Knowing which styling method works best for your hair texture is crucial to having a healthy thriving mane. It involves understanding and embracing your fine hair, curls, coils, or waves’ unique needs. From proper prepooing techniques to drying routines, we shall look at essential styling methods to improve your hair’s shine and appearance.
Incorporating these styling methods into your hair care routine will ensure that your hair experiences less damage, dryness, and lackluster curls. Let’s explore styling techniques that will keep your hair texture looking fabulous.
FINE HAIR
Image Source: @me.and.my.curls
Fine hair is a texture characterized by strands thinner in width than other hair types. Although fine hair can be dense in volume, when styled, this is very difficult to see as the strands appear smaller than they actually are. If you have fine hair, no worries; here are some styling hacks to make it appear fuller and with more volume.
ROOT CLIPPING
Image Source: @_kellygooch
Also known as “O clipping” because of the O-shape the arm creates around the head when putting the clips in the hair, it involves using clips at the root of your curls to gain height and volume. The results are added lift and volume. To do root clipping, start with damp hair, carve out a small section of hair place a clip in an upward motion, and close it on the scalp. Repeat for every section of the hair and leave it until it is dry.
PREPOO
Image Source: @lunemarycharlotte
This involves applying certain hair products to the hair before shampooing. For fine hair, prepooing helps ease detangling while providing the hair with enough moisture, softness, and shine. To pre-poo, first put the hair into 4 or 8 sections. Next, apply prepoo on the hair from mid-shaft to ends, followed by detangling each section with your fingers first and then using a wide-tooth comb.
RAKING
Image Source: @thecurlsuite
This involves applying a curl-defining product to your hands, rubbing the product together to spread evenly on your palms, and running your fingers through your hair to give volume and curl clumps. When raking, it is advisable to do it up to three or four times to get a generous amount of the product into your hair. After the last raking, shake your hair a couple of times, as this will help to set your curls.
DIFFUSING
IMAGE SOURCE: @SENSEOFBEAUTYBYSTEPHANIE
Diffusing is using a hair diffuser to distribute heat to your hair gently. To diffuse, start with damp hair and put the diffuser in a medium setting [this will open the hair cuticle]. Hover the diffuser around the head, starting at the roots, and finish with a cool setting [this will close the hair cuticle]. The results of diffusing your fine hair include more volume, defined and shaped curls, enhanced shine, and less frizz.
WAVY HAIR
Image Source: @ohlala.keriting
This type of hair falls under the type 2 hair texture with an S-shaped look. Like curly hair, wavy hair is prone to frizz. Here are some styling methods that can help you keep your waves in shape.
SCRUNCHING
IMAGE SOURCE: @NEHACHUDARYY
Start by applying a generous leave-in conditioner to dripping wet hair in small sections. Next, squeeze each section with your palms to remove excess water. After ridding the hair of excess water, apply gel and mousse and scrunch with your hands or a T-shirt. Follow this with plopping, and then apply a hair serum to the hair once it is dry.
PRAYING HANDS
Image Source: @curlycooper26
This styling method involves smoothing a styler on wavy hair with your palms to get defined waves and reduce frizz. Start by applying a styler to wet, dripping hair and smooth it from root to tip with your palms. The result is smooth spiral waves.
BOWL METHOD
IMAGE SOURCE: @SOPHIEMARIEGRAF
This involves dunking your hair into a bowl of water to get volume at the roots and create curl clumps. To begin, place a bowl of water on the table and flip your hair upside down inside the bowl. Gently lift your head up [still upside down] and squeeze the water. Apply curl cream and gel or mousse to the hair and scrunch to get rid of the excess water. You can follow this by plopping or diffusing.
CURLY & COILY HAIR
Image Source: @taina.b.barbosa
Curly hair is hair texture that falls under type 3, ranging from loose curls to corkscrew curls; this hair type is prone to frizz and dryness. On the other hand, coily hair falls under type 4, which comprises tight curl patterns and is prone to dryness, brittleness, and shrinkage.
Here are some styling methods to effectively manage these hair textures.
BRUSH STYLING
IMAGE SOURCE: @EMILY.DEMIAN
This easy technique involves using a brush to create natural curly clumps. To start, tip your hair forward [ensure that your hair is wet]. Follow this by gently running a brush through your strands. When you brush your hair, give your head a gentle shake to set the curls. Follow this by scrunching and diffusing.
Brush styling can further be subdivided into:
i. RIBBON STYLING
This styling method involves using a brush to curl your hair for enhanced definition, and it is usually advisable to do this when dripping wet hair. Start by choosing a clump of hair and brush out to ensure smoothness [ensure that you brush starting from the roots]. Next, hold the curls at the roots and shake until the clump forms. The result is spiral ribbon-like curls.
ii. HANDLE STYLING
This type of brush styling involves manipulating the handle to achieve bouncy ringlets. Before starting, make sure that your hair is wet. Pick a section of hair and brush it the first time for smoothness with the handle pointing upwards. Next, twist the entire body of the brush and the bristles together with the section of hair and pull down until the brush is out of the curl.
PLOPPING
IMAGE SOURCE: @CURLSWITHKYMBERLY
Created here on NaturallyCurly’s forum, this is a drying technique that involves applying a styler and then tying wet hair to a T-shirt or microfiber towel to cut down on drying time and achieve an enhanced curl pattern.
To begin, spread a long-sleeved T-shirt on your bed and flip your head forward, ensuring your curls’ body falls in the middle of the shirt. Next, roll the edge of the T-shirt behind your head and flip both hair and shirt over your neck. Secure the shirt on your head by tying the sleeves in a knot. Leave and take off when dry.
SHINGLING
IMAGE SOURCE: @BRRRILLA
This is a styling method where products are applied to the hair in layers, resulting in bouncy curls. Start by applying the curling cream from the ends of clean wet hair all the way up [you can do this in sections to make it easier]. After working with all sections, apply gel and leave to dry.
CURL CLUMPING
IMAGE SOURCE: @ZIA
Curl clumping is a hair styling method that combines other methods like scrunching, diffusing, and plopping to give defined and tight curls devoid of frizz. Begin by applying a hair serum to clean hair, followed by a leave-in conditioner and finally, a curl-defining cream. You may choose to plop the hair with a T-shirt or microfiber towel, diffuse it, or leave it to air dry.
FINGER COILS
Image Source: @tajcreates
Another styling method that guarantees defined curls involves splitting clean hair into sections, applying a curl-defining cream per section, and twirling that section around your forefinger. Finger coils provide various benefits, including protecting your ends from split ends and heatless styling while preventing frizz.
Are you ready to take on a new styling method this season? Check out our Best of The Best Styling Products for 2024.
