faking, or enhancing, natural texture hair tutorial
high five for friday
You know how the grass is always greener? Blondes wish for rich, chocolate brown hair and brunettes wish for sunny blonde. The only women that I’m convinced don’t wish for anything different are redheads. I don’t blame them. I’d love to be a redhead.Β
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On the same note, women often complain about their texture. It’s either too curly, too straight, too frizzy, too limp, etc. Thankfully, we have a multitude of products to use in order to help fix our hair woes.
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Today, I’m going to show you my technique for “faking” natural texture. I’m faking it because I have none. If you have some texture to your hair, but are interested in cleaning it up a bit, this tutorial may give you some pointers.
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My hair is naturally limp, lifeless, and straight. However, a cocktail of different products and strategic styling can help it look like I have a little natural texture just like Julianne Hough.
A brief note on sea salt sprays:
They can be very drying since they are filled with salt. If you already have dry hair, be sure to mix a leave in conditioner in with your routine as to not further dry out your hair.Β
I did a messy version of this tutorial in my completed style, in case you are interested.
comments
Awesome! I will definitely try this. I have zero texture to my hair.
You can make your hair do anything and it always looks fabulous! My hair is curly, but I am going to try this on my daughter who has my husband’s thick hair with just a little bend in it. Now, I just need to find a salon that sells Aquage products. My salon only sells pureology.
You can order them on Amazon as well. I got mine through my stylist, but she was willing to pick them up for me at a salon supply house.
This tutorial is so great! My hair is thin, but I have a lot of it (at least that’s what every hairstylist I’ve ever gone to has told me) and it flips in two different directions on the sides of my head while staying pancake-flat on top. Every time I hear about someone using a sea salt spray, they say you just spray it in and it’s like magic, but it’s so helpful to see it fully styled! Now to find where they sell Aquage…I’ve never seen it in any salon here in MN.
Depends on where you are in MN! You can use the Salon Locator on the Aquage website to find one! http://www.aquage.com/SalonLocator.aspx
I had the same issue trying to locate aquaqe. I am in MN also. However, they do have it in several salons in MSP and St Cloud area!
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Love it! Thanks again, Kate! I can’t wait to try!
As always, love your hair. π And love Aquage…
Where can I buy Aquage? I’m Canadian, but on a recent road trip through some of the northern states I looked for it in ever salon I could and almost everyone hadn’t even heard of it!
eBay!
This looks great! I’m definitely going to have to give it a try with my longer hair. I’m always so envious of girls with that beachy look..every time I do it my hair always looks ratty and tangled.
I just tried it…. and I was thinking the same thing. My hair looks very ratty, its extremely tangled, and it looks like it could easily be turned into dreds
Most red heads wish they were anything but red, unfortunately. But this looks awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Pretty cool tutorial. Fortunately, my hair looks like this naturally (well not fortunately when I’m trying to flat iron it) so now I know how to do the “messy curl” so its a little more put together!
I love this — it looks natural and beautiful! xo
http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/
Hair looks great, as always.
The pictures look extra awesome. I’m loving the lighting, editing, and color. Perfection!
thank you!
I love this! I used to do this but it was always so stiff and hard from the products I used. Thanks for showing me that I can still do that but to make it look more natural. Loving this new style!
I will have to try this! I have the most boring not textured hair and I hate it! I love it with curls in it though!
This is what I’ve been looking for, got some birthday money, can’t wait to try it!!
Love the color of your lipstick! What is the brand and shade?
This is basically what my hair does naturally. Some parts are almost straight while others are neat ringlet curls so it is always a challenge to make my whole head look cohesive. I usually use a diffuser and dry my hair upside down while scrunching it up a little, which made me curious if using a diffuser would work on the girls trying this that don’t have that texture naturally?
I’m also from MN and have not had any luck finding Aquage at salons around here!
Love this style! Living in Florida makes it really hard to curl and have my hair stay curled. Plus my hair naturally doesn’t seem to like holding curl, but I think this might just work for me. Def be trying it out on my next day off!
Thanks for showing us how it’s done! π
Love this look! I’ve been doing this a lot lately.. I have curly hair and rather than spend time using curl creme and diffusing, I’ve been using a salty spray, drying it with the diffuser half way and then letting it air dry! I really like Davines Sea Salt Primer, it smells amazing and I only have to use a little bit. Wonderful stuff, those salt sprays!
