I recently shared these day-2 curls on Instagram to commemorate the happy moment. I loved the result of finger coiling curls during styling to set these smooth and hydrated ringlets. The extra minutes for my styling aren’t always possible, but the lasting results are more than worth the effort when it is.
These curls even graced me for a few more days after this photo was taken for a total of 5 days! It was such an easy week with minimal refreshing. Here’s what I did.
Styling Prep
I prepped my hair with a great cleansing routine to hydrate the curls. I’m seldom asked what shampoo I’m using, even while it’s a critical first step. I also used a scalp brush during my shampoo session to remove any product residue from my scalp to keep it calm and flake-free.
AG Care | Balance Shampoo – perfectly balanced for hydrated, bouncy curls and a soothed scalp.
Scalp Massaging Brush – a gentle, and helpful addition to a great hair wash session.
Definitely avoid any cleansers that result in your hair feeling like straw (overly stripping). Still, they should be effective enough to remove all hair products you’ve used so that your hair can freely allow water to hydrate it again.
For optimal conditioners, I avoid those with thick waxes and oils that leave a heavy residue or waxy feeling to the hair. Instead, they should make your hair feel soft and slippery.
AG Care | Boost Conditioner – This conditioner melts into my hair and hydrates without adding weight. I love definition, but I also love to have some volume and this conditioner allows for both.
Finger Coiling + Definition Stylers
This week’s styling was all about finger-coiling each curl. This technique leaves no stringy bit behind and helps to form larger and smooth curl families throughout. It definitely adds 10-15 more minutes to my styling routine, but is more than worth the effort.
Watch the Finger Coiling Method for Defined Curls (Tutorial) on YouTube.
To begin, I applied a base layer gel right after conditioning and then clipped my hair up for a few minutes until I was ready to start my styling routine. Next, I sectioned my hair from top to bottom. Starting at the bottom, I raked in a medium hold gel and then finger coiled each curl clump by twirling it around with my finger. Once I’m done with a full section of curls, I give it one scrunch and hold for a couple of seconds to help the curls form.
UFD Curly Magic – a light hold gel and a great base product to draw moisture to the hair
Innersense Organic Beauty Gel – medium hold gel with added shine. Organic, silicone-free, curly girl method friendly.
Once all the curls have been set, I spritz a layer of non-aerosol hairspray all throughout the curls. This helps to prevent frizz from forming during the diffusing process and protects them through any weather too.
Innersense Organic Beauty Hairspray – a non-aerosol hairspray that’s a favorite for weather insurance. Flexible hold and never sticky.
Finishing Details
Diffusing is my all-time favorite way to dry my hair for maintaining smooth and defined curls. Plopping curls in towels for too long can draw out too much water and cause frizz, while air drying leaves too many hours of activity that can break up the curls before they’ve had time to set. Still, I don’t diffuse for very long, as you know, there are so many other things to do in a day…
On this wash day, I diffused for 25 minutes with my dependable Chi hairdryer. However, it was a stop-and-go session. I diffused for 10 minutes, took a quick break, diffused for another 5-10 minutes, and so on until the gel cast was formed and my roots were dry. This helped to prevent any water weight from collapsing the volume I’d created.
Watch my curly hair diffusing session on youtube too!
Refresh Products
For my hair, lasting for more than 3 days between washes is a luxury that happens by chance. I let my scalp dictate when it’s time for a wash. It could be two days, maybe 4, but usually 3 days on average. This week however, my scalp felt fine so I opted for a dry shampoo for my scalp and a damp refresh for my curls to keep the party going.
For the dry shampoo, I opted for a new-to-me product that was stronger than I expected. I recommend keeping your vent fan on with this one! It has a strong fresh scent and it needs a bit of massaging of the scalp to blend it in, but wow did it work. I used it before sleeping on day 3, so I could wake up with hair that still looks and felt fresh.
Living Proof Dry Shampoo – Strong scent, highly effective dry shampoo – great for normal to oily hair
For my curls, I refreshed any ruffled curls with water only. I had enough product in my hair, that with a little bit of water on my hands, I was able to smooth the curls again and bring those separating curl families back together.
These results have been a huge encouragement to do those extra 10-15 minutes of styling and enjoy simpler and faster morning routines throughout the week. Cheers!
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