There are plenty of benefits to clumping your curls, such as managing frizz and flyaways, getting longer lasting hold, highlighting the natural definition of your curls but the outcomes will often vary on things you can't control or immediately impact, such as the current health condition of your hair/scalp or things like the weather or other environmental focuses. But then, there are those things you can control — such as the products you decide to use and the styling technique or process. So, as we embrace the New Year and the spirit of resolutions, let’s take a closer look at three effective techniques to help you say goodbye to bad hair days and hello to defined, clumplicious curls!
Clumped Curls Create Staying Power!
A common theme among a ton of our how to achieve curl definition info is the concept of curl-clumping! New to this curl thing? You might be scratching your head and wondering: what the heck is clumping? This is a technique that brings the strands of hair together in a uniformed fashion to highlight the best definition your unique curls have to offer. Do you know what necessary and critical ingredient causes curls to clump? Moisture — yes, good ol’ H2O!
When curly hair is wet whether by water or products like creams or gels, the moisture causes the hair cuticle (the outer layer) to swell, breaking the hydrogen bond, so that you can better manipulate and form your curls. This creates friction between hair strands, which encourages them to stick together. Products like leave-in conditioners or curl creams are often used to enhance this effect and encourage defined curls.
Now here’s the thing — curls are their weakest when they are wet, so make sure to be gentle with your hair and use products with conditioning agents to help reinforce structure and protection to your curl clumps. Moisture as the main ingredient whether directly or through product choices will lead to clumped and defined curls.
With moisture a part of your routine you are on the path to clumpage! Let’s lean into the expertise of our Co-Founder, Cortney Sigilai, and one of our favorite curl care experts and stylists Jackie Rosado to discover just how to unite the power of moisture with technique and the right products to make curl clumping magic!
Raking
Regardless of your curl type or density, this is a method that almost every curly has introduced into their routine. Why? Because it works! This technique can be used during the conditioning, priming, and styling steps in your weekly routine or daily refresh. The purpose of this method is to evenly distribute and saturate curls with products to encourage clumping and definition. Without thoroughly raking products through your hair, you will often be left with build-up or product residue.
When raking products through your hair you can use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to encourage clumping and definition. Raking products in from the ends to the roots will lead to less tangles, breakage, or damage on your already weak-with-water curls. To encourage clumping, make sure to use a product that provides lots of slip, such as our Aloe Vera Curl Primer or Untie the Knot Nourishing Leave-in Conditioner. By applying a little bit of tension to your strands while raking this will encourage the products to further immerse themselves in your curl strands, beyond the cuticle. The end result of this leads to curls that hold better and longer.
Now that you know what it is, let’s turn to Jackie Rosado to discover when to use it!
When to use It:
• When you need to detangle or define curls at the start of styling.
• Great for thicker textures or tighter curl patterns that need more even product application and frizz control while encouraging the stretch of your curls for a more elongated look.
• Ideal for layering moisturizing products like creams and gels.
Curl Pro Tip: If you want smaller, more uniform curl clumps, rake gently. For larger clumps, combine raking with scrunching.
Prayer Hands or Praying Hands Technique
Calling all the OG Curlies! This technique is an oldie and an oh-so glorious goodie! This technique involves using your hands in a "prayer-like" motion to smooth and distribute product evenly over your hair. Prayer Hands is most effective with wet hair, wet hands, and emulsified products that break down in water easily. The Hi! Definition Curl Enhancing Styling Gel and Curl Defining Mousse are excellent options given their lightweight nature and water solubility.
If you have curls of a different length and/or texture keep this technique a mainstay in your weekly routine to help encourage curl clumping and train your curls to readily clump during your next refresh.
Here’s what Jackie has to say about using this technique to style your curls with definition:
When to use It:
• To smooth frizz and enhance curl definition without disrupting clumps.
• Perfect for applying heavier products like gels (Hi! Definition Curl Enhancing Styling Gel) or stylers that need to “set” the curl.
• Works well for finishing touches when you want a polished look.
Curl Pro Tip: For maximum definition, this technique works best in combination with scrunching to encourage curl shrinkage (a positive feature of healthy hair) and bounce.
Glazing
Compared to prayer hands and raking, this technique is definitely the NKOTB (New Kid On The Block). We’ve seen quite a bit of confusion from curlies regarding best practices when using this technique and heck, when to use it and how to know its being done correctly! Let’s resolve to clear up this confusion!
The glazing technique is typically used at the “set” or “finish” step and can be a part of the weekly routine or the refresh routine. The goal of glazing is to avoid disturbing your already well clumped curls WHILE addressing any frizz or flyaways that may occur after you’ve added the styling products. When using this method, the use of a lightweight product that envelops your curls is key! Within our #TreLuxeTribe the ReFlex Curl Styling Serum has been a fan favorite in reducing frizz without undoing the work you've done.
In perfecting the glazing technique it’s important to ever so slightly make contact with the canopy of your curls or those frizz prone areas. Using a sweeping motion and slightly cupped hands, lightly run the palms of your hands down your hair from roots to ends.
Jackie goes on to share just when to use this technique AND when to combine all three:
When to use It:
• When you want light definition and frizz control without adding too much volume.
• Ideal for finer textures or looser curl patterns that can get weighed down by excessive manipulation.
• Perfect for layering lightweight products like leave-ins or foams/mousse.
Curl Pro Tip: Use glazing to finish off your routine after other techniques to “seal” the curls or apply a final product like a foam or mousse.
When do I Combine Techniques:
For the best results, I love to layer these techniques based on the desired end results. Here’s a combination that never fails me:
- Start with raking to detangle and distribute your base product.
- Follow with prayer hands to lock in moisture and smooth frizz.
- Finish with glazing to set your style and add shine or hold.
All right curlfriends, we hope that you’ve cleared up ALL of your clumpage confusion today. Even seasoned curlies probably picked up some new info from the amazing curl guru Jackie Rosado. We are so grateful to Jackie for sharing her time and invaluable knowledge with us. Guess what curlies you can see her mind blowing curl mastery in action if you follow her on Instagram. You can find her HERE. Be sure to check it out!
Remember, the key to perfect curl clumping is moisture, the right products, and the technique that works best for your unique curl pattern. Now as you head into 2025, which of these clumping techniques are you planning to try? Or will you take Jackie’s tip and layer all three? Chime in and let us know in the comments. Cheers to a New Year of clumping it up!