How to Define and Style Your Curls, Coils, and Kinks

How to Define and Style Your Curls, Coils, and Kinks

Welcome to our curly hair routine series!

Curls, coils, and kinks au naturel can sometimes be hard to navigate. Textured hair needs four main things to thrive: styling, strengthening, plenty of hydration, and scalp care. We've curated hair routines that are sure to give your strands a healthy dose of TLC and get you ready for any season.

To kick off this series, we're starting with the first curly and coily regimen that will help with styling those tresses -- so without further ado, we give you our define and style hair routine!

Why Do Curls, Coils, and Kinks Need Styling Products?

Curls, kinks, and coils typically need styling products to achieve defined, long-lasting bouncy curls. Styling products moisturize, encourage natural curl formation, and protect against pesky humidity and frizz.

Products You'll Need

• Defining Cream: Define your curls and coils with a moisturizing styling cream. A lightweight formula softly coaxes curls into their natural shape, bringing out the best of every hair texture, resulting in touchable, bouncy curls that last.
• Enhancing Gel: This weather-protecting, curl-defining gel seals in moisture and results in long-lasting, crunch-free curls that are ready for anything!

The Routine

1. Apply Defining Cream: Start with damp curls. Apply the defining cream from roots to ends to moisturize, smooth, and define by coaxing curls into their natural formation.
2. Follow with Enhancing Gel: Apply the enhancing gel from roots to ends to lock in moisture, protect against frizz, and provide a light hold.
3. Drying: Diffuse or let your hair air dry for the best results.

Keep your eyes peeled for our next curly hair routine installment! Here's a hint: It'll be sooner than you think...

Heatless Styling Tips for Curls

• Twist Outs: Twist small sections of damp hair and let them air dry to create defined curls.
• Bantu Knots: Divide damp hair into sections, twist each section into a knot, and let them air dry for voluminous curls.
• Plopping: Use a cotton T-shirt to gently wrap and dry your curls after applying styling products to enhance curl definition.

Pro Tips

• Scalp Care: Don't forget to include scalp care in your routine to keep your hair healthy from the roots. Our fav curly scalp care product for all curl types is by far the Ouidad Ready, Set, Clean Scalp Hair Rinse
• Hydration: Keep your curls hydrated with regular deep conditioning treatments and refreshing products or wetting your hair with water before reapplying products. 

Our Favs For Each Curl Type 

Curls 

 STMNT Curl Cream (for the guys!) 

Keune Style Curl Cream 

Lakme K Finish CURLS Curl Activator Gel

Coils 

Keune Care Confient Curl Leave In Cream For Coily Hair 

Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling Gel

Kinks 

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Featherlight Styling Cream 

Ouidad Curl Shaper Take Shape Plumping and Defining Cream

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel Stronger Hold

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel

What's your go-to method for defining and styling your curls, coils, and kinks? Share your favorite tips in the comments below!