I have a question about the quick blow dry stuff. I have fairly dry hair and I’m wondering if the product would be ok for curly, highlighted, dry hair. It sounds like the best idea ever, it takes waaaay too long to dry my hair!
Also, love your hair tutorials! I wear my hair styled in the half up ballerina bun all the time and get lots of compliments π
Ooo… I love the boat neck polka-dot sweater! Where did you get it?
Madewell (it’s a t-shirt) !
My hair is naturally very fine, thin, and soft as well. In fact, I hate my hair on the days I wash it (which, ha.. is like twice a week), and for the longest time just let it be soft, fluffy baby chick hair until it got oily so I could use some dry shampoo. But I just started using Oscar Blandi’s texturizing spray for the first day of washing my hair, and it gives the texture I want without making my hair feel dirty!
Love Oscar Blandi anything. Great products.
Kate–Really enjoy your blog! Found you through pinterest looking up hairstyles and have ended up exlporing your other topics as well.
I just had time to read your entry on 1/10 and wanted to thank you for your honesty. As a christian women struggling with infertility myself; I know this is a very hard journey. I didn’t have time to read all your comments, so apologize if this has been mentioned to you already. There is a AMAZING online Christian support group/website called Hannahsprayer.org. There is also a book w/ it. Praying for continued peace on your journey.
Veronica
Thank you for sharing that Veronica–I’ll check it out
What a great tutorial! So helpful. I’m always trying to find a way to add more texture to my hair. Now if I can just get mine to turn out as fabulous as yours, then I’d be golden!!
Thanks for sharing! π
That’s some serious blow-drying music;). I’ll be trying this tomorrow!!
Oh my word…THANK YOU! I needed this tutorial so badly. On another note, is it odd that my 3 year old son knows you by name when he hears your voice? Mommy must be watching a lot of Kate videos. π God Bless you and yours!
I love that. !
As a redhead, I can tell you that growing up as a redhead I would’ve wished for ANY other hair color than red. However, now that I am an adult, I have come to embrace my red hair….just as it has started fading to a more auburn brown….now what I want is the bright vibrant copper color I had in my youth!!(and a hair stylist who can give it to me, but alas I always end up with a red based color, not the golden orange color I want…sigh).
I’m also wondering about the diffuser? My hair is neither straight nor curly, so when I don’t feel like round brushing, I do the upside down scrunch with a diffuser method.
A girlfriend and I were bonding this weekend at Sephora and discovered we both go to your blog for hair styling tutorials. She mentioned trying out Aquage and liking it a lot, now I find myself scoping out a salon where I can get some too. We both grew as tomboys and really appreciate what you are doing to help us girls out by sharing your knowledge, thanks Kate! π
I like that you two were “bonding”. π I love sephora.
LOVE the nail polish color on you – what is it?!
Thanks π
Miami Beet by OPI
Oh my gosh, I love you! My hair texture looks very similar to yours, and I’ve been doing the scrunch-and-dry thing this winter on days when I want to do my hair quickly. It never has enough curl, and just ends up looking frizzy. Today, I did it like I usually do but then tried your messy curling method, and wow. It’s exactly the finishing touch my hair needed! Thanks so much for the suggestion. And by the way, all I used was a curling mousse, but I really want to see what happens if I added a sea salt spray. Have you ever made your own?
Thank u, thank u, thank u!!!! My hair is thick and straight with some bend to it. I have tried soooo many times to get a textured look and it has never turned out great. I can’t wait to try this because the “beachy” look is one of my faves but I’ve never been able to get it quite right! Also, I did the mini part hair style today and got compliments on it! Thanks for all your hard work and help!! π
good luck! π
Another gorgeous style. Just catching up on your posts and read ” the one that is hard to write” ….. I will pray for you as you walk this through – I walked a similar path and as I sought His word he revealed that He wasn’t saying “no” to me – just “Not Yet”. I went on to have 3 children. It can feel a long hard path of longing, but you are asking for something that is good and pure and your Father loves to give His children good gifts! Bless you Kate. I will pray that this year will be the year of your heart’s desires! Xx
thank you!
