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As a member of the beauty industry, I'd like to apologize to my fellow frizzy-haired girls. Between the months of May and August, so many brands and editors tell us that our gloriously fuzzy strands need taming. The message is clear: Frizz is a pesky problem and must be fought — fast.
But I'm here to offer an alternative narrative — one in which gals who have coarse, curly, fuzzy, wavy, natural textures get to rock the gorgeous hair they've got. Because our locks aren't a problem to be fixed. Oh, hell no. They're a gift to be embraced, dammit!
With all of this in mind, we tapped Jeanie Syfu, a hair extraordinaire and Tresemmé spokesperson who is a mainstay backstage at fashion shows. Syfu adores frizz — just take a peek at some of the incredible hairstyles she's created.
And since frizz isn't reserved for one hair type, we picked two gals with completely different textures; Djenice has a head of coarse, natural spirals, while Alexa has thick, looser waves. We asked Syfu to create three styles on each woman — and the results are nothing short of spectacular.
So if you're sick of people telling you to fix your frizz (or just want to figure out how to make some beautiful, volume-packed styles), click through. As Carrie Bradshaw once said, maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed.
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Au Naturel
The best place to start is with the gorgeous, natural texture you were born with — frizz, fuzz, curls, and all. For Djenice, that meant taking her coils to new heights. "The texture is already there," Syfu says. "So instead of putting up a fight with humidity, let it work for you."
The secret lies in the product you apply first. Syfu smoothed on a curl cream — we like SheaMoisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie — when Djenice's hair was about 80% dry. "It's important to use a curl cream so that your hair is soft enough to brush out without breaking," Syfu explains. Once Djenice's hair was fully dry, Syfu gently back-brushed the hair from the ends up with a Mason Pearson. The result is a gorgeously full 'do that embraces the wispy fuzz instead of going against it.
Acne Studios pants.
Emilio Pucci Sequined Shirt, $1,760, available at Farfetch; SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, $12.99, available at SheaMoisture.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
But frizz comes in all forms — not just tight curls. Plenty of people have wavier textures that still fuzz up in humidity. That's the type of hair Alexa has, and Syfu had the perfect 'do for her: a twisted roll to accentuate her hair's natural shape.
"This style works great for looser waves because you can use your natural wave pattern," Syfu says. To start, Syfu drew a line two inches back from Alexa's hairline, ear to ear (like a headband). She sectioned that hair off and misted it with water before working Tresemmé Perfectly Undone Sea Foam through it to activate the waves.
Then, using a wide-toothed comb, Syfu swept the hair over to one side. She loosely twisted it over the head into a relaxed victory roll before pinning it into place. She pulled back the remaining hair on the sides to enhance the shape. "No curling irons necessary!" Syfu says.
Christopher Kanetop.
Tresemmé Perfectly Undone Wave Creation Sea Foam, $4.99, available at Target.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
Hair like this should run free.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
Braided Babes
A fuzzy texture is the perfect base for big, beautiful braids. Both Djenice and Alexa got the royal treatment from Syfu with some princess-worthy plaits — but their styles couldn't be more different.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
Alexa's braid was a half-up, twisted style that ran along the crown of her head instead of the typical hairline milkmaid braid. "This loose rope braid works perfectly because it gives you the right amount of control to keep the hair looking neat while the texture in the back is left out to play," Syfu says.
Syfu pushed all the hair back over the shoulders, sectioning off everything from the hairline back to the crown. She then started French-braiding over that section, twisting pieces as she went to create the rope-like texture.
"This is also a great styling option for second- or third-day hair — just refresh with some dry shampoo," Syfu says.
Tresemmé Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo, $5.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
Alexa's braid isn't immediately visible from the front, which makes for a fun little surprise in the back. Djenice's braid, on the other hand, is on full display — with a glorious touch of funk.
Michael Kors dress.
Gucci Baiadera Striped Lurex Gown in Gold Blush, $5,700, available at Bergdorf Goodman.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
"Creating braids [with] hair textures like Djenice's can make some fun, dramatic shapes because of its natural volume," Syfu says. To build this asymmetrical look, she weaved three cornrows in an undercut style to enhance the texture of the rest of her hair.
Syfu suggests smoothing an anti-frizz cream between the tips of your fingers before you start braiding. "This gives you the right amount of control as you braid and keeps the section neat," Syfu says. The number and placement of the cornrows is entirely up to you.
Suave Professionals Sleek Anti-Frizz Cream, $2.94, available at Walmart.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
Texture Play
Another thing you can stop fighting during a heat wave? Greasy roots. Smoothing them with shine cream lets your fuzzy texture take center stage.
Alexa's low pony is all about precision-parting, according to Syfu. "You want it to look graphic," she says. She started by working mousse from roots to mid-lengths. She then parted her hair straight down the middle and pulled it into a low, tight ponytail at the nape. To keep it from looking too severe, "gently pull out wispy bits to soften and frame the face," Syfu advises. For extra fluff and frizz in your tail, she suggests misting a dry shampoo — like R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo — throughout.
Left: Altuzarradress ; Zaraearrings ; Right: Prabal Gurungdress.
R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo, $29, available at R+Co.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
This super-sleek, yet totally playful topknot couldn't be easier to create. "What I love about this bun is that there is a nice contrast of textures," Syfu says.
She started by scrunching Tresemmé Flawless Curls Mousse from roots to tips for control. Then, she simply pulled Djenice's hair into a high ponytail and secured it with an elastic. She looped the tail into a small knot, leaving about half the hair loose before pinning the knot into place. To fluff up the remaining hair, she massaged it between her thumb and forefinger.
Syfu grazed a natural-bristle brush from the hairline back to smooth the edges.
Tresemmé Flawless Curls Extra Hold Mousse, $4.94, available at Walmart.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
Business in the front, party in the back.
Left: Lady Grey hair pin.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
The final step: Grab your BFF and get your pose on. These styles are Insta-perfect.
Photographed by Amber Mahoney.Clik here to view.
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