how to fix moisture overload, hygral fatigue, protein moisture balance

Signs Of Curly Hair Moisture Overload, hygral Fatigue + How To Fix It

Leave a Comment / Curly & Wavy Hair Care, Curly Hair / curlybunmom

Signs Of Curly Hair Moisture Overload, Hygral Fatigue + How To Fix It

Moisture overload and hygral fatigue are nightmares for some curly girls.

Hydration, water, and moisturizing curly hair products are a curly girl’s best friend but, as with everything in life, too much of something good can end up being bad.

If you’re experiencing moisture overload or looking for ways to prevent it from happening, this post should help you understand what happens when your hair has too much moisture and what you can do to restore the moisture protein balance.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

What Is Moisture Overload & What Does It Look Like

Moisture overload is simply when your curls are too moisturized. It means that your hair does not have moisture – protein balance, which is important for healthy, defined curls.

To tell if you’re experiencing over hydration, look for these signs or symptoms of moisture overload and hygral fatigue:

hair feels too soft when wet
lymp hair
frizzy hair
undefined and loose curls
weak hair
dryness

What Causes Moisture Overload

Curly hair is known to be prone to dryness and in an effort to ensure that your curls are hydrated and well moisturized, you can actually add too much moisture to your hair.

Moisture overload can be caused by:

Using only moisture-rich products
Not using hair strengthening protein products
Overnight deep conditioning
Deep conditioning for longer than is recommended
Using the wrong curly girl products for you hair’s porosity

What is Hygral Fatigue

Even though hygral fatigue and moisture overload are used interchangeably, there’s a difference.

Moisture overload actually leads to hygral fatigue.

Hygral fatigue is different from moisture overload, because it happens over time. When your hair goes from wet to dry too often, your follicles become more exposed to swelling and shrinking. Over time, your hair becomes fatigued. So, over moisturizing your hair makes you more likely to experience hygral fatigue.

Hygral fatigue is damage to your hair follicles caused by swelling from excessive moisture.
Healthline

When your hair follicles are exposed to moisture (water or moisture rich hair products), they swell and when the follicles dry, they shrink. So, hygral fatigue is damage caused by your hair’s over-exposure to moisture and the constant swelling and shrinking of your hair follicles.

How To Fix Moisture Overload

The key to is to prevent moisture overload before hygral fatigue kicks in.

To fix moisture overload give your curly hair the moisture it needs and not more than it needs. Using products that contain moisturizing and protein ingredients will help keep your hair balanced.

To determine how much moisture your hair needs, it’s important to evaluate & assess your hair’s:

Porosity – size of your hair cuticle and how moisture is absorbed and retained
Elasticity – how much your hair strands will stretch, which is determined by the moisture of your hair.

With too much moisture and not enough protein, your hair strands will stretch too much and lose definition. However, you can prevent and minimize moisture overload and hygral fatigue from happening.

Steps to fix moisture overload:

Wash Hair with a pre poo treatment
Add curly girl products with protein
Do not wet your curly hair too often

1. Wash Hair With Pre Poo Treatment

Pre poo treatments involve the use of oils, like coconut oil, on your dry hair before shampooing. This helps to reduce protein loss, prevent breakage, hygral fatigue and make detangling easier. For best results, pre poo treatments can be applied from a few hours before you wash your hair to the night before.

2. Add Curly Products With Protein

To fix moisture overload, adding products with protein ingredients to your curly girl routine will help to create moisture-protein balance.

How to tell if a curly girl product has protein is to look for some keywords like:

Repair
Strengthen
Rebuild
Enhancing

Popular and easy to spot protein ingredients in curly girl products:

Keratin
Biotin
Collagen
Amino Acids
Quinoa seed
Hydrolyzed wheat protein
Hydrolyzed rice protein
Hydrolyzed soy protein
Hydrolyzed silk protein

As you can see, some of these protein ingredients contain the word “protein”, as well as hydrolyzed. Hydrolyzed basically means that the protein is broken down until it’s small enough to penetrate into your hair shaft to repair any damage.

If this is still too much and you’re unsure of a hair product you want to try, put the product or the ingredients into a site like “Curlscan” and it will quickly let you know if your product is curly girl approved and the types of protein ingredients included.

Use Less Moisture rich Curly Girl Products

If you’re experiencing moisture overload or hygral fatigue, it’s time to change your hair products. If all of the products you use are over hydrating your hair, then switch to minimize the amount of moisture you’re applying to your curls.

So, if you’re looking to add less moisture to your curly girl routine, it’s a good idea to know what the moisturizing ingredients are so that you can limit your use. If these ingredients are high up on the list of product ingredients, then you know that it’s a moisture-rich product.

Moisturizing ingredients in curly hair products:

water
glycerin
aloe
honey
panthenol
cetearyl alcohol
cetyl alcohol

3. Stop Wetting Hair Too Much

Wetting your hair too often will lead to the issue of constant swelling and shrinking of your hair follicles.

So try to wash your hair less often and stick to refreshing your curls on the days following your wash day instead of having to completely wet and restyle your hair daily.

Follow A Balanced Protein-Moisture Curly Girl Routine

To fix a moisture overload problem, add more protein into your curly girl routine.

Just be careful and avoid using protein rich products at each stage of your curly hair routine as you will run the risk of protein overload.

Instead, select a few curly girl products that contain protein to include in your curly girl routine:

Pre Poo Treatment
Sulphate Free Shampoo
Strengthening Deep conditioning mask or treatment
Leave in conditioner
Curl Cream
Gel or mousse

The best way to find out exactly what your hair responds to is to experiment. Try out different curly girl products with proteins to see how your hair reacts.

Curly Girl Method Protein Products

These curly girl approved products contain protein ingredients and are incredible for your hair. To purchase on Amazon, just click the product 🙂

Moisture Overload vs Protein Overload

Sometimes, it’s hard to tell if you’re experiencing a moisture or a protein overload. The first way you can tell is to assess your current curly girl routine:

Are you washing your hair too often?
Are you wetting and drenching your hair daily?
Do you use conditioner too often ?
Do you leave your conditioner on your hair longer than recommended ?
Check your current curly girl products to see if your routine is too moisture rich

In addition to answering those questions, this table can help you determine whether you are experiencing a moisture or protein overload.

Moisture Overload Signs	Protein Overload Signs
Hair strands stretch with no bounce back	Hair strands have little to no stretch & break easily
Hair is too elastic	Low elasticity strands
Limp hair	Dull hair
Dry, brittle hair	Hair tangles easily
Hair feels soft & mushy	Hair feels rough & stiff
Loose, undefined curls	Stringy, undefined curls
Frizzy hair

Moisture Overload vs Protein Overload Signs

Knowing what your hair needs is the first step in restoring the moisture, protein balance so that you can get back your defined, bouncy curls. I hope that you’re gained a lot of insight from this post to help you!

Check out this post to see if you are experiencing protein overload.

Before you go, check out these other curly girl posts:

How To refresh Curls In The Morning

Leave a Comment / Curly & Wavy Hair Care, Curly Girl Routines, Curly Hair / curlybunmom

How To Refresh Curls In The Morning

Knowing how to refresh curls in the morning after sleeping is a necessity for every curly girl.

You want your defined curls to last all week without much effort but does your curly hair have second day frizz or third or fourth day limp curls?

Try the steps in this post to help you learn how to refresh your curly or wavy hair so that your hair still looks gorgeous long after wash day.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

How To Refresh Curls Throughout The Week

Refreshing second day curly hair and curls throughout the week can take just a few minutes each morning.

As the week progresses, you may find that your curly hair gets more volume and has the potential to look fabulous with little effort from you.

Refreshing your curls throughout the week starts before refreshing steps even starts.

Follow these curly girl tips before you even get to refreshing your hair throughout the week:

1. Have a good wash day

The first thing you need to ensure to make refreshing curly hair a breeze is to have a good curly girl wash day routine that will give you long-lasting results.

2. Use water activated curly girl styling products

Using styling products that have water as the first ingredient means that it’s activated when you apply water. So, to refresh second day curly hair, sometimes all you need to do is use water to reactivate the product, redefine your curls by finger coiling unruly curly strands, or by scrunching and dry.

3. Protect your curly hair while you sleep

The next thing you need to do to make refreshing your curls or waves easier is to learn how to sleep with your curly or wavy hair while you sleep.

How you sleep with your curly hair determines how difficult your refresh routine has to be.

The less your curls and waves are disturbed while you sleep, the less frizz you have in the morning, the easier it will be to refresh your curls in the morning.

Curly Girl Refresh Routine

Now let’s jump into the actual curly hair refresh steps. Here’s how I refresh 2nd day curly hair and the rest of the week, after sleeping on it to get the best results.

Dampen curls with water
Apply curly girl styling product
Define frizzy or undefined curls
Scrunch for maximum curl definition
Dry
Apply serum

Dampen your curls with water

Start refreshing your curls by dampening with water. You can do this by using a misting spray bottle all over your hair.

At this point, if your curls just needed a little water to reactivate the products you used on wash day, simply skip the next step and jump to step 3.

Apply Curly Girl Products

If your hair needs more hydration and/or hold, then apply a small amount of your product at this point.

Using the praying hands technique, smooth your preferred curly girl hair product over your unruly curls to tame the frizz.

You don’t want to rake your fingers through your curls to mess with the curl pattern you’ve already created.

Define your curls

If you have any loose or undefined curls, you can finger coil those curl clumps to redefine them and remove frizz.

Scrunch

Scrunch your curls to achieve maximum definition and move on to the final step.

Dry your refreshed curls

Dry your hair with your preferred method – diffuse or airdry your refreshed curls.

Finish with serum or oil

If your hair needs a little extra shine, to finish your curly hair refresh, you can gently smooth a small amount of your favorite serum or hair oil.

Adding a serum or oil, will also help to soften your curls if you added gel in step 2.

how to refresh curls in the morning - how-to-refresh-curly-hair-second-day-curls

How To Refresh Curls In The Morning Without Water

Using water to refresh your curls is not necessary for all curly and wavy girls. In fact, some curls and waves react badly when water is added on refresh days.

Some curls and waves just need a little oil or serum to refresh second day curls.

If you’re one of those, all you need to do is rub some serum or oil in the palm of your hands and gently smooth it over curls to refresh them. Give your waves or curls a scrunch and that’s it!

