Curly hair has a mind of its own; it’s a fact. But does that mean you have to let it run wild like a belligerent child?

Just like that kid kicking the back of your seat on a long flight, you may want to get it under control a bit. You wouldn’t want to suppress its individuality completely, though; that would be boring! So we’re here to help you find a balance between allowing the uniqueness of curls to shine through while avoiding letting your curls overtake you—a way to control the chaos.

Having curly hair may be a continuous learning process, but we’ve got the answers to a few questions that may be plaguing you! Understanding your curls is the first step to taming them.

What causes frizz?

Curls crave moisture. Like a sleepy toddler, dry curls will throw a tantrum, and that tantrum results in frizz. Just as a lack of sleep is the root cause of most tantrums, dryness is the root cause of frizz…and when curls are moisturized, frizz goes away! Like magic. The reality is, frizz is just a curl or a wave trying to come out. Avoid stripping your curls of moisture with harsh sulfate shampoos and give them the deep moisture they crave—we dare you to see if you have any frizz left!

What makes hair curly?

The shape of your hair follicles is what determines the texture of your hair. Follicles that are round grow hair that’s completely straight—and oval-shaped follicles produce wavy to curly hair. And for those with super-curly, kinky hair, your follicles are darn near flat! Think of a piece of spaghetti versus a ribbon. You can curl a ribbon, but it would take a lot of work to curl spaghetti!

How can I get my curl back after chemically straightening?

Moisture, moisture, moisture! Remember that curls thrive on moisture, and hydration will help bring them back faster. Use a sulfate-free cleanser each time you wash—and a hair mask once a week or so. Try this for about a month, and if the progress isn’t fast enough for you, a big chop will do the job faster! Once your hair is strengthened, you can try curling the ends with a curling iron as the curly roots start to show—just be careful not to damage the new curls! That line of demarcation is tough to see. If all else fails, wearing it up for a while may be your best bet until you’ve got enough length to cut the straight sections off. Don’t give up, though; curls are tenacious, and you’ll be rocking them again before you know it!

How can I even out my curl pattern?

It’s common to have different curl sizes throughout one curly head. And actually, we’ve got a trick for this! The easiest way is to remove water weight from the looser curl sections and add product weight to the tighter curl sections. Apply less product to the looser curls and diffuse—then, use more product on the tighter curls and air dry those areas. The weight from the product will stretch the curls as they dry. Ta-da! More hair magic.

Want personalized curl styling advice and product recommendations? Take our curl quiz here.