Maura West’s hairstyle: Get those curls!!

Carly's shoter 'do is too cute! (Soaps.com)

We get hundreds of emails, here at Soaps.com, every month asking about star styles and hairstyles. Thanks to help from our contacts with the shows we can usually answers these questions for you, but a recent question really caught my eye – because I’ve been wondering about it, too! Just how does Carly, played by Maura West, get such great body and curl into her hair?

One of our viewers wrote, “I have always loved Carly’s character and style. I especially love her new curly hair. Could you please tell me what products she uses and how she gets such gorgeous curls? Does she use a curling iron or a diffuser or both? Thank you so much.”

So I did a little research on how to get this great hairstyle – and Carly’s newer, shorter, curly style. Here is what I found out!

The curly look is created daily (for those of you without naturally curly hair) with a curling iron. There are three basic steps:

first, make sure your hair is dry and clean. Next, separate dry hair into two-inch sections. Each section should be wrapped around a one-or-two-inch barreled curing iron. Hold the wrap for about ten seconds and release. Repeat until all sections of your hair have been curled. This should create a riot of spiral curls. Next, using your fingers - never a brush or comb! - work a product like Matrix's Curl Life Spiraling Spray Gel through the hair from root to tip. Don't separate the curls if you want the chunky look that Carly has.

If you have naturally curly hair, using a diffuser on sections of your hair while drying will create the look. Just remember not to use a comb or brush while drying or the curls will separate, rather than staying in their chunky style.

Before you decide this look is for you, though, there are a few things to consider.

First, before changing your own hair to Carly's long or short look, think about the time you have each morning because this is not a simple style - even though it's simply gorgeous. If your mornings are rushed from the moment the alarm rings until the second you step out the door, this style will likely only cause you more stress, and the last thing any of us need is more stress, right? From start to finish you can expect to spend at least thirty minutes every day creating the curls, so if mornings are a rush, you may want to keep this style for special occasions when you have a little more time.

Second, using lots of product (gels, sprays and the like) on your hair daily can harm your hair. Likewise, using a curling iron every day (or a straightening iron) can take vital nutrients from your scalp. So, you need to allot extra time each week to help your hair; you'll need to make time to give yourself a weekly deep conditioning treatment and change your regular shampoo and conditioner to products that will protect your hair. You can learn more about protecting your curly 'do (especially in winter) by clicking here.

This is a really great style if you have the time to put into it. Remember, though, that all hair is different and some hair types - whether thin, fine, coarse or thick - simply won't hold this style. I've provided two pictures - one of Carly's longer curls and another of her new, shorter 'do - that you can take to your stylist to discuss the best options for your hair! Good luck!