9 Surprising Curly Hair Hacks From the Experts

Styling curls just the way you want them is hard, but maintaining curly hair can be a feat in and of itself. (This is especially true when you're still trying to figure out how to get better curls in the first place.) I did a little digging to find out the latest expert advice on making curls look better.

I've tracked down nine expert tips for managing your curly hair that will address all of your wave, twist, and coiled curly hair needs. Whether you have questions about the best way to wash your curls, or how to add shine back into dull hair, the best tricks to getting the shiniest, most gorgeous curls are all right here. For example, if you have trouble keeping your curls intact, using rod rollers is an easy way to get the look you want. But if you're more fed up with waiting for your hair to dry while your rollers are in, try this expert tip: Blow your hair dry with a diffuser, apply some styling cream, and then try using the rollers. You'll get a faster, more polished final look. Spray it all over with some shine-boosting spray if your hair needs a little extra luster, and you'll be ready to take on even the most humid day.

Keeping hair hydrated and getting bouncy curls usually takes a lot of experimenting to get right, but these tips make it quicker and easier to get ringlets that you'll totally love.

A Universal Diffuser Dries Your Hair Without Drying It Out

DevaCurl DevaFuser, $29, Amazon

If your hairdryer didn't come with a diffuser (or the one you have doesn't dry your hair evenly), it's time to try DevaCurl's diffuser. It's a universal diffuser attachment designed specifically for curly hair to give it 360 degrees of airflow, so all of your hair dries at the same rate, giving you better curl definition and less frizz. Ouidad, a curl expert and founder of the Ouidad line of hair products, told Total Beauty that in order to dry curly hair, it's best to use a good diffuser. Ouidad advises setting your hairdryer on low heat and pressure because even though it takes longer to dry, it won't dry your hair out, causing frizz later.

Twice Weekly Palm Oil Shampoo Moisturizes Hair, Without Weighing It Down

Kerastase Nutritive Bain Oleo-Curl Curl Definition Shampoo, $18, Amazon

“The best way to wash curls is twice a week with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner,” stylist JD Restrepo told Shape. His favorite shampoo happens to be Kerastase's Nutritive Bain Oleo-Curl Curl Definition shampoo. It has palm oil and shorea robusta seed butter to keep your hair hydrated, so it doesn't dry out and get frizzy. Plus, it's lightweight, so your hair will still have a natural bounce.

Apply a Botanical Infused Styling Cream Before Rollers For Faster Styling

Kimble Beauty Bounce Back Curl Revitalizer , $16, Amazon; Diane Twist-flex Rods, $10, Amazon

Hairstylist Kim Kimble loves to use flexible rod rollers to set curls, but she hates how long it takes for damp hair to dry in them. She told Allure she prefers to blow dry and then apply Bounce Back's revitalizer before rolling. "It gives you that curly look and dries much faster, probably 30 minutes, because your hair is blow-dried first," she said. Kimble's curl cream has botanicals to smooth each curl and boost your natural volume and shine. After applying it all over, roll your hair up with the Diane Twist-flex Rods. They're the No. 1 best seller in hair rollers because they let you style your curls the way you want without all the damage you get from hot tools.

Add Wheat Protein to Build Up Thin Curls

Aveda Be Curly Enhancer, $33, Amazon

Thin curls need a little boost sometimes, as they can tend to fall a little limp earlier in the day. Aveda's Be Curly Cream is particularly great for fine hair, John Frieda salon stylist Nadia Dean told Cosmopolitan, as it provides more curl. It has a wheat protein blend that expands when your hair is wet and retracts when it's dry, so it works with your hair to maintain volume and definition.

Smooth Your Hair's Cuticle with Essential Oils

Oscar Blandi Jasmine Smoothing Conditioner, $22, Amazon

"The cuticle for curly hair isn't a smooth cuticle, so you have to smooth it in yourself," stylist Eladia Lebron told Popsugar. That's where the Oscar Blandi jasmine conditioner comes in. It's infused with jasmine extract and vitamin E, which controls hair and seals in the cuticle. Lebron suggests squeezing the conditioner from mid-shaft to ends, so your roots don't get too saturated (which can make your hair flat).

Turn Up Shine With a Color Gloss

Sebastian Cellophane Clear, $17, Amazon

If you use a ton of products to keep your curls looking their best, your hair might start to look a little lack-luster. This glossy treatment, though, has natural color pigments that refresh and condition your hair while adding extra shine. Whitney Green, stylist at Ted Gibson Salon, told Health that a color gloss can make your hair look richer and brighter with loads of shine, minus the damage that comes with a standard hair dye.

Combat Frizz With a Camellia Flower Serum

Matrix Biolage Smooth Proof Serum, $16, Amazon

Fighting frizz in humid weather can be a nightmare, but it doesn't have to be if you have a good hair serum. Edward Tricomi, Stylist and Co-Founder of Warren-Tricomi Salons, told Stylecaster that he likes Biolage's Smooth Proof Serum because it moisturizes the hair and stops frizz "by repairing and sealing dry, porous strands that soak up excess water from the air.” This serum's formula mimics the water-resistant properties of the camellia flower, locking out moisture in up to 97 percent humidity.

Add Jamaican Black Caster Oil to your LOC Routine

SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Reparative Leave-In Conditioner, $11, Amazon

The SheaMoisture leave-in conditioner is a lifesaver for curly hair when it needs extra hydration and control. "I use it as the 'L' portion in my LOC method [leave-in, oil, and curl cream for those not in the know], and not only does it smell lovely, but it doesn't weigh down my coils," Taylor Bryant, beauty editor, told Refinery29. It has Jamaican black castor oil to soften and detangle any hair type and keep curls looking polished all day long.

Spray a Light Gloss When Other Products Make Your Hair Dull

Aquage Beyond Shine, $21, Amazon

Overworked hair can tend to lose shine, so Clyde Haygood (Hayden Panettiere's hair stylist), told Allure he applies Aquage's shine gloss to reclaim that luster. He said, "The spray is brilliant at reflecting light, and it doesn't disrupt your style at all." It smooths your hair's cuticle, so each strand reflects the maximum amount of light.

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