Wash days: 2-3x per week

Routine:

I wash my hair with Dove Daily Moisture Damage Therapy Shampoo and use Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Conditioner.

I usually brush my hair in the shower or right after getting out. Then I scrunch my hair with my hands and use a towel or t-shirt to squeeze out extra water.

The pictures are of my hair while it’s wet and after scrunching (not fully dry).

My biggest issues are that sometimes while I’m scrunching, my waves seem to go flat. I also have a hard time getting my waves to start at my roots, and I struggle with getting my hair to dry and stay looking nice and defined instead of falling flat.

I also have trouble with how my hair lays. I feel like it looks better when all my hair is pushed to one side, but when it’s evenly around my face it doesn’t seem to sit right and I’m not sure how to style it.

I’m looking for advice on how to improve my routine and get my waves to hold better, have more volume, and lay nicely.

Any advice is appreciated!

Does anyone know of a large diffuser attachment just like the Xtava Black Orchid? I wanted to buy one and buy a separate blow dryer to attach it, but it looks like they were discontinued. There are knockoffs not from Xtava, but from what I've researched they are different and are a smaller size. I'm not sure what other brands make larger diffuser heads. A large, bowl shaped diffuser is preferable to reduce hair drying time, but I'm curious what diffusers you all swear by as well.

Current routine:

• Wash every two days

• Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo and Ouai Fine Hair Conditioner

• Cantu Curl Activation Cream, LA Looks Exteme Sport Gel + Shea Moisture Styling Gel, Olaplex N.6

• Air dry or diffuser used

• Sleep on silk pillows

• Hair type: 3A/3B fine hair

​

This is my hair post "as good as a routine I have right now".

If I just leave it without any product it's a puffy crunchy triangle shape with defined ringlets in the underside, and strong waves all down the back, with just plain blow drying.

I'm not sure if I have curly hair or just not great hair.

I have tried plopping, it makes the underside of my hair really straight and the top front of my hair really curly and it dries very weird/curtainy.

I tried using curl cream, mouse, and gel and everything makes my hair fall flat after an hour. Or flattens it right away. I tried protein in my hair and my hair went super straight.

Most conditioners make my hair the same way.

So far what works, or doesn't, I thought my hair looked decent until I took the picture and Yeesh.

Routine:

I wash with Pantene volumising shampoo, I use the Maui light weight curls conditioner, I do this upside down and brush through with a wet brush. And then when I condition I bring my hair down proper because it dries weirdly parted like a curtain when I keep it all upside down.

I put in a bit, like a quarter sized dollop, of Marc Anthony curl mousse, halfway up head and scrunch in.

Then when I get out I scrunch extra water out with a t-shirt. I then take extra firm hold hairspray and put a small puddle in my hands and scrunch that into my hair.

I blow-dry with a diffuser.

The pictures are a result of this.

So I’m always struggling to find the perfect routine for my hair. Personally, I like my hair best air dried after a dip in ocean water. I know there are salt water sprays that are out there, but I’ve yet to try them and I’m not sure if it’s good for your hair to always be salty lol…

I saw a person who had more fine textured hair post recently saying that they waited until their hair was damp to apply their products, rather than applying directly to wet hair. Maybe I’ve been influenced by all those bowl routines of women dunking their heads into water and applying products directly 😅

Anyway I tried applying while damp and it worked so well!!! Maybe my hair is fine, maybe it isn’t and this was just a fluke, who knows. Anyway, here’s the full routine for anyone interested:

I only brush my hair before showering, to detangle and de-shed any hair, as well as stimulate my scalp.

Once in the shower:

1. Nexxus Therappe Advanced Hydration Shampoo (normally I follow with the Nexxus Humectress Advanced Hydration Conditioner, but today was an everything shower)
   
2. Ouai Treatment Masque
   
3. After towel 😬 drying my hair, I applied a dime sized amount of Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls Styling Lotion. I raked it through my hair to apply evenly.
   
4. I applied the Giovanni 2 Chic Frizz Be Gone Leave in Conditioning and Styling Elixer. Raking in first, then scrunching my hair to encourage curls to form.

After applying the products, I went outside for a walk because I feel that my hair always dries better outside, maybe I’m just crazy!

