Care and styling products can help define curl, create waves in straight hair with the help of styling tools, or smooth out the kinks in wavy hair, says Steve Shiel, director of research and development for Pantene Pro-V. The products contain conditioning ingredients such as dimethicone, guar-based polymers and fatty alcohols (e.g., cetyl alcohol). In breakage-prone curly hair, these ingredients work to help it maintain optimum moisture and protect it from damage. The polymers in these care and styling products also help to hold curls in place, and stop moisture from penetrating into the hair and destroying the style, says Shiel.

Try: Alberto European Curls & Waves Mousse ($5, 226 g); Kevin Murphy Luxury Wash Ultra Rich Smoothing Shampoo, and 
Luxury Rinse Ultra Rich Rescue Rinse, both for thick, coarse hair ($26, 250 mL each); Bain de Terre Camelina All About Curls Shampoo 
($11, 400 mL) and Conditioner ($13, 400 mL); Herbal Essences None of Your Frizzness Shampoo and Conditioner ($4, 355 mL); John Frieda Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Curl Perfecter ($10, 200 mL); Sally Hershberger Style Primer for Wavy Hair ($13, 200 mL); Moroccanoil Curl Control Cream ($32, 250 mL)