Key Takeaways
- 1Soaking wet hair and small sections give you the best curl definition.
- 2Layering cream plus gel creates long lasting curls without stiff, crunchy hair.
- 3Flipping the crown in different directions helps break that stubborn middle part.
- 4Taking time with your curls can feel like self care instead of a chore.
- 5You do not need perfect products to start, you just need patience and intention.
If you are tired of your curls doing whatever they want except what you want, hi, welcome, pull up a spray bottle. In this routine I am showing you exactly how I have been getting my curls extra defined at the bottom, fluffy at the top, and finally free from that permanent middle part life.
This is not some perfect, ten-step, never-gets-messy routine. This is the real version. The “bathroom looks like a hairy crime scene, camera battery dying, thinking about my man in the middle of styling” version. The results speak for themselves though, so let us talk through what actually matters.
Step One: Shower Prep Without Doing The Most
I did not film the shower part, because the last time I tried that I regretted it immediately. Here is what I keep it to:
- Rinse really well
- Shampoo the scalp
- Rinse
- Load up on conditioner
- Detangle with lots of slip
- Leave some conditioner in
Nothing fancy. I am not doing ten masks at once or anything. I love a good curly product, but the main thing is that my hair feels soft and slippery before I even step out of the shower. I would rather have “too much” conditioner in my curls than not enough.
I used to do my whole routine in the shower. Now I step out, eat, breathe, then come back to my hair once I am not rushed. Yes, it adds time. The payoff shows up later when the curls dry.
Step Two: Your Hair Is Probably Not Wet Enough
By the time I sit in front of the camera, my hair at the top is already trying to dry in that towel. Cute for frizz, not cute for definition. So the first real step is to re-soak each section.
I always:
- Section from the bottom up
- Clip away the rest
- Soak that section until it feels heavy
Here is the secret a lot of people skip. If you think your hair is wet enough, it probably is not. The water should be dripping. The strands need time to absorb it. My hair takes a minute to accept moisture, so I spray, smooth it in, and then spray again.
If your curls keep drying stringy or dull, start by asking yourself, “Did I actually get this section soaking or did I rush it?” Be honest.
Step Three: Products That Give Slip And Hold
For creams and leave-ins, here is what I reach for:
- Miss Jessie's Multicultural Curls cream
- As I Am Leave-In
- Garnier Fructis leave-in on some sections
I rake the cream through the soaking wet section until everything feels coated and smooth. No dry pieces hiding in the back. That is when the brush really does its thing.
For hold, I layer:
- Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls for a light jelly feel
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk gel for that soft cast
I used to be scared of any cast. Now I lean into it. A light cast keeps the curls shaped longer. Once it dries, I scrunch it out and my hair feels soft again.
Step Four: The Bounce Curl Brush Technique
This brush is the star of the show. Think of it as the upgraded cousin of the classic brush that every curly girl has seen at the store.
Here is how I use it:
- Brush through the section to distribute water and product
- Take smaller pieces from that section
- Brush from roots to ends, then curve and let the curl bounce back
- Gently release and let that clump fall where it wants
The key is small pieces. When I rush and grab huge chunks, the curls look confused later. When I slow down and work in thinner sections, the clumps form prettier spirals.
If the brush is out of your budget right now, you can still use this technique with a regular detangling brush. It may not hit exactly the same, yet the motion helps train your curls to group and spring up.
Step Five: Middle Part Rehab And Crown Work
This part changed my life. My curls were stuck in middle part jail. Every time my hair dried, it wanted to split down the center no matter what.
To fix that, I:
- Create a large “U” section at the crown
- Take very thin horizontal sections
- Apply product to that entire top section
- Brush each thin piece forward, up, or on a slight diagonal
- Flip it in different directions instead of straight back
The goal is not perfection. The goal is confusion. You want your roots slightly confused about which way they “should” fall, so they stop snapping back into the same line.
Once everything is defined, I flip my head forward, add gel, scrunch gently, and shake out the roots with my fingers. That gives me movement instead of helmet hair.
When the curls dry, I can flip from one side to the other and my hair still looks natural. No harsh line that will not budge.
Step Six: Smelling Good From Scalp To Gym Bag
My hair is big and it holds scent. If I worked out yesterday, my curls might be clean but not exactly giving perfume commercial. That is where the hair perfume from Kit comes in.
The reason I like it:
- It deodorizes instead of just covering odor
- It works on hair and body
- The scents feel light and pretty, not overpowering
Warm Sugar feels like a hug. Amber Shores feels like a vacation. One lives in my gym bag, one in my car, one near my vanity. Little “I care about myself” touch.
Step Seven: Life Talk While The Curls Set
If you watched the video, you already know I start rambling about life in the middle of doing my hair. That is very on brand for me.
Some things I am leaning into right now:
- Experimenting with more focused videos, not only vlogs
- Letting myself try new content styles without overthinking
- Learning how to enjoy my hair instead of rushing through it
I even share the story of almost ruining a surprise trip for my man through a Snapchat mirror selfie. Classic overthinker move. The reason I mention it here is simple. Your curls and your life both require you to release control a little.
You can prep, plan, and still have small chaos moments. The goal is not a perfect plan. The goal is feeling proud of how you show up anyway.
Falling In Love With Your Curls Again
Recently I have stepped into a new level of respect for my curls. For a long time I did the bare minimum. Throw in some product, hope for the best, complain later.
Now I treat my hair like part of my outfit and part of my identity. I want to:
- Learn how to braid it
- Try more styles
- Understand what my texture likes and hates
- Give it time and attention instead of rushing
If you have curls and you are reading this, consider this your little nudge. Pick one new technique to try. Maybe it is soaking your hair more. Maybe it is learning a new protective style. Maybe it is finally grabbing a brush that works with your pattern.
You do not need the exact same products that I use. You just need patience, water, slip, a decent brush, and a bit of curiosity. Day one hair might feel flatter from the weight of the product. Day two and three are where the volume comes in and the real magic shows.
Come on curls. You better bounce.
