A luxurious curly hair style is the ultimate compliment to your wedding or prom gown, along with jewelry and other accessories. Loose curls are 
the best way to go, whether you are wearing it completely up, partially up, or down and flowing.
If your hair is on the short side you may want to consider relaxing the curl, especially if it is particularly tight. Select a stylist who specializes in this area and have it done at least a week prior to the event. A nice loose curl or wave is very versatile and easy to style. Experiment with smoothing gels and hair accessories. Simple hair accessories work well with curls of any length, whether you use ribbons, decorative hair pins, or a simple garland of flowers.
Having your hair highlighted can add an accent to the shape of the curls – this is also something that should be tried out well in advance of your wedding to see if you like the look.
Your florist can also make hair accessories to match your bouquet – flowers attached to a comb, hairpin, wreath or headpiece for a few examples.
An updo is a style that instantly dresses-up a look. For those with straight hair, it can be done without a professional hairdresser if it is practiced
several times before the big day – however, for curly hair it is best handled by a professional. Allow for extra time too, because the hair will need to be straightened to lay flat against the head and then re-curled after the point of the pony tail. Hair has to be chin length at the shortest point, in order for this style to work. There are such a variety of updo styles from relatively simple to simply extravagant! Browse bridal and hairstyle magazines, along with online picture galleries to fine the look you like best.
If you are looking for something simple, yet elegant, and your hair is shoulder length or longer, consider something at the nape of your neck – a nape knot for instance, or a wavy French twist entwined with flowers.
Many people are under the assumption that curly hair must be cut in a layered style, which is not necessarily true. A great low-maintenance curly hair style for hair that it not extremely thick (or super curly) is a long, blunt cut. The weight of the hair will relax the curl a little more and it is an easy wash-and-go look. If your hair is very thick and you want to wear it long, then a layered style would be more suitable, in order to control the volume.
Keep in mind that the shorter the hair, the curlier the look will be due to the loss of weight which would pull and relax the curl. A shorter cut will also require more frequent trimmings to keep the shape – something to consider if your hair grows fast. A good stylist is very important for those choosing a short style!
A word of caution – never let anyone use thinning shears or razors on your curly hair as this can be very damaging to the fragile ends. Proper layering will take care of the bulkiness you get with really thick hair. Also keep in mind the ‘shrinkage factor’ of curly hair when choosing a style. Your hair could actually be up to one third longer when it is wet, than when it is dry.
When selecting a hair style, consult with a professional stylist who has real experience with curly hair. I have found the best luck with stylists who have the same type of hair, although that can be a rare find. Make sure that you tell them how much time you have to deal with your hair each day and how much work you want to put into your look. If you want a wash-and-wear look then let it be known up front. A good cut and proper maintenance are the keys to controlling beautiful curly hair styles.
Straightening curly hair is a real challenge! After some nightmares (and a few chemical burns) it is something that I recommend be done by only by a professional who specializes in this type of service. A bad straightening job can take months to grow out – if it doesn’t break off first!
If you are going for the pin straight look, be sure that is what you really want. Often times making such a drastic change opens up a whole new set of problems. Your styling choices may be limited and if you want any bit of curl later on, it will take more work on your part. Weather changes can also come as a surprise (from personal experience) – humid weather that used to make those curly hair styles frizzy, could suddenly make you go flat.
You may want to try just relaxing the curl first. When you have your hair relaxed, there will still be some curl left. You can then achieve straight look when you want using several methods. One way I have done it is to work some heat straightening gel through the hair and blow dry it straight, starting in small sections at the back, and working towards the front, until it is all straight. Another way, if you don’t care for blow drying and you have some time, is to let it air dry and then work a heat styling product recommended for use with ceramic flat irons through your hair and work in sections from the back of your head forward. With relaxing you get the best of both worlds – the straight look when you want it and the curly hair style when you don’t. It also tends to be less expensive than straightening. If you choose not to have the roots touched up, the new growth will blend in easier than with totally straight hair.
Chemical straightening can range between $50 and $100, or more depending on where you live. Even more expensive is the popular Japanese straightening system which starts at around $300 and can go as high as $1000 or more depending on the length of your hair. Japanese hair straightening must be done by a qualified stylist as this is a very specialized service.
Curly hair tends to be dry, so conditioning is a must – every time you wash. As for washing, try not to do it every day. If you shower everyday and cannot avoid getting your hair wet, then try using a very gentle shampoo every other day and use a hydrating conditioner everyday, yes, even when you do not shampoo.
Use a wide tooth comb as much as possible, since brushes can be very damaging to the ends, especially when you encounter tangles.
If it is really curly and you live in humid conditions, a leave-in conditioning treatment and smoothing gel may be good ideas.
If you have the time and you can, let your hair dry naturally. Naturally, if it is the dead of winter and freezing outside you might need to use the blow dryer – if you do, using a diffuser will keep your curls from getting beat up from the force of the dryer’s air.
You can revive your curly hair styles at any time by spritzing the curls lightly with water or any of the shine sprays on the market designed for curly hair.
