BAD HAIR DAY EVERY DAY

Dear Jellybean,

I have a serious hair problem: my hair is naturally wavy/curly, frizzy, tangled, semi-dry, and flat!!! I've tried many name-brand products to help, but they usually cure one problem or sometimes none. Do you know of any products or techniques I can use to save my hair?
-Bad Hair Day Every Day

Dear Bad Hair Day Every Day,

Making your hair look its best is all about a combo of products and skills. There's no miracle product that can fix your hair, in other words, unless you know exactly what to do after you apply it. Here are the products and techniques that I recommend to bring out the best in your wavy/curly hair.

Frizz happens when dried out hair soaks up too much moisture from the air. When hair is well-moisturized, therefore, you get less frizz. So hit the showers with a moisturizing shampoo that's made especially for dry hair. (Two drugstore brands that I personally like are Thermasilk Moisturizing Shampoo For Dry Or Damaged Hair, and Finesse Moisturizing Shampoo For Dry, Course Hair).

Follow up with a rich conditioner (such as Garnier Fructis Fortifying Cream Conditioner for Dry Or Damaged Hair, or Thermasilk Moisturizing Conditioner For Dry Or Damaged Hair). Only partly rinse out the conditioner, to help weigh down your curls and prevent frizz from forming.

When you're done, gently squeeze hair with a towel (never rub - that causes frizz!) to remove excess moisture. To help your curls form pretty spirals and waves, instead of a frizzy mess, apply a holding product that contains aloe, such as Finesse Touchables Mousse Curl Defining for Curly or Wavy Hair, or Philosophy Curly Head Silicone Hair Serum.

Let your hair air-dry (hands off, touching encourages frizz!) or scrunch your hair while using a diffuser to blow-dry. Scrunching at the top will help add volume and prevent that flatness you mentioned. Or if hair is shoulder-length or longer, pull it into a ponytail while it's still damp, twist it into a bun and pin it up until it dries - this should give you beachey waves.

If you want to loosen/straighten your curls a bit when they're dry, smooth a bit of straightening balm over the top layer of your hair. Good ones to try are Citre Shine Get Smooth Straightening Balm, or Binge Ultimate Smoothie Straightening Balm.