How To Make Your Curls Tighter

By: | Last Updated: February 11, 2022

Are your curls lackluster and limp? Does it take you half an hour to curl your entire hair, but the curls eventually disappear within hours of styling?

Indeed, curling your hair AND maintaining those curls can be difficult. It requires a lot of time, effort, and patience to get those bouncy and luscious curls.

Although it seems like only straight-haired girls face this struggle, curly-haired girls also share the same dilemma.

For curly-haired girls, hair maintenance appears to be a common problem due to breakage, frizz, and dryness. Instead of well-defined curls, you get a frizzy mess. 

For straight-haired gals, the problem is often retaining the curls. How many times have you curled your hair only for it to fall flat a few hours later?

Regardless of hair type, the struggle is indeed real — I feel you.  

That’s why I listed a few tips to help you achieve those locks in all their glory. 

Continue reading below for you to learn how to tighten your curls and make natural curls curlier, more defined, and tighter. 

How can I tighten my curls overnight?

Sleeping with your curls on requires extra caution. This goes to both curly-haired and straight-haired ladies out there. 

To preserve and tighten your curls while you sleep, it’s best to do the “pineapple” technique. You just have to simply tie up your curls in a loose ponytail to the top of your head. 

This prevents any contact from your pillow, thereby maintaining your luscious locks. 

You can also sleep with a loose bun. However, it is best to use a scrunchie instead of a hair tie to avoid any dents in your hair. 

A loose bun allows you to maintain your curls and prevent your hair from brushing up your face while you sleep. 

How can I tighten my curls overnight

Another way is to braid your hair. You can either do a loose braid for a more relaxed curl or a tight braid to achieve a more uniform curl. You can also try doing a French braid to increase hair volume.

Silk pillowcases can also do the trick. If you have one at home, you can try sleeping on them as this will keep your hair hydrated and prevent hair frizz and breakage.

Another alternative for silk pillows is a bonnet or a shower cap. You can simply put your hair inside a bonnet or a shower cap. This will prevent your hair from falling out.

CHECK OUT: Heatless Hair Curling Ribbon Review


How to make your curls tighter naturally

I bet you didn’t know this, but yes, for curly-haired girls out there, you can make your curls tighter naturally with the use of a few products. 

One technique is to apply a curl-enhancing shampoo and conditioner. This will nourish your hair and keep your curls moisturized.

Other than that, a good quality curl cream can also do wonders. A curl cream helps create texture and helps define your curls even more. 

Of course, you can also apply a curl-defining product when styling your hair. This adds more texture and minimizes frizz.

However, if you find all these a little tedious and a bit costly, you can just ask your hairdresser for a simple trim. Chopping off those split ends is one easy way to tighten your curls. 

How to make your curls tighter naturally

How to make natural curls curlier

The secret to making your natural curls curlier is styling and setting them. 

The first on the list is scrunching. By scrunching, you gently squeeze the ends of your curls up towards the roots of your hair. Scrunching your hair after you shower will blot the moisture from your hair and encourage your curls to form.

Next is the finger coil/pin curl technique. When doing this, you simply wrap small parts of your hair around your finger and gently pull your finger out of the coil.

You can also use a high-quality diffuser. 

Some of you might wonder what a diffuser is. 

A diffuser is an attachment to a blow dryer that causes some changes in the airflow. It allows a more diffused wide circle of air rather than a direct stream of air.

When diffusing, you have to make sure to always keep the diffuser on a low level. 

Never use a blow dryer! Exposing your hair to heat will only make it less curly because of heat damage.

CHECK OUT: How To Curl Short Hair Without Heat In 5 Minutes


How to get tighter curls at the root

Do your roots refuse to curl? If yes, then worry no more because I’ve got you covered. 

Curling your hair at the root can sometimes be a little too tricky. A lot of girls experience flat and less-defined roots. 

Well, this is pretty normal because the root carries the weight of your entire hair. 

However, hope is not lost. You can still tighten those curls at the root. 

To combat this hair dilemma, you can try applying a clarifying shampoo that will thoroughly clean your roots and remove oil buildup. 

Another tip is to stop applying conditioner directly on your roots. Rather, apply them at the ends of your hair.

Plopping also helps! This technique requires the use of a cotton shirt or a microfiber towel. You simply put your wet curls on it and mound it on top of your head. 

This technique increases hair definition and further prevents frizz and breakage. 

In addition, try to avoid brushing all your hair forward when styling your hair upside down. This would stretch the roots of your hair, making it more difficult to tighten your curls at the root.

How to make curls more defined and tighter

Knowing how to keep your hair healthy and strong should be your number one priority. 

The secret behind amazing hair is how you take care of it. 

One way of taking care of your hair is maintaining its definition. The best way to make your curls look on point is to make them more defined. 

How to make curls more defined and tighter

The first step in achieving a more defined curl is to give them the moisture they need.  Avoid using shampoo every day as this can remove the natural oils in your hair. By doing this, you can help your hair retain moisture. 

You should also keep in mind that brushing your hair is a big no-no. This will ruin your curl pattern and will cause frizz. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb to remove any tangles.

A curl-defining product also helps in forming defined locks while also preventing frizz.

Also, you need to make sure that your hair is protected when you sleep. 

As I’ve mentioned before, you can try doing the “pineapple technique,” or putting your hair on a loose bun, or sleeping on a silk pillow. 

CHECK OUT: The Ultimate Guide on How To Curl Short Hair


You can do it!

To sum it all up, it all boils down to how much time, care, and effort you are willing to spend on your hair. 

The mindset of taking care of your hair is almost as important as your styling techniques. It’s also important to remember that taking good care of your hair can make you feel good about yourself. 

A beautiful and healthy hair is a sign of confidence, indeed. 

So don’t let frustration get the better of you and your hair. Go tighten those curls! 

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