Left to its own devices, my naturally wavy hair turns into a big, frizzy mess.
I may not have Jennifer Aniston’s enviable loose waves, but I can almost fake ’em with the help of a few products — Sexy Hair Organics Styling Creme ($20), Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine ($20) and L’oreal Elnett Hairspray ($15).
Used together, they do a great job loosening naturally wavy hair.
1. Apply Sexy Hair Organics Styling Creme to damp, towel dried hair
It loosens my waves and eliminates frizz without killing the bounce. It’s neither crunchy nor sticky and moisturizes, too — a big plus for dry hair!
After washing and drying with a towel, I coat my hair with the creme from the roots to the ends, and then run through it with a a wide-toothed comb. The comb distributes the creme and starts loosening the waves.
2. Add definition with Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine
Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine works and smells great (like freesia). It’s a thick styling lotion that adds shine, smooths away frizz and creates touchable, malleable chunks of hair.
Choose a few pieces of hair around the bangs that you want to stand out. Dab a tiny bit of Brilliantine on your pointer finger (a little goes a long way). Then, pinch a piece of hair near the roots between your pointer finger and thumb.
Distribute the Brilliantine by running through the hair all the way from the roots to the end and repeat a few times on different pieces of hair until you have about 5-10 well defined sections around the face.
3. Set the look with a layer of L’oreal Elnett hairspray
Spray on a layer of soft and flexible Elnett to lock in that style. It keeps my hair in place without making it flake or feel sticky or crunchy.
It takes me about five minutes to apply all three products. Then, I air dry and let the products work their magic.
Do you have a special hair “cocktail” of products you use to get your hair looking its best?
Your friendly neighborhood beauyt addict,
Karen
Christina says
I’m going to have to try this! My hair has stopped responding to the tricks that used to work. Thanks, Karen!
Christina´s last blog post..Guess Who Might Be Your Mother?
Rachel says
i dont usually do my hair wavy buuutt when i do i use:
1. v05 curvaceous curls mousse – seriously not bad for the price
2. fekkai summer hair beach wave spray – smells amazing, works fantastic!
3. if my hair won’t listen, i use garnier fructis curl shaping spray gel, but sparsely 🙂
if i had to recommend one it would be fekkai of course. good investment!
btw karen, i checked out the blonde/brunette/redhead collection at mac today and it wasn’t so impressive for me in person. i fixed my disappointment by buying two amazing pairs of shoes 😛
Marisol says
Lovely hair Karen! Whenever I try to get loose waves, I get a lot of frizz. Might be the products or just my hair is too curly and unruly to do what I want.
I do use a cocktail of products depending on what I want to do with my hair. But lately I have been straightening with a flat iron and using a heat protectant.
Marisol´s last blog post..Pictures from my vacation
Tiera says
I don’t usually do loose waves like this either. If I put my hair in a bun long enough, it will hold the curl. That’s pretty much my go-to look, so easy!
In totally unrelated news, I thought you might enjoy this video:
http://video.yahoo.com/network/100000086?v=4283774&l=100000085
Tiera´s last blog post..Laura Mercier First Blush Collection Now Available
lesley says
I love Brilliantine! In fact it’s one of the few things I use… I have a shoulder length bob with lots of layers so after showering with my Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco shampoo and conditioner I put about a nickel sized amount of Brilliantine into damp hair. Then I let it air dry and then straighten it out with my GHD flat iron. Sometimes I’ll skip the straightening and add a little more Brilliantine to my ends to have a carefree shaggy bob. =)
By the way, are you still using the Creme de Coco masque on your hair? How are you liking it in the long run? I’ve been thinking of buying it for the longest time and I’m due for another trim in about a month so I might grab it while I’m at my salon.
Hope you’re having a good weekend!
Alison says
Hi karen,
I thought you should know, I was browsing for chanel nail polish on Ebay and a shop called Cosmetix Club has used your pics of vendetta and django.
tali says
I have stubborn dead straight hair… i use Brilliantine as a de-frizz/glosser on the go!
