How to style curly hair?

Styling is a key part of curly hair care!

For voluminous, full-bodied hair with well-defined ringlets, it is important to focus not only on cleansing and nourishment, but also on specific techniques that emphasise the natural movement of the hair.

When it comes to curly hair, there are several styling techniques that can help you keep your hair voluminous and full-bodied.

In this post we have collected for you some of the most used styling techniques for curly or wavy hair and the best I Love Riccio products for a style like our Ateliers.

Always remember not to comb your hair once it is dry after styling so as not to break the curl, but you can gently massage it with your hands to remove the film of product that forms around the locks and leads to the classic wet effect. The effect is called cast and is simply removed with a very gentle dry scrunch.

You can also finish your styling by adding one of our very pure curl oils as a finishing touch to add shine and nourish the hair as well as fixing the style.

Scrunching is the styling technique that never fails for those with curly hair, allowing for perfect definition.

Apply your favourite styling product, either upside down or upside down depending on your hair type, distribute it and then do the scrunching: with your hands gather the hair from the bottom towards the roots, squeezing it.

For perfect scrunching, it is important to remember that the hair must not have been squeezed or towel-dried before applying the styling, it must be dripping with water, to the point that when you start to squeeze the hair, you should actually hear the classic sound of water in the repeated scrunching and pulsing phase. This is referred to as squish, as the onomatopoeic sound of the action.

Scrunching can always be combined with all the types of styling we will discuss in the following paragraphs.

The ‘pray hands’ technique for curly hair is also known as ‘praying hands’ and is perfect for those who have very tight curls and want to achieve elongated styling.

The hair should be damp, you distribute the styling evenly throughout the hair, concentrating on the lengths and ends.

At this point, you divide your hair into more manageable sections, take a section of hair and join your hands together in a ‘prayer’, placing your palms against each other. With your hands together, you gently slide the hair downwards, sliding the hair between your hands as you push down. The movement should then be repeated all over the head. It is important to make sure to apply enough styling product during the process.

After completing the ‘pray hands’ technique, it is best to avoid touching the curls until they are completely dry. This will help maintain definition and avoid frizz.

In the last part of this text, you will also find our recommended styling products, you should then try out what works best for your hair and your personal needs.

The ‘Rake and Shake’ styling technique involves using your hands as if they were a rake and shaking the lock, after pulling it, to shape your curly hair.

This styling always involves wet hair and the application of one of the products we suggest in the last paragraph of this article.

Take a section of hair between your fingers, as if you were ‘raking’ your hair. Using your open fingers, gently go through the hair from root to tip, making sure to distribute the styling product evenly.

Next, take the strand between your knuckles, pull down hard and finally, encourage the curl formation by shaking the strand.

Continue repeating the ‘rake’ styling technique followed by the ‘shake’ on all sections of the hair, making sure that you have applied sufficient styling product to each section and work gently to avoid breaking the curls.

The ditoliss or fingercoil technique is perfect for those who have medium coarse textures and do not like volume or want to reduce them by defining them. When the hair is very dry and porous, it loses a lot of moisture and this is the best way to better seal the strands.

You can also do this on the section of the head where the curly hair is too voluminous.

Thanks to the ditoliss, your fingers will become the perfect styling tools for ultra-defined and full-bodied curls.

After washing your entire hair, divide your hair into sections and make sure to apply your styling product to each strand.

We have two types of ditoliss:

• vertically, you twist the lock with one finger;
• horizontally, using two fingers, you twist the lock and turn your fingers around each other to define the curl.

This technique is particularly suitable for very curly and frizzy hair. It is also ideal for those going through a transition, as the root structure is different from the length of the hair at this time, but also for those with very tight curls who want to give their hair a more elongated shape.

The ‘twist’ technique involves separating the hair into sections and twisting these sections to form curls. Ready with the styling procedure!

Separate wet hair into more manageable sections using, also, clips or elastic bands to keep sections apart. Moisten with water if necessary and apply styling product.

Cut 2 strands from the section and hold one section in place while the other section wraps the hair around itself, creating a twist, from the hairline to the ends. Basically, you intertwine the two strands with each other.

Once you have reached the ends, you can secure the twist with a rubber band or clip to keep it in place.

You then repeat the styling process until the entire head is completed.

You can then air-dry the curly hair or with a diffuser and, when completely dry, gently smooth out each twist, using your fingers to separate the curls and add volume.

The ‘fitagem’ curly hair technique is a popular method for defining curls and reducing frizz. It is especially recommended for those with curly hair that is difficult to manage, as it sculpts the curls, making them perfectly defined and supple.

The Fitagem procedure consists of several steps.