You are so right! I’m a red head and LOVE it π
I love your hair tutorials!! You make it look so easy π
Thanks
Lovely! For those of us that already have super thick hair, would you recommend a substitute product to use rather than the thickening spray gel? Or should I just skip that step altogether?
I’d skip it.
Perfect, thanks! Definitely going to give this one a try. Love all of the dimension with your highlights and lowlights. This style really makes them pop.
I love this! Also, loveeeeee your color! What color formulas do you currently have in it???
all those details are on my FAQ page!
So true! I’ve never wished for another hair color but my own! Gonna have to try this tutorial!
Love this tutorial! I can’t wait to try it. I have used several of your tutorials to fix my hair. On Saturday I used the one where you put it in a little half up bun and then divide in two sides and kind of wrap around the bun. I just went to a basketball game and didn’t have much time to get ready, but I felt so pulled together. Thanks!
Just wanted to say that you’ve got a WONDERFUL set of tutorials!! I sell hair accessories for a living, and I’ve shared your blog on my facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/rotifera
http://www.facebook.com/rotiferahairflair
Messed up my own link! lol
Awesome tutorial!
Sheree
thehartungs.blogspot.ca
Love this tutorial! I always enjoy all of your hair posts!
How do you come up with so many amazing hair tutorials?
You always blow me away with something so simple and easy! Thank you for all the inspirational hair styles!!
xo
Caroline
http://lovecarolineblog.blogspot.com/
Fantastic tutorial – I just bought a hot tools curling iron and can’t wait to test it out (before now I have been doing curls with my flat iron)!
Thanks for the fabulous posts – you’re wonderful.
Tegan
http://www.lemonsugarcreative.com
Just wondering why you didn’t use a diffuser to blow dry? Do you not like them or just didn’t have one around?
Didn’t have one around!
Thanks for another amazing tutorial!! Where can I buy Aquage products? I have searched high and lo, but cannot never seem to find them! Thanks so much! π
I love this! Especially the salt spray. I grew up going to the beach in California and there’s nothing better than beach day hair! I love that someone thought to bottle it!
I have a hard time finding Aquage too…is there a website?
Thanks for another great tutorial.
Ashley
http://www.makeitrane.com
In the tutorial you state not to comb through your hair. I have really fine hair that tangles if I don’t comb through my hair. Do you have any tips to still go through this process and not have my hair full of knots? I do comb through it in the shower after conditioner. Thanks!
This is so great! Thanks so much! Now I just have to see if I can get Aquage products here..
Ok, I tried this this morning and WOW! I’m impressed. I always have faith in you, but I have to admit I was leery about this one! I didn’t have the products you used, so I improvised and used my typical Argan Oil and didn’t comb through, just used fingers and scrunched. Then after drying I curled as you shown in the tutorial, added hairspray, and finished off with some Bed Head Foxy Curls Contour Cream. I LOVE THIS LOOK! And soo easy! I was 20 minutes early to work! Thank you again for your dedication and bravery it takes to do everything with The Small Things Blog world! Bless you my dear lady!
Kate your a ROCKSTAR! I have super frizzy dry “ethnic hair” as my stylist says, and I have been using a flat iron for 7 years now so I can have normal hair like everyone else. Once I have it straight I’m lost. I don’t know how to style it, for 25 years I had hair I just couldn’t do anything with. I now have a cut a lot like yours, and your videos have taught me how to have the hair I never had but ALWAYS wanted. It’s been life changing because it changed the way I feel about my self and that is huge! Thank you for all your blogs, and videos!!! XOXO ~Camie~
Kate, I love your tutorials and so does my husband! He wonders why I dont curl my hair everyday! Im 50 and my hair is colored. I worry about those products drying it out. Can you suggest a shampoo and contitioner? My hair is straight too but has some texture.
About how long does it take you just blow My hair seems similar to yours and sometimes i think i dont spend enough time on that step. (I was diag with infertility 35 years ago, went thru 10 years of all things baby making, then adopted thru an open adoption agency and now have 2 daughters who are 24 and 20. My thoughts are with you on wherever your journey takes you. )
I’d love to be able to style my hair like this without brushing it through, but it’s just a big knot in the back, no matter how much conditioner I use. Also, I can’t seem to find aquage anywhere here (Scandinavia), do you know if they only sell in the states?
