gentle spirals up towards the scalp.
6. Using a towel or your hand cup the bottom of your hair and gently scrunch it up towards your scalp.
7. Air dry hair or use a good ionic hair dryer with a diffuser.  Never fully dry hair, always leave it a little damp.  Diffuse hair from the bottom and work your way to the top.
8. Spray on a little spray gel if preferred, and you should have a great head of curls.

Products Everyone with Curly Hair Should Try

1. The best thing I ever did for my hair was invest in a T3 Tourmaline Ionic Hair Dryer with a Diffuser.  Yes, if you go to Sephora or Nordstrom you will pay $225 for the Hair Dryer and Diffuser, but you can get a good deal on them together on Ebay.  It will still be $100+, but believe me you will never regret investing in this hair dryer.  Just don't tell your husband how much you paid for it!
2. My Favorite Shampoos: Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo (absolute favorite), Neutrogena Triple Moisture Cream Lather Shampoo, Redken Clear Moisture Shampoo (light moisture, not to heavy), and Abba Moisture Scentsation Shampoo (not fond of the smell, but it is an excellent vegan shampoo).
3. My Favorite Conditioners: #1 NeutrogenaTriple Moisture Deep Conditioner, ABBA Moisture Scentsaiton Conditioner (100% vegan), and Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner Elucence (conditioner and styling product) or Clear Moisture Conditioner.
4. My Favorite Deep Conditioner : Frederic Fekkai Protein RX Reparative Treatment Mask.  My jar has lasted me over a year, but instead of using it as a mask here is what I do: on the days I can feel my hair is dryer than normal in the shower, I take a very small amount and rub it through-out my ends and don't rinse it out.  Style as normal.  I swear it works wonders!
5. My Favorite Styling Products: The inexpensive one I recommend are Garnier Fructis Styling Gel.   Also my new fav is Alterna Texturizing Glaze Alterna, it seperates curls and leaves them soft and bouncy, please works well on second day hair.  I also like Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream for adding shine and bringing out the highlights of your hair without drying it out.