If not treated with care, curly hair is prone to frizz. The trick is to keep it well conditioned and work with the curl, not against it.

Maintenance: Curly hair tends to be drier than straight hair, so wash no more than twice a week, to let scalp oils hydrate hair naturally. “Use a smoothing shampoo and conditioner to treat the cuticle and calm frizz,” says New York City hairstylist Julie Lin.

Styling: Dry your hair with a T-shirt or paper towels instead of a bath towel, which can cause frizz, says Jayson Morgan, style director at the Patrick McIvor Color Studio, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Detangle hair with fingers or a wide-tooth comb, never a brush. And use a leave-in conditioning spray, which “can also be misted on when the hair is dry to help the wave bounce back,” says Amanda B., a Los Angeles–based hairstylist and colorist.

Common Misconception: Hair should be scrunched with the hands as it dries to enhance curls. Actually, scrunching disturbs the curl pattern and creates more frizz. Apply a product and either let the hair dry naturally or twist damp sections into the desired shape and let them air-dry completely.

What’s to Love: Treat them right and your curls will be low-maintenance.

RS Picks for Curly Hair

Matrix Curl.life Shampoo (14, www.matrix.com for salons) cleanses without weighing hair down.

Nexxus Humectress Ultimate Moisturizing Conditioner ($15 at drugstores) hydrates and helps manage unruly hair.

Aveda Be Curly Curl Control lotion ($17.50, www.aveda.com) curls and adds moisture and shine.