How do I make my hair curly all the way up (photo)

[GenerateNewUsername]

After 35 years of straightening my hair I’ve finally embraced my curls and have been wearing it curly/wavy for the last month. I can’t believe how much easier it is to get ready doing practically nothing to my hair!

I use curl specific shampoo and conditioner, leave my hair proper wet and scrunch some curl cream into it. I then let it air dry and scrunch throughout that time.

My only annoyance is that while wet my hair is curly all the way to the scalp, when it dries, it pulls the hair down I think and around my scalp it loses all the curls.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get it to curl all the way up without spending hours on it?

Thanks!

I have curly/wavy hair that I decided to embrace three years ago and there’s a lot of trial and error with finding products that suit you!!

I have frizzy hair so I’m interested in the smoothing shampoo and conditioner that you mentioned, @purplemunkeyif you’re happy to share?

Depends on the curl.

Thread is about OP’s hair. She has posted her face photos. I don't think she has a lot of volume to cut hair in layers.

Looks lovely. Your waves are also more defined.

Cuts made a huge difference.

Its so much trial and error with curly products! Some people really hate the products that leave a cast and have to be scrunched out.

Seeing as you've bought the curl jelly already (and I rate it!) I would recommend that you take it into the shower with you. Apply it to absolutely soaking wet hair. Tip your head upside down and start with the ends, smoothing the product on. Roughly section your hair to apply the rest. Go easy with the product. Comb it (still dripping wet and still in the shower!)

Wrap in the towel. Leave the towel on as long as you can. When you do take the towel off dont touch your hair but shake your head to shake the curls out. Leave to dry without touching it.

Once dry. Scrunch.

You'd benefit from a 'soft' product. Boucleme do lovely one. Ill try and find a link to post.

The more you wear it curly the curlier it gets and the more used to doing it you get. Day 2 hair is tricky. Try a curl refresher spray.

I have the straightest hair in the world but I’m fascinated by this woman’s hair! She posts lots of videos about how to get curls to look amazing which might help you. (Appreciate your hair isn’t as curly as hers but there’s bound to be something helpful.)

This might be the Boucleme product mentioned above.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdgJoJwC/

@GenerateNewUsername
Your hair looks lovely, it really suits you. Those waves and curls look so natural and letting it do its thing makes life so much easier.

If you want the curls right up at your roots, there are a couple of things you can do without loads of fuss. Try a bit of mousse or curl spray, mainly at the roots when you scrunch. If you've got any little clips, you can pop them in near your scalp while it dries to help lift it so it doesn't go flat. Or you could use a hairdryer with a diffuser, leaning your head upside down for a few minutes on low and just gently focusing round the roots.

As for the cut, if you're up for a change, you could ask your hairdresser to add some layers. Layers help take some weight out and encourage the curls to spring up, especially round the top and crown. Just avoid anything too blunt or heavy at the bottom, as that can drag everything down and make the roots look flatter. Even soft face-framing bits work well with curly hair, give it a bit of movement and stop it sitting heavy.

Just play with a few tweaks and see what works for you. The natural look really works and you don’t need to go overboard. Enjoy not having to spend ages sorting it every morning.

Sure. It’s expensive, but it’s been so worth it for me personally. It’s Davines Love smoothing shampoo & conditioner, then their Curl Building serum. Was all recommended by the hairdresser when I first had it cut.

I completely agree it’s a lot of trial and error though. There are lots of products mentioned on this thread that didn’t work for me at all, and just because this range work for me doesn’t mean it’ll work the same for others.

Ive just bought only curls starter kit and it has made a difference. I air dry but it does still have that wet look about it.
Im due a hair cut so ill ask for a curly cut instead. I'm in peri and my hair has gone wild. I've sick of straightening and trying to make it look sleek when in fact my hair wants to do the opposite!

I’d suggest doing a bit of research first for anyone looking for a ‘curly cut’. There are curly specialists out there that seem to charge quite a lot for a full initial consult and cut. It may well be worth it, but I looked around and found a lot of good reviews for a stylist at a local hair salon from people with curly hair saying how amazing she was and how well she understood curls. I booked her on the strength of that and was very pleased. I think the fact she has curly hair herself helps.

I get better curls if I wash my hair upside down over the bath. I shampoo and condition and then comb or brush and scrunch when sopping wet to form clumps. I then smooth curl jelly over the clumps and scrunch again. I then diffuse the clumps until lovely and crisp. I only scrunch out the crunch when the hair is fully dry. When I go to the hairdressers they dry my hair so it looks stringy. Having nice clumps is the answer to good curls I think.

Olive oil mousse from amazon is unreal not hard or syicky

@GenerateNewUsername new cut looks FAB!

Came here to say that... layers

@Gracetuohy can you share a link for which mousse you’re talking about there’s a few coming up! Thanks 🙂

@GenerateNewUsername you need one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Defining-Brush%EF%BC%8CNewest-Bristle-Detangle-Minimizing/dp/B0F294LYRN/ref=asc_df_B0F294LYRN?mcid=8322b71bb4ad3e62b10681cb48bcb90d&hvocijid=13651544146374545756-B0F294LYRN-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13651544146374545756&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006948&hvtargid=pla-2281435177178&psc=1&gad_source=1 curly hair brush.

It’s fab. Watch a video on how to use it. My hairdresser introduced me to it as she uses it on her hair.

You need layers cut in to take the weight off.

It could be your hair cut, where it needs to be stepped to minimise being weighted down and pulling the curls out, so to speak. A good haircut by a curl specialist hairdresser cannot be underestimated.

OP your hair is amazing and the length is the same as mine and I think the wave too.

I had my hair cut to just below my shoulders and it pulled down the crown in the same way yours did in your first photo. I realised it wasn’t short enough so returned for another cut to your length and my curls / waves sprang up and gave me much more volume on the top. I always hang my head upside down and use a big diffuser to dry my hair and touch it as little as possible and use a silk pillow to sleep on. Must follow other tips here!

You need to find a specialist who cuts curly hair, totally different way of cutting hair . My daughter has naturally curly hair and has just started with curl specialist, amazing difference within one cut and she now loves her curls.