This should instantly tame any frizzy curly hair and add shine.

How To Refresh Wavy Hair In The Morning

Refreshing 2a 2b 2c hair is similar to refreshing curlier hair.

The main difference I’ve noticed is that wavy hair doesn’t need to be dampened in the same way as curlier hair.

Most wavy girls get the best refresh results with using little to no water at all.

As with curlier hair types, the first step is to have a solid wash day routine and protecting your wavy hair while you sleep.

To refresh your wavy hair:

Shake out your waves
If needed, apply some dry shampoo to your crown to get more volume
Apply a curl refresher spray like Aussie’s Curl Refresher or a serum oil
Scrunch
Air dry or diffuse if you used water

How To Refresh Curls After A Workout

The great news for curly girls is that you don’t have to wash your hair after each workout.

A good routine to refresh your curly hair after a workout will save you from having to wash your hair too often. Dry shampoo is your best option to cleanse and refresh.

Before we talk about an after workout hair routine, let’s think about your wavy or curly hair before working out. It’s best to secure your curls or waves in a high ponytail or loose curly bun to preserve your curls.

If your hair is too short to go in a pony tail is to just use a hair band to keep your hair out of your face.

Try these tips after your workout to refresh your curls or waves:

Take your hair out of your ponytail or curly bun and gently fluff your roots
Spray some water on your curls
Apply a root refresher or dry shampoo
Next, if your wash day products aren’t activated by water or if you curls need more product, apply your preferred curly girl product, like a leave-in conditioner or curly girl gel.
Finger curl any loose curls that lost definition
Scrunch
Dry as usual – air dry or diffuse

Refresh Day Curly Hair Products

Most curly girls will need different products depending on the refresh day. For instance:

Day 2 Products for second day curls

To refresh your second day curls, you may not need to add any product. Dampening your hair with just a little water to reactivate your curls will do the trick.

However, if you need some extra moisture, you could apply your favorite curly girl leave in conditioner or your diy refresh spray. To make your own refresh spray, simply combine your favorite leave in conditioner with some water in a spray bottle and that’s it! You have your own curly girl spray to refresh your curls throughout the week.

Day 3 refresh products

Your day 3 curls may be getting a bit drier so using a curly girl cream styler may be best. If you also need some extra old, add a small amount of mousse or gel.

Day 4, 5 and 6 curly girl refresh products

From day 4, I typically always need water, leave in conditioner, and a little gel to refresh my curls and tame frizz. I also finger coil any loose, undefined curls.

Try these curly girl products for to refresh your curls. You can easily purchase any of these on Amazon by clicking on the link or you should be able to find them at your local drugstore.

Leave-in conditioners for refreshing curly hair

Refresh day Curl Creams

Curl Girl Gels For Refresh Days

Curly Girl Mousse Stylers

Dry Shampoos for after workout and refresh days

Ouidad Clean Sweep Moisturizing Dry Shampoo
Batiste Dry Shampoo De-Frizz (not curly girl approved as it contains Alcohol Denat which is a drying alcohol.

Curly Refresh Days Recap

To recap, let’s review the tips to refresh your curly or wavy hair in the morning:

Have a solid curly hair routine on wash day.

Protect your curls while you sleep with a good curly girl sleep routine

Use products with water as the first ingredient so that on refresh days, adding a little water to your curls will reactivate the curly products you used on day 1 (your wash day).

Add the curly girl product that your hair needs on refresh days

Experiment with techniques and products until you get the refresh results that make you and your curls happy

I hope these curly and wavy hair refresh tips help you to have easier refresh days with better results.

Have you found a refresh day routine that your love? How do you refresh your curls throughout the week? And, what are your favorite curly or wavy hair refresh products?

Before you go, check out these other curly girl posts:

What Is Wet Frizz, Webbing Curly Hair – Causes & How To Fix It

Leave a Comment / Curly & Wavy Hair Care, Curly Hair / curlybunmom

What Is Wet Frizz, Webbing Curly Hair – Causes & How To Fix It

As a curly girl, I’m sure you’ve experienced wet frizz, halo frizz or hair webbing after washing your hair or after applying your styling products.

And, I’m sure you’ve wondered if the wet frizz you see is normal for your curly hair.

Today, let’s learn about wet frizz – what is it, what causes it and how to handle unruly wet frizzy curly hair.

The truth is that a little wet frizz is totally normal and ok.

It’s pretty common among curly girls and doesn’t always mean that your hair is unhealthy.

In fact, a little frizz can even add to the beauty of your natural textured hair.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

wet-frizz-curly-hair-hair-webbing-how-to-fix-wet-frizz-in-wavy-hair-how-to-minimize-wet-frizz-when-styling-curly-hair-curlybunmom.com

Table Of Contents

What is Wet Frizz
Is Wet Frizz Normal?
What Is Halo Frizz
What Is Hair Webbing
What Causes Wet Frizz
- Causes Of wet frizz:
How Do You Get Rid Of Wet Frizz
Tips to help get rid of wet frizz, Curly Hair:
Best Curly Girl Products For Wet Frizz
Wet Frizz On Curly Hair Wrap Up

What is Wet Frizz

Wet frizz as the name suggests is when you experience frizz when your hair is still wet. Your curls don’t clump together and instead, you have strands of hair that dry faster and “fly away”.

The biggest issue with wet frizz is that it will be frizzy when it’s dry.

Wet frizz often occurs after washing, applying styling products and through the air drying process.

If you look at the picture of my wet curly hair below, you can see some of the strands aren’t clumped with the rest – this is what wet frizz looks like.

wet frizz curly hair - halo frizz - webbing - unruly curly hair — curly hair wet frizz – curlybunmom.com

The best way to reduce frizz while your hair is wet, is to ensure that you use the proper curly girl methods and products to maintain a healthy moisture/protein balance.

Is Wet Frizz Normal?

Yes, a small amount of wet frizz is totally normal and your hair will typically dry well, with minimum frizz.

If you have a lot of wet frizz, it is most probably a sign that your hair needs some moisture and some TLC.

What Is Halo Frizz

Halo frizz refers to frizz that only occurs on the crown of your head.

A very easy and quick fix for halo frizz is spray a little water or apply a water with your hands on the frizz.

This can reactivate the products you styled your curls with, or you can apply a little more gel and finger coil the frizzy curls.

What Is Hair Webbing

Hair webbing refers to the way your frizzy curly strands stick or web together when you try to separate them.

Hair webbing is ultimately a sign that your hair needs hydration.

wet frizz after applying styling products

What Causes Wet Frizz

The main cause of frizz is dry, dehydrated hair.

Dry hair tends to be brittle which causes split ends, breakage and of course, frizz.

Causes Of wet frizz:

damaged hair from heat or harsh chemicals
washing hair with harsh sulfates
product buildup
not following curly girl styling techniques (using a regular towel to dry hair, for instance)
not protecting your curls while you sleep

How Do You Get Rid Of Wet Frizz

So, how to fix wet frizz on curly hair?

The quickest way to fix wet frizz on your curly hair the first step is to hydrate your curls by adding more water to your hair before styling.

The easiest way to do this is by using your hands to smooth some water on your hair.

Your curls should clump together quickly and you should have little to no wet frizz.

If you’re still experiencing wet frizz, especially at the roots, after adding the water to your wet frizz, finger coil the unruly curly hair.

To fix wet frizz, it’s also crucial that you follow a moisturizing curly girl routine, filled with hair masks, treatments, leave-in conditioners, and curl girl creams.

Use curly hair products with moisturizing ingredients high up on the list, such as:

water
cetyl, stearyl and cetearyl alcohol
glycerin
honey
shea butter
aloe vera
sorbitol

wet curls - wet frizz curly hair - hair webbing -best products - how to fix

Tips to help get rid of wet frizz, Curly Hair:

Cleanse with a gentle, sulphate free shampoo
Clarify your hair to remove product buildup
Deep condition every week
Choose the right deep conditioner
Use a cotton tshirt or microfiber towel
Apply hydrating styling products on wet or damp hair
Use styling brush to define curls
Plop hair before drying
Diffuse your hair on low – medium heat
Try the curly girl method
Try different curly girl products

Cleanse with a gentle, sulphate free shampoo

To fight wet frizz, choose a gentle sulfate free, low poo shampoo to cleanse your scalp and hair from buildup. Using a shampoo with sulfates may strip your already dry hair from the natural oils and moisture that it really needs.

My current favorite sulfate free shampoo To Fight Wet Frizz is the Twist On Repeat Gentle Oil Infused Shampoo.

Buy On Amazon

Clarify your hair to remove product buildup

If your hair and scalp has a lot of build up, you may need to clarify your hair with a clarifying shampoo.

Clarifying your hair is more of a deep cleanse to remove build up and residue from products that may be blocked moisutre from entering your hair’s shaft.

My current favorite sulfate free shampoo To Fight Wet Frizz is the Twist Hit Reset Light Clarifying Shampoo.

Buy On Amazon

Deep condition every week

Deep conditioning, every week, with the right deep conditioner, changed my curly hair’s health the most.

Deep conditioning is one of the most important steps you can take to maintain healthy, curly hair.

By doing it every week, you ensure that your curls are hydrated and less prone to breakage.

Curly hair is naturally dryer than straight hair, so it needs all the hydration it can get.

Deep conditioning replenishes moisture levels, making curls softer and shinier.

Deep conditioning with a protein treatment will also help if your hair needs to be strengthened.

By fortifying your strands with a weekly treatment, you can keep your hair looking healthy and vibrant.

Finally, deep conditioning gives your curls a boost of definition and helps to tame frizz, including wet frizz. If you want your curls to look their best, make sure you’re deep conditioning on a regular basis!

Read more about deep conditioning curly hair.

Choose the right deep conditioner

For your curly hair to be healthy and less dry and frizzy, protein moisture balance is critical and the prodcuts you choose for your hair will help to create and maintain this balance.

Before choosing your deep conditioner, assess your hair to determine if it needs a protein treatment or a hydrating deep conditioner.

Read more about moisture overload and protein overload.