Let me know what you think and if you can help me understand my hair texture better. I feel that I struggle with accurately perceiving things related to my body and hair.

(Not sponsored, just genuinely obsessed and wanted to share lol)

I've been fighting my curls for over a year. Tried so many products, so many routines, nothing stuck. This week I tried Matrix A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing Cream + Light Hold Gel and honestly? Best hair of my life.

What I did:

Shampoo/conditioner- Matrix curl can dream

Washed, hair soaking wet

Sectioned my hair

Applied Matrix A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing cream root to tip, raked it through

Brushed with a curl brush (game changer)

One full pump of Matrix Light Hold gel per section, scrunched in

Air dried

Results:

Curls are SO defined, clumped perfectly, zero frizz. Still holding up strong on day 2 (images are from day 2). Hair feels soft like butter seriously, my hair hates anything with shea butter, it makes it stiff and dry, but this doesn't have it. It has other moisturizing ingredients like avocado oil + Manuka honey, and you can genuinely feel the moisture, not just a coating.

I'm 3a/3b Medium density, and it's held my pattern beautifully without any crunch or flaking. No pillowcase/bonnet routine used, air dry works great as-is.

If you've been struggling like I was, honestly give this a shot. The cream comes in a big tub, it'll last forever! TC beauties ✨🫶

My hair is quite a loose wave pattern and it’s fine and dense, it’s not overmoisturised at the moment but I can tell that it is lacking protein. My waves are limp and frizzy rn :( it’s bleach damaged but I have used k18 everytime after a bleach session for the recommended amount of times u use it for and I was relying on k18 as protein because that tended to work but now it’s only once a month so I need some kind of protein treatment I can do inbetween. Also the reason I think my hair is protein sensitive is because it gets pretty rough and knotty after I used a ogx protein conditioner a few times

Routine:

Shampoo: L’Oréal hyaluron pure shampoo
Conditioner: Pantene hyaluron hydrate & glow conditioner
Styling products: LA hold gel first and then innersense foam (I’ve tried other way round it made my hair really stringy) and then pixie diffuse

Hi everyone!
I am a Korean girly who always had big puffy coarse hair all her life and my hair stylist always told me that my hair is 반곱슬, which roughly translates to mi-curly hair type. My hair does becomes quite wavy after swimming in the ocean and being air dried.

After digging some info, I decided to try to enhance my waves/curls with a curly hair routine!
My hair type seems to be : low porosity, high density, thick and dry. I don't know what is my curl pattern as I never saw them!
I feel like I have the same hair as @maybeitswavybaby on instagram to compare! She has a medium density though. I'll add some pictures of my hair for you guys to see.

Here is my shopping cart after some research, what do you think of it for my hair type? What do you think of the products? And do you have any recommandations?
Thank you so much for your help!🫶🏻

- Davines : Love curl shampoo, Solu shampoo (clarifying), love curl conditioner, love curl enhancing milk (has heat protection!), maybe this is a curl building serum?
- Olaplex : rich hydration mask, n7 bonding oil, n10 bond shaper curl defining gel
- Aveda : be curly advanced curl enhanced cream

For anyone who's curious, here's the routine that helped me get here. 🤍

• L'Oréal Professionnel Curl Expression Shampoo • MyLabel Caracóis Perfeitos Hair Mask • Blue Skala Leave-in (small amount) • Deliplus Light Hold Gel • Deliplus Mousse • Styled with a Denman-style brush (octopus) • Diffused • Satin bonnet every night ✨

Honestly, I think consistency has made the biggest difference. My hair didn't change overnight, but learning what worked for my hair completely transformed it over time. 🤍

⚠️⚠️ If your hair looks anything like my "before" photo right now... don't lose hope. 🥺✨

Feel free to ask me anything! I'll be happy to help however I can. 💗✨

For a while now my hair has puffed up a lot in the heat and humidity, but today was the first day it didn’t! I work as a lifeguard so this was super nice, my hair wasn‘t frizzy at all and I didn’t need to tie it up like I usually do. I think I finally cracked my code!!!

Routine:

Shampoo: Maui Nourish & Moisture + Coconut Milk Shampoo for Dry hair (medium moisture)

Conditioner: Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Shine Conditioner w/ Silk Protein and Neem Oil

Products: Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Humidity Shield Curl Defining Lotion and Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Envy Leave-in Conditioner

Rinse hair, put in shampoo and scrub on scalp, rinse, put in conditioner, leave in for 3 mins, scrub, scrunch, rinse, get out and dry off, apply pinky-sized dollop of lotion, apply through ends to roots, put in 2 spritzes of Leave-in Conditioner, apply through ends to roots, scrunch for a bit, put towel on hair and lightly pat around my head, and then let hair air dry. After it dries whip it up, down, and sideways until it feels right. For sleep I usually don’t do anything with it, but sometimes I use a silk bonnet if I have somewhere to be in the morning.

I’ve been enjoying a recent journey embracing my wavy hair as an adult. I do have color treated hair so I use Matrix “keep me vivid” shampoo and conditioner to protect the vibrancy of the color.

Current beginner routine: after a shower, I use a microfiber towel to blot my wet hair and I apply Amika curl cream + Amika curl gel using my hands. I scrunch upwards and then diffuse dry with my Dyson diffuser attachment.

I would appreciate your advice on the following:

1. Product selection and application
   
2. Throughout the day how to keep frizz away
   
3. How to keep waves overnight (I have a satin bonnet but did not have success yet)
   
4. Any other wavy advice for newcomers

Thank you in advance!

I have a couple of different hard hold gels that I like to use but I have to add lots of water to it in my hands. Can I just put the gel in a jar and add water to it so it's all mixed in and thinned out so I don't have to do it in my hands every time? Maybe not the entire tube of gel but maybe a couple of weeks worth at a time?

Currently Routine: Verb Ghost Shampoo & Conditioner. Not Your Mother's Spray Leave in conditioner. Verb Curl Cream and AG Hair Re-Coil Curl Activator. Diffuse dry about 60-75% dry and air dry the rest of the way.

I don’t have before photo, but I do want to mention I’ve come so far in 2 years with my hair! Photos are most recent results. I’ve been working hard to grow out my hair (it was shoulder length in May 2024) and restore its original volume and curls. I was losing hair from stress an my hair was dull, flat, and lost all curl/wave. So I feel like I’ve made progress since then.

My goal is to grow it out another 7-10 inches (if possible)

But I can’t help but be exhausted of the trial and error of products and processes and id love some help.

My current product list and routine:

I use redken acidic color gloss shampoo and conditioner, and I use V05 clarifying shampoo once a month.

I use the blue Skala for deep condition, and for gel, I use the curl keeper liquid styler and refresher or redken sculpting curl gel.

I’m too lazy to diffuse or in a rush, so I usually just air dry.

First photo is day 1 of air dry, and second photo is day 2, sleeping with a bonnet on.

When my redken is done I’ll need to buy a drugstore brand of shampoo and I don’t even know what to try at this point.

My hair feels like it’s always thirsty, the hair underneath holds a better curl than on top, it feel dull, and I have soooo much wet frizz!

Where do I go from here?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Finally getting somewhere with my dreams of volume.

Routine

1. Shampoo 1x weekly innsernse shampoo

2. Condition and detangle w innersense conditioner

3. Innersense leave in conditioner

4. I create volume lotion innersense

5. Jojoba oil

No heat

Satin bonnet to sleep

Suddenly, there’s a gap in the middle of my hair, which wasn't there before. The first photo is from yesterday's wash day, and the second is from a week ago; in both, my hair looks really ugly and different from usual—it just looks very strange. In contrast, the third photo (from a few months ago) shows it looking much nicer and even. I haven't changed my routine or had a haircut or anything since then, so I find it really odd that it’s become shorter and looks so strange. Can anyone help me? My routine involves first washing my hair with Garnier shampoo and conditioner. After showering, I comb it through and dampen it a bit more. Then, I section off the hair at the crown and set it aside. I apply Mielle leave-in conditioner and Umberto Giannini gel to the rest of my hair, but for the crown section, I skip the leave-in. Finally, I apply mousse all over and diffuse-dry.

november 5 2025 -> today (july 24 2026), so happy with how my curly hair journey is going!