/Lea Binta
Yay for redheads! It is nice to see that people actually WANT my color hair. I hated my red hair growing up but love it now. Every time I try aquage, my hair looks and feels dirty and heavy- what am I doing wrong? Thank you for all your tutorials; you’re truly the best! And the fact you love God, makes you even more awesome. xo
Lindsey
A combination of Bumble and bumble.’s Surf Spray and Texture Hair (Un)dressing creme will do essentially the same thing that Aquage’s sea spray accomplishes. They also have a Thickening hairspray that works wonders! You can get all of those products in a kit (plus a shine spray!) at Sephora, if it’s still available. The full-size products are always available at Sephora or on Bb.’s website! Hope that helps some of you who can’t get your hands on Aquage. π
Love this tutorial!! I have super fine hair like literally forms to my head with little volume. I’m interested to try this but my hair is thick – not sure I’d have the same effects…
Hi Kate! I tried this today without the spray gel and was able to get alot of texture! My hair has a little wave to it that usually frizzes when I’ve tried to do this in the past. I did get a little frizz and need to work on getting my hair NOT to look like it’s slightly wet, but I’ll definitely be doing this again! Thanks@
Cute! This is what I do almost everyday(minus the good products lol)and I like it so much I am getting a perm this weekend! I am actually excited about it!
Sar=)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/owleyevintage
AHH! I tried this last night (w/o the salt spray b/c I didn’t have any). I wanted to see if my hair would look decent – and it was adorable! Then I slept on it, thinking I’d have to just put it up b/c the curls would all fall (like they usually do). AND…. I awoke to curls! I can’t tell you how excited I am – I can finally have cute, trendy hair that doesn’t take two hours! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I love the products that you use, I use the sea salt spray all the time!!! This look is what I try and get every day… but it never turns out that good!! Now I know I should dry it (I hate drying my hair simply because it takes so long), and use the curling iron a little!! Thanks for the tutorial, it was great!! It looks so cute on you, love the blog!
Sarah
I haven’t been on your blog in a while and just came back and haven’t been able to leave (let’s just say you’re giving me reason to procrastinate!). I love this style. You are a rock star. I love your blog and tutorials because you are so real and genuine and it comes across as a real person offering advice that real women can actually relate to. You’re amazing, talented and beautiful. Thanks, and keep it up. God bless!
(But I do have a question…how long does it take you on average to get ready every day? )
Love love love this style! Thanks to your blog my hair has transformed! I even find myself doing “hair tutorials” in the mirror during my morning routine to keep me motivated π haha!
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I used this tutorial this morning and loved the results, however no matter how good it looks in the morning.. by lunch time I feel like it’s dry and flat looking. Almost Piece-y looking. Any tips for what I could put in to keep it from dryness? I do commute everyday and am forced to wear hats and scarves!!
Love this tutorial. What curling iron (size and brand) would you recommend using for this look?
I can’t believe I have never heard of this blog before – where have you been all my life? I love wearing my hair curly, but I don’t know what barrel size to use or a good method to use. I have curly hair, but usually straighten the top section before I curl it because it’s so frizzy-help! I haven’t looked through the whole site yet, but I’d love to see a tutorial on basic curling of your hair!
I can’t believe I have never heard of this blog before – where have you been all my life? I love wearing my hair curly, but I don’t know what barrel size to use or a good method to use. I have curly hair, but usually straighten the top section before I curl it because it’s so frizzy-help! I haven’t looked through the whole site yet, but I’d love to see a tutorial on basic curling of your hair!
Must say I’m super glad you posted one of you styling your hair by blow drying too! I was just drying my hair and thinking “How does she get her hair to look like that”. Love this tutorial!! I need to invest in some product stat! Thanks!!
Must say I’m super glad you posted one of you styling your hair by blow drying too! I was just drying my hair and thinking “How does she get her hair to look like that”. Love this tutorial!! I need to invest in some product stat! Thanks!!
Love your hair tutorials! I found Aquage on Amazon, but when I mentioned it to my stylist, she said she could order it. Will be picking up a can of uplifting foam Thursday when I get highlights. BTW I live in NW Ohio, but grew up in Durham, NC.