If you’re in need of moisture, these are two of my favorite moisturizing deep conditioners

Twist Sunday Feels Deeply Hydrating Hair Mask

Buy On Amazon

Shea Moisture Intensive Hydration Hair Mask

Buy On Amazon

And, if you’re in need of a protein treatment, this is my favorite protein rich deep conditioner:

Shea Moisture Manuka & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein power Treatment

Buy On Amazon

Use Cotton Tshirt or Microfiber Towel

Drying your hair with your bath towel is a great way to ensure that you get wet frizz and damage your hair.

The friction from your hair rubbing against the towel’s material can lead to damaged, frizzy curls.

Instead, after rinsing your deep conditioner, gently wrap your curls using a cotton tshirt or microfiber towel. These materials are much gentler ont he hair shaft, therefore reducing wet frizz.

Apply Styling Products On Wet Or Damp Hair

Applying your curly girl products while your hair is wet or damp helps to lock in moisture and minimize wet frizz.

Some curly girls get best results when they apply products to soaking wet hair and others, like me, get the best results when applying styling products to damp hair.

If you encounter some wet frizz while applying your styling products, simply dampen your hair before applying your products.

Another styling tip to reduce wet frizz is to always use a gel or mousse to form a gel cast over your defined curls.

what is wet frizz and how to reduce it - results after following tips in this post!

Use A styling brush to define curls

Using a brush on wet hair, like the tangle teezer to distribute your styling products will help to ensure even application.

After evenly distributing your styling products, work in sections, using a tangle teezer or Denman brush to define your curls.

Buy On Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Plop hair before drying

Another great way to reduce wet frizz is to plop your hair after styling.

Plopping helps to reduce wet frizz by allowing a gel cast to form while your hair is safely tucked up in your cotton tshirt or microbfiber towel.

There are hair plopping towels that you can purchase but you can also stick with a cotton tshirt to plop your curls.

Diffuse your hair on low heat

Diffusing helps to dry your curls before they get a chance to come in contact with your clothes and other elements that could increase your frizz.

After plopping, hover your diffuser all around your head until almost dry before moving on to the length of your hair.

Be sure to use your diffuser on low heat to avoid heat damage!

Try the curly girl method

If you’ve tried all the tips above and you’re still experience more wet frizz than you would like, try the curly girl method (CGM).

This method was developed by Lorraine Massey and many curly girls swear by it.

The cgm is a set of rules that curly girls should follow and ingredients that they should avoid using.

Even if you choose not to follow the method strictly, it’s a good idea to learn about it and decide what practices would be good for your hair.

Read more about the curly girl method and recommended products here.

Try different products

Switching your products may be all that you need to do to reduce the wet frizz that you’re experiencing.

Using more moisturizing products and a stronger hold gel may do the trick. Or, using products that are free from harsh sulfates, parabens and silicones may be best for you.

Perhaps, you just need to add a clarifying shampoo to your curly routine to reset your hair.

Assess your hair and current products and try experimenting with different products.

Here are some posts that you may love:

Best Curly Girl Products For Wet Frizz

These are my favorite curly girl products for wet frizz that help to tame my unruly hair every time. You can easily purchase any of these products on Amazon by clicking on the links 🙂

Olaplex Number 0 and Number 3

One of the best products to help damaged curly hair is the build the bond treatment from Olapex.

Olaplex no 0 and Olaplex no 3 should be used together.

It’s a pre-shampoo treatment for damaged curly hair – Olaplex Number 0 prepares your hair for deeper penetration of Olaplex number 3.

To apply these Olapex products on clean, dry hair:

Separate your hair into two sections
Saturate Olapex 0 from root to tip with your focus on the damaged areas
Gently massage the product into your hair before moving on to the next section
Leave it for about 10 minutes before moving on to Olaplex 3
Apply the Olaplex 3 to your hair, again, focusing on the damaged areas
Leave in for about 10 mins
Wash and condition your hair as usual

Sealing Oils

Wet Frizz On Curly Hair Wrap Up

At the end of the day, some frizz is expected, especially if you’re a curly girl. The key is to ensure that you’re using the best products to fight frizzy and using curly girl techniques to apply and treat your curls.

Try the curly girl method to improve the health of your curly hair and always experiment with curly girl approved products to find the best for your curls.

Before you go, check out these other curly girl posts:

Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream – Curly Girl Product Review

Leave a Comment / Curly Hair, Curly Hair Product Reviews / curlybunmom

Curly Girl Approved Product Review – Cantu Curl Activator Cream

Cantu Moisturizing curl activator cream ingredients - curly girl product review - cgm approved

Cantu’s moisturizing curl activator cream is one of the best curly girl approved products I’ve ever used.

It’s my new favorite drugstore curl defining cream and I’m confident that it will quickly become one of yours too.

Cantu’s curl activator cream works well on types 2b 2c wavy hair and types 3a 3b 3c curly hair.

Let me take you through all the great benefits that this curly girl defining cream has to offer and how to use this amazing product.

Cantu Curl Activator Cream Is Curly Girl Approved

Cantu curl activator cream contains no silicones, sulphates, parabens or mineral oils. It’s curly girl method approved, meaning it’s free from harsh and damaging ingredients.

If you’re interested, these are the ingredients:

Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream Ingredients - curly girl method approved curl cream

Humectants (moisturizing ingredients) – glycerin, aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, macrocystis pyrifera extract and urtica dioica (nettle) extract

Moisturizing alcohols – Cetearyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol

Hold – polyquaternium-11

Protein – hydrolyzed silk

Cantu Is Good For Curly Hair

Here are the pros and benefits you can expect when you use Cantu’s Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream:

affordable
available in drugstores
available on Amazon – click to buy
curly girl method friendly
incredible slip
moisturizes curls
defines curls
frizz-free ringlets
great hold
one product wash & go
pairs well with gels for longer hold

This is an outstanding curly girl-friendly curl defining cream! It’s one of the best, affordable curly girl cream I’ve ever used.

Before switching to this product, my go-to curl-defining product was Mixed Chicks’ Leave-in Conditioner, which gave me similar results but it contains silicone and it’s pricey.

In my home country, for some time I always used Cantu’s hair products because they gave me great results at an affordable price. However, the availability of curly girl products was inconsistent and I stopped using this brand years ago.

However, since moving to Canada, I’ve been trying some new drugstore curly girl products and was so happy when I stumbled upon this gem!

How To Use Curly Girl Cantu Curling Cream

This curl cream is pretty think, so for easier application, try adding some water in the palm for your hands with the product before distributing it through your hair.

Remember to always experiment to figure out the right amount of this curl cream to use and whether you can use it as a stand-alone product.

How to style with this curl activator for defined curls:

On damp to wet hair, apply Cantu’s curl cream in sections
Next, style with your preferred curly styling technique – define with your Denman brush or finger coil
Scrunch to encourage curl definition
Apply your favorite gel. This curly girl-defining curl cream gives a nice cast on its own but you can add a curly girl gel at this point, if you want your curls to last the week.
Air Dry
Diffuse

Note: I skip applying a leave in conditioner before applying this curl cream because my 3b curls don’t need the extra moisture when I’m using this product.

How To refresh Your Curls with Cantu’s curl Activator cream:

Spray some water on your hair
Scrunch
If some areas need more product, gently apply a very small amount to the top of your curls. Be careful not to touch and manipulate your curls to avoid frizz.

What Does Cantu Curl Activator Cream Do

1. Defines curls

The slip from this curl cream is amazing and incredibly moisturizing.

My curls were so hydrated and happy when I applied this curl cream – they clumped and defined instantly without much manual defining.

2. Minimizes frizz

The ingredients work very well together to do just this and to provide long lasting results.

Hydration and hold helps keep curls frizz free and this is exactly what this product delivers.

3. Keeps hair lightweight and curls bouncy and soft

Amazingly, even though this cream is thick, it doesn’t weigh down curls at all.

After scrunching out the crunch, my results have always been soft and bouncy curls.

Another huge benefit and one of my favorite things about this product is that it leaves no flakes and no residue.

4. Provides amazing hold so that wash day results last longer

Cantu’s curl cream can easily be used for a one-product wash and go as it provides ample hold.

This means styling your curly hair will be shorter and you’ll still get a good gel cast with just one product.

5. Easy refresh days

To refresh your curls, lightly mist your hair with water and gently scrunch. If your curls are thirsty, just add a little more product before scrunching.

Cantu Curl Activator On 2b 2c Wavy Hair

Cantu’s curl activator cream also works really well on 2b 2c wavy hair.

For wavy hair, you want to ensure that you’re using a small amount as it’s a thick cream and you don’t want to weigh down your waves.

To style your 2b 2c wavy hair, follow the same styling routine outlined above.

You’ll be so happy when your result is moisturized, gorgeous beach waves that last a few days.

Before you go, check out these other curly girl posts:

Curly Girl Approved Curl Cream Takeaway

I think you will agree that this curl activator cream is hard to beat! At the low price point, this curly girl friendly curl defining cream is a definite keeper for me.

I’d love to hear about your experience. Have you tried this Cantu’s curl activator cream? Did it work for your curls? Let me know in the comments below.

Curly Hair Bun – How To Do Curly Messy Bun Updo Hairstyles

Leave a Comment / Curly Girl Routines, Curly Hair / curlybunmom

Curly Hair Bun – How To Do Curly Messy Buns

A curly hair bun or a curly messy bun is the number one go to curly updo hairstyle for many curly girls.

As the name of my website, Curly Bun Mom, suggests, I love to style my hair in a curly bun almost all the time. I’ve been rocking the cute messy curly hair bun for as long as I can remember.

A messy bun is just so fun, versatile and cute style for curly and way hair! So, allow me to break it down for you.

Instead of reinventing the wheel, I’ll leave links to the easiest and best bun tutorials so that you can easily style create your own curly messy bun.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Cute Buns For Curly Hair

Before we get into how to make cute buns for curly hair or wavy hair. Let’s take a look at the various curly bun hairstyles:

Messy curly bun
Top knot curly bun
Low curly Bun
Half up half down curly bun
Long curly bun hairstyles
Short Curly Bun Hairstyles

How To Do A messy bun for curly hair

My absolute favorite hairstyle is the messy bun. It’s so quick and easy!

I think you will agree that curly hair routines and even sometimes refreshes can sometimes be long. This makes the curly messy bun a great updo hairstyle for third or fourth day curls.

So, whether you have unruly curly strands or if you’re super busy and crunched for time, in a hurry, or late, then this is your best bet.