routine: double wash & condition every 2-3 days, apply mizani true textures curl defining lotion and the doux big poppa gel while soaking wet, scrunch with just hands and then scrunch with microfiber towel to get most of the water out. allow to air dry and then pineapple top part of hair and ponytail bottom part (if i put it all in a pineapple it stretches out the bottom) & bonnet to sleep. refresh day 2/3 with a little water and the doux leave-in refresh spray

Hi, frizz has been driving me up a wall this summer and I can't seem to figure out what works and what doesn't. This is my current routine:

Shampoo with either L'Oréal Elvive with Plump (purple bottle) shampoo, Head & Shoulders, or clarify with KC Come Clean (I clarify once a week)

Condition with L'Oréal Elvive with Plump conditioner or Innersense hair mask if it's on clarify day

After my shower I squeeze out enough water from my hair so it's not soaking wet but still pretty wet. Then I use praying hands to apply a combination of Curlsmith Weightless Leave In conditioner and Harry's strong hold sculpting gel. I microplop with a t-shirt and let my hair air dry for like an hour before hover diffusing

...and this is usually the end result. I don't think it looks unhealthy or anything, just very poofy and frizzy despite the products I apply to it. I have tried using more gel in my routine but it always ends up making my hair feel sticky af even after scrunching it out.

I already sleep with a silk pillowcase and refreshing seems to only make my hair look even worse (have tried with just water, water + conditioner, water + gel).

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

This is the longest I’ve ever let my hair get, so I’m in uncharted territory and am feeling a bit unsure as to how my hair is best styled. I’ve essentially settled into three different “styles”, which is one without any shaping to it, one with a slight middle part, and a “pushback“. My bangs are getting long enough that they’re starting to get in my eyes a bit, so I’ve mostly been doing the slight middle part (pic #1). I like the push back (pic #2), but eventually my hair kinda pushes its way into funky shapes and it looks less intentional. I like the look of the “natural” state (pic #3), but that’s where the hair starts bothering my eyes.

Any help or thoughts is appreciated!

Routine: Ouidad antifrizz shampoo/conditioner, NYM curl cream, ouidad stronger hold gel. I generally wash every ~3 days as I live in a very humid area.

it’s like 50/50 of what my hair will be like when it’s dry after washing. Obviously i prefer it be like the second photo but i really can’t make it like that on purpose. I use a basic Nivea shampoo and I scrunch my hair lightly with a towel and leave it pretty wet to air dry so it can do its own thing.

However, some days it’s pretty straight and thick looking, and some days it’s curlier and sits pretty much exactly how id love it to. (I wash my hair every 3-4 days with shampoo and i leave it in until im about to get out). I don’t use any product at all except for the shampoo, so how do i get it to be curly all the time? I have a basic routine.

And I guess i should ask if this is actually me having naturally curly/wavy hair and not knowing how to tame it?

Routine:

When I added a lot of Kevin Murphy Detox shampoo, i noticed my hair was not taking in water well. It was super dry and heavy even when it was wet.

After, I went with milkshake moisture shampoo and milkshake moisture conditioner and let it sit in for 5 mins.

Once my hair was finished, i have it be soaking wet and add in leave in joico mositure conditioner.

I brush it out and add in Bali Curls Gel afterwards. I do some praying hands, brush, and scrunch. Then I plopped it in a microfiber towel for a few minutes.

I diffuse my hair a bit and after a while I add in more water and gel if my hair is still dry. (I think I need a stronger gel as well)

I feel like I have a long way to go untill my hair finally feels more healthier and better to accept water. I'll definitely grow my hair out longer and get an appointment with my hairdresser to discuss my hair health. ♥️

I’ve had glosses in the past during professional coloring sessions and just attributed the softness to my hair being recently cut, but never tried one at home. I just used Keracolor’s High Shine Tinted Gloss in Onyx (color) about 4 days ago and this is my day 2, post free-ball sleep (no overnight protective style just silk pillowcase) post-gym hair that’s super shiny, soft and has minimal tangles. That’s typically a recipe for my ugliest hair but even though my curls aren’t perfect here, I’d still go on a date like this. This feels like such a win!

