I've spent most of my life straightening my hair because I simply didn’t know how to wear it naturally. It's not straight, not curly—just somewhere in between, and honestly, kind of a mess. But over the last 4–5 years, I’ve made the decision to stop straightening it because I want it to grow longer and healthier.

Still, every time I wear my hair in its natural state, I feel… off. Not like the best version of myself. It’s just chaotic—some parts are curly, others are wavy, and the back has these loose, almost straight waves. On top of that, my hair is very fine, so most curl products either make it look wet or, even worse, oily.

The only time I actually enjoy how my hair looks is when I’m on vacation somewhere hot and humid (like in the last picture). In that weather, the curls define themselves a bit more—even with some frizz, which I actually like because it gives my hair volume and life.

Right now, my routine includes a shampoo which is not curl related, a curl conditioner, hydrating filler and a volumizing mousse. Occasionally, I’ll use a light oil after the mousse to soften things up. I’ve tried two curl creams—one with coconut oil that left my hair greasy and didn’t really do anything, and another that worked a bit better, but honestly, I don’t see much difference compared to just using the mousse.

If anyone has tips, product suggestions, or similar experiences, I’d really appreciate the advice!

a few styles I’ve tried over the years. I haven’t quite figured out cutting with scissors yet but I feel like I’ve gotten pretty good with clippers/guards (I think). Last pic is what it looks like currently

routine: wash 1-2 times a week with shea moisture coconut & hibiscus (curl & shine) shampoo. condition with purenature argon oil conditoner, apply ogx coconut curls leave in after shower, use shea moisture manuka honey + yogurt hair treatment once every couple of weeks

Routine: Malibu C Hard Water Wellness shampoo (alternating with Aussie Miracle Curls shampoo and Olaplex No. 4C clarifying shampoo), Aussie Miracle Curls conditioner, Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk curl cream, Garnier Pure Clean Styling Gel, Bounce Curl Define EdgeLift brush to style, Curlsmith Bonding Oil to SOTC.

I’m a year and a half into embracing my natural wavy/curly hair. Feeling like I’m getting the hang of it slowly! And yes I know the gel I use is not technically for curly hair, but I live in a place with basically no humidity so I don’t have to use a gel specifically made for curly hair, and the Garnier gel gives me a much better curl cast than the Aussie Instant Freeze one which I used for quite a while.

If u have any tips on wht to do with my hair it would be appreciated if u would give them. First pictures are after, in which I used leave in conditioner after washing with conditioner and shampoo, and the before is just shampoo and conditioner.

Hey everyone, so when I normally do my hair through it the week I use only a leave in conditioner; and my hair (after using a bounce curl brush) usually looks like the first picture. But then on wash day, when I shampoo my hair (with a clarifying shampoo) and I put a deep conditioner in it (also by bounce curl) and detangle it, it looks like the second pic. It feels way more frizzy than the picture shows, and even during the week after I wet my hair and put in conditioner it frizzes up. Does anyone know why this is ??? Is my hair damaged or something ? I’ve tried to research this problem but I can’t find anyone with a similar issue..

My hair routine is I brush my hair in the shower with conditioner and I shampoo after the conditioner. Once I get out, I use a cotton T-shirt to scrunchmy hair and get it dry and then I use leave in conditioner from Garnier Fructis. Then I use Garnier Fructis curl gel. I use a little bit of Pillow Soft Curls, then finish with Garnier Fructis sleek and shine hair spray while my hair is still wet. Then I throw it back up in the cotton T-shirt while the products settle.

As the title says, my hair is fine, soft, and easy to style, but the style doesn’t last long. The first two pictures are right before diffusing. The third shows my hair the next day. In the last photo I’ve included the products I use for styling.

How exactly am I supposed to refresh the curls? Water helps, but only for a few hours. Water + conditioner works about the same. Gels make my hair feel like hard instant noodles.

Any product recommendations? Thank you!

My routine:

I wash my hair every two days.

I use the Byphasse shampoo for curly hair.

I apply the Byphasse Keratin Mask.

After rinsing, I use a leave-in conditioner from the same company.

I spray on a heat-protective spray from Syoss.

I apply the Pantene coconut-infused oil.