The messy bun is pretty foundational for all of the curly messy hairstyles.

How To Do A Messy Bun With Curly Hair

To style, simply follow these steps to get the cutest bun for your ringlets or waves.

Flip your hair over
Gently pull your defined curls to the crown of your head or any position that you’d like to have your messy bun
Loosely wrap your curls once in a satin scrunchy
Wrap your curls once again but this time don’t pull through the length of your hair. You’re basically creating a loop like when you pineapple long hair to sleep.

And that’s it…seriously. That’s how I style my natural curls in a messy bun every single time.

The result is always a natural-looking, gorgeous, soft, tousled messy bun.

Some things to note when styling your curly hair in a bun:

refresh your curls if necessary
always be gentle when styling your curls
loosely wrap your curls to secure your strands. Do not pull your hair tightly as you will experience breakage and damage your natural curls.
leave out some curls to soften the look and get a more elegant look.

How To Do An Easy Top Knot Bun

Another way to do a very easy messy curly bun is the top knot, especially for long curly hair:

Pull your long curls to the top of your head
Secure your curls in a satin scrunchy
Gently gather your curls and put your long curly hair into a ponytail
Then, loosely secure your ringlets with another scrunchy
Optional lay your edges

The top knot is another super easy hairstyle for curly girls and wavy hair. Check out this tutorial.

How To Do A Low curly bun

Instead of flipping your hair over, for the low curly bun, simply:

Gently gather your curls at the nape of your neck
Loosely wrap a satin scrunchy to secure your curls
Optional – gently pull out loose curls, ringlets or tendrils to frame your face

How To Do Half up half down curly bun

To get the cute messy half up half down bun for wavy or curly hair, follow these steps:

Gently separate your curls in half, gathering half at the crown of your head
Wrap your tendrils at the top and loosely secure with your satin scrunchy
For short hair, you can use one scrunch to secure your bun by not pulling the length of your hair through
For long hair, secure your hair in a ponytail first, then gently wrap the length of your curls around and secure with another scrunchy or hair pins.

How To Do Long curly bun styles

The messy, top knot or low bun are all perfect for long curly or wavy hair.

To put long curly hair in a messy bun may take an extra step or two to secure all the long curls. However, you’re still going to follow the basic steps above.

Check out this great tutorial for long hair messy buns.

How To Do Short Bun Hairstyles For Your Ringlets

Just as with long hair, the messy and low buns are perfect for short curly hair. Just follow the steps above and you’ll be looking gorgeous in no time. This short curly bun tutorial can help you create the perfect messy bun.

Is The Bun Good For Curly Hair?

Do buns ruin curly hair? Not if you style your bun the right way.

The key is not to pull your curls too tightly. If you pull your hair too tightly, you will run the risk. Also, use hair ties like a satin scrunchy so that you don’t damage your hair.

There you have it! Some fantastic, quick and easy updo hairstyles for curly or wavy hair. I hope you have fun trying and love all of these curly buns.

Before you go, check out these other curly girl posts:

Curly Hair Bun – How To Do Curly Messy Bun Updo Hairstyles Read More »

how to define curly hair to get maximum curl definition

How To Define Your Curls – Make Your Curls More Defined & Tighter

Leave a Comment / Curly & Wavy Hair Care, Curly Girl Routines, Curly Hair / curlybunmom

How To Define Your Curls – Make Your Curls More Defined & Tighter

You’ve landed here because you’re looking for tips to make your curls more defined and tighter? Maybe you’re even looking for ways to make your hair curlier.

In this curly hair post, find out how to define your curls in 7 easy steps. Achieving maximum curl definition is a goal for every curly girl I know and if you’re not getting frizz free, defined curls then it’s time to make that dream a reality.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Why Your Curls Are Not Defined & Tighter

Maybe you’ve been trying some curly hair routines and you just aren’t getting your desired results. This is probably leaving you to wonder “why are my curls not defined?”

There are a few reasons your curls are not defined, you don’t know:

your curly hair type
the porosity of your curls
best practices and routine for your curl type
the best products to use for your curly hair
how much product your curls need

How To Make Curls More Defined And Tighter

Try these curly girl tips to get defined, frizz free curls every time!

Cleanse your hair with sulfate free curly girl hair shampoo
Condition and deep condition every week
Use a curl friendly towel or cotton t shirt to dry your curly hair
Style your curly hair wet or damp
Style with curl defining or curl enhancing products
Use curly girl styling techniques that encourage defined curls
Do not touch or manipulate your curls while it’s drying

Cleanse With Sulfate Free Curly Girl Shampoo

Use a shampoo that gently cleanses your hair. Shampoo that is sulfate free will gently cleanse your scalp and clarify your curls from products without damaging or drying out your curls.

This helps with curl definition because your curly hair will be more hydrated which is necessary for defined curls.

For Defined Curls, Condition & Deep Condition Every Week

Condition your curls with a product that is hydrating and provides sufficient slip for detangling.

Regardless of your curly hair type or hair porosity, you should aim to deep condition your curls every week.

Use A Curl Friendly Towel To Dry Curls

After rinsing, gently squeeze out excess water and wrap your curls in a microfiber towel or cotton tshirt. This reduces frizz and breakage which will help with curl definition.

For Curlier Hair, Style Your Hair Damp or Wet

While your hair is still wet or damp, apply curly girl products that are designed to provide curl definition.

While some curly girls get more defined curls by applying curl defining products to damp hair, some get better results by applying to very wet hair – even styling while still in the shower!

Experimenting is the best way to find what will work best to define your curly hair.

I’ve found that I get best results by applying my curl defining products on damp hair for the most part, but my curls near the crown of my head respond better when I apply products when they’re wet.

Style With Curl Defining Products

The curl defining product you use will vary depending on your curly type and health of your hair.

Some curly girls, like me, need to layer products to achieve defined, frizz free curls. While other curl girls can apply one curl defining products to achieve defined curls.

The best tip for getting defined curls is to use products that provide a cast on your hair. Casts are awesome for curl definition and it’s very easy to break the cast so that your end results are soft, frizz free, defined curls.

Again, experimenting is your best option here.

Curly Girl Styling Techniques To Define Your Curls

The styling technique that you use is very important if you want to make your curls more defined and tighter. Let’s briefly talk about them.

Finger coiling
Prayer hands
Denman brush
Scrunching
Plopping
Diffusing

Finger Coil To Make Your Hair Curlier

Finger coiling is my favorite way to train your curls, get more curl definition and make your hair curlier.

To finger coil, with a curl defining product in your hair, take small sections of your hair and twist the section around your finger to encourage your hair to curl and form ringlets.

To encourage volume, try to hold and twist the sections upright.

It takes some time to finger coil all of your hair but the results are worth it!

Over time, you will train your curls to fall into that curl pattern on their own and you may no longer need to do this when styling.

When you’ve finger coiled all of your hair, end with gently scrunching your hair.

Apply products with “Prayer Hands”

Applying hair products with prayer hands is a great way to smooth your curl-defining products in your curls. This helps to minimize frizz and get you more defined curls.

To apply, with product in the palms of your hands gently press and glide your hands over the length of a section of your hair (from top to bottom).

Use the same technique until all of your curls have product.

Style Using A Denman Brush

A curly girl favorite styling technique is using the Denman brush. It ensures the products are distributed evenly and smoothly throughout your hair. It also defines your curls by clumping them together in smaller sections.

Working in sections, after applying your curl defining product, brush each section to smooth the product and achieve curl definition.

To get more volume with your Denman brush, brush your curls away from your scalp.

Scrunch Your Curly Hair

Scrunching has to be the most popular styling technique for any curly girl. I don’t know any curly girl who doesn’t scrunch to style and to scrunch out the crunch. When you scrunch your curls, you encourage them to curl more and become more defined.

Plop your curls

Plopping is also popular with curly girls to get defined curls.

After applying your curly girl products, lay an old cotton t shirt flat on your bed or chair with the neck and sleeves closest to you. Next, flip your hair over so that your curls are upside down.

Gently place your curls and head over the cotton t-shirt. Roll the neck of the t-shirt so that it’s on your forehead.

Then, secure your hair by folding the end of the tshirt to reach your neck and using the sleeves tye it around your head.

Diffuse to get more defined curls

Drying your curly hair with a diffuser is a game-changer when you’re looking for more defined curls. There are many youtube videos to show the best way to diffuse for maximum volume and curl definition.

Don’t Touch Your Defined Curls

If you’re anything like me, you love to play with your curls. I’m obsessed. But it’s a bad habit when you want to maintain your defined curls.

The more your touch your hair, the more your curls will frizz.

This is especially true while your hair is air drying and before the cast is set. It will encourage frizz and your curls may even lose defintion.

Even after you’ve dried your hair, try to touch and manipulate your hair as little as possible to maintain your curly definition.

Curly Girl Products To Make Curls Defined & Tighter

To get defined curls, use curly girl products that are designed to enhance curls.

These products are usually labeled as “curl activating”, curl defining or curl enhancing. They work well by providing slip for curl formation.

They also create a cast on your curls to preserve your frizz free, defined curls longer.

Some key ingredients to look out for in your curly hair products for defined curls are:

Aloe Vera
Flaxseed
Hydrolyzed rice protein
Hydrolyzed wheat protein

To get started, try my favorite curly girl approved drugstore products for definition. You can click on any of these to purchase from Amazon.

Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activating Cream (my new FAVORITE!)
Shea Mouisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Try these curly girl approved gels to set your curls for long lasting defined curls.

For more curly girl approved gels, check here.

So, How To Maximize Curl Definition

I hope you use these tips to make your curls defined, tighter andd get maximum curl definition every time. Bookmark this post so that you can reference it until these curly hair practices become part of your curly hairstyling routine.

Let me know in the comments below if these tips worked and if you have any secrets to getting defined curls. 🙂

Before you go, check out these other curly girl posts:

Curly Hair Quotes To Express Your Love For Curls

Curly Hair / curlybunmom

Curly Hair Quotes For Girls With Curls

Curly hair quotes are a fun way to express the love your have for your curly hair.

At some point in your curly girl journey, I’m sure you’ve been stressed or even made fun of by others. These quotes are to remind you that you’re not alone and to help you to embrace your curls and treat them right.

This is a compilation of curly hair quotes for curly girls to enjoy.

