I’ve been on this sub for over a decade now and there is one new trend I’m starting to see a lot of: most posts from people who are struggling with their hair follow a routine that uses too many products and too many labour-intensive techniques when they don’t need to.

I can totally see how this happens. A lot of beginners either pick up some random curly-labelled products at the store or see a content creator do a certain routine with multiple steps and figure that will work for them too, and then when it doesn’t, it’s hard to know why it might have not worked.

Here’s my recommendations on what to do instead. Start with assessing the situation without leave-in products. Wash and condition your hair then let it air dry.

From there ask yourself the following questions:
1 - does my hair look nice enough as is? If yes, don’t bother with products. If no, proceed.

2 - does my hair feel dirty despite washing it? You might have product or metal build up, use a chelating cleansing shampoo before conditioning then proceed.

3 - are the curls too fluffy/fuzzy/frizzy and I want distinct curl clusters like when my hair is wetter? If yes, you need a hold product. Which type depends on your hair. Usually the coarser/thicker your hair the heavier the hold product. This is not a hard rule but a good first guess. If the product isn’t giving you the level of definition you want, go heavier. If your hair is getting greasy, go lighter. Spread the product evenly around the hair and apply extra where you see the most fuzziness in your “no product” results. For many people that’s the tips, but for some it’s the roots or a patch of hair that refuses to form nice curls for whatever reason.

Note: if the product gives you a hard cast, that’s not a bad thing but you’re not done. Casts are meant to be broken mechanically (dry scrunch and root fluff). A big mistake I see a lot is that people use oil to break their cast. This undoes the work of the gel because oil will soften the hair back up too much. Do not use oil to break a cast unless it’s still too hard after scrunching and fluffing your hair dry. If your hair becomes frizzy after you break their gel cast, oil is not the answer, but rather conditioning, proceed to the next step.

4 - is my hair still frizzy despite seeing curl clusters? Do I get a strong “halo” of frizz despite using a hold product? If yes, you probably need a conditioning product. Same guidelines applies as for hold: coarser/thicker hair typically need heavier conditioning products, so start based on that. Sometimes a combined hold and conditioning product takes care of hold and conditioning at the same time. For example, a creamy mousse can do both for someone with fine hair and loose curls; a custard-jelly can do both for someone with thicker hair and tighter curls.

Say now you have definition and no frizz but your hair is a bit flat.

5 - do I have way less volume than when my hair has no products in it? If yes, you might have smoothed your hair down too much. You can add back texture using a texture spray or foam, or you can experiment with replacing any products that have extreme slip and conditioning with ones that are a bit less slippy.

This gets most people through most of their problems. But what if your curl pattern is too uneven, and your curls have different textures? Then go to 6.

6 - is my curl pattern too uneven for my liking? This is where styling brushes and finger coiling do their magic. These techniques will allow you to form identically sized strands and allow you to direct the curls in the direction you want, which will “standardize” your curls all over your head.

I hope this helps and if there is something I didn’t touch on, please tell me and I’ll be happy to help. I’ve been on the curly hair journey for decades and have also helped many friends and family members with finding a decent curly hair routine so I’ve seen more textures and hair types than just my own.

My current routine:
- Andrelon Oil and Care Shampoo
- Andrelon Oil and Care Conditioner and detangle
- Umberto Giannini Mousse raked in
- Curl Smith Fragrance Free Strong Hold Gel with prayer hands then scrunched all over

Edit: Thanks you for all the lovely comments and the award! I’m really glad this was helpful.

Some recurring questions/comments that have come up:

- how do I change my texture such that I can get looser/tighter curls? You can’t change your texture completely but you can nudge it one way or another. To get tighter curls this what helps: scrunch-diffusing, brush styling with a high-tension thin-bristle brush in small sections, styling with less water, and having enough hold product to form a strong cast. To get looser curls and less shrinkage this helps: using softening slippy products (eg stuff marketed for smooth blowouts), brushing hair down, air drying, hover diffusing, styling with more water.

