While you may have battled with your curly coif your whole life, you’re likely the envy of most of your friends. In fact, some straight-haired women spend hours trying to get the same bouncy, voluminous tresses. The question is – how do you discipline your ‘do? With these tips and a powerful combination of products, you’ll be able to keep curls under control.

Comb carefully
The more you brush curly hair, the greater the frizz factor. So before you step in the shower, use a boar-bristle brush to make sure the natural oil from your scalp is evenly distributed throughout your hair. Tommy Buckett, celebrity hairstylist for Garnier Fructis, noted to Glamour magazine that curls tend to get tangled and knotted. In the shower, use a wide-toothed comb to brush your conditioner through your strands from roots to ends. Buckett explained that color-treated curls are extra thirsty and require a deeper conditioner. Opt for a weekly treatment like the Fekkai Advanced Essential Shea Ultra Rich Mask, which enhances hair’s strength and manageability. Once you’ve rinsed out the conditioner, avoid wringing your hair, rubbing it with a towel or putting it in a turban. Instead, lightly squeeze the moisture out with a clean towel, encouraging your curls’ natural shape.

Style smarts
This is a key step in your regimen, whether you have kinky ringlets or looser ones. While hair is still damp, work a reasonable sized amount of de-frizz serum or styling cream into your locks, scrunching as you go. Finer hair can benefit from the lightweight Leonor Greyl Algues Et Fleurs Curl Enhancer, which uses seaweed and other film-forming proteins to restructure the curls so they maintain their shape. Thicker, coarser curls should opt for a heavy-duty product that can tame and relax the hair, like the rich Hamadi Shea Hair Cream.

Whatever product you use, don’t go overboard as too much can make your hair greasy and weigh it down. Air drying is your best bet for avoiding poofiness, but if you’re jetting out the door, blowdry your bangs and roots. It’s helpful to pop a diffuser on your hairdryer, which can distribute the heat more evenly.

Sleeping beauty
Waking up with flattened or frizzed out locks? The way you style your hair before you go to sleep can have a big impact on how it looks in the morning. For a better bed-head, pile your hair high on top of your head in a  neat knot. You’re less likely to have a tangled mess in the morning, and more importantly, you’ll avoid the risk of breakage. Buckett also recommended in Glamour purchasing a silk pillowcase, as it won’t cause as much friction on the hair fibers as a cotton one.