How Taapsee Pannu keeps her gorgeous curly hair looking that good

It took her years, but actor Taapsee Pannu seems to have untangled the curly hair code. It’s like a newborn: demands a lot of attention, love and care. And when you give it your all, curls will love you back instantly.

In a family where she was the only girl with curly hair, she faced the same struggle as most tousled-hair teens. Pannu admits there was no family ritual, her Sundays felt like third-degree torture when she spent the entire day washing, conditioning, oiling and combing her tresses. Those weekends, more often than not, ended in tears.

At school, her hair was treated like the Bermuda Triangle. “A lot of pencils and rubbers would get lost inside my hair. People would insert small pencils in my hair for fun,” she says. Years later, she can laugh at this recollection only because she’s now a pro in the curly hair maintenance department.

Pannu has just two words for others struggling with loving their curls: hair oil. “Experiment with warm olive oil regularly. At least twice a week,” she advises. You don’t need to subscribe to any particular brand for fancy shampoos, conditioners or masks. And most importantly, “never, never, never use a dryer. Let it dry naturally.” Since curly hair is usually dry in texture, it’s rather detrimental to use more artificial heat.

Also, if you’re feeling extra enthusiastic, invest in a leave-in conditioner. “And every now and then, you can use a hair mask,” says Pannu. After all those painstaking years of not knowing how to tame her curls, Pannu has finally reached a state of conviction. Ask her if she would trade for straight hair, and pat comes the reply. “I’m in love with my curly hair, and I’ll not trade it for anything.”

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