How To Get Defined Curls When you Have Natural Curls & Waves
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Do you find that your natural curls never seem to look their best, even when you spend ages styling your hair? Or maybe you’ve tried products your friend recommends and can’t understand why you don’t get the same results.
Along with frizz, breakage, and curl shrinkage, poor curl definition is a common problem for many curly girls. I know from personal experience just how frustrating it is to look in the mirror and see a mass of frizz or limp strands instead of beautifully defined bouncy curls.
But what if I said there’s an easy way to get defined curls in natural curly hair that just takes a few simple steps?
In this guide, I’ll share my tips on the best ways to prepare, style, and dry your curls for maximum definition. I’ll help you pick the right products to style your hair and give you some additional hints on creating luscious curls that stay bouncy and defined for longer.
Let’s start by considering why curl definition is important for natural hair types.
Why Is Good Curl Definition So Important?
Curl definition is essential if you want your curly hair to look its best. Without defined curls, natural hair types can look limp and lifeless or frizzy and out of control.
Well-defined curls give your hair more volume and movement, making your mane look fuller and more manageable. Defined curls also reflect more light, which makes your hair look shinier and healthier.
Lack of definition is a common problem for wavy, curly, and coily hair. It can be very frustrating, but luckily, you can take some simple steps to boost your curl definition.
Now you know why definition matters, let’s work through your wash day routine, from shampoo to the final finishing touches.
Preparing Your Hair For Defined Curls
Before you start styling your curls, first you need to prepare your hair properly. This includes selecting the right products and ensuring your hair is clean, moisturized, and detangled.
Choosing The Right Hair Products
Curly hair needs moisture to create defined curls, so choosing the right products for your hair is essential. You need to consider your hair type along with other factors such as your hair density and hair porosity. The hair care products that work well for my fine, low density hair wouldn’t give such good results on coarse or high density hair.
Always pick products designed for curly hair types, such as sulfate-free shampoos and silicone-free conditioners and styling products. Sulfates can dry out curly hair and leave it brittle, while silicones cause product buildup that weighs down your hair strands and stops them absorbing essential moisture and nutrients.
Look for products containing ingredients that nourish and moisturize your hair, which will reduce the risk of frizz and help you achieve curl definition. Natural ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter are ideal if you have coarse hair, but you will need something lighter like aloe vera or sunflower oil if you have low density hair or fine hair.
Check that your styling products have enough hold to achieve the look you want. In the Florida humidity, I find that a medium or strong hold gel like Curlsmith Hydro Style Flexi-Jelly gives me better results than a light hold gel or mousse. You could try combining products, such as a gel with a hair spray like Suave Max Hold Spray.
Remember that what works for other curly girls won’t necessarily work for you, and experiment with different products or combinations to see what enhances your natural curl pattern.
Washing And Conditioning Your Hair
Creating beautifully defined natural curls starts in the shower. Using the wrong shampoo and conditioner can leave curly hair feeling dry or weighed down.
Wash your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner designed for curly hair, preferably one that’s sulfate- and silicone-free. This will infuse each hair shaft with the moisture it needs to make the most of its natural curl pattern.
If your hair is suffering from product buildup, regular use of a clarifying shampoo containing olefin sulfonate, like OUAI Detox Shampoo, will help remove the buildup. I like to clarify my hair weekly which keeps my strands squeaky-clean.
Remember to condition your hair afterwards, as clarifying shampoo will also remove the natural oils from your strands.
Once you’ve rinsed your hair, use a cotton t-shirt or microfiber towel to blot away excess water instead of rubbing your strands with a regular cotton towel. This will help protect your curls from tangling and breakage. I really like the Tee-Owels hair towel for this.
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Detangling Your Hair
Detangling your hair is an essential step, as it’s hard to define curls in hair that’s knotted and tangled.
The first step is applying a lightweight leave-in conditioner to give your hair an extra infusion of moisture and make detangling easier.
Next, use a wide-toothed comb, detangling brush or your fingers to work through smaller sections of hair one at a time. Start at the ends and carefully work backwards up the full length of the strands.
Another amazing brush for wet detangling. This glides through even the tightest curls.
Finally, you can apply a few drops of a penetrating hair oil like almond oil, olive oil, or babassu oil to add shine and hydration to each hair strand.
Use The Praying Hands Method
The “Praying Hands” method is an effective way to distribute leave-in conditioner, hair oil, curl cream, and other styling products without causing frizz or tangles. The technique works best on wet hair, so if your curls have already started to dry, use a spray bottle of water to wet it again.
To use the Praying Hands method, place a small amount of the product in the palm of your hands. Rub your hands together to warm the product and spread it between your hands.
Next, take a section of hair between your hands, which should be in a “praying” position near the roots of your hair.
Gently glide your hands down towards the ends of your hair, keeping them close together so they distribute the product evenly over your strands. Move onto the next section and repeat this as often as you need to distribute the product throughout your hair.
Defining Your Curls
Creating definition will give your hair more volume and bounce, and help keep frizz under control.
Here are 5 different ways to achieve defined curls at the root. Each method has its own benefits, so it’s worth trying a few different techniques to see which works best on your hair.
Scrunching
Scrunching your curls is the easiest and fastest way to boost curl definition.
