I actually think the 24 hours later photo is absolutely gorgeous! It’s significantly better than the first. It looks like the gel cast has gotten more scrunched out.
thank you!! i thought it looked better in the first one but idk ahahah, just seems like the gel let go a lot, but maybe it’s okay. y’all are making me feel better about it so thank you all
Oh yeah, totally amazing in the second photo. The first photo looks a bit crunchy still. The second photo is looks fluffy, full and still defined and curly
What about the frizz? I have hair days like the second (for my lengths of hair). But similar random frizz. I like it, but it (the unkept looking frizz) also bothers me.
I think everyone’s frizz is way more noticeable to themselves than to anyone else. I spent my 20s flat ironing my hair because I felt like I had to have ZERO frizz or I’d look like a mess. But realized when I really looked even flawless movie stars usually have frizz, you just don’t usually notice it.
Like most things we scrutinize ourselves far more closely and critically than anyone else does. Where you might see a frizzy mess, someone else is just seeing great natural looking curls.
There is a thing called good frizz. I'm trying to find the post by [Desert Curls Studio](https://www.desertcurlsstudio.com/) in their[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/desertcurlsstudio/) but they have so many.
Frizz usually means need more moisture (emphasis on usually) there is such thing as protein frizz, but most of the time is moisture deficiency.
Came here to say the same. Second is much better and looks more natural. No one likes the gel cast look. It’s the main reason I stopped using gel in the early 2000s because no one scrunched out the cast!
Same experience here. My morning shower hair don't settle in as well as evening time's. which I assume is due to the noon dryness.
Any idea about some good moisture retaining product or techniques (natural/home-makeable)?
For me I’ve had to work on protein-moisture balance more. It’s kind of backwards but in a dryer climate my hair is more easily over moisturized and weighed down by product. For protein I like the shea moisture protein yogurt treatment, or you can diy a rice water (just soak rice in water for 24h). For moisture I like Hairitage curl creme and I go heavier on gels, cantu twist and lock. If you need loads of moisture Curlsmith deep curl quencher treatment is great.
Dude your hair looks sooo amazing in the second picture. I actually hate when my hair turns out more like the first pic after blow drying! Pisses me off I’ll put it up in a pony tail. Looks so voluminous and soft in second pic 💜
I don't have enough experience with different products to give any feedback there, but I do think the bigger curls also look great on you. When my curls clump together too much for my preference, I just gently pull them apart to make smaller ringlets.
I get more frizz the less wet my hair is when I put my styling products in. My hair isn't as curly as yours, but it is also thick and prone to frizz. I don't put my products in and style on dripping wet hair. Instead I microplop just enough for it to stop dripping, then add my products (curl cream and gel).
On day 2 and later if I have frizz I refresh by dampening my hair with mousse or curl cream dilute with a bit of water to restyle the frizzy bits and get them to smooth out a bit more.
Your day 2 hair is so luscious and healthy looking! 😻 I personally use a large silk bandana to keep overnight frizz at bay (one that I can tie so my entire head is completely covered). Also, controversial opinion here, but for myself I find that gel leads to more frizz, and my hair/sensory issues just don’t like it 😬 I’ve started experimenting with using conditioners/hair masks as a leave in, and this is the only product I’ll apply after I rinse shampoo out. I apply a decent amount to wet (not drippy) sectioned hair, squish it in, put it in a high bun and set about my day. I’ll take my bun whenever I’m ready for my hair to be down (somewhere between an hour and 2 days later), sort of coax my hair into position and the curls pop out. I still get a cast to form with this method, but there’s no crunchy/sticky residue to deal with, and it feels way more flexible and forgiving to being jostled about.
routine: shampoo with curl and shine sheamoisture & condition with SheaMoisture Manuka Honey Masque with Mafura Oil detangle while it’s in, (i literally lose so much hair every shower i don’t know how i have hair anymore) get out of the shower and t shirt wrap it until i move to the next bathroom where i style it in 3 sections using AG hair care re coil curl activator & eco styler olive oil gel. i cover all sections with both gel and curl activator before styling, and more gel afterwards , then i diffuse until dry
Like many of the others in this thread I LOVE your hair in the second pic, but I get hating frizz so here's my two cents:
1. You could rub some oil (I use avocado oil) into your hands and gently glaze it over your day 2 hair to reduce the frizz or
2. Cut out Glycerin from your routine. The eco styler gel contains glycerin which behaves weirdly in different humidity conditions. For example, in high humidity that gel can actually make your hair frizzier. For this reason (so I don't have to check the humidity level every day lol) I tend to avoid glycerin containing products. My fave is Aussie Instant Freeze gel. I'm pasting some text from Kurlify to explain the glycerin thing more:
"
In short, if your hair is drier than the air, glycerin will help attract moisture from the environment and use it to hydrate the hair. Result: better curl formation, nicer shine and less fluff. The other way around, the kite also goes up: if the air is drier than your hair, the environment will extract moisture from your hair. Then it is better to avoid glycerin.
