Over the past few years, I've been on a mission to heat style far less and work with my natural texture. Let me tell you, it isn't always easy. To be perfectly frank, my hair truly has a mind of its own. It always has and probably always will. She's a true individualist. My 3C 4A curls are thick, dry, and frizzy by nature and require extra time and attention to style properly. But luckily enough, part of my job is to speak to talented hairstylists on a daily basis who understand me and my texture perfectly.
Today, that hair guru happens to be celebrity stylist and ultimate curl queen, Nigella Miller. I've always admired Miller's work with curly and coily hair types and have been chomping at the bit to ask her my burning curl styling questions. What I discovered, is that we share a love for one particular haircare brand.
We each have quite a few products in our arsenal from Verb that we swear by and will probably never stop buying. The brand's Ghost collection adds the kind of deep, yet airy hydration I only thought was possible in dreams before adding them to my routine. They make curl care less of a chore, because, let's be real, if you have a hair type as thick as mine, it is a chore. Miller is all about embracing your natural texture, something I'm really learning to do these days.
"My favorite way to style curls is working with your true curl pattern," she says. "I don’t like to manipulate curls—I’m a wash-and-go kind of curly hairstylist. Once you understand texture, you can create magic by bringing out more definition and volume. What curly girl doesn't like volume?! I think my method helps my curly clients become one with their pattern and also helps them embrace their true texture. My mission is to help my curly community understand that they don’t have to rely solely on curly styles. Embracing your true texture is powerful! Especially for all the new curly-haired clients starting their natural hair journey."
Her number one tip for those with curls involves self-education. To give your hair the best possible treatment, you'll need to get to know it a bit better. "Learn your texture," she shares. "Once you understand your hair, it will make your life so much easier. Find the right products for your hair and try to build a healthy hair regimen that adds moisture, elasticity, and overall improvements to your curl health. Knowing when to trim, detox, or even change your texture is also key." Once you master this aspect of your hair-ducation, it's time to throw in the right products. For Miller's top Verb picks for curls and a few of my own personal favorites, keep scrolling below.
Nigella Miller, Celebrity Hairstylist
"This is my all-time favorite Verb product because it's perfect for a prep-and-style. It’s also great for people who don’t like using too much product on their hair, but still want the effect of using a curl cream without the heaviness. I love that it’s lightweight, hydrating, and leaves your curls moisturized and defined."
If she could only choose a few Verb products to use daily, this would be one of them, she says. "The treatment oil is a great daily moisturizer that helps control frizz and enhance curl elasticity."
"The Curl Cream really defines curls with a nice hold, giving a long lasting style. I love a curly product that I can refresh without having to reapply daily. I personally love that it’s lightweight, hydrating and leaves your curls moisturized and defined."
One of Verb's newest offerings, Miller is a fan of this scalp nectar because it's a light serum that gently removes product build-up and keeps frizz at bay.
The brand's Ghost Shampoo is great for finer hair if it gets weighed down or greasy easily. Miller even gave this set a shout on her Instagram.
The moringa oil infused conditioner protects, detangles, and hydrates. It's another great option for those who have finer curls and want something that adds hydration without being extra.
Other Beauty-Editor Favorites
I'm not usually a fan of hair oils, but Verb's Ghost oil is one of the few I'll use over and over again. It really is quite weightless but provides just the right amount of hydration with ingredients like bamboo extract, argan oil, and moringa seed oil. I have thick 3C 4A curls and it can be a real lifesaver when I need to detangle fairly quickly. It also helps keep flyaways down like a champ.
I don't heat style as often as I used to, but if I do, I bust out the Ghost Heat Protectant. It's the perfect primer for your hair, containing vitamin B5 to help smooth dry hair and hydrate the scalp. My strands can definitely err on the dry side so it's nice to have it handy for a flat-ironing moment.
Again, I'm not usually one for heavy hair oils, but Verb's Ghost line is always the exception. This dry oil is a lightweight leave-in that's perfect for styling on the go. If you need to add a little boost of hydration to your locks, you can just spray a little extra on throughout the day. It's something I always like to keep in my bag, especially on trips.
For deeper restoration, I turn to this hydrating hair mask. If I've been heat styling a lot, I like to pop this into my routine once or twice a week to keep damage to a minimum. It has babassu oil and glycerin to really smooth and hydrate the hair. The moisture is also long-lasting—something you learn to appreciate when you have thick, dry curls.
If you're one of those folks who like to buy things in a set, this curl care kit is the one for you. It makes wash day 10 times easier to have the brand's complete set of curly staples including the curl shampoo and conditioner, leave-in conditioner, and curl-styling cream.
Doing damage repair is not an easy process, but this hair mask is a restorative protein treatment worth adding to your collection. Quinoa protein, green-tea extract, and honey help protect dry, fragile hair that's prone to breakage. I like leaving it on for at least two to three hours before rinsing it out for a little extra hair rehab.
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