Use these quotes to inspire, increase confidence in your curls, empower you to love your curls, and continue rocking them proudly.

You can also pin the images to pinterest to save them for later or download them to use on your digital devicecurly hair quote – “You Can’t Control Everything. I Was Born With Curly Hair As A Reminder Of That.”

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these quotes and credit is given to the creator.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

33 Curly Hair Quotes For Girls With Curls

Table Of Contents

Happiness is having curly hair.
"I have curly hair. What's your superpower?"
"My curly hair shows who I am. I'm open- minded, careless and sometimes rough, just like my curly hair."
"You are as unique and beautiful as your curly hair."
"My life may not be perfect, but my curls are."
"My curls looked too good to stay in."
"Invest in your curly hair, it's the crown you never take off."
"Big hair. Big dreams."
"The bigger the hair, the harder the stare."
"Curly hair isn't a trend. It's a lifestyle."
"I'm a queen, crowned in my own curls."
"Curly hair. Don't care"
"Curly hair is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get."
"You can't control everything. I was born with curly hair as a reminder of that."
"Tangled hair. Don't care"
"I'll just jump in the shower quickly & leave" – said no curly girl ever!
"Crazy, wild and free, and that's just describing my curly hair"
"Embrace your curly hair"
"Love a girl with curly hair."
"Sorry, I can't hear you over the volume of my curly hair."
"My curls have different plans every day."
"Yes, I have curly hair. No, you can't touch it."
"Life is too short to have boring hair"
"I keep my hair curly and natural because I really wanna show who I am."
"My mood depends on how good my curls look."
"Happiness is a good curly hair day."
"Curly hair is never boring."
"My hair is easy to handle. – said no curly girl ever"
"Yes, I have curly hair. No, I don't wish it was straight."
"My curly hair isn't tangled. My strands just love to cuddle."
"My curly hair is 90% of my selfie."

Happiness is having curly hair.

“I have curly hair. What’s your superpower?”

“My curly hair shows who I am. I’m open- minded, careless and sometimes rough, just like my curly hair.”

“You are as unique and beautiful as your curly hair.”

“My life may not be perfect, but my curls are.”

“My curls looked too good to stay in.”

“Invest in your curly hair, it’s the crown you never take off.”

“Big hair. Big dreams.”

“The bigger the hair, the harder the stare.”

“Curly hair isn’t a trend. It’s a lifestyle.”

“I’m a queen, crowned in my own curls.”

curly hair quote - I'm a queen crown in my own curls

“Curly hair. Don’t care”

“Curly hair is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”

“You can’t control everything. I was born with curly hair as a reminder of that.”

“Tangled hair. Don’t care”

“I’ll just jump in the shower quickly & leave” – said no curly girl ever!

“Crazy, wild and free, and that’s just describing my curly hair”

curly hair quote -crazy wild & free & that's just describing my hair

“Embrace your curly hair”

“Love a girl with curly hair.”

“Sorry, I can’t hear you over the volume of my curly hair.”

“My curls have different plans every day.”

“Yes, I have curly hair. No, you can’t touch it.”

“Life is too short to have boring hair”

“I keep my hair curly and natural because I really wanna show who I am.”

“My mood depends on how good my curls look.”

“Happiness is a good curly hair day.”

“Curly hair is never boring.”

“My hair is easy to handle. – said no curly girl ever”

curly hair quote - my hair is too easy to handle. Said no crly girl ever

“Yes, I have curly hair. No, I don’t wish it was straight.”

“My curly hair isn’t tangled. My strands just love to cuddle.”

“My curly hair is 90% of my selfie.”

You can use these quotes for Instagram captions for curly hair or just as a reminder to give your curly hair the treatment that it deserves and always rock your curls proudly.

Before you go, check out these other curly girl posts:

11 Best Curly Girl Method Approved Gels 2025

Leave a Comment / Curly Hair, Curly Hair Product Recommendations / curlybunmom

11 Best Curly Girl Method Approved Gels 2025

This is a list of the best curly girl method approved gels to include in your 2025 curly girl routine, to ensure that your defined curls last longer that wash day!

Curly girl gels are key to achieving long lasting, frizz free curl definition. And, if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably tried countless products to find the ultimate curly hair gel.

In this post, I’m revealing my top curly girl gel picks, the ones that have truly lived up to their promises and transformed my curly hair game.

So, whether you’re a seasoned curly girl or just beginning your journey, join me as we explore the best gels to help your curls flourish and shine!

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Best Curly Method Approved Gels

Table Of Contents

Twist Weather Up Weightless Curl Defining Gel
Aussie Instant Freeze Gel 20 HR Max Hold
Kinky Curly Original Curling Custard
Camille Rose Curl Maker
Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat And Humidity Gel
Curl Smith Curl Defining Styling Souffle
Bounce Curl Light Creme Hair Gel
Garnier Fructis Curl Treat
Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Styling Gel
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Quinoa Frizz Control Gel
Dippity Do Girls With Curls Gelee

best curly girl method gels for curly girls, wavy hair, curly hair, textured hair, natural hair

Each of these top-rated curly girl gels can be conveniently found on Amazon, ensuring a hassle-free shopping experience. To purchase, simply click on the image of the gel that piques your interest.

Please remember that brands may change ingredients, so it’s always a good idea to double check before your purchase.

Twist Weather Up Weightless Curl Defining Gel

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Buy On: Amazon

As a curly girl, I’m always on a mission to find the best curly girl method approved gel that gives me defined curls without the dreaded sticky or crunchy feeling.

I’ve found EVERYTHING I’ve always wanted in this affordable curly girl approved gel.

This remarkable curly girl gel not only defines my curls but also leaves it hydrated, combats humidity-induced frizz and flyaways, leaving my curls looking flawless and juicy.

Our curls’ unique structure makes them more susceptible to frizz, but with Twist Weather Up Gel, I’ve found the perfect solution to keep my curls looking fabulous with no residue.

For me, this curly girl gel offers unparalleled results and delivers hydrated, soft, touchable hold without any crunchy residue, making it an absolute must-have in my curly hair routine.

Give it a try, and you’ll soon see why it’s become a personal favorite of mine!

You may love this post: Twist By Ouidad : Curly Girl Twist Hair Product Review & Results

Aussie Instant Freeze Gel 20 HR Max Hold

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This curly girl approved gel is one of the best to create a gel cast so that your defined curls last for days.

This affordable curly girl gel promises a 20-hour maximum hold and ensures that everytime I style my curls, I get the desired definition, minus any annoying flakes.

I highly recommend giving Aussie Instant Freeze Hair Gel a try—you won’t be disappointed!

Kinky Curly Original Curling Custard

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Buy On: Amazon | Target

This curly girl gel is a rich, moisturizing gel that leaves my curls hydrated and incredibly defined.

This curly girl method approved gel provides excellent slip and is fantastic for creating a strong cast that helps preserve my wash day results for days.

I’ve been impressed with the definition and hold it offers my curls.

Kinky Curly Custard is protein-free, making it an excellent option for curly girls with protein-sensitive curls.

This gel is a definite must-try for any curly girl seeking hydrated, well-defined, healthy curls.

Ca mille Rose Curl Maker

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This natural curly girl gel is a must try for long lasting, defined curls. It’s lightweight and the slip is amazing.

Enriched with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and aloe leaf juice, the formula defines and holds my curls, ensuring they look fabulous all day long.

Another advantage of this gel is that it works wonders on refresh days. Just a small amount is needed to revive my curls and keep them looking fresh and lively.

If you’re searching for a natural curly girl gel that delivers lasting definition, I highly recommend giving this one a try.

With its lightweight texture, incredible slip, and nourishing ingredients, it’s a curly hair essential that won’t disappoint!

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat And Humidity Gel

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This curly girl approved, strong hold gel clumps curls and provides hold for days. It has a thin consistency, is very lightweight and provides a lot of slip.

This flexible hold gel doesn’t leave my hair crunchy, sticky, or weighed down, but instead delivers frizz-free, perfectly defined curls, regardless of the climate.

The sulfate-free and paraben-free formula not only styles my curls but also nourishes it, resulting in healthy, naturally beautiful curls. I’ve been genuinely impressed by this bestselling styler, which has consistently saved me from hair-raising situations.

This gel offers flexible hold, nourishes your hair, and provides superior frizz protection and I highly recommend giving this curly girl gel a try.

Curl Smith Curl Defining Styling Souffle

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Buy On: Amazon | Ulta

Curl Smith’s protein free gel is a nice medium to strong hold gel that is easily reactivated with water.

This curly girl method approved gel serves as both a moisturizer and a medium hold styling gel that delivers moisture, bouncy hold, and definition to any curl type.

It’s a thick gel so a little goes a long way. To apply, rub the product between your hands so that it’s easy to apply. It forms a nice gel cast for long lasting curls.

Upon application, this curly girl gel creates a slight “cast” on my curls, trapping moisture inside and providing definition.

The formula is free from sulfates, silicones, mineral oils, and phthalates. Moreover, it’s curly girl friendly, 100% vegan, and cruelty-free.

Its unique texture, safe ingredients, and impressive results have made it an indispensable part of my curly hair care and I definitely recommend it to all curly girls.

Bounce Curl Ligh t Creme Hair Gel

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Bounce Curl’s gel has a really nice creamy consistency so it’s easy to apply to your curls.

This curly girl gel doesn’t weigh down my hair, allowing me to create volume while still defining my curls.

The unique blend of gel and a touch of cream leaves my hair feeling weightless while defining and locking in my curl shape for days.

So, if you’re seeking a hair product that offers lightweight hold, curl definition, and volume, I highly recommend giving this curly girl gel a try.

Garnier Fructis Curl Treat

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This curly girl gel is formulated to hydrate, condition, and smooth frizz, leaving my curls nourished and shining.

It’s curly girl method approved as it doesn’t contain any sulfates, silicones, parabens, artificial colorants or mineral oil.

This gel creates a good gel cast so that your defined curls last for days. This curly girl gel is definitely worth a try!

Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Styling Gel

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This curly girl method approved gel is very budget friendly and I was eager to try it!

I was thrilled to find that this curly girl hair gel provides a non-flaking hold with no residue and provided the necessary hold to make my wash day results last for days.

At the incredible price point, this is a definite keeper for my curly hair routine.

Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Quinoa Frizz Control Gel

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Buy On: Amazon | Ulta

Briogeo’s gel is perfect for wavy or curly hair, from textures 2a to 3c.

It’s a lightweight gel that will define your waves and curls without too much crunch or hold.

This curly girl gel offers light to medium hold, resulting in long-lasting, natural-looking definition with excellent movement, shine, and softness.

If you’re in search of a product that provides natural frizz control and enhances your curls’ definition, shine, and softness, I highly recommend the Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Quinoa Frizz Control Gel.

Dippity Do Girls With Curls Gelee

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Girls With Curls‘ gelee is a lightweight, pink gel creates a lovely gel cast that helps my defined waves and curls last longer, ensuring my style stays in place throughout the day.

This curly girl gel provides nice slip for easier application and encourages curls to clump very easily.

This is an affordable curly girl approved gel as it is sulfate, paraben, alcohol and silicone free. It contains protein (hydrolyzed wheat protein) and humectants (sorbitold, propylene glycol and aloe).

If you’re in search of a curl girl approved gel that delivers lasting hold, easy application, and curl clumping, I highly recommend giving Girls With Curls’ gelee a try.

You may also love: My full review of this curly girl gel

Curly Girl Approved Gels

Remember that using the right gel for your hair may take some experimenting.

These curly girl method approved gels are a great place to start and I’m sure that a few on this list will make it to your go to curly girl gel list.

I’d love to hear about your experiences with any of these gels or if you have a favorite curly girl approved gel that I should try and add to this list! Let me know in the comments 🙂

What Does Gel do For curly hair

Gel is essential in your curly girl routine as it locks in moisture and your curl pattern.

Gel is an essential styling product for curly hair, as it plays a crucial role in defining, enhancing, and maintaining the natural shape of curls.

When applied correctly, gel creates a “cast” around each curl, which helps lock in the hair’s natural moisture and protect it from frizz-causing humidity.

By doing so, gel ensures that your curls stay well-defined, bouncy, and frizz-free throughout the day.

Gel also adds a level of hold to your curls, enabling them to maintain their shape without feeling weighed down or crunchy.

This hold is particularly important for those with looser curl patterns, as it helps prevent curls from losing their structure or becoming limp over time.

Should You Use Gel or Mousse For Curly Hair?

If you’re still learning the curly girl method or learning what works best with your curls, you may be wondering, “Should I use a gel or mousse?”

For curly girls, the main difference between a curly girl gel and a mousse is that gels contain ingredients that are incredible for creating a gel cast and so it provides strong hold to keep your curls well defined and frizz free for more days.

curly girl method gel - best gel for curly hair curly girl method approved -

What’s a gel cast and why is it good

A gel cast maintains your curls while protecting them from external elements like, humidity and wind.

Is a term used to describe the protective barrier that forms around each individual curl when a gel is applied to wet or damp hair.

The cast is created as the gel dries, resulting in a slightly crunchy, hardened outer layer that encapsulates and preserves the curl’s shape.

You will know a gel cast is formed when your curls feel hard and crunchy after applying your curly girl gel.

This might sound unappealing at first, but the gel cast actually offers numerous benefits for those with curly hair.

The primary advantage of a gel cast is that it locks in the hair’s natural moisture, preventing frizz and flyaways caused by humidity and environmental factors.

The gel cast also ensures that your curls maintain their defined shape throughout the day and even for days after wash day.

Once your hair is fully dry, simply “scrunch out the crunch” to gently to break the cast, releasing soft, defined, and frizz-free curls.

In essence, a gel cast is a curly girl’s secret weapon, as it guarantees well-defined, bouncy, and resilient curls that stay in place all day long.

So, if you want long lasting, defined curls, it’s important to use a gel with strong enough hold to form a hard cast over your defined curls.

How do you scrunch out the crunch

Of course, you don’t want hard, crunchy curls right? So let’s talk about scrunching out the crunch.

When you scrunch out the crunch, you’re removing the gel cast to reveal, softer, bouncier curls.

The best way I’ve found to scrunch out the crunch is using your favorite finishing oil.

Lubricate your hands with the oil. Then, gently scrunch your dried curls until your curls feel softer. The oil will act as a sealant and and will add shine to your frizz free curls.

The Best Ways To Apply Hair Gel

Your preferred method of applying your curly girl gel will take some experimenting. It will also depend on your circumstances and your desired results.

The best ways to apply Curly Girl gels:

In sections
The Prayer Hands method
Rake & Shake

Sections

For maximum definition, you can divide your curly hair into small sections and apply your gel to each section. You can scrunch each section as you go, or you can scrunch when all sections have been completed.

Applying this much product will increase your drying time, but your curls will be very defined and frizz free.

Prayer Hands

Coat your hands with your preferred gel, press your hands together over your hair and slide downwards until the end of your hair. Repeat until all of your hair is coated with gel. Finish by scrunching

Rake

With this method, with gel coated hands, rake the gel through the length of your curly hair. Then shake your fingers back and forth. Again, finish by scrunching

Before You Go, You Will Love These Other Posts For Curly Hair:

Product recommendations

Product Reviews

Important Information To Care For Curls & Waves

Dyeing Textured Hair At Home Without Damaging It

Wavy & Curly Hair Routines & hairstyles

Fun Curly Hair Quotes

11 Best Curly Girl Method Approved Gels 2025 Read More »

The Curly Girl Method: Easy Steps & Routine For Beginners

Leave a Comment / Curly & Wavy Hair Care, Curly Girl Routines, Curly Hair / curlybunmom

The Curly Girl Method: Easy Steps & Routine For Beginners

The curly girl method is a process of caring for natural hair types (wavy, curly, coily). It involves healthy hair care practices that work well to repair and improve the health of your curls.

In this post, I’m going to share with you:

the curly girl method steps
affordable curly girl method approved products
an easy, no fuss, curly girl hair routine

If you’ve landed here, you already know that this method may be just what your hair needs.

So, bookmark this page to refer to it as often as you need on your curly hair journey.

Please note, however, that this is not a full or detailed overview of the cg method. If you’d like to know everything, you can get the CGM book written by Lorraine Massey.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Table Of Contents

What Is The Curly Girl Method ?
Curly Girl Method Steps: How To Start The CG Method
Curly Girl Method Routine For Curly & Wavy Hair
Curly Girl Method Approved Products
Other Curly Girl Products You Must Try
How Long Does It Take For The Curly Girl Method To Work
Can Anyone Do The Curly Girl Method
- Not sure if you have wavy or curly hair? Try this free curly hair type quiz
Why I Don’t Follow The Curly Girl Method

What Is The Curly Girl Method ?

The curly girl method is a simple, but effective method that aims to prevent damage to the hair shaft and to promote healthy natural curls for those with textured hair.

The method focuses on gentle cleansing, conditioning, and styling your hair with products that contain certain ingredients specifically designed to protect and enhance the health of naturally curly and wavy hair.

When you follow the curly girl method, the main change is probably that you’ll be ditching many products that contain harsh and damaging ingredients with better, curly girl method-approved products.

By following these steps (outlined below), you can prevent your hair from becoming dry and frizzy, and achieve the sleek, bouncy texture that you desire.

For reference, the curly girl method is also referred to as cg method or CGM.

Curly Girl Method Steps: How To Start The CG Method

To start the curly girl method, there are a few steps we first need to take:

Assess the state of your hair
Use only curly girl method approved products
Ditch heat styling tools
Trim stringy ends
Clarify to remove build up
Deep Condition your hair

curly girl method steps, curly girl method routine, curly girl method for beginners

1. Assess Your Hair

The cg method can be used on any hair type but if you’ve been wondering, here’s how to tell if you have naturally curly hair.

It’s also important to find out your curly type, porosity, and overall health of your hair. Knowing your curl type and porosity will ultimately drive your curly hair product choice and styling technique.

Check out this post for more about curly types and hair porosity.

If you’re not sure if your hair is damaged, perform the following simple test:

Run your fingers through your hair. If it feels dry and straw-like, there’s a good chance that it is damaged.

Another telltale sign of damage is when your hair breaks easily or has split ends.

If you have any of these symptoms, it’s time to start a new hair routine that will help to repair and strengthen your hair.

2. Use Only Curly Girl Method Approved Products

Next, it’s time to get rid of your curly hair products that are not CGM approved and replace them with approved products.

When shopping for curly girl method approved products, it’s important to read the ingredient list to make sure the product is free of harsh chemicals mentioned below in this post.

If you’re unsure that the product you want to use is cg approved, just enter it on a site like Curlscan to check.

Be sure to grab a few of the recommended cg products below to get started as well as check out the links below this article for more curly girl approved product options.

3. Ditch Your Heat Styling Tools

When following the CGM, your flat iron and curling iron are useless!

The high heat from hair dryers, curling irons and straighteners can cause significant damage to your curls, leading to frizz, split ends and even hair loss.

Give your hair a break and let it air dry as often as possible to allow it to regain its natural curl pattern.

If you must use heat styling tools, try to keep the temperature on the low or moderate setting and avoid using them every day.

Also, make sure to use a good quality heat protectant spray or serum to help shield your hair from damage.

curly girl method steps, curly girl method routine, curly hair, wavy hair

4. Trim Straight Or Stringy Ends

Depending on the state of your hair, you can opt to get a trim before you jump into following the cg method. This will help you to start with the healthiest hair possible.

Some girls prefer to do a big chop and cut off the damaged length of their hair.

Of course, this will leave you with pretty short hair but the newer growth will be much healthier and curlier than the damaged parts.

This way you also don’t have to go through a transition phase and you don’t have to train your curls.

Instead, you will be following the cg method to ensure that your new growth is healthy and well defined.

5. Clarify Your Hair To Remove Build Up

It’s important to ensure tht you start off your cgm journey with a clean slate by using a clarifying shampoo to remove heavy product build-up.

This leaves your wavy hair or curly hair looking greasy, lymph, frizzy and can lead to scalp issues like dandruff or dryness.

CG approved clarifying shampoos are gentle enough to remove all the build-up without stripping away our natural oils.

Check out these Clarifying Shampoos For Curly & Wavy Hair.

6. Deep Condition

Textured hair is prone to dryness and frizziness, so it’s important to give them a good deep conditioning treatment at least once a week.