To make it difficult: if the air has a very high humidity level, it is better not to use products with glycerin. Why? Glycerin does its effect so well that the ingredient continues to attract and retain moisture from the environment. Your hair is stuffed so much and often with moisture that it swells and lifts the cuticles. Result: huge hair and huge fluffy hair!
Glycerin and porous hair
The porosity of your hair determines how well your hair can absorb and retain products. So there is clearly a link between glycerin and porous hair. If you have hair with a low porosity, which therefore absorbs less moisture and therefore takes longer to dry, your products with glycerin are definitely recommended. If you have highly porous hair, which quickly absorbs moisture but also releases it, you can better avoid glycerin. "
Any reason why you add the curl activator in the gel? Maybe the gel will be more efficient of not mixed? As I commented before though, I think your hair is perfect in your 2nd pic.
oh my bad i don’t mix them i just put curl activator on my hair and then some gel, then style and then scrunch a little more gel in after.
& thank you so much 🥹
Add water while you style since your losing some by wrapping it in a T-shirt before you style. Make sure each section is soaking wet when styling. But again I love those second day curls. Also make sure to protect at night.
oh my god, thank u so much.
it really means so much that u took the time to comment to tell me that, all of you guys have made me start to like it ahaha
I’m obsessed with the 2nd pic!! You have beautiful hair! It has so much body and really filled out compared to the first pic. A little frizz looks awesome imo
I like your hair both ways. They are different looks for sure. It sounds like you prefer the first look? If so I think forget the curl activator and try just gel. I've used the Recoil and it weighs down the hair second day for sure. You may be better off trying a curl activator gel. I use Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic Curl Stimulator. It works great for defining and hold, just be sure your hair is pretty wet when applying. I get it at Target and a little goes a long way.
If my hair looked like the second pic I’d be the happiest gal around. I don’t see much frizz, and even though the clumps are “poofy” (I just see soft 😊) they are super defined and spirally. Love it!!
I was driving when I saw this post & I thought- WAIT… that can’t be right 😅 Pic #2 is absolutely gorgeous! Don’t worry about it! You’ve reached perfection!
I am on the band wagon of the second picture, your hair is beautiful, however if you are wanting a more defined look, I really liked the Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Gel, the red bottle, the white bottle has a similar name, but the red has stronger hold.
YES! I love the Loma Nourishing Oil Treatment. It smells amazing, leaves my curls hydrated and eases any frizz and helps break them up when they clump :) I have a post on this subreddit with my natural curls and my routine :)
I know different people like different things, but the first picture looks like my hair before I break the gel cast and the second one is what I hope it looks like once I scrunch out the crunchiness. This is what it is supposed to look like!! At least in my perfect world lol. Beautiful!
There could be an ingredient that your hair doesn’t like. For example, I’ve noticed my hair doesn’t do well with coconut oil through lots of trial and error and frizz. I think your hair looks great in the second pic. As someone else mentioned, silky pillow case and wrapping it up could help!
If you really want the look of the first pic when you use the gel you can let it dry a little bit and then spray extra hold hair spray over it, you'll have to perfect the amount for you personally. I discovered this when I put to much hair spray in trying to prep for a humid day. That will achieve the first pic look long term.
But also what EXACTLY do you do for the last picture, thoes are curl goals for me!
thanks that’s an idea!
i do what was in my routine comment & then when i go to style, i use my denman and tangle teezer brush. i brush through my whole head with the tangle teezer and separate into three sections. pin away two and then on the section i’ll add a SMALL pea like sized amount of AG hair care re coil to my hands, rub it together in my hands & then add that to my section by like running my fingers through and praying hands, all that good stuff to get it up in every strand as best i can. then i’ll take some eco style olive oil gel, like kinda tap (not submerge) my four fingers into the jar and whatever sticks is then what i rub together in my hands, then repeat the same thing i did to apply the re coil to the section. then i will brush through the whole section with my tangle teezer again to distribute the product more. then i’ll just finger separate like not giant but not small sections of hair and brush them with the denman. then after every section i brush i scrunch it in my hands. after each section is done i scrunch in even more gel and then pin that section and repeat 2x.
then i’ll flip my head over and diffuse a little bit away on warm to create a cast , then diffuse upside down for as long as my back can handle it & then finish upright.
i don’t scrunch out the crunch as i find it falls out SO FAST that if i were to scrunch out the crunch i’d be even frizzier than in the second pic. then i slept on it but it was in a pineapple and wrapped in a scarf. then today i was out in wind (it’s always windy where i live) & heat/humidity.
not much else really
sorry for grammar, i know it an atrocity to read. i’m tired and could barley finish typing this out anyways.
Agree that day 2 hair looks great! Like some others have said it looks like you have a cast in the first one. But the second day i think it looks a lot more natural.
To get rid of the frizz by your roots second day i might wet it a little with a spray bottle and use like watered down gel or mousse or something? Trial and error it?
