Ask a Hairdresser

Q: To get loose, beachy waves, I braid my straight hair when it’s damp and go to bed. But when I release the braids in the morning, my hair is frizzy. Using an anti-frizz product simply flattens and straightens the curls. How can I fix this? A: “Use a diffuser to dry the braids instead of letting your hair air-dry,” says Terence Lai, leading stylist at Hairloom. “It prevents the hair cuticles from opening and frizzing up. Plus, it’s not healthy for your scalp if you sleep with wet hair.”

Lai also recommends using a hair primer. “Spread the product on your palms and apply it with a scrunching action instead of combing it in.” Two bonus tips: Overly-layered hair will frizz up more, so don’t thin it out too much; and the tighter the braids, the curlier your hair will be.