Question for Girls Who Have Curls

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

I recently cut my long hair to about shoulder length. I have some natural curl/ wave when My hair is wet, and it is more noticeable now after cutting off all the weight of the long hair. Most of the time I will just let my hair be natural with the curl when home... I probably will use my beachwaver etc if I go out sometimes too....

After washing, How do you dry your hair to retain the curl?.... with a diffuser? I tried using my diffuser and it seemed cumberson.. I guess I am not use to using a diffuser. Or do you let your hair just dry naturally?

What is your favororite product to add to your damp hair to set the curl without having crunchy curls?

Thanks for your suggestions.

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

@SeaMaiden - I also have wavy/curly hair that is just a little below shoulder length. I don't have super curly hair. Most of the time, especially in summer, I just let it dry naturally. I use WEN products. After cleansing I use a little styling cream and comb it through. If I want more curls I use mousse and scrunch.

I've never used a diffuser. If I want to have a straighter look, I use a brush/dryer. I really don't spend much time on my hair! In the past I have used the product you spray in to get beach waves, but I haven't used that for a while.

Congratulations on your new hair style! Enjoy playing!

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

@SeaMaiden my hair is above my shoulders and permed. I minimize my hair dryer time by allowing it to air-dry as much as possibly, just finishing up with a diffuser. Out of the shower I apply a leave-in conditioner that I comb thorough and then an anti-frizz spray (looking for a replacement since it's been discontinued). I just started using Tweak'd Hdrate Limitless Supercreme Styler. For me, it works best on wet, but not dripping hair vs hair that is starting to dry. Fine hair starts drying fairly quickly on the ends, so I might have to spritz some water in. I use one pump then flip my head over and scrunch in a second pump. Then, I let it air dry for whatever time I have available. It seems the roots take forever, so I finish up with a diffuser, plus the diffuser helps add volume.

For a diffuser, I like a big bowl with "fingers" that stick out of the bowl and have holes in the tips to let the air through. I push those fingers up against my scalp and push upwards. This dries the roots and pushing up helps to add volume without really disturbing the curl. I don't necessarily use the diffuser on the length. I concentrate on my roots.

My favoriet diffuser is sold on Amazon and it's called Xtavia Black Orchid. It gets rave reviews on the Facebook Curly Hair groups too. However, you might also have to get a new dryer to fit it. It's not a universal fit. I have a Hot Tools dryer that fits it if I remove the 2 rings inside the diffuser that are meant to customize the fit.

I get no crunch this way. I also got no crunch when using my previous styling products Curls Creme Brulee cream followed by Curls Curl Goddess Gel.

x Hedge · ‎08-18-2016

@SeaMaiden

If you need some height on top use the diffuser while bent forward at the waist/hair hanging over forward as it dries. Can give some lift, like backcombing does for straighter hair.

Another method for giving lift it to dry with clips set on their edge at scalp level.

I've seen pic of your hair and suggest you read about "plopping" your hair. Also see YouTube vids on how to plop.

Here's why you'd want to plop:

Hair from the scalp outward trends to be pulled straighter (by the weight) while the ends and bottom half is curlier.

Plopping encourages the hair closer to the scalp to be more curly.

Plop, plus using the diffuser upside down, plus product that helps your curls defy gravity can give a more uniform scalp-to-ends curl.

I'm a WEN girl but I use a gel for my curls. Gel has a bad reputation because people stop halfway, leaving a head full of crunchy thin curls. They don't do the other half of the gel cast process.

While you're reading and watching about plopping, look up how to get a good gel cast, and "scrunch out the crunch" (SOTC) when gel is dry.

You air or diffuse dry the curl in gel to get a gel cast. That's like setting it. But you finish with scrunch out the crunch after it's completely dry. The curls remain, but they're soft, not crunchy at all. No trace of the gel cast remains, just the curl.

I think you'll really like

www. hairromance .com

turtle52 · ‎03-15-2010

I have worn my hair curly my entire adult life and I am 69. I use the most amazing diffuser ever. It is called the Bed Head Curls in Check diffuser dryer. PLEASE check it out on line. It is not cumbersome and is easy to use. There is nothing like it. I have multiples in case the product is discontinued.

Witchy Woman · ‎03-15-2010

@turtle52

$34.97 at Walmart. I'm getting one.

It is model #1875, but the discription is not Bed Head Curls in Check. However, I checked elsewhere and it is the same one.

decaf · ‎05-13-2021

@SeaMaidenI have just to shoulder length,wavy, dyed light brown hair. I probably use a heated tool once or twice per year.

I let my hair dry naturally. I do wrap my bath towel around my hair for just a few minutes to absorb a lot of water.. Then I bend over, comb my fingers thru my hair and wrap my hair in a microfiber Turbie Twist turban for 10 or15 minutes. It has to be microfiber to reduce any frizz.

I no longer using leave-in products with silicones. They make your hair feel great at first, the more you use them the drier and frizzier your hair gets. I am using Giovanni

Direct Weightless Moisture Leave In Conditioner. It's about $8.

This product gives body, encourages curl, stops frizz. It actually conditons too. I bend over, apply a nickel to quarter size amount raking it through my hair starting from the back.. That's it, sometimes I comb it through with a very wide tooth shower comb. Usually not.

I live in Florida, land of humidity and frizz. This is the best my hair has looked here in 30 years. My hair and scalp is very healthy now.. I also get a lot of compliments on it now.