Then I diffuse my hair.

and i mean like, if you told someone they'd probably look at you like ur crazy

im talking applying products on dry hair, hand lotion as curl cream you name it idc give me it!

my personal favorite is washing upside down Shampoo twice, take all the water out, detangle with conditioner do not let it sit immediately rinse it out basically my hair should not touch hydration at all- scurnch out nearly half the water with any towel (basically nearly drying my hair)and then scrunch in whatever i got like a very VERY small amount and then keep drying with towel gloves, until fully dry basically and after that airdry and keep flipping ur head until you develop neck pain and ur done!

somehow its my most complimented hair

Routine:

Not sure but next wash day i think its gonna be growus sea salt therapy, kundal conditioner, cake beauty gel to foam

I've been working on learning how to manage my hair for a couple years now as I've grown it out and really struggling to figure out what I need for my hair now, as if I'm only 75% of the way there. Currently for my routine I use Aussie curl shampoo, curl conditioner, and regular Aussie leave-in conditioner, air-dry my hair, and don't wear a bonnet to bed (though I'm planning on getting one soon). I also (embarrassingly) haven't gotten a haircut in half a year and not sure if I need something new that brings out the best in my hair and curls. Any help would be hugely appreciated 🫶

Above is what my hair looks like when I style it correctly, (I found it online.) My hair is super fine, my dad's hair is really thick and curly, and my mom's hair is fine, but my hair is finer than hers.

I don't know what to do, I typically do a baby shampoo, 2x a week, conditioner like 1x a week (the conditioner is Pure Clean Garnier Fructus, I hate it, it over conditions my hair and makes it greasy) and then I scrutch it and put it in a bun and sometimes add gel, hate my gel too, have La looks and Garnier fructus conditioning gel, (boy is that real flat when I use the Pure clean conditioner and that conditioning gel) I get a good wave when I do the bun thing, like the photo, but when I wake up I have to re-bun it to get it nice like the above, the next day. Please help, I don't know what I am doing wrong, and I want an easier way to do my hair than the bun thing. -Baby-Fine Hair

What challenges do you face when it comes to managing your curly hair?

Whether its tracking products that work for you, finding good routines, knowing your hair type, finding people with similar hair, testing ingredients, or anything else - drop it in this thread! 👇

I’ll respond to as many comments as I can with potential solutions, and hopefully the community will chime in too :)

*posted with an image cause for some reason it wouldn't allow me to post just text lol

Hello! I hope this is the right subreddit, bus I wanted to share my k18 journey! I decided to pick it up because I was desperate,after 10+ years of bleaching dying and straightening my hair , I gave in and started wearing them natural, mostly because I was losing a lot, and I'm left with half of the hair in thickness I always had my whole life. There is no more bleach on my hair, just hair dye and heat damage from straighten twice a week always. Yes the routine in every pic stayed exactly the same, products too, expect the last day where I decided to add gel😢 not a smart move! the difference in looks might not be too extreme, But they were incredibly dry before, Expecially the ends that felt like straws, even on wash days after masks, oils, conditioner, and every treatment possible. Now they're silky soft, ends too, I just don't know how 😭 yes, they still get dry and dehydrated on tge days after washday, but I do have really frizzy dry hair by nature They're a more defined! but most importantly, I have curls on my top layer and very close to my roots area! im glad this worked out good because the price point is really high🥲 I will continue using every 4th wash now, let's see how it goes!

Routine: I don’t do anything to it except conditioner it occasionally with (I believe head & shoulders) & I let it air-dry

okay, i probably shouldn't be on this app considering i am 15? and i havent been until recently. fffor a while, i had big frizzy 'straight' hair! and i think around 2 years ago, a video on tiktok popped up about a curly hair routine and there everything changed, i watched more videos and i was beginning to realize what my hair was really like! the problem? well, there's quite a few

• not many KNOWN products available (there are products but not as much or atleast not the very known ones)
• time & location ; what i mean by this is unfortunately, as i am a teen and blah school blah blah, i never really could buy anything for my hair yk? (not until last thursday) and the biggest problem? my parents, especially my mother

NOW dont get me wrong!! i love my mother, she means so much to me, but she has been a struggle nowadays when it comes to my hair, or even my skin, especially my hair 😞 couldn't buy, make or borrow anything, all i had was water and dreams 😭💔🙏 at one point i had a spray to help my hair not fall and i used that, i scrunched, and well..???? it was okay.. then i gave up, because i never thought id be able to return my hair to its natural state 💔

however..this recent months, especially late march and april, i started doing something new — like, twisting my hair in sections with just water and i managed to get spirals at thr end which i was quite happy for!!! then, as i mentioned, last thursday i went to the mall alone with my cousin only Alhamdiluah and i successfully bought a curl cream. secretly!

i tried it, and my hair is way defined than before! i cannot show pictures since stranger danger, but it is 2b with some 2a!

where's the problem you ask? well, my mom isn't happy with me taking care of my natural hair for some reason?? - she says i'm not allowed to have wavy/curly hair - she forces me to brush it - and she keeps telling me to go shower, that if someone gave me something or if i a bought a cream without her knowing (she aint wrong)

she calls my hair greasy (its the effect of having only a curl cream for a product i believe) and she even claimed "if you had wavy/curly hair id buy you things but its straight"... mind YOU, MY HAIR is WAVING hello to her face VERYYY clearly and she is AWARE since she seems so pissed off by it? 😭😞💔 what i'm asking for is help on how to take care of my hair without her knowing, and how to talk to her because she never lets me talk 🥸

my full routine (wash day) is shampoo, rinse, shampoo, rinse, conditioner, get out, wet again (i have high porosity), detangle, section, curl cream, brush style and scrunch, then when im done i microplop and plop with a microfiber towel, let it dry as much as it can (usually 80%), take the tiwel out, and let the rest airdry, then scrunch whatever is left when it's fully dried 😛

if this isnt the right place to ask, lmkk 🤞

There’s still some frizz (plic 3 😭) but I think that was me failing to distribute product correctly in the back (and also the fact it is currently raining.)