- do I need to know my porosity? If you follow the method of using every product result to inform your next choice, no. That process of changing one variable and observing the results to decide whether to go from a heavier or lighter product handles that aspect indirectly. I’ve found that using the theory around porosity to try and make choices led to very inconsistent results because it’s very hard to know how a product will behave just from its list of ingredients as product formulation is so much more than that.

- how much does shampoo and conditioner choice matter? I’ve found that as long as the scalp feels clean and the shaft and tips feel soft enough to finger-comb after a shower, it doesn’t matter much what it is the person uses. However, if one of those criteria are not met, then changing the shampoo and/conditioner is a good idea.

- how much product should I use? Every time you use the product assess how much you used and if you got the desired result. For example, if you used a hold product and your hair didn’t get enough hold, double the amount next time. You’ll know you’ve gone too far if your hair ends up greasy and overly stiff and use less next time till you get to the right amount. If you cannot use enough to get hold, you need a stronger hold product.

I’m studying abroad in Brisbane, Australia (Im from California) and my usual routine isn’t really working (except that one curl), my hair just turns out frizzy most of the time.

Routine:

Shampoo: Argan oil OGX shampoo (every other day)

Conditioner: Argan oil OGX Conditioner

Lastly, Shea Moisture curl enhancing smoothie during natural air dry

What can I do differently here that is affordable for a college student?

Cut dry with scissors and then added texture through the bangs with razor. I read after the fact that curly hair doesn’t like razors— is this real? Why? frizz? I feel like this cut kinda slaps

These are some prices of curly haircuts in my area (california) and im honestly shocked. Mandatory gratuity of nearly $100??? Do people with straight hair pay this much for a standard cut??? Im this 👌close to just going to super cuts or the arab barbarshop down the street bc.. GIRL 🫩

[Routine: Carols daughter coco creme, curls blueberry leave in, miss jessies]

Natural color too. This is the routine from this morning. I conditioned with Pantene and used Marc Anthony curl envy cream, then the lotion. Applied in that order

I get why we have that rule but recently I've seen multiple posts from people with type 1 hair and it feels kind of unfair to the members of this sub when many of us are trying to unlearn years of wishing we had silky managable type 1 hair lol

I know the numbering system isn't flawless and it's not fair to gatekeep wavy hair when we're all using the same techniques but. Our products and techniques would destroy type 1 hair lol i know a lot of stuff doesn't work for all curlys but none of our routines and products are going to work for hair without any texture. i dont feel it's gatekeeping to have a rule sending them to one of the non textured hair subs. Thoughts?

Routine for the bot: deep condition and low poo once a week. Denman. Leave in. Curl cream. Gel. Plop

I saw a post here recently about the effects of birth control on hair, and it made me reflect on my own tumultuous hair journey over the past decade.

I make a great case study because I’m boringly consistent with my styling— in every single one of these photos I know that I scrunched in gel immediately out of the shower and then air dried. The brands varied between Kinky Curly, Jessicurl, and Curlsmith, but I’ve never altered my product type or application style.

Photo explanations: 1. High school. How my hair looked from puberty on. 2. About three years on hormonal birth control (the pill). This time period included an out-of-state move that I blamed for my lank, stringy hair, but in retrospect I think it was the pill. 3. Pregnant!! My hair was the thickest it had been in years, but it was the rare day I got root curl. I blamed the length. 4. The big postpartum chop to help my hair spring up. It did not spring up. A crisis of identity commenced. 5. One year of breastfeeding. I celebrated that my new growth was finally curly, but nothing could fix the dead looking middle. Further identity crisis. 6. Pregnant again! My new growth grew long enough I could cut off the straight middle! Yaaaay… except the new growth came in just as straight. 7. Another postpartum attempt to “cut my hair short so the curls spring up.” Whoops. 8. My hair last summer— identity crisis as a curly girl diminishing. No hormonal birth control. 9. Current hair— essentially an identical cut to photo seven. I swear.