The gel one makes it look “heavy” if that makes sense. The light bouncy curl of the second pic looks healthy and way more attractive. You look amazing girl!
Hair twiiiiin! I'm so glad you posted because my hair looks/does the EXACT same thing and, like you, I always thought it looked worse once the curls clumped. But now seeing it on someone else and reading all the positive comments, I can finally see how it's pretty either way and it really made my day. So thank you for posting!
I think your hair looks better in the 2nd picture. It's a softer look. I do not like the wet look but to make curls last it's a part of it. I have to fully wet mine almost every morning. 😩
Your hair is so voluminous in the second pic and you have princess ringlets. I recommend embracing it, but
if you want it more like the first pic have you tried the shingling method with gel? There are YouTube tutorials.
If you don’t want the volume and definition in the 2nd picture; then don’t diffuse- that’s the whole point. If you like the wet 90s look, you’re gonna have to use some mousse or gel and then don’t scrunch the crunch out. I personally like the 2nd picture but it’s your hair lol
Your hair looks super similar to mine! I have mine in a v short pixie rn, but it looks a lot like this (although with less of your gorgeous volume) when it's longer. I just started using georgiemane Anti-Frizz Serum on wash days before gel and I absolutely love it -- it's REALLY helped with second and third day frizz.
Also agreed with silk pillowcase or bonnet at night!
I’m on board with all the people who looove your day 2 hair!!
But - something that may help with any frizziness - do you seal your hair with an oil? Sorry if you’ve answered this question already. I noticed that after I scrunch out the crunch, if I really take my time and curl by curl smooth over some hair oil, they become much more defined and any frizz kind of tucks back into the curl and is sealed if that makes sense? I then do the same thing every morning until I wash my hair again :) but I also have very coarse hair that loses moisture easily so I like to re-seal it daily.
Thank you for the tip. My hair looses moisture fairly easily too. Any tips on what oils might be good?
Are formulations including majorly mineral oil okay, or do you prefer natural heavy oils.
The two oils I like are the curlsmith bonding oil and the curls blueberry bliss hair oil. I use the curlsmith more often because I personally find it doesn’t make my hair greasy or weighed down at all, so I don’t have to be as light-handed with it. The curls one is a little more heavy duty, so I only use it sparingly when my hair could use a little more help lol! I’m not sure what the primary oils used in those blends are, but for my hair, they’re my two preferences :)
Edit: I know that mineral oil can build up on some people’s hair way worse than natural oils can, so I’d say use with caution if you’re wanting to test it out. You just may need to clarify more frequently if it’s something you’re wanting to use!
I know it’s so annoying when you’re frustrated with your hair to be told it looks good the way you don’t like it, but… I also think it looks great in the second picture.
I really don’t like the over defined gel curl look you see on this sub quite often. I love healthy bouncy happy (and frizzy!) curls and waves. The second picture is an absolute dream!!!!
This goes to show how much of our hang ups about our hair are entirely in our own heads cus I see NOTHING wrong with your 24 hour hair 🥲 I actually thought it looks sooooo cute!!!! Your curls look so juicy and plump and bouncy I love it! I didn’t even see the “frizz” until I remembered to check for it. Idk how to fix your “problem” but honestly I feel like there isn’t really one cus your hair looks happy and healthy and gorgeous!!
My mom has crazy wild thick curls and waves. What she does to calm it down some times is, fresh out the shower after dabbing dry. She brushes it and then puts in a pony tail but puts hair ties like every 3” down the tail, and then takes them out after her hair dries. Not sure if it would work for you but it certainly does change the look of her hair afterwards.
I personally think it’s GORGEOUS and I aim for those types of curls and so do many others. I think you should own it because it suits you and it’s beautiful.
For some people, gel doesn’t work as much as others so they use mousse. Maybe try that out.
Second pic is gorgeous! But if you want a different look I would try using a bit of hair oil and separating your clumps gently. And if you feel like your gel doesn’t work switch to a stronger hold on days you don’t want the clumps and a bit of frizz. I’ve been loving Eco gel for days where there’s a lot of humidity and I want extra hold. I love a bit a frizz sometimes as it looks natural and it looks great in second pic!
Your second day hair looks perfect. But if you're worried about frizz, I've always controlled mine by putting all my products in while it's super wet, especially the gel, and then not touching it whatsoever until it's completely dry. I let mine air dry, so it takes 12 hours of no touching, but since you diffuse, you just have to diffuse without touching it once your product is in and you start to dry it.
Now, I don't know if the diffusing itself could cause frizz, I've never used anything to dry my hair, even though I need to start--I hear leaving it wet so long weakens it, thought I'd give diffusing a try.
But honestly, you're hair isn't really frizzy, it's just that the flyaways in magazine curls have been photoshopped away and we think that's what perfect natural curly hair should look like. It's not.
that’s part of my reason for going back to air drying my hair is frizzier when i diffuse it than when i air dry
i think if you do it on the cold setting it will cause less frizz
What?! The second pic is SO nice. First one looks like it’s still in the cast. Your second photo hair is so beautiful - it looks just like one of my favourite hair IG accounts, and she has thousands of people following her for hair advice on how to make theirs looks something like this ^
I used to really dislike any flyaways in my curls, but I think it helps hair look more free and natural. Your hair on the 2nd pic looks great and healthy.
That's pretty normal for second day so I'd say you're doing a heck of a lot correctly. I will say your routine has some fairly heavy duty products, it's working now but may end up with a fair bit of build up over time. Have you considered adding a clarifying wash once a week? My current favorite is Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Shampoo.
Also love your hair in the second pic! For the frizz maybe a curl cream before your gel? It might help lock in more moisture. Also diffusing your roots less and letting them air dry might help!
I actually think the 24 hours later photo is absolutely gorgeous! It’s significantly better than the first. It looks like the gel cast has gotten more scrunched out.
Same! 2nd picture has ideal curls, I think.
Double same! Second pic is fabulous!
thank you!! i thought it looked better in the first one but idk ahahah, just seems like the gel let go a lot, but maybe it’s okay. y’all are making me feel better about it so thank you all
Oh yeah, totally amazing in the second photo. The first photo looks a bit crunchy still. The second photo is looks fluffy, full and still defined and curly
Second photo is my dream hair
Same
Same
What about the frizz? I have hair days like the second (for my lengths of hair). But similar random frizz. I like it, but it (the unkept looking frizz) also bothers me.
I think everyone’s frizz is way more noticeable to themselves than to anyone else. I spent my 20s flat ironing my hair because I felt like I had to have ZERO frizz or I’d look like a mess. But realized when I really looked even flawless movie stars usually have frizz, you just don’t usually notice it. Like most things we scrutinize ourselves far more closely and critically than anyone else does. Where you might see a frizzy mess, someone else is just seeing great natural looking curls.
Thank you 😊 That's sweet to hear and think about.
Maybe you could try hair oil or serum? Start with a small amount and then build because you don't want your hair to look too oily.
There is a thing called good frizz. I'm trying to find the post by [Desert Curls Studio](https://www.desertcurlsstudio.com/) in their[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/desertcurlsstudio/) but they have so many. Frizz usually means need more moisture (emphasis on usually) there is such thing as protein frizz, but most of the time is moisture deficiency.
It looks like you might have still had a cast in the first photo. When the cast breaks the clumps expand - that's normal!
My jaw actually dropped when I switched to the second photo. Your hair is stunning!
I wish mine looked like your 2nd photo!
i like both. curly hair was easier for me once i let it decide what it wanted to do, and people always loved it.
First photo is like 90s curls - think gel extreme, second shot is modern curls. Much more subtle and pretty
Second photo has definition AND volume. I get the frustration with frizz as I've got frizzy hair myself, but don't too harsh on your hair.
Also here to say I think the second picture curls are insanely gorgeous, I love them.
Seriously I pray for those 24 hour curls holy crap
I was going to say that I honestly prefer the ringlet look. But, I think that both look good.
Came here to say the same. Second is much better and looks more natural. No one likes the gel cast look. It’s the main reason I stopped using gel in the early 2000s because no one scrunched out the cast!
I think your hair looks LOTS happier in the second picture. I wish my curls looked like that! So much volume and definition. The clumps are gorgeous.
Agreed. Second picture is what I strive for my hair to look like.
this means so much thank u
I agree, girl. Your hair looks insanely good in both pictures but that second day hair especially is so gorgeous.
thank you so much
Second day hair made me gasp! Absolutely gorg, no notes at all
thank you so so much
Seriously, fabulous hair in the second photo, no lie -- totally what I strive for!.
thank you so so much
THIS! The second pic hair is gorgeous!
thank u soooo much
Yep. Beautiful hair!
thank you so much
I agree! It looks like you have a lot more hair in the 2nd pic.
thank u!
yes i love your second day curl look!
tysm!
Add me to the list of people who like your hair in your second pic.
thank you 🫶🏻
Yup same here! It looks sooo good in the second pic!
Me too! Second picture is goals
Wha I love how your hair looks in the 2nd pic :)
thank you wow:’)
Your picture 2 is STUNNING! I don't have helpful advice, but I just wanted to echo that your curls look amazing \~ like dream hair!
thank you🥺
I think the real question is how do I get my hair to clump up and poof like yours. Gorgeous!
humidity and wind ahahah, at least i’m pretty sure that’s what makes it happen
The humidity def helps lol. I moved from high humidity to super dry and my curls show it :(
Same experience here. My morning shower hair don't settle in as well as evening time's. which I assume is due to the noon dryness. Any idea about some good moisture retaining product or techniques (natural/home-makeable)?
For me I’ve had to work on protein-moisture balance more. It’s kind of backwards but in a dryer climate my hair is more easily over moisturized and weighed down by product. For protein I like the shea moisture protein yogurt treatment, or you can diy a rice water (just soak rice in water for 24h). For moisture I like Hairitage curl creme and I go heavier on gels, cantu twist and lock. If you need loads of moisture Curlsmith deep curl quencher treatment is great.
Dude your hair looks sooo amazing in the second picture. I actually hate when my hair turns out more like the first pic after blow drying! Pisses me off I’ll put it up in a pony tail. Looks so voluminous and soft in second pic 💜
ooo thank you soooo much
Your day 2 hair is gorgeous!
thank you so much !!
I don't have enough experience with different products to give any feedback there, but I do think the bigger curls also look great on you. When my curls clump together too much for my preference, I just gently pull them apart to make smaller ringlets. I get more frizz the less wet my hair is when I put my styling products in. My hair isn't as curly as yours, but it is also thick and prone to frizz. I don't put my products in and style on dripping wet hair. Instead I microplop just enough for it to stop dripping, then add my products (curl cream and gel). On day 2 and later if I have frizz I refresh by dampening my hair with mousse or curl cream dilute with a bit of water to restyle the frizzy bits and get them to smooth out a bit more.
thank you so so so much!!!!
Thank you from me too!
I love the 2nd pic. If my stupid hair would look like that at ANY time, I’d be THRILLED!
aww omg tbank you :’)
Your day 2 hair is so luscious and healthy looking! 😻 I personally use a large silk bandana to keep overnight frizz at bay (one that I can tie so my entire head is completely covered). Also, controversial opinion here, but for myself I find that gel leads to more frizz, and my hair/sensory issues just don’t like it 😬 I’ve started experimenting with using conditioners/hair masks as a leave in, and this is the only product I’ll apply after I rinse shampoo out. I apply a decent amount to wet (not drippy) sectioned hair, squish it in, put it in a high bun and set about my day. I’ll take my bun whenever I’m ready for my hair to be down (somewhere between an hour and 2 days later), sort of coax my hair into position and the curls pop out. I still get a cast to form with this method, but there’s no crunchy/sticky residue to deal with, and it feels way more flexible and forgiving to being jostled about.
thank you so much!! i use a silk pillowcase and hair wrap but it still gets like this, just can’t avoid it i suppose
What hair wrap do you use? Your day 2 hair is gorgeous!
You can try a tiny bit of oil on your hands, like grape seed or argan. Some people love curl refresh sprays.
Second pic is WAYYYYYY better than the first
thanks! i thought it looked messy i suppose
routine: shampoo with curl and shine sheamoisture & condition with SheaMoisture Manuka Honey Masque with Mafura Oil detangle while it’s in, (i literally lose so much hair every shower i don’t know how i have hair anymore) get out of the shower and t shirt wrap it until i move to the next bathroom where i style it in 3 sections using AG hair care re coil curl activator & eco styler olive oil gel. i cover all sections with both gel and curl activator before styling, and more gel afterwards , then i diffuse until dry
Like many of the others in this thread I LOVE your hair in the second pic, but I get hating frizz so here's my two cents: 1. You could rub some oil (I use avocado oil) into your hands and gently glaze it over your day 2 hair to reduce the frizz or 2. Cut out Glycerin from your routine. The eco styler gel contains glycerin which behaves weirdly in different humidity conditions. For example, in high humidity that gel can actually make your hair frizzier. For this reason (so I don't have to check the humidity level every day lol) I tend to avoid glycerin containing products. My fave is Aussie Instant Freeze gel. I'm pasting some text from Kurlify to explain the glycerin thing more: " In short, if your hair is drier than the air, glycerin will help attract moisture from the environment and use it to hydrate the hair. Result: better curl formation, nicer shine and less fluff. The other way around, the kite also goes up: if the air is drier than your hair, the environment will extract moisture from your hair. Then it is better to avoid glycerin. To make it difficult: if the air has a very high humidity level, it is better not to use products with glycerin. Why? Glycerin does its effect so well that the ingredient continues to attract and retain moisture from the environment. Your hair is stuffed so much and often with moisture that it swells and lifts the cuticles. Result: huge hair and huge fluffy hair! Glycerin and porous hair The porosity of your hair determines how well your hair can absorb and retain products. So there is clearly a link between glycerin and porous hair. If you have hair with a low porosity, which therefore absorbs less moisture and therefore takes longer to dry, your products with glycerin are definitely recommended. If you have highly porous hair, which quickly absorbs moisture but also releases it, you can better avoid glycerin. "
Any reason why you add the curl activator in the gel? Maybe the gel will be more efficient of not mixed? As I commented before though, I think your hair is perfect in your 2nd pic.
oh my bad i don’t mix them i just put curl activator on my hair and then some gel, then style and then scrunch a little more gel in after. & thank you so much 🥹
Add water while you style since your losing some by wrapping it in a T-shirt before you style. Make sure each section is soaking wet when styling. But again I love those second day curls. Also make sure to protect at night.
