Do you discover that your pure curls by no means appear to look their finest, even while you spend ages styling your hair? Or possibly you’ve tried merchandise your pal recommends and may’t perceive why you don’t get the identical outcomes.
Together with frizz, breakage, and curl shrinkage, poor curl definition is a typical drawback for a lot of curly ladies. I do know from private expertise simply how irritating it’s to look within the mirror and see a mass of frizz or limp strands as an alternative of superbly outlined bouncy curls.
However what if I stated there’s a simple strategy to get outlined curls in pure curly hair that simply takes a number of easy steps?
On this information, I’ll share my tips about the perfect methods to organize, type, and dry your curls for optimum definition. I’ll make it easier to decide the correct merchandise to type your hair and provide you with some further hints on creating luscious curls that keep bouncy and outlined for longer.
Let’s begin by contemplating why curl definition is necessary for pure hair sorts.
Why Is Good Curl Definition So Necessary?
Curl definition is important if you would like your curly hair to look its finest. With out outlined curls, pure hair sorts can look limp and lifeless or frizzy and uncontrolled.
Nicely-defined curls give your hair extra quantity and motion, making your mane look fuller and extra manageable. Outlined curls additionally replicate extra mild, which makes your hair look shinier and more healthy.
Lack of definition is a typical drawback for wavy, curly, and coily hair. It may be very irritating, however fortunately, you may take some easy steps to spice up your curl definition.
Now you already know why definition issues, let’s work via your wash day routine, from shampoo to the ultimate ending touches.
Making ready Your Hair For Outlined Curls
Earlier than you begin styling your curls, first you could put together your hair correctly. This consists of choosing the correct merchandise and making certain your hair is clear, moisturized, and detangled.

Selecting The Proper Hair Merchandise
Curly hair wants moisture to create outlined curls, so choosing the proper merchandise on your hair is important. It is advisable think about your hair sort together with different components resembling your hair density and hair porosity. The hair care merchandise that work properly for my nice, low density hair wouldn’t give such good outcomes on coarse or excessive density hair.
At all times decide merchandise designed for curly hair sorts, resembling sulfate-free shampoos and silicone-free conditioners and styling merchandise. Sulfates can dry out curly hair and depart it brittle, whereas silicones trigger product buildup that weighs down your hair strands and stops them absorbing important moisture and vitamins.
Search for merchandise containing substances that nourish and moisturize your hair, which is able to scale back the danger of frizz and make it easier to obtain curl definition. Pure substances like coconut oil and shea butter are splendid if in case you have coarse hair, however you have to one thing lighter like aloe vera or sunflower oil if in case you have low density hair or nice hair.
Verify that your styling merchandise have sufficient maintain to attain the look you need. Within the Florida humidity, I discover {that a} medium or sturdy maintain gel like Curlsmith Hydro Fashion Flexi-Jelly offers me higher outcomes than a light-weight maintain gel or mousse. You might strive combining merchandise, resembling a gel with a hair spray like Suave Max Maintain Spray.
Keep in mind that what works for different curly ladies gained’t essentially give you the results you want, and experiment with totally different merchandise or combos to see what enhances your pure curl sample.

Washing And Conditioning Your Hair
Creating superbly outlined pure curls begins within the bathe. Utilizing the flawed shampoo and conditioner can depart curly hair feeling dry or weighed down.
Wash your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner designed for curly hair, ideally one which’s sulfate- and silicone-free. This can infuse every hair shaft with the moisture it must profit from its pure curl sample.
In case your hair is affected by product buildup, common use of a clarifying shampoo containing olefin sulfonate, like OUAI Detox Shampoo, will assist take away the buildup. I prefer to make clear my hair weekly which retains my strands squeaky-clean.
Keep in mind to situation your hair afterwards, as clarifying shampoo will even take away the pure oils out of your strands.
When you’ve rinsed your hair, use a cotton t-shirt or microfiber towel to blot away extra water as an alternative of rubbing your strands with a daily cotton towel. This can assist shield your curls from tangling and breakage. I actually just like the Tee-Owels hair towel for this.
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Detangling Your Hair
Detangling your hair is a necessary step, because it’s onerous to outline curls in hair that’s knotted and tangled.
Step one is making use of a light-weight leave-in conditioner to provide your hair an additional infusion of moisture and make detangling simpler.
Subsequent, use a wide-toothed comb, detangling brush or your fingers to work via smaller sections of hair one after the other. Begin on the ends and thoroughly work backwards up the total size of the strands.
Lastly, you may apply a number of drops of a penetrating hair oil like almond oil, olive oil, or babassu oil so as to add shine and hydration to every hair strand.
Use The Praying Palms Methodology
The “Praying Palms” methodology is an efficient strategy to distribute leave-in conditioner, hair oil, curl cream, and different styling merchandise with out inflicting frizz or tangles. The approach works finest on moist hair, so in case your curls have already began to dry, use a twig bottle of water to moist it once more.
To make use of the Praying Palms methodology, place a small quantity of the product within the palm of your palms. Rub your palms collectively to heat the product and unfold it between your palms.
Subsequent, take a piece of hair between your palms, which ought to be in a “praying” place close to the roots of your hair.
Gently glide your palms down in the direction of the ends of your hair, holding them shut collectively in order that they distribute the product evenly over your strands. Transfer onto the subsequent part and repeat this as usually as you could distribute the product all through your hair.
Defining Your Curls
Creating definition will give your hair extra quantity and bounce, and assist maintain frizz underneath management.
Listed below are 5 alternative ways to attain outlined curls on the root. Every methodology has its personal advantages, so it’s price attempting a number of totally different strategies to see which works finest in your hair.
Scrunching
Scrunching your curls is the best and quickest strategy to enhance curl definition.
After you’ve utilized your styling product, merely bend over or lean to the aspect and cup a handful of hair up in the direction of your scalp. Squeeze the curls gently to outline your pure curl sample and repeat this all through your hair.

The Shingling Methodology
Shingling is a good way to get higher curl definition on the roots. It’s a really perfect alternative if in case you have tight curls or coiled hair like Kind 4 C Hair, because it gives you higher definition with out inflicting frizz.
It’s important to start out off with completely detangled hair, as this methodology gained’t work on tangled or knotted strands.
Divide your hair into sections and apply your product to every part, then comb it via with a fine-tooth comb. Begin on the roots of every part and thoroughly work down, ensuring every particular person curl or coil is roofed in product for nice definition.
The Rake And Shake Methodology
This fast and straightforward methodology is ideal if you would like natural-looking curls with beautiful quantity and definition.
When you’ve utilized your styling product, rake your fingers via your hair to create free curl definition. Then lean over to the aspect, maintain your hair close to the roots, and shake it gently to encourage your hair to type curl clumps.
Finger Coils
Finger coiling is one other straightforward approach to create tighter curls on free curls or wavy hair. This methodology doesn’t use warmth, so it’s higher if you wish to keep away from utilizing scorching styling instruments in your curls.
Divide your hair into small sections and apply your styling product to at least one part, then wrap it round your finger, twisting it as you wrap. Maintain the curl for a number of seconds to create definition, then launch the hair and transfer on to the subsequent part.
Drying Your Curls
Utilizing the correct drying strategies will give your type extra longevity so your curls keep bouncy all day.

Diffuse-Drying For Quantity And Definition
I want to diffuse dry my curls, because it offers me higher curl definition and root quantity than air-drying.
A diffuser attachment in your hair dryer helps distribute the warmth extra evenly, drying your hair extra gently than direct warmth from the blow dryer. This gives you extra quantity, scale back frizz, and enhance your curl definition.
Hover diffusing your hair means hovering the diffuser bowl a number of inches out of your curls. It’s the gentlest strategy to diffuse your curls, but it surely may not provide the finest definition.
For bouncier, extra outlined curls, it’s also possible to strive pixie diffusing. Along with your diffuser set on low warmth and velocity, flip your hair the wrong way up or tilt it to the aspect. Take small sections of hair and place the ends of your hair within the diffuser bowl, cupping it up in the direction of your scalp. Depart the curls within the bowl for round 30 seconds, then transfer on to the subsequent part.
When you don’t need to diffuse your curls all the way in which dry, you could possibly depart them to air-dry for the final 10-20%.
Air Drying Your Curls
Air drying is a gentler possibility in the event you don’t like utilizing warmth styling instruments in your hair. Keep away from touching your hair whereas it’s drying, as this may trigger frizz.
You might additionally strive plopping your hair by bundling your curls right into a cotton t-shirt or microfiber towel, which might enhance your pure curl definition. When you’re vulnerable to frizzy hair, don’t depart your hair within the plop for too lengthy. Simply 10 or 20 minutes will likely be sufficient to assist outline your curls.
Another choice is to diffuse your hair for a couple of minutes to take away a lot of the water after which depart it to air dry the remainder of the way in which.
Additional Ideas
Listed below are a number of suggestions to assist maintain your well-defined curls trying their finest for longer.
Use A Refresher Spray
In case your curls begin to lose definition between wash days, a refresher spray might help maintain your curls trying bouncy and outlined.
Select a business hair refresher spray with out silicones and sulfates, or combine your individual from distilled water and a moisturizing ingredient like aloe vera, leave-in conditioner, or a few drops of your favourite penetrating hair oil.
Schedule Common Trims
Break up ends could make your curls look frizzier and fewer outlined, so common visits to the salon will assist maintain your hair in form. For the perfect outcomes, select a stylist with expertise in caring for pure hair.
Sleep On Silk Or Satin
Your cotton pillowcase can draw moisture out of your hair and trigger friction between the strands, resulting in tangles and breakage.
Swapping to a silk or satin pillowcase or carrying a silk or satin bonnet in a single day will assist your hair retain moisture and scale back tangling.
FAQs
When you’re in search of extra details about bettering curl definition, these steadily requested questions may assist.
Why Can’t I Outline My Curls?
Attaining well-defined curls wants mild styling merchandise and strategies that gained’t hurt your hair. When you’ve got poor curl definition, your hair would possibly want further moisture, otherwise you could be utilizing the flawed styling or drying strategies.
Try the guidelines above, or strive my Quick Curly Hair Routine for outlined curls in underneath 20 minutes.
What Do Unhealthy Curls Look Like?
Wholesome hair will look sturdy and glossy, however any noticeable change in hair texture might present your hair is unwell. Unhealthy curls can look stringy or have a looser curl sample than regular, or they could break simply and have break up ends.
Unhealthy hair may be because of numerous causes together with poor food plan, extreme use of warmth styling, chemical injury, or mechanical injury from brushing or styling.
What Is Plopping Hair?
Hair plopping is a strategy to dry curly hair with out making use of warmth. It includes wrapping your curls in a cotton t-shirt or microfiber hair towel and plopping the entire thing on high of your head. When you’re vulnerable to frizzy hair, keep away from leaving your curls in a plop for too lengthy, as this may scale back definition.
The Backside Line
Attaining good curl definition is important if you would like stunning curls that look stuffed with well being and vitality.
Poor curl definition is a typical curly hair drawback, and most curly ladies need assistance with curl definition sooner or later. Fortunately, this drawback is straightforward to resolve by following a number of easy steps and choosing the proper merchandise to fit your curl sort.
You would possibly have to experiment to seek out the right mixture of merchandise and strategies. When you do, it’ll be simpler to attain the superbly outlined curls you’re eager for.
