Imagine this…one morning, you are awakened by an angel. “You may choose between one of two gifts,” the angel says. “First, you may choose to wake up every morning with full, voluminous curls. Your crown will never look flat, and your roots will never lie down.

“Or,” he continues, “you may choose to wake up each day with perfectly defined curls. Not a hair out of place and not a bit of frizz. Your curls will spiral perfectly, even when you apply the wrong products or rush through your wash routine. You may not always have a lot of volume, but your curls will be more defined than Shirley Temple’s.”

Which one of these gifts would YOU choose? Although it would be a tough choice, I think I would pick definition. And, in this post, we’ll explore how to get more definition in your curls. (Volume is definitely welcome, too!)

Read on to learn how to get more definition in your curls.

1. Detangle thoroughly.

How do I make my curls more defined? First, when you wash your hair, it is critical that you get all the tangles out. Try to take your time and coat each strand thoroughly with conditioner. If you rush it, you may miss some tangles. These will interfere with creating great definition later in the washday process! 

If you have especially thick, curly hair, you may need to use a wet brush to detangle your hair. (Of course, never brush dry hair.) Ensure that you apply enough conditioner or another product with slip before using any wet brush on your curls. This will prevent snarls and tangles.

2. Squish to condish.

If your curls aren’t hydrated enough, they will fall apart into stringy bits. The best technique to combat this is the Squish-to-Condish technique, a tried-and-true method for conditioning your hair.

After you apply conditioner to your hair, gently detangle your curls. Then, to ensure that your hair absorbs maximum moisture, you can use this technique. Cup your hands and collect a small amount of water in them. Then take a small section of hair and squish it upwards. 

The principle is that the conditioner will help your hair absorb water better. When you squish the water/conditioner mixture into your hair, the hair strand fills up with water. It also releases any excess conditioner, so you will hear little squelching sounds. Continue squishing until you have gone through all your hair. Your hair should be clumping nicely into thick, juicy curls. 

3. Rinse with cold water for better curl definition.

When you do rinse out your conditioner, do it with water as cold as you can stand. This will close your hair cuticle, reduce frizz, and help your curls clump together more. And that will give you better definition in natural curls.

4. Section before applying products.

If you always apply products to your whole head at once, this tip could be a game-changer for you. Take 30 extra seconds, and split your hair into 6 sections: two for each side, the top of your head, and the back of your head. Then, apply products to one section at a time. When you do this, you ensure that you aren’t missing any sections of hair. This will give you better overall definition.

5. Shingling for better definition in curly hair.

If you have an extra half hour and want to get fantastic definition, I recommend trying either shingling or finger coiling.

This technique should be done on soaking wet curls. First, ensure that your hair is completely detangled and smooth. Carefully comb through each section with a small-tooth comb to remove any micro-knots. Then, separate your hair into several sections, and clip up whatever sections you’re not working on.

Next, apply a small amount of curl cream, leave-in conditioner, or gel to a section. Start at the roots and gently slide down to the ends. Comb through to distribute the product evenly.

Then, gather the hair in one hand, and gently separate one curl at a time from the main section. Take a tiny amount of product between your index finger and thumb and smooth it down the curl from root to end. You can also twirl it tightly for more definition (optional). Scrunch upward to finish with the curl. Repeat for the whole section, doing one curl at a time.

This will take some time, but it will give you beautiful definition for days!

6. Experiment with finger coiling.

This technique is very similar to shingling, but it involves twisting individual curls more thoroughly. Here’s how you can finger coil your hair.

When your curls are wet, take an individual curl. Smooth it out to ensure that there are no tangles. Then, use your middle finger to twist the curl from root to tip. Next, twist it back towards the root with your hand, and from root to tip with your middle finger again. Repeat this a few times until the strand coils when you release it. Continue doing this until you have gone through all your hair. This will take some time, but it will give you shiny, bouncy spirals.

7. Style on dripping wet hair.

If you have medium or high porosity hair, you will be able to get better definition if you style on dripping wet hair. Right after you finish washing and conditioning, flip your head over and apply your styling products. Or, if you have to leave the bathroom because someone’s banging on the door, put on a shower cap until you reach your room, and then style it.

There is one exception to this rule. If you have low porosity hair, I recommend squeezing out most of the water with a t-shirt before styling. Because low porosity hair is slow to absorb moisture, you want to replace some of that water with styling products for better definition. That’s why you should blot it dry first.

7. Use water-based stylers.

For better definition, choose water-based styling products over oil-based. One gel that curly girls especially like for humid weather is the Curl Keeper Original Gel. It’s a light hold gel that is very fluid and easy to apply. It reduces frizz and keeps curls well defined. When you choose stylers, look for water-based ones to keep your curls defined.

8. Use a strong hold gel.

If you want more defined curls, I recommend using a strong hold gel. This will help your curls lock into their formation and remain undisturbed by wind, friction, and other environmental factors. And it will provide much better definition than a mousse or a light hold gel. Two of my favourite strong hold gels are the Aussie Instant Freeze Gel ($) and the Jessicurl Spiralicious Gel ($$-$$$). The Jessicurl one is especially good for refreshing your curls on days 2 and 3.

9. Add a curl enhancing product.

If you are only using shampoo, conditioner, and a mousse or gel, you can add a curl enhancing product into your washday routine. If you have fine, wavy hair, try something light, like the DevaCurl Wave Maker.

Or, if you have thick, curly hair, try the SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie (I love this one!) or the Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream. Layer it after your conditioner, before your gel or mousse. It will encourage your curls to be more curly and give you better definition!

10. Do an Olaplex treatment.

If you color your hair, you may want to consider using an Olaplex treatment. These treatments have become increasingly popular with curly girls. Designed to counteract the damaging effects of colour treatments, Olaplex is a chemical treatment that repairs the disulfide sulfur bonds in hair. You can use it to strengthen your hair even if you haven’t colored or chemically treated your curls.

For this 3-step treatment, a hairstylist will apply No. 1, the Bond Multiplier, and No. 2, the Bond Perfector. Then, they will send you home with No. 3, the Hair Perfector, to use twice a week and maintain healthy hair. A take home treatment is available, but you’ll need to purchase it from a certified professional in a salon.

Because this treatment works on the inside cortex of a hair strand, it is even more effective than protein treatments. It will leave your curls feeling shiny, soft, and smooth. It will seal the cuticle and give you much better curl definition.

11. Diffuse those curls!

If you want to know how to define curls in wavy hair (or any curl type), diffusing is one of the best tricks in the book! In addition to promoting more volume, diffusing can also help your curls have more definition. If diffusing didn’t seem to work for you in the past, try a different type of diffusing such as pixie diffusing, hover diffusing, etc. I think you’ll love the results and the definition you get!

Want to learn more?

Purchase a copy of my new ebook, Embrace Your Curls: A Manual for Curly Girls. It’s 120+ pages of information, techniques, and methods to help you have the hair of your dreams! Check it out here. (Get 30% off with code welcomecurly30.)

Let’s Chat about How to Define Your Curls:

Do you want to define your natural curls? First, you need to thoroughly detangle your curls. I recommend that you squish to condish for maximum hydration and rinse with cold water. Before applying your products, section your curls. If you have a little extra time, try shingling or finger coiling. Choose curl enhancing products, strong hold gels, and water-based stylers. And don’t forget to diffuse those curls for definition! Did I miss anything? Share your best tips for definition in the comments!

p.s. Some of the items in this post are affiliate links. I only post about products that I love + think you’ll probably love, too! As an Amazon Associate or affiliate for other programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase through my link, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you SO much for your support!