With more people embracing their natural texture than ever before, Suzie McGill, international artistic director at Rainbow Room International, shares her top tips for helping clients care for their curls
“For 2020 and 2021, it’s all about embracing natural texture. Curls look their best when defined and bouncy. Therefore, it’s key to ensure your clients are applying the best products on their curls once leaving the salon to enhance them and give them further body and movement,” explains Suzie.
“With curls, moisture is key. I always recommend a good quality moisturising shampoo and conditioner that will deeply condition, reduce breakage and prevent split ends. Where possible, try to recommend your client a sulphate and paraben-free shampoo and explain that this will help to avoid stripping the hair of its natural oils. Leave-in conditioners and conditioning masks and treatments are also so important to recommend to those with curls, as this will help to reduce frizz and dry strands.”
When talking to clients about at-home hair styling, it’s important to ensure they always use a heat protection product before any styling. As for styling tools, Suzie says: “A diffuser is a great way to give clients curls added bounce and body, and to enhance their finished look at home by evening out their curl pattern.”
For those looking to add extra volume, Suzie suggests encouraging clients to use a texturising salt spray, which can be scrunched into the hair for added body and to enhance the finished look of curls or waves. Mousses are also a great addition for styling, as they can add a further spring to curls and also give extra hold to ensure they stay looking their best throughout the day. “I particularly like the Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Fab Foam Classic Hold Mousse, as its non-sticky and provides flexible support while strengthening the hair,” says Suzie. ” It’s important to inform clients that they should be aware that some mousses can give their hair a hard almost set finish rather than a natural finish that looks more effortless.”
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Some of Suzie’s favourite products for curls include the Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Tame Wild Smoothing Anti-Frizz Cream, which is great for taming frizz and adding shine for healthy-looking curls, and also providing heat protection and humidity protection. Anti-frizz products like this, and serums and oils, are great for reducing frizz and flyaway hair, and giving curls a gorgeous shine.
Some of Suzie’s other care tips for curls focus on brushing: “Clients with curls should brush from the bottom up with a wide tooth comb. This will get rid of any knots successfully, and should also help avoid breakage. As always, clients should be as gentle as possible and never ‘hack’ through the hair, especially when it’s wet and more prone to breakage. ” Regular trims should also always be advised, and are key to keeping curls looking bouncy and fresh.
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@suziemcgillhair
Although curls look great when worn down and enhanced with styling products, Suzie mentions that they also look great worn up too. “Talk to your clients about experimenting with styles like the top knot, and leaving some of their curls out to frame the face. A ponytail also looks great slicked back with all emphasis on the curls at the back.” It’s also important to discuss protective styles, including braids and twists with clients, as Suzie says these are get “for keeping hair protected and tucked away, minimising manipulation and also giving their hair a break from harsh weather that can play havoc on the hair.”
See more from Suzie in our anniversary shoot with Schwarzkopf Professional >
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