Kristina is the founder of Lockenbox & Lockenexpertin. She has been intensively involved with the topic of curly hair care since her youth, when her straight hair suddenly turned into curls.
When it comes to curly hair care, products are only half the battle. The right washing method and, above all, the right styling method are just as important for the best possible result. Here you will find an overview of the most popular techniques among curly hair lovers, each with a short description.
curl washing methods
Here you will find special techniques on how to care for your curls while washing your hair. Our curl box contains the right products for you. Both in combination - a dream of curls.
curl training
During deep conditioning or conditioning, you can twist your hair and leave it like that while the product works. This “trains” the hair to become even curlier.
Wet Detangling
Wet detangling means that the hair is detangled when it is wet (ideally with slip-giving conditioner). You can do this either with
- your fingers,
- a wide-toothed comb
- or a curl-friendly brush.
Expert tip: Hair is most vulnerable and breaks most easily when it is wet . Therefore, first carefully undo the knots at the ends and work your way up to the roots.
Squish to Condish
This method helps to thoroughly hydrate the hair and aids in curl formation.
- If the hair is covered with conditioner, it is not rinsed out completely with running water, but is gradually squeezed out of the hair with water. A kind of "bowl" is formed with the palms of the hands and some of the water is collected in it.
- With this water, the hair covered with conditioner is kneaded upwards while standing upside down, thus allowing the hydrating effect of the conditioner to be worked even further into the hair, section by section.
- This process is repeated 2-3 times. At the end, the conditioner-water mixture should be distributed throughout the hair or absorbed as much as possible and you can then move on to styling. For example, you can then knead in the gel straight away.
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curl styling methods
Here you will find different techniques on how to incorporate curl style products .
clumping
Individual strands clump together and form wider waves/curls. The easiest way to separate the clumps is to hold your hair upside down using a wide-toothed comb or a curling brush. The individual strands are fixed in place using curling gels.
Denman Brush Method
Like finger coiling, except that you use a special curling brush. The Denman Brush is ideal. While the hair is still wet, twist individual strands with the brush to create a nicer, more defined curl.
Finger Coiling
While the hair is still wet, wrap individual strands around your fingers to create a nicer, more defined curl.
Micro-Plopping
Using a T-shirt or microfiber towel, gently squeeze any excess water or product from your hair.
Praying Hands
A very popular styling method that aims to work the product even better into the hair before scrunching.
- With the styling product distributed on both hands, run your hands from top to bottom along the strands of hair with your palms facing each other (like a hand folded flat in prayer) to work the product intensively into the hair.
- Then carefully scrunch (knead) the hair upwards. This method is supposed to counteract frizz better than scrunching , but it is a matter of taste, as it could also straighten out the already defined curls for some people.
raking method
Here, the respective product is combed through the hair - not with a comb/brush, but with the fingertips.
Rake & Shake
Here, the respective product is combed through the hair with the fingers and then the hair strands are "shaken" to support the curl formation
scrunching
This is the most common styling method for wavy or curly hair.
- You knead your hair upwards with your hands to form your waves/curls.
- The more often and more vigorously you knead, the more defined and curlier your hair will become.
- For example, if you only want voluminous beach waves, you would only scrunch very lightly.
Shingling method
This method is aimed primarily at hair textures in the 4 range in order to achieve very defined curls.
- The (dry) hair is divided into several sections and leave-in conditioner , gel or cream is generously worked into the sections.
- The product is applied to each strand of hair, from the root to the end, and down along the strand.
Smasters
As soon as the hair is about 50% dry, knead a little more styling product into the hair. For some people, this method strengthens the hold.
drying, diffusing and volume techniques
Here you will find different techniques on how to dry, blow-dry and give your curls more volume.
Are you unsure about the type of curls you have ? Then take part in our curl quiz and see which shampoo , for example, will benefit your curls.
diffusing
Dry your hair with a diffuser attachment.
Fluff
For more volume, use an afro comb (pick) or your hands and start directly at the scalp and gently “shake” the roots to lift them slightly.
Pixie Diffusing
This is a special blow-drying method. The hair is dried upside down, usually on a high setting and with warm air.
- The hair is dried in sections and the hairdryer is turned off immediately as soon as each section is dry.
- A section of hair is placed in the diffuser, directed towards the scalp, the hairdryer is switched on and as soon as the section is finished it is switched off again and the next section is dried using the same method. This is primarily intended to prevent frizz.
plopping
A technique of tying the hair up in a t-shirt or special microfiber towel after styling to reinforce the shape of the waves/curls while drying. Check out our Rainbow Curls "Like a T-shirt" Curl Towel .
Root Clipping
Hair clips are used directly at the roots to keep the roots lifted while air drying. This technique can be used to create more volume at the roots.
SOTC - Scrunch out the Crunch
At the end of the styling routine, many people use a gel or custard for more definition and hold. Many gels/custards deliberately form a so-called cast, meaning the product wraps around each defined strand of hair like a hard coat.
The hair becomes hard and rigid/immobile during air drying . To get the desired definition and volume after air drying, once the hair is completely dry, the cast is kneaded out again with the hands (also called SOTC - Scrunch Out The Crunch) until the hair is beautifully voluminous and soft.
For SOTC, a few drops of oil/serum/leave-in conditioner are often used.
Check out our other curl tips posts:
