Every curly or wavy strand expresses itself differently: some live through soft, light waves, while others take shape in tighter, more defined spirals.

Whatever your texture, styling is the step that most determines curl shape, definition, and longevity. Choosing the right styling product — whether cream, gel, mousse, or spray — means enhancing the natural shape of your curls without weighing them down, while respecting their structure, porosity, and thickness.

Why use styling products on curly hair

Styling is the moment when curls come to life. After cleansing and hydrating, it’s the styling product that “trains” the curl to take shape, maintaining elasticity, definition, and control even in the days following a wash.

Styling products for curly hair help provide structure, definition, and hold, while also helping to protect hair from external factors and mechanical friction during drying.

Not all curls have the same needs, though: understanding your texture and level of hydration is the key to choosing the best styling product for you.

Cream, gel, spray or mousse: what’s the difference and when to use them

There’s no single “best” styling product for curly hair — there’s only the one that best suits your hair’s characteristics and the result you want to achieve.

Curl cream

Perfect for those who want softness and natural definition. Its rich, enveloping texture helps hydrate and smooth the hair, reducing frizz and keeping curls elastic and shiny. It’s ideal for medium or coarse textures and for hair that tends to be dry. Apply to wet hair in small amounts, sectioning strands to ensure even distribution.

Curl gel

This is the product for hold and definition. It forms a light film around each curl, helping it retain its shape longer and resist humidity. It’s recommended for porous hair, tight curls, or coily patterns that tend to lose elasticity and definition. To avoid a stiff or dry effect, the secret is to “break the cast” once hair is fully dry by gently scrunching curls with your hands or with a few drops of plant oil.

Curl spray

It delivers lightness, definition, and movement. It’s perfect for wavy or fine curls that need body without sacrificing a natural look, and for hair that requires hold while maintaining a lighter structure. Its lightweight formula coats the hair fiber, helping maintain curl shape and reduce frizz from the very first stage of drying.

Curl mousse

It provides volume and structure without making curls stiff. Its soft, airy texture makes it ideal for medium-to-fine hair that needs support and definition, as well as for those who want a fuller, more dynamic look. Curl mousse can be used alone or layered with other styling products for longer-lasting, more controlled results.

 I Love Riccio Rock’n Go® Styling Cream

Cream styling for supple, defined and voluminous curls. Ideal for all curly hair types.

Original price was: 25,00€.Current price is: 21,25€.
I Love Riccio Twist’n Go® Styling Gel

Gel styling for soft, nourished and super-defined curls. Ideal for hair with medium to coarse texture.

Original price was: 25,00€.Current price is: 20,00€.
Just Waves Styling Spray I Love Riccio

Styling Spray with light and invisible hold, enhances wavy hair by making it more defined and soft.

Original price was: 25,00€.Current price is: 20,00€.
I Love Riccio Delicious Curl® Styling Mousse

Styling mousse for defined and voluminous curls. Ideal for medium to fine textured hair.

Original price was: 20,00€.Current price is: 17,00€.
The best application techniques

Choosing the right product matters, but application technique is what truly makes a difference in the final result. Each method works differently on curl shape and overall appearance; knowing them helps achieve definition, volume, and even product distribution. Here are three of the most effective styling techniques.

Scrunching (or Scrunch)
This is the simplest and most intuitive technique, perfect for defining your curls’ natural pattern and enhancing elasticity. After applying your styling product, gently scrunch the ends of your hair up toward the roots with your palms, as if “squeezing” water and product into the fiber. This movement encourages curl formation and helps remove excess product, leaving curls soft, compact, and defined.

Praying Hands
This technique helps distribute product evenly across each section and helps seal in moisture. Take a small amount of cream or gel and warm it between your palms. Then, press your hands together as if in prayer and glide them down each section from top to bottom, keeping the curls flat between your palms. The controlled, precise motion coats the hair with a lightweight, uniform film that reduces frizz and promotes shinier, more defined curls.

Rake & Shake
Ideal for tighter curls or medium-to-coarse textures, this technique combines definition and movement. Distribute your favorite styling product with your fingers as though you’re combing through your hair (rake), then gently shake the sections (shake) to encourage curl separation and boost natural volume. Rake and Shake is one of the most effective methods for achieving defined yet airy curls — elastic, bouncy, and free from that “frozen” look.

Recommended styling products for every curl type

Each curl type has its own specific needs: waves, curls, and afro hair all respond differently to styling products. Choosing the right one means enhancing the natural pattern and achieving a harmonious, long-lasting result.

Wavy hair
Needs lightness and movement. Ideal products include styling sprays and mousses like Just Waves or Delicious Curl, which add body, definition, and volume without weighing hair down. Perfect for defining waves and maintaining a natural, soft-touch finish.

Curly hair
Requires a balance of hydration, definition, and frizz control. Rock’n Go curl cream is the ideal choice: it helps hydrate the fiber, enhance curl shape, and leave curls elastic, soft, and shiny for longer.

Afro hair
Characterized by very tight coils and a more porous structure, it needs hold, nourishment, and deep definition. Bulking Cream from the AfroLove line is perfect for achieving ultra-defined, elastic, shiny afro curls. Great for braids, twists, and knots. Alternatively, for medium-coarse textures preferring a gel styling product, Twist’n Go offers a nourishing and curl-enhancing action that helps shape coils without weighing them down.

As you can see, not all stylers are created equal: choosing the right product means supporting your curl’s nature and enhancing its authentic shape. And with a Curly Routine built around your true needs — whether waves, curls, or afro hair — styling becomes easier and hair stays defined, elastic, and full of life for longer.