Amidst the hustle and bustle of Australian Fashion Week this year, Shark Beauty – Fashion Weeks’s official hair tool partner – hosted an everything-you’ve-ever-wanted-know-about-curls masterclass with texture specialist, Rumbie Mutsiwa [Rumbie & Co founder]. Likening the way curls are approached to eating soup with a fork, Rumbie says, “people have always dealt with curls, the opposite of what hair needs. I’m here to change that.” The session saw Rumbie live-styling two models hair whilst she talked best hair practices, frizz-fighting basics, embracing natural texture (whether it be wavy, curly or coily) and how she really feels about microfibre towels
Here are her top tips for enhancing curl and unlocking your best hair yet.
1. Detangle On Dry Hair
We have some news.. contrary to popular belief, hair should only be brushed when dry. “I know that’s not what they say, but believe me, it’s what hair needs” says Rumbie. She explains that hair strands are physically stronger in it’s dry state than when they are wet, “wet hair creates a temporary break of the shaft, which means that your hair is actually weaker. Manipulating hair whilst it is weak, would be the equivalent of doing a stress test. You definitely don’t want to put your locks through that.”. Try brushing locks pre-wash to avoid any unruly, hagrid-like frizz, while still maintaining your hairs health and strand integrity.
2. Put Down The Microfibre Towel
Once synonymous with the idea of getting ready, the ‘post-shower towel updos’ time has passed according to Rumbie. She suggests avoiding towels altogether, “even using a microfibre towel or t-shirt will absorb all of hair’s moisture. Which means it will take your hair longer to heal from its temporary state of breakage”. This in turn this can affect drying time.
3. Try These Moisture Heroes
The secret to hydrated and healthy locks? You only need two products! Rumbie suggests starting with a leave in conditioner to moisturise and following closely with a strong-hold curl gel to enhance texture. Similar to the skin flooding ethos, products work best when applied on damp hair “as your broken bonds [from hair being wet] form back together your hair will suck in the moisture”. As a rule of thumb, Rumbie pairs dense cream or strong-gel formulas with dense, thick hair and reserves lightweight gels or sprays for finer hair types. This will yield optimum absorption for each respective hair type.
How to know if you’ve applied enough? “You want to hear that squishy sound. That sound is an an indication that your hair is hydrated enough, If you don’t hear the sound, take that as your sign to add more moisture [through water and product].”
4. The ‘In, Clamp and Pull’ Method
Now that you know what products to apply, here’s how best to apply them. Gently pat product into the strands of, coat from mid length to ends with a generous amount. Leave roots dry.
To ensure product is evenly distributed finger-comb hair using Rumbie’s preferred ‘In, Clamp and Pull’ method.
Insert fingers ‘in’ from underneath the hair, clamp hair by the root [here, your hands will mimic a claw shape] and ently pull hair outwards. Think of this step as the command+shift+save equivalent for hair, “it will lock in all of your hard work, encourage healing and ensure hair retains moisture through properly closing the hair cuticle.” Done correctly, Rumbie advises you should be able to feel hair smooth instantaneously and it will have longlasting effects protecting hair against the elements.
Finish by scrunching locks upwards and towards the root, to encourage hair’s natural texture and curl pattern.
5. Diffuse! Diffuse! Diffuse!
Now that it’s drying time, name a more iconic duo than curly hair and a high-performing diffuser. Rumbie opts for the Shark Beauty SpeedStyle Hair Dryer with its diffuser attachment for clients saying “it’s IQ technology automates to the ideal drying setting, making it so easy to use”. Hold the diffuser still and closely to the root “you don’t need to be doing the whole up and down motion, it actually causes too much stress to the hair shaft and can create damage while drying“.
Rumbie’s pro tip: Use the Coldshot setting every so often whilst diffusing to minimise frizz and ensure a smooth finish.
Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer, $299.99 at Shark Beauty
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