Tips for taming an unruly curly fringe
Oh, curly hair. In many ways it’s about accepting controlled chaos, and this is especially true for fringes.
Before we get into it, know that there are no hard and fast rules. There are so many variables, it really comes down to the individual, your curls, lifestyle, hair length and how you like it to feel.
I also don’t like to overcomplicate things. When I do my clients’ fringes, they’re always surprised that it only takes a minute, and they love the result. Most of the time I send them home with an anti-crease clip, and I’ve changed their lives.
That being said, here are a few tips for taming a curly fringe.
Day one. Straight out of the shower. You’ve washed your hair. Great. Now what? Take some of the excess moisture out by scrunching your hair with a towel. Give it a good squeeze and get as much moisture out as you can. Your fringe will still be damp, but not soaking. About 50% dry. In winter, I use a diffuser to help get to this stage.
Then you add your product: your leave-in conditioners, your mousse, whatever you like to use. There are no rules! Place your fringe where you’d like it to go and let it air dry (or diffuse). Loosen it with your fingers if the look you’re going for is a little more textured and tousled.
If a cowlick is making this difficult – they tend to create separation in all the wrong places – I recommend anti-crease clips. Use them to bring the hair into line, then give it some extra help with a setting spray before drying, removing the clips and going about your day.
If you need to reset your fringe, don’t be tempted to wash your hair and start over. Curly hair always looks better the day (or two) after washing because it’s more porous and drier than straight hair, so it needs natural oils to build up to keep it looking healthy. Super clean hair is the hardest to work with. Instead of washing, use a misting bottle filled with water. Gently wet your hair and scrunch it back into place. If it’s not cooperating, whip out the anti-crease clips, then use a sea salt, texture or light finishing spray to set it.
It shouldn’t take much. Tweak it, but also accept that it’s probably gonna move again in an hour, so try not to push too far. The more you work a curly fringe, the more of a mess it can become. Embrace the gentle chaos of your hair texture because I guarantee you, you’re the only person who will notice one rogue hair.
If my fringe isn’t looking great, it’s usually because it’s flat. So I’ll shake the shit out of my hair to loosen the curls and balance it out. To do that, I recommend the best tools on the market: your hands. I bring my fingers up from underneath and shake it out from the roots.
If you’ve slept on your fringe and it’s flat, shake it out.
If your fringe has been smooshed by a hat, shake it out.
If it’s looking especially limp, use a texture spray on your roots, diffuse it, and then (you guessed it) shake it out.
Ultimately, it’s best to work with your curl. Embrace it. The more you fight against it, the more you’re going to struggle. It will be a never-ending battle, and who has got time for that?