My routine is:

Wash once a week with shampoo (Carol’s daughter), condition (Carol’s daughter) while doing other Shower Tasks, then rinse.

I scrunch my hair under the water, then while dripping wet, apply my regular conditioner on my ends (carol’s daughter again…it’s a theme), “bowl method” scrunch my hair, then I apply gel to the ringlets.

Sometimes my hair is noncommittal and I use a curl defining brush, but I am still figuring out how to make that work for my hair so it’s not really part of the routine yet and I didn’t use it here.

When my hair is still pretty wet I put jojoba oil on the ends. Then I diffuse, or air dry, pending my motivation.

At night I use a bonnet and put jojoba oil on my ends again.

I also do a deep conditioning and detangling overnight situation the night before showering which is just a homemade mix of whatever on hand is hydrating.

Today is probably the tenth time I attempted to use a diffuser and I sectioned my hair this time (my first time doing this) and I think it made a difference!!

It only took me 30 years to figure this out!

Cut my hair short for the summer and I’m so happy with it!

The hairstylist used a leave in, curl cream and mousse and was slightly diffused. My routine is pretty much the same but I diffuse more.

I don’t get why they act as if wavy hair isn’t valid lol. What are wavy haired ppl meant to do? They act as if any texture outside their own isn’t worth taking care of. And god forbid a girl with wavy hair post it lol.

Some people will say, “If you need products for it to look curly, then you don’t have curly hair.” But why assume people need products? Why would they post a routine without using them? Please think before making silly comments.

Also not one person has been able to name a specific ingredient that would curl hair—most products just moisturize or create a gel film. It’s not magic lol

Some people don’t understand that many people have multiple textures on the same head. I saw someone with a mix of different patterns use a curling iron to match the texture. People were so upset in the comments. But what else is she supposed to do? It’s genetic! (I’m talking about Irish curls lol)

And people with long hair have more weighed down curls than people with short hair even if it’s the same pattern. Same with damage from heat or dye.

Does anyone know a really good clarifying shampoo with no harsh chemicals and actually works? I'm using Olaplex 4c at the moment and don't like that it has an Endocrine Disruptor in the ingredients. Please help!

My barber used to use thinning shears about a year ago and dry brush my hair and it looked like literal hay. This is my hair now, it is curling but is still always frizzy. I believe he may of thinned out my roots so I was thinking of getting a buzz cut. My routine is wash 2x a week with as I am shampoo and conditioner, then use as I leave in and curling jelly, diffuse my hair and use a clarifying shampoo occasionally. I have split ends which come back even when I cut them, idk if it had anything to do with the thinning shears. If is always fizzy no matter what even when it's wet. I'm so tired of it

I think my hair looks pretty cool while I’m in the shower, still pretty good when I get out, decent after styling, then as the day goes on I just try to avoid any reflective surfaces as my hair gets dryer and poofier. The only short term solution I’ve found is to go way overboard on leave-in conditioner, sometimes I mix it with a moisturizing masque before I apply it. I think I’m 3C and the strands are very thin. What can I do to keep it hanging down and looking longer, and not so poofy and looking like a q-tip?

Current routine: wash with Surface Curls shampoo every few days, condition with the matching conditioner, cowash with it on non-shampoo days, then follow it up with Surface Bassu Hydrating Masque and/or Marc Anthony Coconut & Shea Leave In Conditioner and/or Surface Curls Oil Gel, then air dry. I wear a silk bonnet at night and sleep on a silk pillowcase, neither one of them stops me from looking like “Doc” Emmet Brown in the mornings!

Hi! I’ve tried so many products but my hair never looks hydrated

Currently:

• Miele conditioner 2x a week
• Camille rose conditioner + leave in everyday
• shea moisture curl cream (occasionally used but not in the pic. It makes my hair crunchy and rough)

Hi I have 2c, low porosity hair. I’ve gotten two haircuts the past month to get rid of all my split ends. My hair wash routine includes using a hair mask once week, inner sense shampoo and conditioner, and the ouidad leave in conditioner after. I only brush my hair when wet. I use heat in my hair with protectant once every 2 weeks and sleep in a bonnet. I STILL see split ends and breakage popping up. My hair gets dry really fast, I just don’t know what else to do. Please any routine suggestions or holy grail products to hydrate my hair and prevent split ends?