Whether you have curly hair or have a child with curly hair, there are a few simple tricks that can mean the difference between looking like Shirley Temple or a character from Fraggle Rock.

I spent the best part of my early childhood looking like the latter.

My mum used to brush my hair every single day and in every school class photo all you can see is a big blonde mass of frizz. My hair alone took up an entire row.

It wasn’t until I met my friend Verity, aged 12, that I learnt how to manage my hair. Something so simple changed how I felt about my hair completely.

Lately, a few people have asked me how I manage my hair, so it dawned on me that I should share the love.

Below are a few tips which will help end your frizz:

1) Never ever ever brush your hair when it is dry.
I find a wide tooth comb is the best thing to use.

2) Leave your conditioner in.
You can buy leave-in conditioner but I have always just used my everyday one. I only use natural hair care products with no nasties in them so it’s never done me or my hair any harm.

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3) If you are looking after a toddler’s hair then I wouldn’t advise leaving the conditioner in.
To look after my son’s curls I use a nasties free shampoo and conditioner 2-3 times per week and then once a week will just comb conditioner through the ends (any product I use in our household is nasty chemical and cruelty free) and rinse.

4) Use a serum or oil for really defined curls.
I don’t use any on my toddler’s hair, I probably won’t until he is quite a bit bigger. For now I just use a detangling spray for the mornings when it’s a bit of a bird’s nest.

5) Never towel dry vigorously.
Make sure you let your hairdresser know not to dry vigorously. This will cause frizz. I just wrap my hair in a towel for 5 mins and then let it dry naturally. I was forever being told by my nan that I would catch my cold if I went out with wet hair but I never did.

6) Layers are your hair’s best friend.
I find that short layers (especially on top) take the weight out of the hair and improve the curls. If someone comes within a metre of you with the thinning scissors, RUN!!!

7) Whenever you go to the beach take a small spray bottle filled with half conditioner / half water.
This will prevent your hair from drying out. I find this coupled with salt water make my curls amazing! (this one is a little bit harder to keep up with now I have an active toddler with me but it’s still a handy tip).

8) Don’t wash your hair every day as this drys it out

Remember moisture is the key to beautiful locks. I wash mine once or twice a week however, I do often wet it and just put conditioner in between those times.

Do you have curly hair and any tricks you would like to share?

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com