No matter your natural texture, if you’re wondering how to get bouncy curls, you’ve come to the right place. From styling techniques, hair priming methods & easy protective styles, we’ve got the 411 on all things bounce.
In this guide, we're pulling back the curtain & revealing the expert-approved secrets to curl success. From optimizing your wash day routine to perfecting your styling techniques, you'll discover easy-to-follow methods for cultivating big, bouncy curls that last.
Tailor Your Techniques to Enhance Your Unique Bounce
No two heads of curls are exactly the same, & the techniques that work wonders for one curl type may not offer the same volume & shine for another. That's why mastering the art of bouncy, defined curls requires a personalized approach—one that takes into account the nuances of your individual curl pattern, porosity & density.
Here’s a breakdown of what these curl keywords mean & why they matter when styling:
Curl Pattern
A curl pattern describes the shape & structure of your naturally curly or wavy hair using numbers 2–4 (type 1 is for straight strands) & letters A, B & C. The higher the number & letter, the tighter your curl pattern.
For example, if you have 2A hair, you likely have loose, soft waves, while a curly queen with 4B hair likely has tight, Z-shaped coils.
Hair Porosity
As part of the curly hair community, you may have already heard of hair porosity, which refers to how your hair absorbs moisture. It’s categorized into three main types: low, medium & high porosity, based on your hair's cuticle structure. Here’s a look at these categories & how they differ:
- Low porosity – Low porosity locks have a tightly bound cuticle layer, which means moisture flows in & out of the hair follicle less readily. To help penetrate that cuticle layer, low porosity curlfriends often turn to penetrating & ultra-hydrating hair products to lend moisture below the surface.
- Medium porosity – If you have medium porosity hair, its cuticle layer is closed, but not as tightly as low porosity hair. This means that when moisture hits your locks, it absorbs it pretty regularly. It may also mean that the hair may become dry on hot days as moisture evaporates.
- High porosity – High porosity curls have a more open cuticle layer, which makes them highly absorbent but also prone to losing moisture quickly, so you may notice that your strands react quickly to changes in humidity. Lucky for you, your strands absorb products like masks, moisturizers & curl cream like a champ.
Each hair type has different characteristics that influence how moisture interacts with your luscious locks, so knowing your hair porosity can reveal the ingredients & products that’ll help your tresses thrive.
Curl Density
Whether you're rocking tight curls, loose waves, or have a texture that’s somewhere in between, the key to unlocking your bounciest, most vibrant curls lies in customizing your curl care routine. Aside from your hair’s porosity, it’s also important to understand its density (or, how many hairs you have across your scalp per square inch).
To understand whether you have high or low hair density, take a close look at your tresses while they’re dry & in their natural form. If you notice you can see your scalp (more than just the section where your hair parts) you probably have low-density curls, while little to no scalp visibility indicates high-density hair.
What does this mean for your curl routine?
High-density tresses typically require products that help define your natural texture, like an expert sculptor molding clay. On the flip side, low-density locks usually thrive with lightweight curly hair products that won’t weigh down your waves.
Prime Your Natural Texture for Bouncy Curls
When it comes to bounce & shine, hydration is key, which is why you’ll want to prime your curls with a product like PATTERN’s Leave-In Conditioner before styling. Leave-in is a liquid hair treatment made with moisturizing ingredients that help nourish your locks leaving them silky & soft.
The best part about leave-in? As the name suggests, there’s no need to rinse it out! When you’re after the right leave-in, look for a formula with moisturizing ingredients like Sweet Almond Oil & Avocado Oil. Hint: you’ll find these two in our Leave-In Conditioner.
This hair care holy grail offers your curls a hydration pick-me-up that not only leaves you with glossy curls, but also acts as a barrier against hair breakage & frizz, helping your bouncy curls live their best life.
Pick Products That Propel Your Curls to Bounce
Aside from leave-in, you may be wondering what other products support your curl quest for maximum bounce. Here’s a look at some of the products you’ll want to have in your styling line-up for vivacious, juicy curls:
- Start with the right foundation – The perfect wash day begins with the basics: the right shampoo & conditioner combo. PATTERN's Cleansing Shampoo provides deep cleaning benefits of a clarifying shampoo without stripping away healthy oils while our Medium Conditioner has a creamier texture that’s formulated to hydrate & nourish.
- Opt for a gel for extra hold – For well-defined curls, style your strands with a gel that suits your hair’s unique needs. Opt for one with a lighter hold, like PATTERN’s Curl Gel, if you have hair that’s on the thinner side, while thicker strands may need gel that offers long-lasting hold, like the PATTERN Strong Hold Gel, made with ingredients that nourish & fortify, like Chia Seeds & Aloe Vera.
- Achieve sky-high volume with the perfect mousse – For gravity-defying volume & big, bouncy curls, a product like the PATTERN Curl Mousse will become your styling BFF. Whether you apply it to damp strands before adding gel or use it as the finishing touch on your wash day, mousse offers a flexible hold to keep your tresses smooth while they defy gravity.
Finding the right products can help you craft bouncy curls without weighing your unique texture & shape down.
Use Curling Tools & Tips for Bouncy Bliss
Just because you have natural curls doesn’t mean you can’t get in on the fun of heat styling with tools like curling irons. From easy touch-ups to curl transformations, the right curling tools can help you craft curls with plenty of bounce & volume.
Here’s how to get big bouncy curls using a heat styling tool, such as the PATTERN Interchangeable Curling Iron:
- Choose a medium barrel size – One benefit of heat styling is the ability to choose the size & style of curls you’re after by deciding which barrel size to use. If you’re after bouncy coils, opt for a smaller barrel option like a ⅜" curling iron, or for thicker, softer curls you’ll want a wider option like a ¾" barrel.
- Look for a tool with adjustable temperatures – Bouncy curls created with heat styling tools will vary depending on your hair's texture & pattern. Having an Interchangeable Curling Iron with a variety of temperature options will help you find the temp that crafts your curls just right. Look for products that allow for a wide range, between 250° to 425° F.
- Try the wrap method – Speaking of curling irons, the wrap method opts for wrapping strands of hair around the entire barrel of the curling iron, rather than using the clamp to wind your hair around the barrel. Wrapping the hair around the barrel can help create a wave with more volume & bounce.
Of course, using a heat protectant spray before using the heat tool protects your strands from damage, acting as a barrier between the tool & your hair shaft. With the pattern-protecting power of ingredients like Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Sunflower Oil & Jojoba Oil, the PATTERN Heat Protectant wards off future damage—inviting more lustrous, bouncy curls the next time around.
Rock Your Big Bouncy Curls with PATTERN
At PATTERN, we know that your unique curly crown is one of the many beautiful parts of what makes you you. That’s why we’ve crafted our products with curlies in mind, featuring formulas with natural ingredients that nourish your tresses & support healthy, bouncy strands.
Our curl defining products are designed to love your curl pattern as much as the rest of the world. Get started by exploring our line of moisturizing hair products & curly hair stylers to build your bounciest curl routine yet.
Sources:
Good Housekeeping. How to Find Your Curly Hair Type - And Why It Matters. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/hair/a32733411/curl-hair-types/
Healthline. What Is Hair Density and Why It Matters. https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-density
Healthline. What Type of Hair Porosity Do You Have? https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-porosity
