Are you finding it hard to make your curls last throughout the day, or even longer? Let’s explore why curls fall flat and how you can help your curls stay intact for as long as possible.
7 Reasons Why Your Curls Don't Last and How to Improve Curl Retention
There are several reasons why your curls aren’t holding throughout the day—or even half the day—not to mention the days that follow.
Some of these reasons are:
1. Your hair is damaged
One of the telltale signs of hair damage is your curls not holding or looking limp. To address this, you’ll need to restore your hair’s health and maintain it as best as you can.
Bond builders and protein treatments work wonders for damaged and high-porosity hair. Bond builders go further than regular protein treatments, targeting the disulphide bonds broken through heat and chemical styling, working from the inside out. Two top-rated bond builders are Olaplex and K18. There's also the Bond Curl Rehab Salve from Curlsmith which contains protein as well.
Damaged hair typically has high porosity, but you can also have high-porosity hair without damage.
2. You might need a haircut
The solution to your problem might just be a quick visit to the salon.
I’ve noticed that when my hair is in dire need of a cut, the curls don’t hold like they used to. This is especially true for longer hair, as the length can weigh your curls down, making them look limp, flat, and less defined. A proper haircut can give your hair that bounce again, allowing it to shrink up more and making your curls last longer.
While going to a salon might solve all of your problems, it can also take a different turn. You need to be aware of the tips that make for a great curly cut, one of which is ensuring you are getting a dry cut. Most importantly, you should find a curly hair specialist for the job.
Getting a hair cut is one of the fastest and easiest solutions for curls that don't last, so it's worth trying if it's been a while since your last salon visit.
3. Your hair may be under- or over-moisturized
Over-moisturized hair can feel incredibly soft, but when you apply gel or other holding products, it might not form a proper cast or could create only a soft hold, even if it promises all-day results.
Under-moisturizing is also a problem; there isn’t enough moisture to work with, causing your hair to appear rigid and making it difficult to bend and form a curl.
The key here is finding a balance and determining what level of moisture is right for your curls.
The biggest misconception is that curly hair needs so much moisture to thrive, leading you to apply loads of heavily moisturizing products to your hair. While it is true that curly hair is moisture-loving, you need to take your hair type and porosity into account. Hair slightly on the drier side tends to hold a curl better than curls that feel mushy when styling. This is often a sign of too many moisturizing products.
Looser curl types, fine hair, and low-porosity individuals would benefit from less moisture, while coarser, thicker, and high-porosity individuals tend to do better with more.
Additionally, water hydrates your curls when you're styling. You could be applying too much water or too little, and finding the right amount for your hair and products is important too. When in doubt, we usually recommend using more water when styling, to the point where your hair is nearly dripping. It's a good place to start to at least see if this is what your routine is missing.
4. Your product choice isn't appropriate for your curls
It’s possible your hair isn’t responding to your needs because you’re not giving it the right products. The products you use can affect how long your curls last throughout the day and may even help them last many days afterwards.
Here’s the thing: you could be using the best products, but if they’re not suited to your hair type, porosity, and density, they won’t bring out the best in your curls. So, streamline your product selection to match your hair’s specific needs, not someone else's.
For lower porosity hair and looser curl types, go for lighter-weight products for the best curl retention.
Finer hair can also benefit from products that add grit and texture, like texture sprays. The I Create Wave Salt Spray from Innersense is a great option, as are foams like I Create Lift Volumizing Foam and Style Me Sweet Hibiscus Curl Volumizing Foam.
Additionally, consider using light-hold gels that provide support without weighing the hair down. Good examples include the Bounce Curl Light Crème Gel and the Rizos Curls Light Hold Gel. Styling sprays, such as the Bounce.ME Infinite Mist Curl Enhancer Spray, and a good dry shampoo for second day volume, like the Hair Dance Dry Shampoo, are worth trying too.
For higher porosity and coarser hair types, you'll likely want more moisturizing and stronger hold-providing products, like the Bounce Curl Avocado Rose Clump & Define Cream and/or Curlsmith's Frizz Rescue Curl Retainer.
5. Your products don't have enough hold
This brings us to the main reason behind most of the “Why do my curls not last all day?” queries. Your curls may not last long because they lack enough hold. "Hold" refers to how well a product maintains the shape of your curls, preventing frizz or loss of definition.
A gel is always the best option because it provides the most hold, and your gel choice is super important! To know if a gel provides good enough hold, look for gels containing multiple polyquaternium ingredients, such as Polyquaternium-7, Polyquaternium-10, or Polyquaternium-11, because they form a stronger layer around each curl, helping to hold your style and reduce frizz while still allowing your hair to move naturally.
So many people are scared of the "crunchy" finish that a gel leaves, but this is usually a good sign of long-lasting hold. Scrunch that cast out and it'll leave behind beautifully-shaped curls that will last all day. Don't be afraid of it!
One of the best gels that provides lasting hold and that you’ll want to have in your collection (especially if you live in a humid environment) is the Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel from Ouidad. While this gel offers great hold, it also prevents your hair from feeling weighed down and holds well in humidity. Basically, it’s amazing!
We also find that gels containing protein tend to offer a bit of a boost to curl retention. This includes products like Curlsmith Shape Up Aqua Gel and TreLuxe's Hi! Definition Curl Enhancer Styling Gel.
6. Your application and styling technique can be improved
Another possible reason your curls don't hold could be the way you're applying your products. What method are you using? Are you sectioning your hair and ensuring that all your strands are properly coated?
If you're unsure about what kind of styling products you need, we’ve got a dictionary of styling products for you!
Styling, honesty, is where the real trick lies in making your curls last for days. You can get completely different results out of the same products with different application methods. We’ve got a piece that covers some (if not all) of the best styling techniques and methods to help you level up your styling game—you can check it out here. Try a few different techniques and see which one gives you the longest-lasting results.
7. You aren't diffusing your curls
Diffusing your curls is the finishing touch you need for all-day curls. A diffuser controls and disperses air evenly in a way that doesn’t disrupt your curl pattern while drying. As a result, it minimizes frizz, enhances definition, boosts volume, helps your gel cast set faster, and makes your curls last for days—especially when done right!
Air drying, on the other hand, might be the reason your curls don’t hold as long as you like. Too much water remaining in your hair can weigh it down, stretch out the curls, or cause them to lose shape. Water is heavy; the longer it sits in your hair, the more likely it is to create limp curls.
If you don’t have a diffuser, you can try out alternative ways to dry your curls without one. And if you’re worried about heat, don’t be! You can spritz a heat protectant, like Hair Love Prep Spray, beforehand, and keep your blow dryer on a low heat setting to get the job done.
Don't change everything all at once, otherwise you'll never know what's working! Pick one change per wash day - i.e., using more water when applying your styling products, diffusing instead of air drying, using a stronger-hold gel - and see which ones give you the best results. Then combine them for even better, longer-lasting curls.
