My trick is using a blow dryer to stretch the curl once hair is completely dry (if you are not opposed to heat that is). Grab hair in sections stretch downward, and use a warm blowdryer up and down along the length of the section for about 3-5 secs...hold hair stretched out in place without heat for a few seconds to allow to cool and lock in stretched out curls. This will elongate your curls as well as add some volume.
so1913 - i'd like to try the claw clamp idea but my hair is tightest at the back - the nape and from my ears back. if i pony tail it bunches up, its crazy. i'm thinking your blow-dryer stretch idea might work best for me. the front seems to hang just fine.
another problem is i don't think my hair is cut in the proper shape for curls. its strange because my hair is longer, but curlier?? so1913 - do you have a 'special' cut for your hair? it hangs beautifully when curly.
has anyone here tried any of those in-salon keratin treatments? i wonder if that could stretch my curls?
My hair is actually cut a certain way to so that it "falls" just right. I guess it's a kind of layering...if you have access to a stylist that specializes in curly/textured hair, I'd recommend seeing them for an appropriate shaping for your hair type. I could definitely feel the defience when I stopped going to A. Dickey...as my hair grew out in a more blunt cut, I became more unhappy with styling. I went back to him about 2 months ago and got it shaped up again and now it falls just right .
I have been having major problems with super tight curls and shrinkage. The other day, I happened upon a new styling technique by accident - I applied all my leave ins (conditioner, serum, Proclaim gel) in the shower to my soaking wet detangled hair. I think I even passed my head back under the shower to be sure it was dripping wet. Then I made a loose braid down my back, squeezed out some of the water from the braid, covered my edges with a silk scarf, dried under my Pibbs for 10 minutes, gently undid the braid and dried 5 more minutes, then shook my head vigorously and I had defined, elongated curls! I felt like I had won a million dollars (okay, I exaggerate!).
I recently also realized that products with glycerin cause my hair to shrink so I am in the process of experimenting with non-glycerin gels or not using gel at all.