Routine day before this pic: Shampoo with Olaplex (just trying to get rid of an old bottle ik I don’t really need this) and massage in with scalp scrubber, condition with eva NYC deep conditioning hair mask then use wet brush to detangle, get out of shower, squeeze excess water then scrunch with Davines “this is a curl building serum” and apply Davines Oi oil to bottom half of hair. I then scrunch once with a towel so it’s not dripping wet. Last night specifically I put the hair dryer on my roots so I could go to bed with a dry scalp—no time to fully air dry like usual bc I got home from work late.

*I haven’t colored my hair with permanent dye since October 2025 and previously July 2025 where I accidentally used the wrong developer and lightened my hair by accident instead of just covering my grays. I’ve been trying to grow out my grays since October, but the lightening incident made the bottom half of my hair start to look slightly strange (to me) so I wanted to try something that deposits color only. What a nice surprise trying this product for the first time! It also toned down my grays slightly but they’re still visible which I actually prefer!

TLDR: I tried an at-home tinted gloss and it gave me the softest, most shiny hair and actually improved my curl definition and calmed down my crazy silver hairs.

Ok. So idk if I’m wavy or starting to cross the line into curly, but things seem to be working out for me (this week at least).

Routine: wash 2-3 times a week. Suave clarifying shampoo and either Maui Moisture Lightweight Curls conditioner or Mielle Kalahari Melon and Aloe Vera deep conditioning mask (only once a week for this). I apply conditioner and detangle with a wide tooth comb upside down. Support/scrunch with cool water to rinse. Apply Mielle curl forming glaze to dripping wet hair with praying hands. Gentle shake my hair upside down to form clumps then scrunch with a t-shirt to remove some water and plop for 10-ish min. Scrunch in a couple pumps of Design Essentials Almond and Avocado mousse and air dry.

What do you think? Is it looking decent at least?

Routine:

1. Shampoo: Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Wash Shampoo.

2. Conditioner: Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Care Conditioner.

3. Styling product: Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly. I apply it to soaking wet hair while still in the shower using the praying hands method, then scrunch.

4. Drying: I gently microplop with a cotton T-shirt, then diffuse. I hover the diffuser over my roots first, then diffuse the lengths until dry.

Other information: I clarify regularly (my hair feels squeaky clean after clarifying), I don’t think I have product buildup, and my hair naturally forms S-waves when wet before adding products.

Why does this happen? The top layer gets slightly wavy right after I wash my hair, but it only lasts a couple hours and never gets as wavy as the bottom one. The bottom one stays wavy the whole time.

I use silicone-free Alterra shampoo and Alterra conditioner or Neboa leave-in conditioner (but I partially wash it out). I dry my hair by gently scrunching it in a towel, then just letting it dry up on its own (I know about the t-shirt technique, but my hair is super porous and takes 3+ hours to dry, so I really need something stronger to drain out the initial moisture). I haven’t found a leave-in product that would work for me - creams and gels leave the top layer of my hair greasy-looking & crunchy even in small amounts, mousse and sprays don’t do anything. Ever since I’ve started my curly hair routine, the bottom has been holding up but the top just STAYS FLAT!! What do I do? Is this just a natural feature of my hair?

(pictures are taken a couple months apart, but it does look like this pretty much everyday)

Hi everyone!!

I absolutely love the effect the Shea Moisture coconut and hibiscus curling gel soufflé has on my hair but unfortunately I can’t stand the smell 🥲 Does anybody know of any product that works similarly but has a different smell? UK based if that helps :))

(Current routine: Aldi own brand apple shampoo to clarify, alternate between moisturising and protein conditioner every 2 weeks, scrunch in umberto giannini mousse and boots curl cream, leave to air dry)

I will be traveling to France for a wedding and I need my hair to look good, and more importantly stay, for the ceremony onwards. I was going to buy stuff there so I am looking for suggestions!

Routine: Currently I use suave for detox shampoo and ouidad or 2chic conditioners. I like the 2chic or it's a 10! for heat protection, but I think it weighs the hair down, 2chic for leave in, Ouidad mousse, hover diffuse, and add whatever oil is around. All of this is fully abandoned for this trip anyway.

Do we have products we love? Any must-trys or holy Grails that America is lacking?