1. First, the hair is washed with a mild shampoo or co-wash, then a moisturising mask is applied and left on for 10 minutes.
2. Next, the curls are detangled with the fingers and rinsed out.
3. Slightly squeeze the hair to prevent it from getting too wet and divide it into sections.
4. In a small bowl, two tablespoons of a moisturising styling agent (such as rock’n go or bulking cream) and one tablespoon of a 100% pure vegetable oil (such as jojoba, castor, argan, coconut or carrot) are mixed. This mixture is then distributed strand by strand, from roots to ends, all over the hair using the fingers as a comb.
5. Scrunching is then performed and the hair is gently dried with a diffuser, repeating the process upside down until the hair is completely dry, or it is left to air dry.

The choice of product, the amount and the way to apply it depend solely on the hair type.

You need to assess the degree of hydration and nourishment your hair needs and adjust accordingly.

It is advisable to start with a moderate amount of product to avoid weighing down the hair, gradually increasing if necessary. The number of strands to divide the hair into can be decided on the basis of the desired end result.

If wider curls are desired, fewer strands can be made and vice versa.

The LOC method is a widely used technique for defining curls and maintaining adequate moisture in the hair.

This acronym stands for liquid, oil and cream, and involves applying different styling products in a specific order in order to retain maximum moisture within the hair.

The first step involves the use of a liquid product to provide basic moisture.

Oil is then used to seal the moisture inside the hair.

Finally, cream is applied to define the curls and can also help further seal in the moisture.

The procedure is to divide your head into sections, especially if you have thick hair.

Apply the three products in order to each section, then scrunch.

You can then blow-dry with a hair dryer and diffuser or leave your hair to air-dry.

Which products should you use? For the liquid product, you can opt for water or leave-in like Floo Cream.

For oil: coconut oil, castor oil and jojoba oil are great for sealing in moisture. Some people also prefer to use natural butters such as shea butter or mango butter.

For the cream, you can choose a specific styling cream for defining curls such as Rock’n go or Bulking Cream.

The main benefits of the LOC styling technique include improved moisture retention, which helps reduce hair breakage and gives hair more elasticity.

Applying products according to the LOC method allows hair to stay moisturised for longer periods, reducing the need for frequent updos. This technique can provide up to 2-3 days of moisturised curls.

The LOC styling technique can be used on different types of curls.

However, it is particularly useful for highly porous hair, as this hair tends to lose moisture easily and requires more hold.

On the other hand, low to medium porosity hair retains moisture well, so the LOC method may not be suitable for them, as they may be weighed down.

With a medium-length curly hair, plopping is definitely one of the most suitable techniques to get super-defined locks.

All you need to do it with is your usual microfibre towel, which as you know is preferable to a cotton sponge for dabbing curly hair after shampooing.

After applying the styling that suits your curly hair type, with a little scrunch, simply place your hair in the centre of the microfibre towel and turn it over to create a turban for your hair to sit comfortably in, but without any hair in the knot of the towel.

For drying, you can proceed in 2 ways:

• practical and quick, you hold the turban for 20-30 minutes and then blow-dry it, keeping it on your head;
• natural, you leave the turban on your head until your hair is dry.

There is no styling without the right product, to be used according to your hair type and the result you want to achieve.

We at I Love Riccio know how much the product makes a difference, which is why we have developed a complete range for styling curly hair.

The Rock’n Go styling cream is ideal for all the styling techniques described in this post.

A high-definition cream that provides nutrition, definition and volume, thanks to its mix of natural oils that define without ever weighing it down.

Also perfect is Bulking Cream Styling, a moisturising cream ideal for the Fitagem technique, for example, enriched with its blend of pure oils and butters.

Twist’n Go gel is the ideal choice for a more structured and defined, full-bodied result.

A very elasticising product that, unlike traditional gels, does not stick and leaves curly hair soft and free in its natural movement.

In a soft mousse version, choose Delicious Curl, it provides optimal support for all hair types that need specific help at the root without heaviness.

Another valuable tip we want to share with you, for hair that is always perfect, even in the days after washing, is to use Magic Curl Reactivator Refresh Spray.

Finally, let’s not forget the styling Clover Cream from the CurlyMan men’s line, with keratin and collagen, together with Ginseng extract, vitamins and minerals, to oxygenate and strengthen the follicles, preventing weakening of the hair and stimulating growth.

Tip: our styling products, however, need to be tried out to see which really suits your hair, so even though we recommend a product for each texture, don’t be afraid to be daring and apply different ones. Each curly hair has its own capacity to accept our products and may not necessarily correspond precisely to the texture that best describes it.

All styling techniques for curly hair come out better if, in addition to the right texture, you combine the best product to emphasise the hair.

Follow the advice of Italy’s most famous Curly Experts and rely on the expertise of our Ateliers, to get personalised advice on your hair type and choose cuts and treatments that enhance its beauty!