How I Get Voluminous Wash-and-Go Curls on Short Natural Hair

If your goal is to achieve thicker voluminous curls, you may want to take note of these four easy steps that have worked for me.

Include a Curling cream or Mouse

A curling cream might be better than gel alone, or you could layer—cream first for moisture and thickness, then gel for added definition and longevity. Unlike gels, which rely heavily on film-forming polymers (like xanthan gum or carbomers) for definition and hold, cream is a combination of thickeners (e.g. Proteins, D panthenol), emollients, and mild film-formers which creates softer hold while still defining curls, allowing them to expand rather than shrink into a firm cast. You may want to use products from the same brand to minimize flaking.

Note: Applying heavy styling products can weigh curls down. If you have thinner hair, and are not certain of which curling cream would be light enough for your hair, Mousse may be a better alternative. Mousse is great for volume in a wash-and-go because it is lightweight, airy, and helps lift curls without weighing them down.

Drying your wash-and-go immediately after styling

When curls dry naturally, they shrink as water evaporates, making them look tighter and smaller. Drying immediately helps “freeze” curls in a more stretched, lifted state before they can shrink too much.

Since wet hair tends to stick to the scalp, making the roots dry flat, drying early with a diffuser or hooded dryer helps lift the roots before they set, creating more volume.

Some gels and creams may weigh hair down while wet, so to reduce product weight flattening, drying immediately prevents hair from setting in a weighed-down position.

Use a diffuser or hooded dryer

To keep hair in motion while drying, use a diffuser or hooded dryer which prevents curls from clumping too tightly together. This movement allows hair dry in a more separated, voluminous state.

When hair dries in place without manipulation, it follows the natural growth pattern, which may not be the most voluminous look so drying early allows movement and for you to shape your curls

Use a lifter (like a hair pick or wide-tooth comb) to lift roots off the scalp

Roots generally tend to dry flat, especially if hair is wet for a long time. A lifter helps break up the compacted sections at the roots, creating lift and making hair look bigger.

Since some sections of a wash-and-go may dry flatter than others, teasing the roots using a lifter separates the curls and lifts the roots ensuring an even voluminous balance.

This video below is a sneak peek of how I go about volumizing my 4c curls. Hope it helps.

If you are interested in a more hard hold, more defined wash and go instead, you want to click here