After a deep conditioning treatment or mask your curls will get the moisture and protein it needs, resulting in incredibly soft and hydrated waves or curls.

For best resutls, be sure to always leave the product in your hair for the recommended time on the product’s instructions

Try These curly Girl Method approved deep conditioners!

Curly Girl Method Routine For Curly & Wavy Hair

Following the curly girl method, your wash day routine may be a little different than your previous routine.

The goal is to avoid stripping your natural oils and to condition your hair properly.

Here’s what you need to do for your curly girl method routine:

1. Wash & Condition Hair

Start by gently cleansing your scalp with a co wash or sulfate free shampoo. You can also use the scalp brush recommended below to exfoliate.

By using your favorite sulfate free cleansers, you will keep your scalp clean without damaging your curls.

After rinsing, apply your favorite cg approved conditioner and gently detangle.

You can also “squish to condish” which is basically scrunching your curls with the conditioner.

Once a week, deep condition your curls for the healthiest curls. Remember to leave on for the recommended time for best results.

Try these curly girl method sulfate free shampoos.

2. Styling Using The Curly Girl Method

Some people apply their styling products to soaking wet hair before getting out of the shower. Depending on your hair porosity, this may work well for you.

Personally, it has never worked well for me. Others, like myself, get better results by styling their curls damp.

Experiment to see what’s best for your curls.

Whether you style on soaking wet or damp hair, it’s important to evenly distribute your styling products.

You can achieve this by taking a sufficient amount of products into the palm of your hands and gently raking it through your hair or, smoothing it over your hair.

Lastly, gently scrunch your hair for definition.

Take away:

Styling Techniques To Avoid

When following the cg method you also need to avoid certain styling techniques that will damage your curls and cause frizz.

never brush dry curls
terry cotton towels
heat styling tools

Instead, Style Using CG Method Approved Techniques Like:

finger detangle, use detangling brush or wide tooth comb
always style on wet or damp hair
deep conditioning every week
air drying or diffusing with cold air

If you have wavy hair, check out this super easy wash day routine for 2a 2b and 2c hair.

And, check out this quick and easy routine if you have 3a hair or 3b hair.

3. Air Dry Or Diffuse

After styling, you can plop your hair with a tshirt for about 20 minutes.

Then, air dry or diffuse your hair.

Air drying will take longer and typically results in less volume. The cg method does recommend root clipping to give lift and volume. If you’re starting with damaged hair, this is your best option.

For healthier curly hair, and once done right, diffusing your curly hair will leave you with defined, frizz-free, voluminous curls.

If you choose to diffuse, remember that this method recommends that you don’t use any heat. So don’t put your blow dryer settings on high heat, try cold air.

4. Scrunch Out The Crunch

Once your hair is dry, gently scrunch your curls to get rid of the gel cast.

This step will leave you with soft, defined curls.

Read all about scrunching out the crunch here.

Curly Girl Method Approved Products

Some curly girl products may work better than others with your natural hair and the only way to know for sure is to experiment.

I’ve compiled a short list of fantastic cgm approved products to start your journey.

For more curly girl method approved product options, check out this post: 45 Drugstore Approved Products.

To purchase any of these on amazon, click on any of the links below.

Shampoos & Co Wash

Suave Professionals For Natural Hair With Shea Butter & Pure Coconut Oil Shampoo
Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Shampoo
As I Am Coconut Co Wash

Get more options here – Sulfate Free Shampoos

Conditioners

Suave Professionals For Natural Hair With Shea Butter & Pure Coconut Oil Conditioner
Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Conditioner
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Conditioner
Cantu Shea Butter For Natural Hair Hydrating Cream Conditioner
Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Conditioner
Tresemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Conditioner with Coconut Milk & Aloe Vera

Get more options here: CG Approved Conditioners

Deep Conditioners

Shea Moisture Black Jamaican Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

Get more options here- CG Deep conditioners

Leave In Conditioners

Cantu Shea Butter For Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream
Shea Moisture Sugarcane Extract & Meadowfoam Seed Miracle Styler Leave In Treatment
Curl Smith Curl Conditioning Oil Leave In Cream
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave In Conditioner Spray

Get more options here: 11 Leave In Conditioners – cg approved

Curl Creams

Dippity Do Girls with Curls Curl Defining Cream
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Not Your Mother’s Kinky Curly Defining Cream
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Leave In defining cream

Get More Options – 11 Curl Activators That Will Make Your Waves & Curls Pop!

Gels

Aussie Instant Freeze Gel
Dippity Do Girls With Curls Gelee
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Quinoa Frizz Control Gel

Get more options – CG approved Gels

Ingredients To Avoid In Your Curly Girl Method Products

If you want a more comprehensive list of ingredients to avoid in your products, check this list.

One of the most important things you need to do to get started with the CG method is to become aware of the ingredients to avoid and the best products to use.

When you’re following this method, it’s important to avoid harsh ingredients in your hair products.

Harsh ingredients can strip your hair of its natural oils and moisture, leading to dry and damaged hair.

Some common harsh ingredients to avoid include sulfates, silicones, drying alcohols and mineral oils.

harsh sulfates – like Sodium Laureth Sulphate
drying alcohols – for example ethanol or propyl alcohol
non water soluble silicones – like dimethicone

Sulfates are harsh cleansers that strips the natural oils and moisture from your hair. They can leave your hair feeling “squeeky clean” and dry. Instead try any of the sulfate free shampoos below.

Drying alcohols can be found in gels and mousses and will damage your curly hair by causing it to be extra dry, frizzy and of course, brittle.

Silicones are found in conditioners and styling products and don’t damage your hair as the other ingredients do.

However, they can build up over time causing your hair to be frizzy and dry, leading to damage and breakage.

The CG method argues that you need a shampoo with sulfate to clarify your hair after using silicones.

There’s been a bit of discussion on whether all types of silicones require sulfate to wash it out or not – I think it’s best to experiment to see what’s best for your curly hair.

If your hair is damaged and you’re now starting out, it’s probably a great idea to stay away from the recommended ingredients until you’re hair is repaired and healthy.

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Other Curly Girl Products You Must Try

To ensure that you’re equipped to give your curly hair the best care, pick up these products as well:

How Long Does It Take For The Curly Girl Method To Work

The length of time it takes for the curly girl method to work depends on the health of your hair when you start. However, most see results within six weeks.

If you’ve been using damaging products and heat styling for a very long time, it may take you longer than someone who had not been.

If you decide to try the CG method, it’s important to note that in the beginning, it’s very possible that your hair will look worse before it gets better.

The reason is that you’ll be trading in products with silicones and other ingredients that coat your hair with products that temporarily make your hair look good, with clean ingredients.

So, stick with it and take progress photos so that you can see the improvements as you go along.

Can Anyone Do The Curly Girl Method

Anyone with a textured hair type will benefit from following the curly girl method.

By giving up on damaging hair products and practices, girls with wavy hair and curly hair can see a remarkable improvement in the health and definition of their hair.

Not sure if you have wavy or curly hair? Try this free curly hair type quiz

Why I Don’t Follow The Curly Girl Method

Personally, I don’t follow the CG method precisely.

There are great habits to adopt but some aspects are a little too strict for me to stick with it.

I’ve therefore used the CGM as a recommendation or set of guidelines to learn how to take care of my curly hair better.

For instance, sometimes I use products with silicones and I use my Denman brush to style.

If you’re interested, check out my curly hair routine.

The good thing is that over time I’ve found the best products and practices for my curly hair that leaves me with healthy, defined curls, which is always the desired result.

My best advice to you is to experiment and find the best products and routines for your curly hair care and journey.

What about you? Will you try the curly girl method? If you’ve tried it, I’d love to hear your thoughts below.

Before You Go, You Will Love These Other Posts For Curly Hair:

Product Recommendations

Product Reviews

Important Information To Care For Curls & Waves

Dyeing Textured Hair At Home Without Damaging It

Wavy & Curly Hair Routines & Hairstyles

The Curly Girl Method: Easy Steps & Routine For Beginners Read More »

curly dyed hair - dyed curly hair no damage

How To Dye Curly Hair At Home Without Damaging It – Easy Steps & Tips

Leave a Comment / Curly & Wavy Hair Care, Curly Hair / curlybunmom

How To Dye Curly Hair At Home Without Damaging It – Easy Steps & Tips

If you’re like me, then you love changing up your hair color every now and then. But learning how to dye curly hair at home without ruining my curl pattern always seemed like a daunting task – I used to think that it was impossible to dye my curls without damaging them – until I found these tips!

After doing some research and trying out a few different methods, I learned how to dye curly hair at home without any damage! In this article, I’ll share with you my tips, advice, and tricks for dyeing curly hair at home and how to take care of it after you’ve colored it.

If you’d like to get answers to some other top questions before dyeing your curly hair, check this post.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional hairstylist and these are all tips and opinions are based on my personal experience as a curly girl.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

Table Of Contents

7 Steps To Dye Curly Hair At Home
Items Curly Girls Need to Color or Highlight at home:
How to Dye Curly hair Safely At Home
What To Do After Coloring Curly Hair
Last thoughts about Dyeing curly hair

dyed curly hair - How To Dye Curly Hair At Home Without Damaging It

7 Steps To Dye Curly Hair At Home

Use color protectant to prep curls
Separate hair into sections
Use petroleum jelly on hairline
Apply temporary, semi or demi permanent hair dye
Follow the product’s directions for time
Rinse thoroughly and deep condition
Take care of your colored curly hair

The key to having beautiful, healthy-looking colored locks is all in the technique and after care. It doesn’t matter if you want sun kissed hair, highlights or blonde hair.

The key is using products tailored especially towards those who have waves, curls and coils in their tresses so no matter which route you go down this will be an easy process as long as you follow best practices.

Start by understanding which type of dye works best based on texture and do a strand test to rule out any allergic reactions before moving onto the seven steps above.

Items Curly Girls Need to Color or Highlight at home:

things you need to dye curly hair at home

Here are the tools you need to get started with coloring your hair. You’ll want your preferred hair dye, a couple of different bowls and squirt bottles, as well as gloves for protection against stains!

You’ll also want some hair clips, tail comb, detangling hair brush, dye brushes, bowls, squirt bottles, towels and foil.