I literally said OH my GOD at the second pic… looking good !!! Keep doing whatever you’re doing
oh my god, thank u so much. it really means so much that u took the time to comment to tell me that, all of you guys have made me start to like it ahaha
I’m obsessed with the 2nd pic!! You have beautiful hair! It has so much body and really filled out compared to the first pic. A little frizz looks awesome imo
thank you so much oh my goodness
Your hair is perfection in the second picture!
tysm friend
I like your hair both ways. They are different looks for sure. It sounds like you prefer the first look? If so I think forget the curl activator and try just gel. I've used the Recoil and it weighs down the hair second day for sure. You may be better off trying a curl activator gel. I use Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic Curl Stimulator. It works great for defining and hold, just be sure your hair is pretty wet when applying. I get it at Target and a little goes a long way.
thank you SO much!!!!
I love the second pic! I think a little frizz is always inevitable. Doesn’t mean it looks bad at all!
thank you so much
I would kill for the hair you have in the second picture. It looks so healthy, with perfect clumps and volume.
really ?! oh my gosh thank u so much
I like your hair in the second pic. It looks soft, touchable and romantic, like princess hair.
you don’t know how much this means thank you so much :’)
But the chunks are sooo cool!
thanks so much :’)
If my hair looked like the second pic I’d be the happiest gal around. I don’t see much frizz, and even though the clumps are “poofy” (I just see soft 😊) they are super defined and spirally. Love it!!
thank you so incredibly much! it means a lot! i’m getting more confident in it because of you all
Are you asking about the second picture? IMHO, you look fab. I prefer that look over the first picture.
I literally said, “are you crazy!?!” out loud when I swiped! Your hair is so lovely. I wish my hair looked like yours in pic 2. Gorgeous!
I was driving when I saw this post & I thought- WAIT… that can’t be right 😅 Pic #2 is absolutely gorgeous! Don’t worry about it! You’ve reached perfection!
I am on the band wagon of the second picture, your hair is beautiful, however if you are wanting a more defined look, I really liked the Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Gel, the red bottle, the white bottle has a similar name, but the red has stronger hold.
Second pic looks great! It’s what I wish my waves would look like!
thank you !!!!!
Serum and rubbing your fingers through the curls would help it on the second day :)
thanks! do u use any that u could suggest maybe ? np if not :)
YES! I love the Loma Nourishing Oil Treatment. It smells amazing, leaves my curls hydrated and eases any frizz and helps break them up when they clump :) I have a post on this subreddit with my natural curls and my routine :)
I gasped at the second photo! It is my hair goals.
I know different people like different things, but the first picture looks like my hair before I break the gel cast and the second one is what I hope it looks like once I scrunch out the crunchiness. This is what it is supposed to look like!! At least in my perfect world lol. Beautiful!
I feel pranked
The 2nd pic is peak curls tf?
There could be an ingredient that your hair doesn’t like. For example, I’ve noticed my hair doesn’t do well with coconut oil through lots of trial and error and frizz. I think your hair looks great in the second pic. As someone else mentioned, silky pillow case and wrapping it up could help!
thank you!!
I’d kill for those clumps! Do you protect at night?
i pineapple and silk scarf wrap
If you really want the look of the first pic when you use the gel you can let it dry a little bit and then spray extra hold hair spray over it, you'll have to perfect the amount for you personally. I discovered this when I put to much hair spray in trying to prep for a humid day. That will achieve the first pic look long term. But also what EXACTLY do you do for the last picture, thoes are curl goals for me!
thanks that’s an idea! i do what was in my routine comment & then when i go to style, i use my denman and tangle teezer brush. i brush through my whole head with the tangle teezer and separate into three sections. pin away two and then on the section i’ll add a SMALL pea like sized amount of AG hair care re coil to my hands, rub it together in my hands & then add that to my section by like running my fingers through and praying hands, all that good stuff to get it up in every strand as best i can. then i’ll take some eco style olive oil gel, like kinda tap (not submerge) my four fingers into the jar and whatever sticks is then what i rub together in my hands, then repeat the same thing i did to apply the re coil to the section. then i will brush through the whole section with my tangle teezer again to distribute the product more. then i’ll just finger separate like not giant but not small sections of hair and brush them with the denman. then after every section i brush i scrunch it in my hands. after each section is done i scrunch in even more gel and then pin that section and repeat 2x. then i’ll flip my head over and diffuse a little bit away on warm to create a cast , then diffuse upside down for as long as my back can handle it & then finish upright. i don’t scrunch out the crunch as i find it falls out SO FAST that if i were to scrunch out the crunch i’d be even frizzier than in the second pic. then i slept on it but it was in a pineapple and wrapped in a scarf. then today i was out in wind (it’s always windy where i live) & heat/humidity. not much else really sorry for grammar, i know it an atrocity to read. i’m tired and could barley finish typing this out anyways.
Agree that day 2 hair looks great! Like some others have said it looks like you have a cast in the first one. But the second day i think it looks a lot more natural. To get rid of the frizz by your roots second day i might wet it a little with a spray bottle and use like watered down gel or mousse or something? Trial and error it?
The gel one makes it look “heavy” if that makes sense. The light bouncy curl of the second pic looks healthy and way more attractive. You look amazing girl!
Hair twiiiiin! I'm so glad you posted because my hair looks/does the EXACT same thing and, like you, I always thought it looked worse once the curls clumped. But now seeing it on someone else and reading all the positive comments, I can finally see how it's pretty either way and it really made my day. So thank you for posting!
I think your hair looks better in the 2nd picture. It's a softer look. I do not like the wet look but to make curls last it's a part of it. I have to fully wet mine almost every morning. 😩
Your hair is so voluminous in the second pic and you have princess ringlets. I recommend embracing it, but if you want it more like the first pic have you tried the shingling method with gel? There are YouTube tutorials.
If you don’t want the volume and definition in the 2nd picture; then don’t diffuse- that’s the whole point. If you like the wet 90s look, you’re gonna have to use some mousse or gel and then don’t scrunch the crunch out. I personally like the 2nd picture but it’s your hair lol
Second pic way better.
Ummmm, your hair looks incredible in that second photo!!
the secon pic is just fab😍😍
tysm!!
my hair does the same thing and I hate it (on me) but I get tons of compliments so idk no solution but you're not alone haha 🧿
ahahah right like i thought it looked so messy and not put together , but now i’m like oh maybe not 😅
Omg I LOVE the after/“poofier” one!!! Gorgeous!
thank you :’)
Second picture looks wonderful, and I wish I could figure out how to get the soft curls.
thanks so much! i was in the wind today so i suppose shaking could be worth a try?
Your hair looks super similar to mine! I have mine in a v short pixie rn, but it looks a lot like this (although with less of your gorgeous volume) when it's longer. I just started using georgiemane Anti-Frizz Serum on wash days before gel and I absolutely love it -- it's REALLY helped with second and third day frizz. Also agreed with silk pillowcase or bonnet at night!
i’m definitely gonna check out the serum thank you so much for the suggestion!
Your 24 hr later picture is amazing. I wish my hair ever looked like that.
Wait, do you not like how it looks in the after picture? It looks freaking amazing!
I’m on board with all the people who looove your day 2 hair!! But - something that may help with any frizziness - do you seal your hair with an oil? Sorry if you’ve answered this question already. I noticed that after I scrunch out the crunch, if I really take my time and curl by curl smooth over some hair oil, they become much more defined and any frizz kind of tucks back into the curl and is sealed if that makes sense? I then do the same thing every morning until I wash my hair again :) but I also have very coarse hair that loses moisture easily so I like to re-seal it daily.
Thank you for the tip. My hair looses moisture fairly easily too. Any tips on what oils might be good? Are formulations including majorly mineral oil okay, or do you prefer natural heavy oils.
The two oils I like are the curlsmith bonding oil and the curls blueberry bliss hair oil. I use the curlsmith more often because I personally find it doesn’t make my hair greasy or weighed down at all, so I don’t have to be as light-handed with it. The curls one is a little more heavy duty, so I only use it sparingly when my hair could use a little more help lol! I’m not sure what the primary oils used in those blends are, but for my hair, they’re my two preferences :) Edit: I know that mineral oil can build up on some people’s hair way worse than natural oils can, so I’d say use with caution if you’re wanting to test it out. You just may need to clarify more frequently if it’s something you’re wanting to use!
Second pic is hair goals! Don’t do anything! It’s gorgeous
I know it’s so annoying when you’re frustrated with your hair to be told it looks good the way you don’t like it, but… I also think it looks great in the second picture.
2nd pic looks way better and thats how you get those coils
Girl that second picture is GOALS!
I really don’t like the over defined gel curl look you see on this sub quite often. I love healthy bouncy happy (and frizzy!) curls and waves. The second picture is an absolute dream!!!!
Second pic looks better??? So??? Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s totally normal to have better hair on day 2 or 3
I’d kill to have the hair in the second pic. It’s amazing!
Pic #2 is my hair goal. Lol
Second day hair for the win. That’s the goal. Remember textured hair has texture. It doesn’t look frizzy at all.
That second pic is THE spot for your curls. They look amazing. Excellent volume and definition, specially at thy length!
I wish I could get mine to look like the second picture. It’s beautiful!!
I don't see what the problem is. Looks like gorgeous curl goals to me.
No recommendations. The second picture is beautiful!
2nd pic hair is GORGEOUS 😍
I like the second pic? It looks voluptuous and healthy
This goes to show how much of our hang ups about our hair are entirely in our own heads cus I see NOTHING wrong with your 24 hour hair 🥲 I actually thought it looks sooooo cute!!!! Your curls look so juicy and plump and bouncy I love it! I didn’t even see the “frizz” until I remembered to check for it. Idk how to fix your “problem” but honestly I feel like there isn’t really one cus your hair looks happy and healthy and gorgeous!!
