We’ve all seen it: the before and after pictures of someone online going from wavy hair to gorgeous ringlets. If you have a natural wave to your hair, using the right products and hair care techniques can enhance your curls, leaving you with beautiful naturally curly hair. Keep reading to learn tips and tricks to make your wavy hair curlier over time.

This article is based on an interview with our professional hair stylist, Gina Almona. Check out the full interview here.

1

Use a curl-enhancing product after showering.

  1. A gel or a styling cream will help hold your curls in place. A styling cream is a little lighter, while gel is a little heavier. While your hair is still wet, pour a quarter-sized amount of product into your hands. Flip your hair over and use your fingers to rake the products into your hair, spreading it out evenly.[1]
    • When your hair dries with the product in it, it will help establish your curls and keep them in place all day.
    • If your gel feels crunchy as your hair dries, don’t worry—once your hair is completely dry, you can simply use your hands to scrunch your hair and break the crunchy gel cast. Your curls will stay in place and your hair will feel bouncy and light.
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3

Define your curls with a Denman brush.

  1. These brushes with a plastic bristle help curl small sections of your hair. To use a Denman brush, wait until you get out of the shower so your hair is completely wet. Apply your leave-in conditioner or cream styler, then flip your head over and brush all of your hair through with the brush. Stand back up straight and part your hair normally, then grab a 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) wide section of hair. Start at the roots and brush your hair up and away from your head.[3]
    • Use the same technique all over your hair, making sure you get the back, too.
    • Denman brushes have thick, spaced-out bristles to encourage curls. Brushing your hair up and away from your head promotes smaller, tighter curls.
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4

Try finger coiling to encourage curls.

  1. Curling your hair around your fingers can make smaller curls. While your hair is wet from the shower, put half of it up into a loose bun with a clip. Rake a styling cream or conditioner into the ends of your hair, then grab a 1 in (2.5 cm) section of hair from the bottom of your head. Grab that section from the bottom, then twist it around 1 of your fingers to create a tight curl. When you let it go, it should be in a spiral ringlet formation.[4]
    • Continue grabbing 1 in (2.5 cm) around your entire head, curling them around your finger one at a time.
    • Once you’ve finger coiled your entire head, you can let your hair dry naturally or dry it with a diffuser.
    • Finger coiling is fairly labor-intensive, especially if you have thick hair. However, many people swear by it, saying that they get the most definition and the least frizz after finger coiling.
5

Plop your hair as it dries.

  1. Plopping involves wrapping your hair on top of your head to promote curls. After you’ve gotten out of the shower and you’ve applied your hair product, spread a cotton T-shirt or a microfiber out flat on a bed or a table. Flip your head over and lay your hair down in the middle of the towel or the T-shirt, then wrap the towel or the shirt around your hair. To keep everything in place, tie a knot on the front of your forehead.[5]
    • You can plop your hair for about 10 to 15 minutes as you get dressed or put your makeup on. Then, take your hair down and let it air dry or dry it with a diffuser.
    • Plopping helps remove the majority of the water from your hair without drying it out or making it frizzy. It also promotes volume and can give you tighter, more defined curls.
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8

Use a leave-in conditioner to combat frizz.

  1. If the ends of your hair aren’t curling, try this. After you get out of the shower, spritz a leave-in conditioner product over the ends of your hair. The conditioner won’t weigh your waves or your curls down, and it will help keep your hair hydrated all day long.[8]
    • If you have fine hair, the last thing you want to do is weigh down your curls with a ton of products. In this case, less is more.
    • If you have thick hair, you might want to add a hair oil to the ends of your hair as well. It will help combat frizz and promote your curls.
13

Repair your hair with a bond multiplier product.

About This Article

Gina Almona
Co-authored by:
Professional Hair Stylist
This article was co-authored by Gina Almona and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Gina Almona is the Owner of Blo It Out, a New York City-based hair salon. With over 20 years of beauty training experience, Gina's work has been featured in People Magazine, Time Out New York, and Queens Scene. She has been able to keep a fresh perspective in the industry by demonstrating and participating in trade shows and workshops like the International Beauty Show. She received her cosmetology training from the Long Island Beauty School, Astoria. This article has been viewed 67,285 times.
42 votes - 93%
Co-authors: 8
Updated: May 28, 2022
Views: 67,285
Categories: Curly Hair
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