scrunch s and body

Back in the '80s, many curlies sported a crispy, crunchy-looking halo of rock-hard shiny curls achieved from their gel or mousse. Fear of this crunchy perm await is why many people take been scared off wearing their curls naturally since! However, this 'cast', equally it's been termed, is what can help to create smooth, sleeky curl clumps, once yous have removed information technology. This step in a curly girl's repertoire is often the break-through moment – you know, that moment when you realise you've been doing it wrong all along!

So, how do you remove this crunchy bandage? Well, that's where the process of 'scrunching out the crunch' or SOTC comes in.

How to Achieve a Cast

A solid cast is achieved through applying styling products onto moisture or damp hair. Unlike products can create dissimilar strength casts, but strong-hold gels and mousses are unremarkably the best manner to create a bandage. Allowing the hair to dry fully (either through diffusing or air drying) without touching information technology too much (tempting I know!) allows the product to class a hard, crystalline surface around the pilus. This encourages the cuticle to lie flat which in turn creates that smooth coveted smoothen. However, you lot don't want to walk round with rock-hard curls looking like you've just jumped directly out of an '80s Bon Jovi MTV video! This is where the 'scrunch' comes in.

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Pictured: @actuallyalicia.curls

How to Scrunch out the Crunch

Stride i: Ensure hair is completely dry

Examination this past property a clump between 2 fingers and squeezing gently, feeling for any dampness.

Footstep 2: Scrunch

Gently cup whorl clumps in sections and scrunch your curls upwards. Some people exercise this quite vigorously to gain book and lift the root, but you may wish to do this gently to begin with to see how much definition you lot can accomplish.

Step 3: Crisis

Keep cupping and scrunching until all the 'crunch' has gone and your curls are soft and bouncy. Don't forget the back! Some people flip their hair from side to side or upside down to ensure full coverage.

Unlike Ways to SOTC

Yous tin simply do this with the cheapest option – your bare hands! However, some curlies like the added protection and luxury of scrunching with a silk scarf. Drape the scarf beyond your palms and scrunch in the same way every bit above.

Another option is to utilize a hair oil. Rub a couple of drops of oil between your palms before scrunching. The oil helps to pause up the cast and adds extra shine.

Some people prefer to mix up their method of removing the crunch; for instance, you lot could attempt 'smoothing out the crunch' which is where you lot gently smoothen the curl downwards between two fingers, thus smoothing out the cast. This helps to reduce the chances of getting frizz which tin can happen with over-vigorous crunching! Or yous could 'handclapping out the crunch' on more stubborn casts where you clap the lengths of your hair betwixt apartment palms.

Y'all may want to comprise a pick at the end to add extra volume to the roots. @actuallyalicia.curls, pictured in a higher place, said on her Instagram that "once your hair is fully dry out use your hands and scrunch the hair until the hard 'cast' is gone and your curls feel soft once more. To fluff I like to give my hair a milk shake from the roots, or pick it with a pilus pick or comb. I also like to massage my scalp to add more root book."

What If I Don't Achieve a Cast?

Don't fret also much; you can still reach beautifully polish and glossy curls without i. Next time you wash, endeavor applying unlike layers and combinations of products or try a strong-concur styler as your terminal layer. Once y'all go used to recognising whether you have a bandage forming or not, yous can try the #smasters technique which is where yous employ another layer of gel/mousse when your hair is 80% dry. This can assist a bandage to form before y'all finish drying fully.

And so, what are you waiting for? Let'south get scrunching!

This article has been updated.