STYLE

Curly haired cutie Madison Pettis is the definition of #HairGoals! Her Insta is an endless stream of cute ways to style spiraled strands, so we just had to reach out to get her tress tips and tricks. Ahead, she spills on all of her styling secrets, pro products and more.

GL: YOUR CURLS ARE AMAZING. What’s the secret to your super bouncy spirals? Is there a certain styling technique or product that’s key?

Madison: Aw, thank you! My hair is naturally spiral curly, but I have a few tricks to help keep them healthy! The secret is making sure they are conditioned & hydrated so they're not dry, and not going overboard with products that make them look oily or hard & crunchy! Applying the perfect amount of leave-in conditioner while your hair is wet keeps them from getting frizzy. Curly hair comes in all different textures, so it's important to find the right leave-in conditioner for yours. Sometimes I have a few curls that are droopy or frizzy, so occasionally I'll use a curling wand with a small rod that matches the size of my curls to spruce up the limp pieces.

GL recommends: TIGI Catwalk Curls Rock Leave-In Moisturizer, Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioner, TRESemme Split Remedy Leave-In Conditioning Spray

GL: We LOVE your unique styles—like the samurai-inspired bitty bun you’ve shared on Instagram. When you switch it up with unexpected looks, where do you get your inspiration?

Madison: I haven't always been super adventurous with my hair styles, but lately I've been trying to step out of my comfort zone and experiment with new looks! I love Tumblr for any beauty or fashion inspo.

GL: You pull off a sleek “power pony” like a boss. When you wear your hair super smooth, how do you fight frizz and make it look so sleek and shiny? Any other ponytail secrets or tips?

Madison: Using an anti-humidity spray is key! Since my hair is naturally so curly, it always wants to resist being completely smoothed out all the way straight. Any amount of moisture makes it curl up, so anti-humidity spray is a lifesaver! I also love to tease my ponytail to give it some volume & body. And wrapping a piece of hair around the ponytail itself is one of my favorite things so you can't see the ponytail holder.

GL Recommends: TRESemme Friz Shield Finishing Spray, Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Volumizing Anti-humidity Hairspray

GL: Bouncy, voluminous waves look so glam on you. What’s your technique—is there a blow dryer, brush, curling iron or product that you love? What size curling iron is your favorite?

Madison: Blow-drying it all the way straight first is important to get the hair totally smooth before you style it. I like to switch it up each time and try something a little different with the styling. One of my favorite tips is to use 2 or 3 different sizes of irons so you get more natural looking curls or waves. After styling, my favorite part is to gently brush out the curls or use your fingers to fluff them and give them some life. I'm all about the voluminous look!

GL Recommends: Conair You Big Waves, Hot Tools Professional Spring Curling Iron, Remington T-Sudio Pearl Ceramic Styling Wand, Conair Instant Heat Curling Iron

GL: What are your some of must-have styling products: shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, etc.?

Madison: Detangler is a must have for my super curly hair! Can't go without it! Immediately after washing I use it to make it easier to comb it out. I do straighten my hair, so I also love the little itty-bitty flat irons for getting those hard-to-reach pieces around the hair line that frame my face. When my hair is straight, I also love using a dry shampoo to help the look last a little longer & to give it more volume.

GL Recommends: Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Silk Detangler, Not Your Mother’s Knotty to Nice Conditioning Detangler, Johnson’s No More Tangles Detangling Spray, Batiste Dry Shampoo, Dove Invigorating Dry Shampoo

GL: What’s the most surprising hair tip or trick you’ve learned? Any other hair hacks you want to share with our readers?

Madison: One of the most helpful tricks I've learned for curly hair is to use a microfiber towel to towel-dry rather than just a regular towel! I was so surprised at how much less frizzy my hair was when I made the switch.

GL Recommends: Devacurl Devatowel, Mimi’s Diva Towel, Aquis Essentials Microfiber Absorbent Hair Towel

Who is your hair icon? How do you deal with spiral strands? Let us know below!  

by Caitlin Callihan | 3/12/2016