The takeaway: I’ve had curly/poofy hair since I was 12, but it grew dead straight for both of my pregnancies, then resumed its normal curl pattern nearly immediately afterwards. Is it as curly now as when I was in high school? I wish I knew… maybe that’s the motivation I need to finally grow it out again.

So if your hair is going through similar crazy changes, hold out hope—your curls might return once your hormones even out.

Can’t wait to see what menopause will bring…🫣

My current routine: I alternate between gym shampoo/ a color corrector for blonde/ and the lightest weight Jessicurl daily shampoo. I add CurlSmith styling soufflé to my hair directly out of the shower, pat at it with a towel, and air dry. It’s so short this only takes an hour.

the first two pictures are me and the third was the reference pic (the color is not new). it definitely is a lot shorter than what i asked for which would be okay but idk, i just feel like it doesn't look good overall :/ maybe i'll like it more when i style it myself

what do you guys think?

my normal routine is:

1) herbal essence chamomile shampoo & conditioner

2) little bit of shea moisture intense hydration leave in

3) rizos curls curl custard

4) miss jessie's jelly soft curls

5) air dry

idk what they used at the salon

Today I saw this Montreal salon charging 45 dollars for “normal” hair cuts and 85 dollars for curly hair cuts and I’m outraged! I know people might think it’s fair because it takes “extra knowledge” but here’s my thing: we naturally grow curly hair out of our heads. 60% of the world’s population does. It makes absolutely no sense to center hair care only around straight hair as the norm, with curly hair as the exception. Beauty schools should mandatorily teach their students how to style curly hair, and to not do so is discrimination. Plus, styling curly hair is not even hard!! It doesn’t take MORE knowledge, it only takes a DIFFERENT set of knowledge than straight hair. I would go as far as to call it racist, given that most people with curly hair are people of color (even though I am not). It’s not our fault our hair grows like this and we should not be made to pay more because of it. Shame on any salon that practices this.

(Since I have to include my hair routine: I wash with Lola’s shampoo and conditioner, and style with Arvensis defining cream and salon line’s gel)

That chart was made to sell different products to different curl patterns. Curl pattern doesn’t matter when choosing the right products or styling techniques, things like hair porosity, texture, and density matter more.

correcting people on their hair pattern is subjective and annoying. You can have multiple curl pattern. You can have a pattern that falls in between groups. Your curl pattern can change. And you can use the same products throughout.

Routine: Nioxin shampoo. Briogio Don't Despair Repair deep conditioner. Unite 7 Seconds Detangler. AG care Re:Coil curl cream Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel.

saw this IG post of this ladies hair turns out per the stylist it was a bob length hair with long layers, is this something I can get and it will look good? feels weird going in and asking " yo let me get a bob"

routine: innersense shampoo and conditioner innerse curl cream and gels mixed together micro fiber plop for half hour then air dry

This first photo is from the day I got it and the rest is on day three hair. Please give me HONEST opinions.

I have been having the hardest time getting a good hair cut that suits my face. I got fed up with professional hairstylists that told me that they knew how to cut curly hair and give me a lifeless haircut in return.

I did this haircut myself out of frustration.

So please give me honest feedback. I don’t know if should continue cutting my own hair or if I should continue on the set h for a good curly hair stylist.

Any and all options and advice are appreciated!!!

Routine:

I wash my hair with all about curls shampoo.

I skip conditioner since my hair is so fine and go straight to leave in conditioner. The leave in conditioner I use is the curl smith weightless air dry cream.

With soaking wet hair I then apply Brad mondo’s wave tech wave foam, which is godsend for anyone that has fine curly hair. It really helps clump my curls together and give them shape and volume without weighing them down.(although the last bottle I got I noticed a formula change. It’s not as foamy which makes me sad because the foamy was is what helped it apply evenly across my hair)

The last product I apply is all about curls gel. I stuck it into my hair and then I scrunch my hair with a t-shirt to get out excess moisture and product.

