12 Products that Make Your Hair Look Curlier
Do you struggle with keeping your waves and curls bouncy and at their curliest? If so, this post will help you understand what types of
Do you struggle with keeping your waves and curls bouncy and at their curliest? If so, this post will help you understand what types of products really make a difference and what ingredients actually work when it comes to enhancing your waves and curls.
Curl pattern or the “tightness” of the wave/spiral is determined by the shape of your hair follicle in the scalp. You can’t create a curl pattern that doesn’t exist naturally from your genetics. You can, however, enhance your natural curls to their fullest potential.
Length also plays a big factor in your hair’s wave/curl pattern because longer hair has more “room” to spiral than short hair. And, it’s normal for some people’s curl pattern to not start until further down the strand. It’s also possible that gravity on longer hair can “elongate” your hair’s pattern. So, sometimes a trim/cut is all you need to help your waves/curls bounce!
Companies like to use fancy buzz-words in their marketing and advertising to sell products. For example, many “curl enhancers” and “curl activators” serve the same purpose and it’s just the name that’s different. So, it’s important to know what to look for when choosing products that will actually enhance your waves/curls.
When I refer to products making your hair “curlier,” what I mean is an increase in:
Certain products contain styling agents that improve the appearance of your curls.
The best way to know if a product will enhance your waves/curls is by looking at the ingredients. Ingredients are listed by concentration, with the top 5 or so making up the majority of the product. Ultimately, though, it’s about the formulation of the product which dictates how it performs. And since everyone’s hair is different, the only real way to know if a product will enhance your waves/curls is by trying it.
| Ingredient | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Film-forming humectants | Attract moisture and form a flexible film on the hair, helping curls clump and hold shape. | Aloe vera, flaxseed extract, marshmallow root, panthenol, hydroxypropyltrimonium honey |
| Polymers | Provide hold and structure to keep curl shape after styling. | Polyquaternium, PVP, VP/VA copolymer |
| Polymers | Add light hold, enhance clumping, and enhance volume. | Rice starch, corn starch, hydroxypropyl starch phosphate |
| Slip Agents | Help curls form during styling by encouraging strands to glide and clump. | Marshmallow root, slippery elm, okra extract |
| Proteins | Strengthen the hair and aid in structure so it can hold a curl better. | Hydrolyzed wheat, rice, or silk protein |
These can weigh down fine to medium-textured curls when used in excess.
May coat hair and soften too much, especially in fine to medium-textured hair.
The following gels are in order of strongest hold to medium hold.
If you want to see these products in action and my results, watch the video embedded above.
Curl enhancement isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s about using the right ingredients to support your hair’s natural wave/curl pattern and to help get your hair to its fullest potential.
If you’re not sure if your curls are currently at their full potential, or could possibly be curlier with the right routine and products, then I would love to have you in my upcoming Group Coaching Program. I will help you determine what your “best curls” are or if there is room for improvement.
Check out what my group members had to say:
Over half of the members in my last program renewed, most choosing the annual membership.
Enrollment is open JUNE 1, only through June 31.
I’m offering a $100 discount to those who want early access! Email me if you’re interested and want more details. Please include more about your hair and what you’re hoping to achieve and we’ll discuss if you’re a good fit!
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