How to Define Curly Hair

When to Define Your Curls

Defining your curls is beneficial whenever you want to enhance your natural curl pattern, reduce frizz, and achieve a more polished look. This can be for everyday wear, special occasions, or to maintain curl integrity between washes. It's particularly useful after washing your hair when the curl pattern is most receptive to being shaped.

Tools and Products Needed

To effectively define curly hair, you'll need a few key tools and products:

• Wide-tooth comb or detangling brush: To gently detangle without disrupting curl clumps.
• Spray bottle: For re-wetting sections of hair if they begin to dry during the styling process.
• Microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt: For blotting excess water without creating frizz. Traditional terrycloth towels can roughen the cuticle, leading to frizz.
• Styling products: These are crucial for curl definition and hold. Common options include:
  • Leave-in conditioner: Acts as a foundational layer, providing moisture and slip.
  • Curl cream or lotion: Designed to enhance curl clumps and provide light hold. They typically contain humectants like glycerin or emollients such as shea butter.
  • Gel, mousse, or foam: Essential for providing stronger hold, frizz control, and long-lasting definition. Gels provide the strongest hold, while mousses and foams offer lighter alternatives. Gels often contain film-forming polymers that create a cast around the hair strand, locking in the curl pattern.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Defining Curls

Follow these steps for optimal curl definition:

1. Start with clean, wet hair: After washing and conditioning, gently squeeze out excess water. Hair should be damp, not dripping. The water helps to group the hair strands into natural curl clumps.
2. Detangle: Using a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush, gently detangle your hair, starting from the ends and working your way up to the roots. Ensure all knots are removed before product application.
3. Apply leave-in conditioner: Take a small amount of leave-in conditioner and distribute it evenly through your hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. This step provides a base layer of moisture and prepares the hair for styling products.
4. Apply curl cream: Next, apply your curl cream or lotion. Distribute it thoroughly, ensuring each curl clump is coated. You can use methods like praying hands (rubbing hair between your palms) or scrunching (gently squeezing hair upwards towards the scalp) to help define the curls.
5. Apply styler (gel, mousse, or foam): This is the key step for hold. Work the gel, mousse, or foam through your hair, using a scrunching motion. Ensure even distribution. Some prefer to apply stylers section by section, especially for thicker or denser hair.
6. Form curl clumps: Gently scrunch and pulse your hair upwards towards your scalp. This encourages curl formation. You can also finger coil individual curls that need more definition, or use a Denman brush to create defined ribbons of hair.
7. Remove excess water: Gently blot your hair with a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt. Avoid rubbing, which can cause frizz. The goal is to remove excess water without disturbing the curl pattern.
8. Dry your hair:
   • Air drying: This is the gentlest method. Allow your hair to air dry completely. Avoid touching your hair while it's drying to prevent frizz.
   • Diffusing: For faster drying and added volume, use a diffuser attachment on a hairdryer. Use a low heat and low air setting. Gently place sections of hair into the diffuser bowl, holding it near the scalp. Do not move the diffuser around vigorously; instead, gently lift and drop sections of hair into the diffuser. Dry until your hair is 80-90% dry, then let it air dry the rest of the way to minimize frizz.
9. "Scrunch out the crunch": Once your hair is completely dry, if you used a gel that formed a "cast" (a hard, crunchy feeling), gently scrunch your hair with your hands or a few drops of lightweight oil. This breaks the cast, leaving soft, defined curls. This process is often called "scrunching out the crunch" or SOTC.

Pro Tips

• Work in sections: For more control and thorough product distribution, divide your hair into sections, especially if you have thick or long hair.
• Prioritize moisture: Curly hair is naturally drier. Ensure your shampoo, conditioner, and styling products provide ample moisture to prevent frizz and enhance curl elasticity.
• Less is more, then more is more: Start with a small amount of product and add more if needed. However, don't be afraid to use enough product to properly coat your hair, especially with gels, as under-application can lead to lack of hold and frizz.
• Embrace the cast: The hard cast from gel is desirable during drying as it locks in the curl. Resist the urge to touch your hair until it's fully dry and you're ready to scrunch out the crunch.
• Pineappling: To preserve curls overnight, gather your hair into a loose high ponytail on top of your head, secured with a soft scrunchie. This prevents crushing and minimizes frizz.

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Impact	Solution
Rubbing hair with a terrycloth towel	Creates friction, roughens the cuticle, leads to frizz	Use a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt; gently blot, do not rub
Applying products to dry hair	Ineffective product distribution, less definition, more frizz	Always apply styling products to wet or very damp hair
Not using enough styler	Lack of hold, curls won't last, increased frizz	Ensure thorough coating, especially with gels; don't be afraid to use more
Touching hair while drying	Disrupts curl pattern, causes frizz	Hands off until hair is completely dry
Over-manipulating hair	Can lead to frizz and breakage	Be gentle, use a wide-tooth comb, and avoid excessive brushing

Aftercare

Once your curls are defined, proper aftercare will help maintain their integrity:

• Protect overnight: Use a satin or silk pillowcase, or wear a satin/silk bonnet to reduce friction and preserve your curl pattern. This helps prevent tangles and frizz.
• Refresh curls: On non-wash days, you can refresh your curls by lightly spritzing with water mixed with a small amount of leave-in conditioner or a dedicated curl refreshing spray. Gently scrunch your hair to reactivate the curl pattern. Avoid over-saturating.
• Avoid heat: Minimize the use of hot tools like curling irons or straighteners, as excessive heat can damage the curl pattern and lead to dryness.
• Regular trims: Get regular trims to remove split ends, which can travel up the hair shaft and compromise curl definition.

By following these steps and tips, you can effectively define your curly hair, resulting in well-formed, long-lasting, and frizz-free curls.

---

Find these ingredients in Watermans products

• Shea Butter — you will find this ingredient in our Curly Hair Conditioner.

• Shea Butter — you will find this ingredient in our Curly Hair Conditioner.