A Little Curl Experiment!

I tested 9 different product + technique combinations on my own curls- same application method every single time - and honestly?

The results surprised even me.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Clip 1 - Air dried, no product (your baseline - always eye-opening)

Clip 2 - Air dried with curl cream

Clip 3 - Diffused with curl cream ‹ MY NEW FAVORITE

Clip 4 - Air dried with soft hold gel

Clip 5 - Diffused with soft hold gel

Clip 6 - Air dried with strong hold foam

Clip 7 - Diffused with strong hold foam (my go-to for a long time)

Clip 8 - Air dried with strong hold gel

Clip 9 - Diffused with strong hold gel

What I noticed across ALL 9:

Air dried = more triangular

shape every time, regardless of product

Diffused = rounder, fuller

shape every time, regardless of product

So if you’ve been blaming your products or your cut for your shape... it might actually be your drying method.

Now here’s the part that genuinely shocked me - Clip 3. Diffusing with curl cream gave me my lightest, fluffiest, result of the whole series (and when you have this hair like mine, who doesn’t want more fullness). I almost didn’t include it because I assumed cream wouldn’t hold. Too soft. Too light. It’ll fall by noon, right?

Wrong. The hold lasted. The volume stayed. The curl pattern was chef’s kiss.

For a long time Clip 7 - diffused with strong hold foam - was my ride-or-die.

And it’s still a great result! But this experiment reminded me why I never stop learning, even after all these years behind the chair.

The biggest takeaway?

Product choice AND technique both matter. You can have the perfect product for your curl type and still not love your results if the application or drying method isn’t right for you. This is exactly why a personalized curl consultation isn’t a luxury

- it’s a game changer.

If you’re in the Jacksonville/ Clay County/St Augustine area and have been searching for someone who truly gets curly hair, we would love to meet you at Clean & Curly.

Book your curly service at our website, CleanCurly.com.

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