What Does My Curl Actually Need? The CurlyEllie Routine Finder
Curly hair has a habit of keeping us guessing.
After years of developing CurlyEllie and, more importantly, being a mummy from a long line of curly haired family members and children, I’ve learnt one thing for certain: there is no such thing as THE perfect curly hair routine.
One wash day your curls are soft, defined and bouncing perfectly. The next, they are frizzy at the roots, dry at the ends and seemingly refusing to cooperate, despite doing exactly the same thing.
Sound familiar?
Curls, waves and coils are all different. Your hair might be fine but incredibly dry. Your child’s curls might tangle easily but become weighed down by too much product. You might need plenty of moisture but very little hold — while someone else needs exactly the opposite.
That’s why i don’t believe your bathroom shelf needs to contain every curly hair product you can find.
Instead, start by asking one simple question:
What does my hair actually need?
Find the description that sounds most like your curls below and we’ll help you build your routine.
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“My curls are dry and thirsty”
Your hair is asking for: MOISTURE
If your curls feel rough, dull or dry, particularly towards the ends , they may simply be craving more moisture.
Because of the shape of curly hair, the natural oils produced by the scalp can find it harder to travel all the way down the hair shaft. This can leave the lengths and ends feeling much drier.
Try this routine:
a. Cleanse gently
Start with our Gentle Shampoo to cleanse the scalp and hair without unnecessarily stripping away its natural oils.
b. Don’t skip conditioner
Follow with Nourishing Conditioner, concentrating particularly on the lengths and ends.
c. Add leave-in moisture
Apply Curl Defining Leave-In Conditioner while the hair is still damp to add another layer of hydration while encouraging curl definition.
d. Give very dry curls some extra love
Introduce our Intensive Treatment Mask when your curls need a deeper conditioning treatment.
CurlyEllie tip: If your hair is consistently very dry, damaged or extremely frizz-prone, it may be worth exploring our richer CurlyEllie Intense Collection.
2. “My curls look good when wet… then turn into frizz”
Your hair is asking for: DEFINITION + HOLD
We’ve all been there.
Your curls look incredible straight out of the shower. They’re clumping together perfectly and you’re already imagining the finished result.
Then they dry.
And somehow those beautiful curl clumps have transformed into a cloud of frizz.
This is where your styling products become important.
Hydration helps create healthy, happy curls — but hold helps keep the curl pattern you’ve created in place as the hair dries.
Try this routine:
After cleansing and conditioning:
a. Curl Defining Leave-In Conditioner
Apply to damp hair for moisture and definition.
b. Add your chosen hold product
- For softer, more natural-looking definition, try our Natural Hold Curly Gellie.
- Want your curls to stay defined for longer or need a little more control? Try our Strong Hold Curly Gellie.
- Alternatively, our Flexible Hold Styling Foam is brilliant when you want definition and bounce with flexible hold.
- Then scrunch and allow your hair to air dry or diffuse gently.
And most importantly…
Try to leave your curls alone while they’re drying!
Constantly touching or separating them can disturb the curl pattern and encourage frizz.
3. “My hair gets weighed down really easily”
Your hair is asking for: LESS
Sometimes the answer isn’t another product.
It’s less product.
Fine curls and waves can become weighed down when too many rich products are layered together. Instead of looking bouncy and defined, they can start looking flat, heavy or even greasy.
If this sounds familiar, simplify.
Try this routine:
- Gentle Shampoo → Nourishing Conditioner → a small amount of Leave-In → Flexible Hold Styling Foam
- You don’t necessarily need leave-in, serum, gel, oil and foam all at once.
- Start with a tiny amount of each product and build up only if your hair needs it.
- You can also concentrate conditioner and leave-in products on the mid-lengths and ends rather than applying lots around the roots.
- Sometimes the best thing you can do for your curls is simply stop trying so hard.
4. “My curls feel soft, but they won’t stay curly”
Your hair is asking for: MORE HOLD
If your curls look lovely immediately after styling but seem to disappear as the day goes on, you may already have enough moisture.
What you’re missing could be hold.
This is particularly common when someone has spent lots of time trying to solve frizz by adding more and more conditioning products.
Try switching the focus.
Your routine:
Cleanse → Condition → Leave-In → Strong Hold Curly Gellie
Apply your gel while the hair is still wet or damp and distribute it through your curls before scrunching.
Then let the hair dry fully before playing with or separating the curls.
For a softer finish, experiment with our Natural Hold Curly Gellie instead.
Remember: moisture and hold aren’t the same thing.
5. “My child’s hair tangles constantly”
Their curls are asking for: SLIP + MOISTURE
Some children’s curls seem capable of creating knots from absolutely nowhere.
The back of the head can be particularly tricky because it’s constantly rubbing against car seats, pillows, clothes and everything else little people get up to.
The answer isn’t more aggressive brushing.
It’s making the hair easier to detangle in the first place.