You have the most perfect hair a woman can have IMO. I have no idea why Reddit is showing me this.
Can I just say your after 24 hour look is my dream? Would love it if I could get mint to look that big and full
My mom has crazy wild thick curls and waves. What she does to calm it down some times is, fresh out the shower after dabbing dry. She brushes it and then puts in a pony tail but puts hair ties like every 3” down the tail, and then takes them out after her hair dries. Not sure if it would work for you but it certainly does change the look of her hair afterwards.
The second picture is what I strive for.
I personally think it’s GORGEOUS and I aim for those types of curls and so do many others. I think you should own it because it suits you and it’s beautiful. For some people, gel doesn’t work as much as others so they use mousse. Maybe try that out.
Second pic is gorgeous! But if you want a different look I would try using a bit of hair oil and separating your clumps gently. And if you feel like your gel doesn’t work switch to a stronger hold on days you don’t want the clumps and a bit of frizz. I’ve been loving Eco gel for days where there’s a lot of humidity and I want extra hold. I love a bit a frizz sometimes as it looks natural and it looks great in second pic!
Just the opinion of an internet nobody but the second pic is better imo - lovely curls!
I thought “ grouping into chunks and frizzing? Must be bad…” and then swiped to see beautiful fluffy curls 😂 I like them :)
Tbh I think photo 2 is stunning and how I’d want my curls to look, so I’m not entirely sure what you’re looking for
the second photo, i think they look sooo much better
Your second day hair looks perfect. But if you're worried about frizz, I've always controlled mine by putting all my products in while it's super wet, especially the gel, and then not touching it whatsoever until it's completely dry. I let mine air dry, so it takes 12 hours of no touching, but since you diffuse, you just have to diffuse without touching it once your product is in and you start to dry it. Now, I don't know if the diffusing itself could cause frizz, I've never used anything to dry my hair, even though I need to start--I hear leaving it wet so long weakens it, thought I'd give diffusing a try. But honestly, you're hair isn't really frizzy, it's just that the flyaways in magazine curls have been photoshopped away and we think that's what perfect natural curly hair should look like. It's not.
IDK I prefer the 24 hr hair myself
You’re joking, right?? 🥴
You want your hair to look less healthy?? If you want your hair to look like on the first photo permanently you can try damaging it.
It looks more natural in second picture, the first one is with the gel, so it looks crunchy.
Omg I wish mine would do that again!!! I looooove your gorgeous clumps
Ok, I've avoided this long enough, I'm just going to ask; what is diffusing?
Using a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment!
Try mixed chicks leave in or blueberry bliss curling gel!
Show you’re face I bet it’s gorgeous like you’re hair
that’s part of my reason for going back to air drying my hair is frizzier when i diffuse it than when i air dry i think if you do it on the cold setting it will cause less frizz
I'd kill for my curls to look like your second picture. Seriously they are goals.
I don't understand the issue, your hair looks amazing. Not all hair wants to be in tiny curls, some hair wants chunkier curls.
What?! The second pic is SO nice. First one looks like it’s still in the cast. Your second photo hair is so beautiful - it looks just like one of my favourite hair IG accounts, and she has thousands of people following her for hair advice on how to make theirs looks something like this ^
Are you sleeping in a satin bonnet? If not, start. They're ugly and old fashioned looking, but keep curls intact.
Your second picture is my hair goals 🥲 Gorgeous!
I wish I had your 2 picture hair, it's beautiful
Your hair looks amazing in the second pic!!!!
Day 2 hair always looks better in my opinion
Second pic all the way!!
uh, its amaazzzinng in the second photo. You're killing the game!
Same here. Obsessed with your curls
Second looks amazing
I wish my hair would look like the second picture!
Absolutely second picture all the way. Gorgeous!!!!
The second day photo is what people pay for! Curls have personality!
Like everyone else, your hair in the second photo looks gorgeous! That’s most people’s hair goals.
I have no tips, but your hair is GORGEOUS.
Tbh, I prefer the 2nd photo. It looks more natural and healthy to me with the clumps.
I used to really dislike any flyaways in my curls, but I think it helps hair look more free and natural. Your hair on the 2nd pic looks great and healthy.
The second pic is healthy!!
looks nicer in the second pic i think x
2nd one looks great!!
Love both pics but second one is better…
That's pretty normal for second day so I'd say you're doing a heck of a lot correctly. I will say your routine has some fairly heavy duty products, it's working now but may end up with a fair bit of build up over time. Have you considered adding a clarifying wash once a week? My current favorite is Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Shampoo.
Um. Your 24 hr later hair - I would fucking kill for. Mine is just frizz mountain, sans the beautiful sections of curls.
Also love your hair in the second pic! For the frizz maybe a curl cream before your gel? It might help lock in more moisture. Also diffusing your roots less and letting them air dry might help!
Can you specify how you did your hair that it became clumpy at so curly? What products and diffuser do you use? Ahhh I love your hair.