YOU ARE BLOWING MY MIND. I’ve whipped through 4 of your tutorials (I’m a newbie, FYI π and I cannot WAIT to try these techniques, styles & awesome hairdos! Thank you so much for being my new hairdresser π
Tried this yesterday and loved it! Thanks for sharing
Hi Kate – I wanted to let you know how amazing I think you are. I have nasty disgusting wavy hair. It’s not straight. It’s not curly. It’s horrible. It looks pretty good wet, but once it dries naturally it is a hot mess. I’ve used the method in this video several times now and it works amazingly! My hair looks so good. I used the exact products you used because I wanted to be sure to get it exactly right. It was so nice to be able to do something with my hair that didn’t require straightening or curling. I am so grateful for your tutorials. You are such a blessing to all of us.
Love this!
Problem is, whenever I blow dry my hair (post conditioning and applying moroccan oil as serum)it seems to become frizzy and look untidy. It’s never sleek and smooth! Any idea why? I live in Mumbai which is pretty humid but that doesn’t usually mess with my hair. I have limp hair too π
Don’t forget the curling iron step at the end. That makes ALL the difference for me. Also, using a diffuser when I blowdry has made quite a difference too.
Hi – I just wanted to say your method worked for me too! I wrote a little blog about it and thought I’d share here so you know where your video is being linked from:
http://www.articulatethelimb.com/2013/10/hair-times-beachy-love.html
Oh you are so beautiful! How long do the curls stay in for?
Do you ever blow dry your hair with a diffuser after using these products?
Thank you for this tutorial! I have naturally wavy hair, but it’s not curly enough to leave alone, and too curly to leave alone…if that makes any sense. I’ve just flat ironed it for years. But now, when I do my hair like this, I get so many compliments and people asking me if my hair is naturally like that. “It is,” I tell them, “but with a little help.” π Thanks again!
I love this tutorial. Going to use these techniques on my hair this weekend. Thanks for sharing.
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Love your tutorial, try a couple of them and had great complainants. You make using the curling iron so easy – keep them coming.
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If you want volume and texture without the crunchy and weighed down hair, use the Shielo Volume HairSpray. My hair still looks clean and healthy while still has all this fullness. It also has an amazing smell!
I love your blogs and I myself am waiting on my Sea salt to come in but my question for you is I ha e highlights and damaged hair and I ha e tried so many types of shampoos and conditioners. What do you prefer?
I have fine, dry, color-treated, shoulder-length wavy hair. The technique that worked for me today on second day hair.
Day one –
1) wash, condition (comb in shower), towel dry.
2) Scrunch in with your head upside down, 1 dime-size amount of argan oil. Flip your head back, scrunch in another dime-size amount of argan oil and smooth a bit at the roots and over the outside. Spray in bumble and bumble styling lotion through hair and layers.
3) Dry bangs, if you have them. Let the rest of your hair air dry. Adjust with curling iron, if needed.
Day two
1) comb through rats with fingers, scrunch in dime-size amount of argan oil into ends.
2) heat up a 1″ curling iron. Curl like the tutorial.
3) Matrix Shaping Spray is really what finished it off nicely. Spray generously all over, scrunch and shape. Spray again to hold.
I really love your blog and all of the hair tutorials you’ve been doing! I’m also super in love with different hair styles and it would mean the world if you would check out my last hair inspired post, http://awilcox18.blogspot.com/2014/10/briefing-you-on-braids-and-bows.html
Wow. That’s really pretty! I am so jealous of hair like this. In order for my hair to be slightly nice, I have to take a 25-minute shower, then blow it dry for literally 40 minutes. I’m so sick of it! I want to try this though, hopefully.
The videos make it a lot easier to understand how you style your hair. Thanks for those!
Love you Kate! You give women with flat hair hope! I love your color! Wish I could get mine like that!
HI Kate I love your tips, i have fine limp hair and never thought I could get it to look like yours. I am in the UK and I did buy a small sample size of Auquage which i love but with postage to the UK is very expensive. Have you ever seen an alternative which might be cheaper to get in the UK? Know its a long shot but ….. Also could you say what colours you use in your hair my hair mousey/dark blonde naturally my hairdresser uses a high lift which gives good colour but other different blondes colours can go yellowy but the above photo is just what I’m looking for. Thank you
how did you do this half-up bun? it’s so cute!