Clump Size and Curl Pattern

naturecat

So lately I made a major change in how I did my hair. Instead of letting the hair dry clumped together (I thought it needed it for strength), I broke apart the clumps more with my hands before applying product. The end result is that my hair is less weighed down and curlier. I can scrunch more with less fragility to the curl. I consistently get 3a pieces, and when I properly clarify my hair I can (apparently) be an out and out 3a. Am I the only one whose pattern can be so influenced by clump size?

Also, another Q: how many clumps do you have when drying your hair (esp for my fellow low density hair curlies)? I have been using the ice queen method (which apparently works better when you break up the clumps). I have my hair upside down, and on each half of my head I have between 5-8 clumps. Is this about right for someone with low density hair? How do you decide how thick the clumps should be? Do you all break up your hair with your fingers to form the clumps?

rbb

if i break up the clumps before my hair is dry it frizzes.

however, i apply products in the shower so don't even see my hair/clumps til after products are in. and i rake my products thru, so... i would guess am breaking up clumps? then i blot excess water, plop just for a few minutes while i dry and moisture, then shake my hair out and scrunch. this is when i must not break up any clumps. (and i have to add that if left totally on its own, i think my hair would be one clump going forward! ) i never counted the clumps, but i have mostly few clumps, then break it up when dry.

curlypearl

I'm glad for this thread because I have forgotten about the ice-queen method. I'm going to try it again! Somewhere, someday, somehow, I will find something that works consistently!

One problem is that when I do a routine and I need to see how it will work in high dews, the weather doesn't cooperate! For example, I can't see if I need to use a hard hold gel if the dews turn out to be low:confused3: But that's another thread.

Thanks for posting!

wavesandsmiles

I don't know if the curls themselves actually get tighter, but I think my hair looks curlier when I break up the clumps because there are more curls overall. Also when my hair clumps too much the curls tend to lock together in a way that makes parts of my hair look straight.
I find that I get the best looking curls when I rake my conditioner through my hair. I used to be scared that it would make my hair stringy or pull out the curl but it doesn't; it works great to make my clumps medium sized rather than massive. Sometimes I'll have to break a few big ones up after it dries. And on days when my hair really wants to be crazy with the clumping, I'll very carefully finger comb (or I admit, not so carefully when I'm really frustrated with my hair :P). I don't know how many clumps I get though; I have never counted and I have a ton of hair

sixelamy

My hair gets bigger clumps right in the front, which sometimes I will pull apart. Sometimes I leave them, because it gets the hair out of my face as it's drying. I normally pull them apart when my hair is dry or mostly dry. I always pull apart and hang my head upside down and "fluff" at my roots once my hair is mostly dry. It helps my curls so much and tends to break them apart.

Corrina777

naturecat wrote: »

So lately I made a major change in how I did my hair. Instead of letting the hair dry clumped together (I thought it needed it for strength), I broke apart the clumps more with my hands before applying product. The end result is that my hair is less weighed down and curlier. I can scrunch more with less fragility to the curl. I consistently get 3a pieces, and when I properly clarify my hair I can (apparently) be an out and out 3a. Am I the only one whose pattern can be so influenced by clump size?

Also, another Q: how many clumps do you have when drying your hair (esp for my fellow low density hair curlies)? I have been using the ice queen method (which apparently works better when you break up the clumps). I have my hair upside down, and on each half of my head I have between 5-8 clumps. Is this about right for someone with low density hair? How do you decide how thick the clumps should be? Do you all break up your hair with your fingers to form the clumps?

My hair is exactly the same way. I noticed that you're hair is fine (as is mine) and I wonder if that has something to do with it. I know my hair will lose curl easily if it's weighed down at all, so the smaller clumps keep my hair from getting weighed down by huge clumps.