Try this routine:
- Use Nourishing Conditioner during wash day and gently detangle while the hair has plenty of slip.
- Work in sections and always start at the ends before gradually moving upwards.
- Between washes, reach for our Moisturising Detangling Spray when knots appear or when curls need a quick refresh.
- You can also use a small amount of Curl Defining Leave-In Conditioner on areas that are particularly prone to dryness.
And remember: wherever possible, don’t brush curls dry.
A little patience and plenty of slip can transform detangling from something everyone dreads into a much calmer part of the routine.
6. “My curls are really frizzy, dry or damaged”
Your hair is asking for: INTENSIVE CARE
Sometimes your curls need more than everyday hydration.
Heat styling, colouring, environmental damage and naturally very dry hair can all leave curls needing something richer.
This is where our CurlyEllie Intense Collection comes in.
The Intense range was created specifically for adults with very dry, damaged or super-frizzy hair and provides richer moisture than our Original Collection.
- Start with the Intense Hydrating Shampoo, followed by the Intense Indulgent Conditioner and Intense Leave-In Conditioner.
- You can then choose between Intense Natural Hold Hair Gel for softer, natural-looking definition or Intense Strong Hold Hair Gel when your curls need more staying power.
Think of it as turning the nourishment dial up.
For children and very sensitive scalps, we’d generally recommend starting with our gentler Original Collection.
7. “My curls look dull even when they’re defined”
Your hair is asking for: SHINE + FINISHING
You’ve nailed the moisture.
You’ve nailed the definition.
But your curls still seem to be missing that glossy, healthy-looking finish.
- Once your curls are styled, a small amount of Styling Serum can help smooth frizz and add shine, particularly through the ends.
- Our Hair Oil can also be used to nourish and add gloss while helping to protect the hair.
The important words here are small amount.
With oils and finishing products, particularly on finer curls, start with less than you think you need. Rub the product between your palms first and gently work it through the areas that need it.
8. “My curls are fine, but my roots always look flat”
Your hair is asking for: LIGHTWEIGHT STYLING
If you have plenty of curl through the lengths but everything seems to fall flat around the scalp, take a look at where you’re applying your products.
Rich conditioner, leave-in and oil close to the scalp can sometimes be too much for fine curls.
Instead, keep richer products focused on your lengths and ends.
- Then try Flexible Hold Styling Foam to encourage definition and bounce without creating an overly heavy finish.
- When drying, a diffuser can also help encourage the curls around the roots.
The goal isn’t necessarily more volume product.
It’s often simply less weight.
9. “My hair looks crazy in the morning but I don’t want to wash it again”
Your hair is asking for: A REFRESH
Good news.
You don’t need another wash day.
Curls naturally change after sleeping. Some will survive perfectly. Others might become stretched, flattened or fuzzy.
Focus only on the sections that actually need attention.
Lightly dampen the curls with our Curl Hydrator or mist with the Moisturising Detangling Spray, reshape them with your hands and scrunch.
If they need a little extra moisture, add a tiny amount of Leave-In Conditioner.
Need more definition? Add a small amount of Styling Foam or Natural Hold Curly Gellie and allow the curl to dry again.
Refreshing doesn’t mean recreating your entire routine.
Still not sure? Start here.
If you’re completely new to CurlyEllie and have no idea what your curls need yet, keep it simple.
Start with:
Gentle Shampoo
↓
Nourishing Conditioner
↓
Curl Defining Leave-In Conditioner
Then look at the result.
Still frizzy?
→ Try adding a Styling Serum or hold product.
Curls aren’t lasting?
→ Add Natural or Strong Hold Curly Gellie.
Hair feels weighed down?
→ Reduce the amount of leave-in and try Styling Foam.
Still very dry?
→ Introduce the Intensive Treatment Mask or, for adults with particularly dry or damaged hair, explore the Intense Collection.
Tangles between washes?
→ Add Moisturising Detangling Spray.
You don’t need to discover your perfect routine on the first attempt.
In fact, we’d rather you start with less and learn what your curls love than layer six products onto your hair simply because social media told you to.
Your curls don’t need to fit into a box
Curl types can be useful, but your hair is so much more than a number or letter.
Two people with apparently identical curl patterns can have completely different hair densities, thicknesses, levels of dryness and styling preferences.
And your curls can change too.
Weather changes. Hair grows. Children get older. Hair is coloured. Seasons change. Sometimes your curls simply seem to have a mind of their own.
So rather than asking:
“What’s the perfect curly hair routine?”
Try asking:
“What are my curls telling me today?”
Dry? Give them moisture.
Soft but losing definition? Give them hold.
Heavy and flat? Give them less.
Tangled? Give them slip.
Damaged? Give them some extra nourishment.
And if everything looks great?
Leave those curls alone and enjoy them.
Because the best curly hair routine isn’t the one with the most steps.
It’s the one that works for you.