How to Dye Curly hair Safely At Home

1. How To prepare Curly Hair For Dying

Use a color protectant product before applying dye
After the recommended time, rinse out
Cleanse your curls
Air dry before applying color

Cleansing your hair is extremely important as you want to ensure you apply your highlights to clean hair. This gives the product the best opportunity to dye your hair properly.

Some say to apply the product to unwashed hair but the feedback I’ve gotten from most curly girls is that they get more vibrant results from applying on washed hair.

If you’re dyeing the roots of your hair – apply some leave-in conditioner to the ends of your curls where you won’t be applying any hair color.

2. Section curly hair for application

After air drying, move on to sectioning your curls to apply the hair color.

Sectioning your curls or waves before applying your hair color depends on what you’re doing:Dyeing all of your hair – separate and loosely braid them without any product so that they stay tangle-free as your hair dries.

Then separate your hair into four sections and secure each section with a clamp.

3. Apply petroleum jelly to hairline

Next, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly on your hairline to protect it from the hair dye.

Once you’re finished with the dye application, you can wipe away the petroleum jelly along with any residual product.

4. Apply your dye of choice

The safest dyes to use for curls are temporary, semi or demi-permanent.

These dyes can be used for the perfect pop of color. They work well on most hair types and won’t damage or strip away natural oils like harsh chemicals might do – this means they’re good options when trying out new shades.

Regardless of the product you choose, it’s a really good idea to do a strand test before you begin. This will ensure that it works well on your hair and that you like the shade that you’ve chosen.

Now, let’s take a brief look at the different ways you can dye your curls.

How to Dye your Light or Dark hair with out hair dye?

Use temporary color like, Make up for hair. If you’d like to have a very temporary color change, try Curl Smith’s hair makeup for hair line. This is an awesome line to temporarily dye hair – it’s makeup for hair.

The color will only last until your next wash day, so it’s a fun, damage free way to add a little color for a short time. Temporary color will sit on your strands and wash out the next time you wash your hair.

The great news is that it isn’t damaging to your curls at all.

There are 5 Curlsmith Hair Make Up colors to choose from:

Ruby | Buy on Amazon
Copper | Buy on Amazon
Rose Gold | Buy on Amazon
Gold | Buy on Amazon
Turquoise | Buy on Amazon

The coolest part is that these colors are also gels. This means that you can get a long-lasting wash day result, with color!

To apply Curl Smith’s Hair Make up:

Wash and style your as usual.
Then, section your hair and apply the gel with the praying hands’ technique.
Rub the product in the palm of your hands.
If it’s too thick, add a little water in your hand to make it easier to apply. This product can be quick-drying, so move quickly.
Place your palms over a section of your hair and glide from top to bottom over your curls.
After you’ve completed all sections, scrunch and leave to air dry or diffuse.

Semi Permanent Dye

The semi-permanent color wash out eventually, usually after 4 – 6 weeks but you can keep your curl pattern with little to no damage. These product sit on the cuticle of your strands, lessening exposure to anything that may cause damage. There are no harsh chemicals like ammonia and peroxide in this product which makes it safe for preserving natural hair textures. That means your curl pattern won’t change.

It also fades away naturally over time so you don’t need to retouch if you don’t want to.

It’s also very easy to apply and inexpensive.

Demi Permanent Dye

Demi permanent color sits on the cuticle of your strands as well as a small amount gets into the hair’s cortex. Similar to semi-permanent, demi-permanent products are ammonia-free which will help to reduce damage to your hair.

It is a good option for a subtle change to a darker shade as it deposits only. So, it’s not ideal to lighten your hair.

These dyes work well for curly girls who want to darken up their look and are perfect for those with grey hair.

How to Dye all of your curly hair:

Separate and secure your hair into four sections
With your gloves on, start applying the color into each section
Massage the hair dye into your curls in the section
When you’ve saturated one section with the product, secure it in a bun
Work your way around until you’ve applied the dye to all of your hair

How to Get Curly Hair Highlights At Home:

Cut pieces of foil to your desired width for your highlights
Separate your hair into four or five sections using your tail comb and hair clips
Ensure that your sections are within the width of your foil pieces
Use a tail comb to create very thin sections
Apply the highlighting product to your hair with a brush
Wrap the saturated section in foil

Pintura Curly Highlights At Home

Pintura is the Spanish word for “painting” so the technique is similar to painting color on specific curls.

These highlights don’t involve the use of foil and application is pretty easy, especially if you have some help.

Check out this fantastic video about pintura highlights.

How To Color Your Roots At Home

Section & secure you hair
Use a tail comb to make smaller sections in each section
Apply the dye to the roots only – of each small section

Dyeing Your Curly Hair From Brown To Blonde

If you’re going blonde the most important thing to do is to take your time!

Don’t lighten your hair in one session.

This is especially true if you’re going from dark to blonde. This will help your strands to stay healthy and will result in less damage.

Most curly girls prefer to let a professional do the transition to blonde.

6. Rinse out the dye, deep Condition & style as usual

Once you’ve waited the recommended time:

wash out the dye thoroughly.
Use shampoos on scalp and hair, cleansing gently.
Let water run over your head until the water runs clear.
Use your favorite conditioner and mask to treat your freshly colored hair.
Style using your preferred curly girl routine and enjoy your new look!

What To Do After Coloring Curly Hair

After coloring, to keep hair healthy the most important thing to do is take care of your hair. Here are some tips.

How To Take care of curls & Keep Hair Healthy After Dyeing It:

Use products that are hydrating and strengthening, like Olaplex No 3.
Be as gentle as you can with your scalp & hair and do a treatment as soon as possible.
Try not to shampoo for at least 5 days after coloring
Use sulfate-free shampoos that help to protect and preserve your color.
Condition and Deep condition once a week
Use a protein mask to strengthen every month
Follow a moisture-rich curly girl routine

It’s very important that you don’t skip using deep conditioners and leave-in conditioners on wash days!

Tip: If you dyed your curly hair blonde, use a purple shampoo. This helps to preserve the blonde color.

how to take care of curly hair after coloring it

Last thoughts about Dyeing curly hair

So, if you’ve been wanting to change up your look by dyeing your hair a different color or shade, but have been hesitant because you think it might be too hard or cause damage, we hope this article has put your mind at ease.

Changing your hair color doesn’t have to be scary – in fact, it can be a lot of fun!

And as long as you follow the tips in this article and take care of your curls after the fact with a good routine, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy beautiful curls with vibrant new hues.

Remember, if you’re not up for trying this at home, schedule an appointment with a professional who specializes and has a lot of experience doing it. At your appointment be clear about what you’d like your results to be and ensure that you get some recommendations for aftercare and products.

Have fun experimenting with different colors and shades – just make sure you keep these tips in mind for the health of your curls!

Have you ever dyed your curly hair at home? If so, what advice would you give someone just starting out?

Before You Go, You Will Love These Other Posts For Curly Hair:

Product recommendations

Product Reviews

Important Information To Care For Curls & Waves

Dyeing Textured Hair At Home Without Damaging It

Wavy & Curly Hair Routines & hairstyles

Fun Curly Hair Quotes

How To Dye Curly Hair At Home Without Damaging It – Easy Steps & Tips Read More »

Curly Hair

Signs Of Curly Hair Moisture Overload, Hygral Fatigue + How To Fix It

What Is Moisture Overload & What Does It Look Like

To tell if you’re experiencing over hydration, look for these signs or symptoms of moisture overload and hygral fatigue:

What Causes Moisture Overload

Moisture overload can be caused by:

What is Hygral Fatigue

Moisture overload actually leads to hygral fatigue.

How To Fix Moisture Overload

Steps to fix moisture overload:

1. Wash Hair With Pre Poo Treatment

2. Add Curly Products With Protein

How to tell if a curly girl product has protein is to look for some keywords like:

Popular and easy to spot protein ingredients in curly girl products:

Use Less Moisture rich Curly Girl Products

Moisturizing ingredients in curly hair products:

3. Stop Wetting Hair Too Much

Follow A Balanced Protein-Moisture Curly Girl Routine

Curly Girl Method Protein Products

Moisture Overload vs Protein Overload

Before you go, check out these other curly girl posts:

You May Also Like

How To Refresh Curls In The Morning

How To Refresh Curls Throughout The Week

Curly Girl Refresh Routine

Dampen your curls with water

Apply Curly Girl Products

Define your curls

Scrunch

Dry your refreshed curls

Finish with serum or oil

How To Refresh Curls In The Morning Without Water

How To Refresh Wavy Hair In The Morning

To refresh your wavy hair:

How To Refresh Curls After A Workout

Refresh Day Curly Hair Products

Day 2 Products for second day curls

Day 3 refresh products

Day 4, 5 and 6 curly girl refresh products

Leave-in conditioners for refreshing curly hair

Refresh day Curl Creams

Curl Girl Gels For Refresh Days

Curly Girl Mousse Stylers

Dry Shampoos for after workout and refresh days

Curly Refresh Days Recap

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What Is Wet Frizz, Webbing Curly Hair – Causes & How To Fix It

What is Wet Frizz

Is Wet Frizz Normal?

What Is Halo Frizz

What Is Hair Webbing

What Causes Wet Frizz

Causes Of wet frizz:

How Do You Get Rid Of Wet Frizz

Tips to help get rid of wet frizz, Curly Hair:

Cleanse with a gentle, sulphate free shampoo

My current favorite sulfate free shampoo To Fight Wet Frizz is the Twist On Repeat Gentle Oil Infused Shampoo.

Clarify your hair to remove product buildup

My current favorite sulfate free shampoo To Fight Wet Frizz is the Twist Hit Reset Light Clarifying Shampoo.

Deep condition every week

Choose the right deep conditioner

Use Cotton Tshirt or Microfiber Towel

Apply Styling Products On Wet Or Damp Hair

Use A styling brush to define curls

Plop hair before drying

Diffuse your hair on low heat

Try the curly girl method

Try different products

Best Curly Girl Products For Wet Frizz

Olaplex Number 0 and Number 3

Low Poo Shampoo (sulphate free shampoo) :

Curly Girl Conditioners

Curly Girl Friendly Deep Conditioners For Frizz

Leave in Conditioner

Curly Girl Method Approved Curl Cream

CG Approved Gel

Sealing Oils

Wet Frizz On Curly Hair Wrap Up

Before you go, check out these other curly girl posts: