Hello lovelies! Do you wish that your hair was more curly? If you’re envious of the picture-perfect ringlets of your favorite curly girl guru, don’t be! Instead, focus on making your curls the best they can be. In this post, I’ve gathered some of my best tips for enhancing your curls and helping them look their best!
Here’s how to make your hair more curly.
Always use a styling product.
If you are starting your curly hair journey, you may not see what the point of using a gel or mousse is. After all, your hair doesn’t need it, right? Wrong.
A styling product does more than simply help your curls look good. It also seals in moisture, prevents damage, and reduces frizz in your hair. If you want beautiful, healthy hair, I recommend that you always use a styling product. If you like your curls to be loose and beachy, use a mousse. If you prefer defined, tight ringlets, try a strong hold gel. Using a styling product will make your hair more curly.
Stay away from heat tools.
If you want to make your hair more curly, don’t use any heat tools on your hair. Ditch the straightener, curling wand, and blowdryer! The one exception is that you can use a blowdryer on the cool setting with a diffuser attachment. But, if you are just starting the Curly Girl Method (LINK), I would recommend avoiding blowdryers completely to see better progress.
Choose hairstyles that protect your curls.
If you want your hair to look more curly, avoid styles like tight ponytails, tight buns, and styles that require heat tools. Stay away from hair ties, headbands, and accessores that increase frizz and breakage.
Instead, choose looser, gentler hairstyles that allow your natural curls to shine. You can wear braids if they work for your hair type, but be gentle when braiding or unbraiding your hair.
Here are some easy curly hairstyles that won’t damage your hair:
Dressy Hairstyles for Curly Hair
How to make your hair more curly? Deep condition your hair regularly.
If your hair lacks moisture, I recommend deep conditioning your hair every 1-2 weeks.
I love this simple deep conditioner recipe from Verna @themestizamuse. She shared it on her Instagram page. You simply need:
- 1/2 cup oil or conditioner (I used my regular Tresemme Coconut conditioner)
- 1/4 cup honey
- Microwaveable bowl
First, put the oil/conditioner and honey into the bowl, and microwave it for 10-second intervals until it is too hot to touch comfortably. Allow it to sit for a minute or two. Then apply it to your hair.
Read this post to learn how to deep condition your curls:
Get a trim every 4-6 weeks.
To encourage hair growth, get a trim every 4-6 weeks. I recommend asking your hairstylist for 1/4 to 1/2 inch off, unless your hair grows very fast. The goal is not to get shorter curls, but to aerate the ends so they continue to grow quickly. This also helps prevent split ends.
Touch your hair as little as possible.
When you play with your hair, you are disrupting the delicate chemical bonds that hold your curls together. Avoid touching your hair, especially when it’s wet. Hair is most fragile and breakable when wet. If you don’t like having your hair in your face, use small clips to pull it back gently to each side.
Do a rice water rinse.
A rice water rinse is the BEST at-home treatment you can do for your hair, and it’s so easy!
For the rice water rinse, you will need 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of rice (depending on how much hair you have). First, rinse the rice under running water. Place it into a pot with double the amount of water. Then, boil until the water looks cloudy. Strain the water through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, and allow it to cool.
Once the rice water has cooled, you can apply it to clean, wet hair (after shampooing). Dip your hair into the bowl, and then pull it out, still holding it over the bowl. Gently squish the water up into your curls to encourage absorption. Repeat this several times until you run out of rice water or your curls feel saturated.
Next, you can rinse your curls either immediately or after waiting 5-10 minutes. Don’t leave the rice water on for too long as it can be drying. Apply your favourite deep conditioner or regular conditioner and continue your hair routine.
Section before applying products to make your hair more curly.
For best results, section your hair into 4-6 different sections before applying styling products. This ensures that each curl gets enough hydration, moisture, and product to produce a good result. If you don’t section your hair, you’ll get some great curls and some loose, frizzy sections that didn’t get enough product.
Try 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 dyeing hair, 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.
Try new products and styling techniques.
The Curly Girl journey is all about learning, experimenting, and trying new things. If your curls aren’t looking their best, do some research and find someone with a similar curl type and porosity. Try some of their recommendations.
Explore new styling techniques from your favourite curly girls, and try something new on your next washday. You’ll have fun, and you may find a new strategy that your curls absolutely love!
Let’s Chat:
Do you want to make your hair more curly? If so, which of these tips will you try first? Let me know (and share your favorite tips for amazing curls) in the comment section!
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!