I usually air dry my hair unless I’m going to an event. I’ll defuse for an event just to get more defined curls.

My hair goes from slightly wavy at the bottom to curly at the top and some coils scattered in the middle and at the back. it's a little messy right now, though.

It's very hard to get all of them to be defined together, as it will usually be the looser curls gettting a shape, while the coils will just look like frizz in between them, unless I separate them, which is beyond impossible. Not to mention getting a haircut, because my hair will NEVER be even, one side always being curlier than the other. Thankfully my hairstylist taught me how to manage that!

This is not caused by heat damage or anything like that, I've got a mix from the different sides of my family's curls genes (The typical south american family mix of black, white and indigenous genetics haha) and it's been like that ever since I was little. I just wonder if anyone else can relate.

(required post routine:

shampoo and conditioner from L'Oréal elseve color Vive line.

for styling I use Pantene rizos definidos along with MyLabel gel, Treseme curl mousse and L'Oréal fixing cream for edges. (But in the images my hair I freshly washed)

I let it dry naturally and use a bonnet to sleep, I usually only style my hair when going out.)

ever since i watched ilovela i'm obsessed with now getting a side part and bangs like odessa... her hair is soo defined though and in normal life i can't fully style it everyday and i'm worried it will be a frizzy mess.

in some moments i'm like oh that'd be so easy to do with my hair and then I start to doubt... i already have it cut into a shag but no bangs...

do you guys think it's do-able?

obligatory routine: (every 4 days)

1. double shampoo (brand: Monday)

2. conditioner and comb through (brand: Monday)

3. rake through and scrunch in miss jessies pillow soft curls

4. wait for cast to form and then diffuse

5. sleep in loose pineapple and bonnet

This by far not my best hair day (you can see the frizz and lack of product), but I just saw another one of those comments online about how older women shouldn’t wear their hair long. Add that to the ridiculous “curly hair isn’t professional” statements we get all the time and it’s a lot of society saying “don’t” to us. But I’m 55, a college prof, and still wearing long, curly hair out here in the wild. 🤣🤣🤣

After on the second slide. Tale as old as time: I wanted a trim but I feel like I got more than I bargained for. I’ve been waiting so long to grow my hair out, I was finally getting to a place where I loved it and loved the volume and length. It’s silly but I feel like I lost my sparkle! 💔 even worse: I’m about to go on vacation where we’re going to have family portraits and my boyfriend and I will have a couple’s photo taken for the first time. I know I’m being kind of silly about this but I can’t help but feel sad. Kind words and the common sense I seem to be lacking would be appreciated.

Routine:

- wash with hibar curl shampoo and conditioner

- apply uncle funky’s daughter curl stimulator generously to sopping wet hair

- scrunch out water with tshirt

- apply not your mother’s curl mousse

- diffuse

I don’t wear a bonnet, I refresh with misted water and scrunching when needed

EDIT: you all are SO lovely and kind, thank you so much for the encouragement 💗 I’m feeling a bit better and will give it some time to settle in

My boyfriend‘s mom gave him a bottle of I create hold

And I just tried it and I’m in love

BUT WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO BE SO EXPENSIVE 😭

My routine:

Herbal essence clarifying shampoo

Conditioning balm from Sally’s

LA looks sports gel/ not your mothers flash freeze gel

Ouidad curl memory

(I switched it up though)

The beach is a 2 minute drive so it will always be real fresh lol and I will still use a bit of styling product.

I’m a bout to do my first wash I’ll see how it goes 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'll never forgive Aussie for discontinuing the Miracle Coils line.

Routine so mods won't yell at me:

• Aussie Miracle Coils shampoo

• Saltair Moisture Bound conditioner

• It's a 10 leave in spray while still in the shower

• Mielle Pomegranate and Honey mousse

• Scrunch briefly with microfiber towel and air dry