I want to make my curls tighter!!

lj_princess · 11-08-2012, 08:48 AM

I'm a 2c/3a, a bit heat damaged and i want to care for my hair so the curls start to form into little ringlets, i LOVE that look. But i dont know how? Gel and mousse make my hair stringy and doesnt enhance the curl, so far i use leave-ins but do you guys have any other suggestions?

Also i was considering heat-free rollers, tight ones, do they work?

Heres a pic of my curls now, weird pose but it shows how my hair usually looks

seamelody14 · 11-08-2012, 09:56 AM

Your hair looks lovely

Damage, even a small amount, tends to pull out curl, and from what I gather heat damage is especially bad. A protein treatment might really help, I love curl junkie repair me. Gel can definitely do it, but you have to be pretty adamant about scrunching it, then leave it alone to form a hard cast, then scrunch out the crunch. Mousse is worth a shot too, but for me it's only really curl enhancing if I diffuse dry. Also it's important to get a good moisture balance. You want to get enough moisture for your curls to really plump up, but you also don't want to weigh them down. I have similar hair, I think it's 2b/3a, I used to think it was 2c, but now it looks more like there are just two desperate curl patterns in there. But with a little effort, I can be totally 3a, even a little. 3b.

lj_princess · 11-08-2012, 10:54 AM

Seamelody i saw in your signature you are trying conditioner only styling, is it helpful? I bought a bottle of tresemme naturals to try it out but am not sure yet!

And thanks a bunch, i will get some protein treatments

kathymack · 11-08-2012, 01:41 PM

Best place to start is to learn your hair properties. Here's a link to help Live Curly Live Free - Curly Hair Basics Once you determine your properties, you can look for others with hair like yours and see what they use (in signature.)

seamelody14 · 11-08-2012, 02:15 PM

It is helpful in terms of defrizzing, making my hair soft, and saving time, but I don't find that it enhances my curls as much as a gel does. Because curl enhancement isn't my biggest concern, that's fine for me, but if your really looking to make your hair curlier its not going to do much of that. Protein is definitely the most important factor in my opinion though, if my hair needs protein, gel doesn't help that much.

lj_princess · 11-09-2012, 03:47 PM

I'll try doing a protein treatment then use some flax seed gel made with epsom salt (it enhances curl) and scrunch/diffuse
then post pics

Knotty_Maddy · 11-09-2012, 04:22 PM

I think Kathymack gave you great advice...

But also, you could try maybe using some KY jelly? I have more 3A than 2C, my hair is *very* S shaped with corkscrew ends, but this works for my hair. I do know that using glycerin products is not for everyone, it can dry out your hair. But if your hair isn't affected by glycerin, it will work a treat

you just apply it after your leave-in, and before your gel. I use about a dollar-coin size amount mixed with a bit of water, times 3 - one for one side, one for crown, then one for other side. Maybe a bit more for my roots and my nape. It will help curls form. It is considered a dupe for CHS Curl Keeper.

Also, Sally's beauty supply store sells an item that might help you - it is a kind of curling comb, it is a straight handle and on the top of the handle is a cylinder of tines or prongs that are all at a different height. You can twirl your hair with it and then give it a little shot of heat to help form spirals. It won't get stuck in your hair, it slides right out. I use mine to lift my roots (almost like using a round brush) so I can get a bit of volume...

Lastly, you can try any one of the many techniques here...if you look in the General Hair discussions, at the top of the forum and before the posts, there is a thread called "techniques". I use the SuperSoaker one and it gives me lovely clumps and swirls

There are so many there, I am sure one will work for you. Good luck!

Knotty_Maddy · 11-09-2012, 07:46 PM

posting a pic of my comb

CP, I tried to answer your PM, but had problems! It wouldn't send

Here are the details of this curl comb: it was plastic and has no heat or anything. I think it cost me $5

they are beside the brushes.

You can get them in small, med or large, depending what size you want your curls. I bought a med but my hair is pretty curly, so I just truly use mine to dry my bangs and to lift my roots. For the roots, I either just put the prongs directly to my head and twist slightly, or I use it like a round brush, or I just use it to lift my hair so I can blow dry the roots without disrupting the curl... It slips right back out again

No tangling!

Best hair tool I ever bought

lj_princess · 11-09-2012, 08:17 PM

seems quite useful

il try it while i diffuse my hair especially on the front pieces that go too straight

thank you

Knotty_Maddy · 11-09-2012, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lj_princess

seems quite useful

il try it while i diffuse my hair especially on the front pieces that go too straight

thank you

I don't diffuse my roots, I just diffuse the ends from ears down if I am in a hurry. I use the blowdryer with the directional airflow attachment for the roots only, with this tool, and it gives me lift and root curl. If you want to use it (this comb) to create curls, you put the prongs in the bottom or ends of your hair, then twist up in the direction of your curl and hold it there while you diffuse. You can also try the pixiecurl method of keeping the blowdryer on the OFF setting, placing your hair in it, then lifting the hair to the scalp. Then turn the blowdryer on for a few moments, then turn it off, then remove it from the curl clump and move on to the next clump and repeat the process. Please, please go look at the Techniques sticky at the top of the General Hair Discussion forum - it has so many links to helpful tips and methods!

fightingfrizz · 11-10-2012, 07:32 AM

Pixie curling works for me. Some useful products are Jessicurl Confident Coils used in conjunction with Rockin Ringlets, or else Kinky Curly Knot Todaybtogether withbKinky Curly Curling Custard. Your hair might also like Shea Moisture Restorative Conditioner. Like you I wanted a tighter curl, and that is what I get. Buy sample sizes of products if you can, or swap samples with friends. I'm in UK but I guess most people here are in US! Look on You Tube to find out about pixie curl. It's amazing!

hondo1 · 11-10-2012, 08:42 AM

Would love to try this. Do you know where I can buy one? Have never seen them anywhere!

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotty_Maddy

posting a pic of my comb

CP, I tried to answer your PM, but had problems! It wouldn't send

Here are the details of this curl comb: it was plastic and has no heat or anything. I think it cost me $5

they are beside the brushes.

You can get them in small, med or large, depending what size you want your curls. I bought a med but my hair is pretty curly, so I just truly use mine to dry my bangs and to lift my roots. For the roots, I either just put the prongs directly to my head and twist slightly, or I use it like a round brush, or I just use it to lift my hair so I can blow dry the roots without disrupting the curl... It slips right back out again

No tangling!

Best hair tool I ever bought

Knotty_Maddy · 11-10-2012, 08:45 AM

@Hondo:
Sally's Beauty Supply warehouse.

curlypearl · 11-10-2012, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knotty_Maddy

posting a pic of my comb

CP, I tried to answer your PM, but had problems! It wouldn't send

Here are the details of this curl comb: it was plastic and has no heat or anything. I think it cost me $5

they are beside the brushes.

You can get them in small, med or large, depending what size you want your curls. I bought a med but my hair is pretty curly, so I just truly use mine to dry my bangs and to lift my roots. For the roots, I either just put the prongs directly to my head and twist slightly, or I use it like a round brush, or I just use it to lift my hair so I can blow dry the roots without disrupting the curl... It slips right back out again

No tangling!

Best hair tool I ever bought

Knotty - thank you! Wonderful description and the picture is exactly what I need to order it.

Puertoricangirl · 11-17-2012, 08:52 PM

My curls tightened from the top of my head to my ears by really taking care of them. If you look at pictures of my hair last year it had loose waves/curls because I always straightened my bangs (side swept) and straightened or curled my hair sometimes. Now that I stopped using heat on my hair, eat healthy, wash with shampoo bars and/or sulfate free shampoo, don't brush it often (I finger comb it), sleep on a satin pillow case, don't dye it, and treat it gently I have really healthy hair coming in.

The only problem is it is down to my waist wet but curly it bounced up to the top of my breasts. (sometimes the middle depending on how curly it is that day.

I want to post a pic but i don't remember how lol someone please let me know

Knotty_Maddy · 11-18-2012, 08:28 AM

if you want to post a pic, then click on the paperclip in the tool bar above the box you post your reply in

it's just past the large font colour A and the smiley face icon. Once you click on that, you will get an option to browse files from your computer, click on that, then once you have chosen a pic, click on the upload button

hth!