What do I need to de-fluff curly hair?

[Shezlon]

I've tried so many creams, oils etc and nothing works to give me nice bouncy curls, it's always fluffy.
I only co-wash, don't towel dry (usually leave to dry naturally but recently have got hairdryer with diffuser). Use leave-in conditioner, curl cream, oil spray (Argan oil).
Is there a miracle cream out there that actually works?

My hair is long and very, very curly. I generally run mouse through my hair when wet, and scrunch it with my fingers. Then let it dry naturally.

I don't put a mouse in my hair!

I'll second what other people say about getting crispy results from products. That crisp is your cast. Once your hair is fully dry, you can scrunch out the crunch. Take a look on YouTube - people go from hard, wet look hair to bouncy frizz free girls after they've scrunched out the cast made by gel/mousse.

The other thing I would say about fluffiness is that your hair may benefit from a bit of protein. From the picture it looks like your hair is a bit over conditioned. Again- quick Google might explain better here: look for stuff about moisture/protein balance.

What are you cowashing with?

Protein you generally only need if your hair is dyed. If you use it otherwise it can dry your hair.

Moisture... really squish your conditioner in. Again the upwards squelchy thing. Spend at least a minute or longer squishing.

You can tell if you are over-conditioning if you curls drop by the end of the day. So shiny...there...less curl/flat roots a few hours later....too much moisturising. Do a couple of co-washes without conditioning it drop the squishing and you should be back to balanced.

The CG rules don't always work
My hair can be fluffy or frizzy. Protein turns it into a matted mess. It needs more moisture than you would think so a good rich conditioner but not too heavy styling products which weigh it down

@JaceLancs

Best I found was osis twin curling cream now sadly discontinued I now use osis curl honey no 3 cream which is best alternative I’ve found I wash and condition then pat dry with towel putting cream in when quite damp and leave to air dry Once a week I use a hair mask or deep conditioning treatment as well

I can only see curl honey no 2 and tame wild no 3?

I second @JMAngel1. I think your hair looks great. Nice shape, soft, voluminous and a relaxed wave/curl, not fluffy!

But as a wavy myself I understand the desire for more defined curls so, as other posters have mentioned, gel or mousse and scrunch out the crunch should do the trick. I never realised how important the scrunching was to get rid of the crispiness but it really does work. I get reasonable results with some old tube of Tresemme Make Waves I've been using up but I hear good things about Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly, so going to try that next.

I think you have too
I have product in it .. I have curly hair and if you over product you get a wetter look .. do you put in product in the shower when soaking wet! Have you tried cold rinsing And plopping? Also use the diffuser against the hair at the end and it will flatten it a bit . Your layers make it stick out though!

I don't comb through ever either .. that makes my hair frizzy and it won't clump .!

Gel. Lots of it!

And you can comb as much as you like while wet.

You might also find your hair less fluffy of you use a gentle sulphate free cleanser, instead of Co-washing. A lot of wavy hair benefits from the fact that it cleans the scalp better and keeps the hair free of build up, which can actually prevent moisture from getting into the hair cuticle, where it is needed.

This is also brilliant! I ordered a trial size off the site and was very impressed with this gel. No glycerin either.

www.lookfantastic.com/giovanni-l.a.-natural-styling-gel-200ml/11353575.html

There's the option of the heavier product: can leave the hair heavy and greasy, but if you can hang on in there, it can be transformative. Thinking of things like cantu curl activator style products.

Then there's the product where you have to scrunch out the crunch, like boots curl creme, some mousses and firm hold cheap gel, Trepadoras papaya slip. If you can get the hang of it, it holds the curl amazingly.

Then there's the products that add moisture. They can leave you with the wet look if you use too much. Thinking of the green Trepadora product whose name I can't remember.

With your hair, I'd try a firm hold gel. Apply when the hair is soaking wet. You'll get the hang of how much too use. And scrunch it in, but not too much. For lift at the root, get some clips and while it dries clip the roots up. When it's dry, get some oil (any old oil) and work a tiny amount through, shaking the curl out as you go.

The only other product you might like is shrub from boots. Leaves my hair a touch too soft for my liking, but it's incredible at giving the curl without the frizz.

I don't think you can beat CANTU for curly hair, it's a case of trial and error. Mine has improved so much since using a mask once a week and leave in conditioner.

After trying loads of things I love Only Curls. I use the cream and the gel. It gives you hold but no crunch and neither is too heavy. Might be worth a try.

I use faith in nature for co-washing, can't remember the exact one maybe lavender and geranium? I also am using cantu curl cream at the moment but I don't put much in because it goes crunchy, I will try more next time. I've ordered some gel to try as well.
I must admit to being a bit baffled by the protein/moisture stuff!

@Cookerhood

Following! I'm desperate to try Cocanut which I keep seeing advertised on FB. Has anyone used it? It's very expensive.

I have, it kept popping up so I ordered some. It’s ok. You can get cheaper things though.

I recommend boucleme gel and Pantene mousse, dried with a diffuser.

Curl jelly umberto gianni is great used with umberto gianni mousse. You can normally get a 3 for 2 in boots.

Don’t ever brush your hair! Just comb the conditioner through when washing it then style as normal.

I find cantu products very heavy but I guess it depends on your hair type.

Also I never got on with co washing it made my hair really greasy so I do shampoo and conditioner as normal.

Umberto Giannini Curl Scrunching Jelly - scrunch through wet hair, and leave to dry naturally or with a diffuser.
It's always worked for me

CG method doesn't work for me.
I conditioner wash with Silicone free conditioner, and then comb with a wide comb, and pull some Silicone free hair food through it all and if I get a little fluffy in the wind I put a bit more on later in the day or for bed if it feels too dry.

I've found John Frieda frizz ease for curls takes my Maine.
Coconut serum just made it greasy and the ogx one is so full of silicone it feels horrible

Get your leave in conditioner...

drop a blob between your hands and rub together and distribute over the ends.. don't use too much though.

this should help

If you do curly girl method , it is actually very simple and cost effective.