Just popping back to show how I actually style my hair/apply the products can make a difference. Over the last few days I have done 3 different methods, same products.
If I did not use a brush or finger coil my hair it would probably look quite similar to your photo @OneFrenchEgg. Actually, no, my hair if I do not add some definition is awful - reminds me of the 1980s perms!. I have learnt that I do need to do something with it rather than gel and squishing it a bit. If I don't, I end up with each strand of hair curling in it's own way and it can look messy/frizzy rather than curly. I worked out I need to ensure the strands of hair were aligned - so they could kind of hang out together in the same direction, then the curls would be curls/ringlets/clumps rather than flyaway and stringy. Particularly as my hair is fine.
Have tried various things - "praying hands" is one technique - but not great with mine. Tried a wide tooth comb and denman brush and both do help. By brushing through the gel once out of the shower and thenhelping form the curl, I get better results. And gently squishing the curl up to my scalp to encourage the curl all the way to the roots.
None of them create perfect, frizz free curls - but I think that is the very nature of curly hair. Especially now it is grey.
Non curly people may not be able to see any difference in any of the photos attached. Curly haired people may not - it maybe just the imperfections you can only see in yourself.... who knows.
Anyway, I thought I'd share if of use.
Doing it does take a bit more time than just squishing some gel through. And of the 3 photos 1 is the quickest, 2 takes a bit longer, 3 takes the longest. But the greater definition with all of them on wash days gives me hair I can refresh/not need to wash for 2-3 days which is a bonus!