After you’ve applied your styling product, simply bend over or lean to the side and cup a handful of hair up towards your scalp. Squeeze the curls gently to define your natural curl pattern and repeat this throughout your hair.
The Shingling Method
Shingling is a great way to get better curl definition at the roots. It’s an ideal choice if you have tight curls or coiled hair like Type 4 C Hair, as it will give you better definition without causing frizz.
It’s essential to start off with thoroughly detangled hair, as this method won’t work on tangled or knotted strands.
Divide your hair into sections and apply your product to each section, then comb it through with a fine-tooth comb. Start at the roots of each section and carefully work down, making sure each individual curl or coil is covered in product for great definition.
The Rake And Shake Method
This quick and easy method is perfect if you want natural-looking curls with gorgeous volume and definition.
Once you’ve applied your styling product, rake your fingers through your hair to create loose curl definition. Then lean over to the side, hold your hair near the roots, and shake it gently to encourage your hair to form curl clumps.
Finger Coils
Finger coiling is another easy technique to create tighter curls on loose curls or wavy hair. This method doesn’t use heat, so it’s better if you want to avoid using hot styling tools on your curls.
Divide your hair into small sections and apply your styling product to one section, then wrap it around your finger, twisting it as you wrap. Hold the curl for a few seconds to create definition, then release the hair and move on to the next section.
Drying Your Curls
Using the right drying techniques will give your style more longevity so your curls stay bouncy all day.
Diffuse-Drying For Volume And Definition
I prefer to diffuse dry my curls, as it gives me better curl definition and root volume than air-drying.
A diffuser attachment on your hair dryer helps distribute the heat more evenly, drying your hair more gently than direct heat from the blow dryer. This will give you more volume, reduce frizz, and improve your curl definition.
Hover diffusing your hair means hovering the diffuser bowl a few inches from your curls. It’s the gentlest way to diffuse your curls, but it might not give you the best definition.
For bouncier, more defined curls, you can also try pixie diffusing. With your diffuser set on low heat and speed, flip your hair upside down or tilt it to the side. Take small sections of hair and place the ends of your hair in the diffuser bowl, cupping it up towards your scalp. Leave the curls in the bowl for around 30 seconds, then move on to the next section.
If you don’t want to diffuse your curls all the way dry, you could leave them to air-dry for the last 10-20%.
Air Drying Your Curls
Air drying is a gentler option if you don’t like using heat styling tools on your hair. Avoid touching your hair while it’s drying, as this can cause frizz.
You could also try plopping your hair by bundling your curls into a cotton t-shirt or microfiber towel, which can improve your natural curl definition. If you’re prone to frizzy hair, don’t leave your hair in the plop for too long. Just 10 or 20 minutes will be enough to help define your curls.
Another option is to diffuse your hair for a few minutes to remove most of the water and then leave it to air dry the rest of the way.
Extra Tips
Here are a few tips to help keep your well-defined curls looking their best for longer.
Use A Refresher Spray
If your curls start to lose definition between wash days, a refresher spray can help keep your curls looking bouncy and defined.
Choose a commercial hair refresher spray without silicones and sulfates, or mix your own from distilled water and a moisturizing ingredient like aloe vera, leave-in conditioner, or a couple of drops of your favorite penetrating hair oil.
Schedule Regular Trims
Split ends can make your curls look frizzier and less defined, so regular visits to the salon will help keep your hair in shape. For the best results, choose a stylist with experience in caring for natural hair.
Sleep On Silk Or Satin
Your cotton pillowcase can draw moisture out of your hair and cause friction between the strands, leading to tangles and breakage.
Swapping to a silk or satin pillowcase or wearing a silk or satin bonnet overnight will help your hair retain moisture and reduce tangling.
FAQs
If you’re looking for more information about improving curl definition, these frequently asked questions could help.
Why Can’t I Define My Curls?
Achieving well-defined curls needs gentle styling products and techniques that won’t harm your hair. If you have poor curl definition, your hair might need additional moisture, or you might be using the wrong styling or drying methods.
Check out the tips above, or try my Fast Curly Hair Routine for defined curls in under 20 minutes.
What Do Unhealthy Curls Look Like?
Healthy hair will look strong and shiny, but any noticeable change in hair texture may show your hair is in poor health. Unhealthy curls can look stringy or have a looser curl pattern than usual, or they might break easily and have split ends.
Unhealthy hair can be due to various causes including poor diet, excessive use of heat styling, chemical damage, or mechanical damage from brushing or styling.
What Is Plopping Hair?
Hair plopping is a way to dry curly hair without applying heat. It involves wrapping your curls in a cotton t-shirt or microfiber hair towel and plopping the whole thing on top of your head. If you’re prone to frizzy hair, avoid leaving your curls in a plop for too long, as this can reduce definition.
The Bottom Line
Achieving good curl definition is essential if you want beautiful curls that look full of health and vitality.
Poor curl definition is a common curly hair problem, and most curly girls need help with curl definition at some point. Luckily, this problem is easy to solve by following a few simple steps and choosing the right products to suit your curl type.
You might need to experiment to find the perfect mix of products and techniques. Once you do, it’ll be easier to achieve the perfectly defined curls you’re longing for.
