Selena Gomez hair
WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 11: Selena Gomez attends the Premiere of Universal Pictures’ “Dolittle” at Regency Village Theatre on January 11, 2020 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/FilmMagic)

Words Sarah Tarca

Selena Gomez is, without a doubt, having a moment. The Only Murders In The Building star, Rare Beauty Founder, and one-third of our favourite friendship thruple (cc: Nicola Peltz and Brooklyn Beckham) has come into 2023 fresh off the back of her My Mind & Me doco release, cancelling body-shaming trolls with class and getting refreshingly real on her social.

This is exactly what she’s done in her latest Instagram post, sharing a photo dump of three fresh-faced, makeup-free, and natural–haired images with the caption “me”. A curly-haired Gomez is a rare sighting, the actor preferring sleeker looks (a slicked back bun is one of her signatures) to waves – but natural curls? That seldom appears anywhere besides grainy pap shots. We’re into it, and we’re not the only ones.

Selena Gomez hair
Credit: Instagram / @selenagomez

Multi-award-winning hairdresser and owner of Acadèmie Salon, Richi Grisillo says, “There’s been a huge shift in my clients embracing their natural texture. The narrative has completely changed from clients wanting recommendations to help tame their hair to ‘how do I encourage natural waves and curls?’”

Selena Gomez hair
Credit: Instagram / @selenagomez

Here, Richi explains how to make the most of your natural curls:

It starts with the wash: “Curly hair likes to be encouraged into its shape before it dries,” Grisillo says. He recommends using a shampoo and conditioner that is low or no sulfates, like the Moroccan Oil Hydrating Shampoo, for a gentle cleanse that hydrates the hair, as this helps with elasticity – exactly what you need for a good curl.

  • It starts with the wash: “Curly hair likes to be encouraged into its shape before it dries,” Grisillo says. He recommends using a shampoo and conditioner that is low or no sulfates, like the Moroccan Oil Hydrating Shampoo, for a gentle cleanse that hydrates the hair, as this helps with elasticity – exactly what you need for a good curl.
  • Scrunch and lift: Post-shower, detangle with wide tooth comb (never a brush), and then he recommends “use a scrunching and lifting motion with your towel to get rid of excess moisture” as it will “engage” the curl and encourage it to do what you want.
  • Product, with a twist: If you’re prone to fluff, this is the point where you’d use a curl-enhancing cream to limit the fluff. The trick? “Use a twisting motion with your fingers to define the curl and limit excess fuzzy texture once the hair is dry.
  • Diffuse: The diffuser attachment is a curly girl’s best friend. Grisillo’s best tip is to limit the amount you’re touching the hair until it’s 80-90 per cent dry, as touching will introduce more texture and flyaways.
  • Less is more: “The more you touch, comb, or heat your hair, the more it will start to affect what your hair wants to do naturally,” he says.
  • At night, go silk: Silk pillowcases reduce friction that can cause textural dryness and more frizz.
  • The lazy-girl hack: “If you are in a rush, a water spray bottle will help redefine your hair without adding more product. Just simply lift the hair and scrunch or twist through, and the curls will be back to behaving,” says Grisillo.