Volume vs. Definition
Helping you figure out what results you want from your routine.
Growing up, I can confidently say that volume was the last thing I wanted for my hair. I had a lot of conflicting feelings about my hair and often compared myself to those who had it naturally pin straight wishing my hair would behave as easily as theirs. So, when I washed and “styled” my hair, I would simply brush it straight down with whatever product I was using at the time and let it air dry, leaving the top of my hair practically as flat and “manageable” as possible.
I had just wanted my hair to be easy to take care of, in the same way my other friends and family had theirs. Since I didn’t exactly have anyone to ask for advice, I couldn’t figure out how to go about giving my curls that healthy look, so I’d just let them fall and pretty much leave it as is.
Thankfully that is now in the past, and I’ve looked up, and practiced, many different routines until I’ll kept a pretty consistent pattern of styling my hair. I am now here to help you figure out how to do the same.
As I learned how to better care for my hair, I realized that adding volume and layers was key to making curls look healthier and full of life. In order to figure out exactly what I wanted I turned to other hair-care content creators who not only helped me achieve more of the definition that I was looking for, but also tips on how to incorporate volume into my routine.
Everyone has their unique way of styling their curls, so I did some extra digging to find creators who style their hair differently, giving you a variety of routines to explore!
Here are some curly-haired creators I recommend, depending on the results you’re looking for:
Volume & definition:
@thatgirlwiththecurlyhair: Joy Burnett posts mainly on TikTok though she also has her own YouTube channel which she updates less frequently. Her videos focus on teaching you how to properly style your curls after washing them to achieve both that voluminous bounce and definition. She has videos where she uses multiple different products and rates them as well, giving you different options of brands to choose from while still following her step-by-step tutorials.
Volume:
@emily.demian: Emily Demian is a TikTok haircare influencer who I would look into if you are strictly trying to add more lift and body to your curls. While her curls are also beautifully shaped, I believe the volume she is able to get out of her routine is unlike most content creators I’ve seen — just look through her videos and you’ll understand exactly what I mean!
Definition & some volume:
@Curlybybeth: Beth is another TikTok curly hair content creator known for her long curls and for the definition of said curls. While her hair does have volume, many of her videos focus on how she achieves her curl shape. If volume is what you want, she does have videos showing how she sections off her crown to achieve that, but overall I think her routine is a light mix of definition and volume.
Definition:
@Curlygirl_45: Sofia Zampella is a TikTok and Instagram curly hair content creator who strictly specializes in refining her curls without adding any volume. If what you’re looking for is more structured, and flatter curls that still maintain their natural shape, I suggest watching her videos.
Each of these creators have something different to bring to the table, which is helpful for those who are unsure of what exactly they want when finding the right routine.
If asked personally, I would say that my favorite out of the creator’s I mentioned would be Joy Burnett (@thatgirlwiththecurlyhair) because of the way she is able to incorporate both defined but voluminous curls into her (basically perfect) routine every time. But if you’d asked me four years ago, I probably would have said Sofia’s (@Curlygirl_45), because of the more controlled, flatter look of her curls, which is all younger me wanted .
Don’t forget, everyone’s curls are unique, and you’ll get different results depending on your hair type. I encourage you to check out these creators and even take a look at my most recent post on hair styling if you need any extra advice.
Let me know in the comments what works best for you! And as always, I’ll see you next week!
My top 3 products of the week:
Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls Cream (Can be found in drugstores or on their website).
Images courtesy of OLAPLEX’s website
OLAPLEX Nº.7 Bonding Oil (Can be found in drugstores or on their website).
Images courtesy of Hask Beauty’s website HASK Curl Care Intense Moisture Deep Conditioner Hair Mask (Can be found in drugstores or on their website).