I always wanted wavy hair… the grass is always greener.. and you hair looks so nice!
Adriana says
hi karen, you look very pretty! My hair is ugly wavy so I always have to use products to make it nice wavy and another product I recommend to everybody is AVEDA Be Curly. It is an awesome product and it really makes defined waves. It has wheat protein that when dry contracts and makes hair wavy, it is awesome! I guess it’s something similar to the Sexy Organic product you have.
Karen says
Hi Christina,
I hope it works for you… do you have wavy hair, too?
Karen says
Hi Rachel,
That’s a bummer about BBR, but I gotta say — you can never go wrong with shoes. 🙂 What do your new pairs look like?
Karen says
Hi Marisol,
I go through those phases where I straighten my hair! Sometimes it’s just easier, you know?
Do you find that you need anything in addition to the thermal protectant, or is that enough to fight the frizz?
Hope you are enjoying being back in the Bay!
Karen says
Hi Lesley,
Yup, I’m still using the masque. I think in the long run having it helps, especially because my hair tends to get so dang dry. I have also started using both the Creme de Coco shampoo and conditioner… it’s REALLY GREAT STUFF! I love how it detangles, and it leaves my hair smelling so good. I can see why people get addicted to it.
My weekend has been pretty mellow — I puttered around the house yesterday and then watched The Duchess on DVD last night. Today I’m going to go and visit my parents. How has yours been? Do anything exciting?
Karen says
Hi Alison,
Thanks for letting me know!
Karen says
Hi Tali,
Yup, it’s true that the grass is always greener, especially when it comes to hair! I have always wanted stick straight hair and I am envious of your mane. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Adriana,
I’ve heard good things about Be Curly. How does it leave your hair feeling? Is it a soft gel or a crunchy one?
Karen says
Hi Tiera,
How fun! Thanks for putting up that link. I loved the ninja kitty. 🙂
Christina says
Hi, Karen,
It depends on the weather. Sometimes my hair behaves itself and is ringlet-y, and other days it needs all the help I can give it. Thanks for the advice!
Christina´s last blog post..Have Fun And Help Out The President-Elect
Shiny says
Nothing has ever worked for me… if I wear my hair naturally I end up with a bunch of frizz… I may need to try this cocktail thing that you and other commenters are talking about because one product certainly isn’t doing the trick.
Heidi says
I rub in some Biosilk’s silk therapy in my damp hair to soften it first, and then I work in some mousse to bring out my waves without the crunchiness.
Alicia says
Your hair looks so gorgeous!
Karen says
Hi Christina,
Girl, I hear that! My hair is weather dependent as well. If there’s any humidity in the air I know I’m up for a challenge.
Anyhoo, I hope this method works for ya. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Shiny,
Hmm, it sounds like you might have to start using more than one. A good place to start might be one to control the hair (like a gel) and a second to cut down on the frizz (like a serum).
Karen says
Hi Heidi,
I was such a Biosilk girl circa 1999! I couldn’t get enough of that stuff. Isn’t it great when you put it on the ends?
Karen says
Hi Alicia,
Thanks, hon! Do you have a special hair cocktail to get your hair to behave?
Lexi says
Karen, you look beautiful in this picture! I know this is a hair post, but what do you have on your lips? Beautiful!
Karen says
Hi Lexi,
Thank you! 🙂
On my lips I’m wearing a combo of two products from MAC BBR: What a Do! lipstick and Soft Wave lipglass. It’s a really easy neutral lip. You should try it! 🙂
rita says
you re so lucky karen, it’s hard to do this hairstyle while keeping the hair shiny! I think this is the better hairstyle for you, at least this is the sexier one 😀 you re ready for the red carpet!
kisses
rita´s last blog post..Vogue Portugal Feb. 2009