If your curls are falling flat or frizzing fast, the problem might not be the product — it could be how much you’re using. Today, I’ve put it to the test. I styled one side of my hair with too much product, one side with not enough product, and I’m showing you examples of what the right amount looks like.

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Through my curl coaching membership (now open for enrollment for $100 off), I help my clients determine exactly how much product they need based on their hair type.

Step 1: Water + Heat protectant (optional)

First, I took my hair down from my Hair RePear towel, made sure my hair is evenly wet, and applied my heat protectant. Water is a “product” too — too much can dilute the hold of your styler, while too little gives you patchy application. While it isn’t the focus of this test, there is such a thing as too much/not enough water.

​Hair RePear Premium Cotton Hair Towel, Not Dyed​
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​Bouclème Flairosol Mist Spray Bottle​
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​Curlsmith Miracle Shield Heat Protection Spray​
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Too much water: Hold of your styler will be diluted and potentially cause you to pick up more product that you don’t need, which can be wasteful.

Too little water: Not enough water can cause a stringy look and result in frizz and uneven curls from patchy application. Not enough water can also cause you to compensate with too much product, trying to wet and clump the hair, leading to a buildup feeling.

For today’s experiment:

• LEFT: This side will be too much product
• RIGHT: This side will be not enough product
• We’ll compare them to another wash day using the correct amount of product for my hair

Everything else in my routine stayed exactly the same – same wash, same stylers, same drying method – so we can isolate this one factor of the amount of styler.

Step 2: Styler

When it comes to your styler, using too much or too little can completely change how your waves and curls form and hold. This can be from using too many products OR too much of a product.

​AG Re:coil Curl Activator​
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​Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel​
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Today I started with the AG Re:Coil Curl Activator Cream as my first styler. I chose this one today because I often see people not get the amount just right. It’s very concentrated, meaning a little goes a long way, and when you rub your palms together, it forms a white film.

For my gel, I used the Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel. This a gel that you need to experiment with to get the right amount. In my experience, I often get the look of “too much” opposed to “too little” gel.

Signs of Too Much Styling Product

When you’ve used too much, you’ll usually notice a few things:

• Styling product appears visibly white on your hair
• You can see it on your brush if you’re brush styling
• When you scrunch your hair, it’s oozing out
• It feels really heavy and coated
• Hair is very clumped or sticking to itself and your hands
• Hair is limp and not bouncing up to its usual curl pattern

Signs of Not Enough Styling Product

When you haven’t used enough product, the signs are almost the opposite:

• You can’t really feel the styling product on your hands or hair
• Feels the same as clean, damp hair
• Hair is not clumping well
• You’re seeing a lot of wet frizz form even after styling
• Starts drying stringy or frizzy (can also mean not enough water)

Signs of the Right Amount of Styling Product

When you’ve used the right amount of product for your hair type and your styler type:

• You can feel the product in your hair but it’s not oozing out or dripping off your hands
• It feels slippery and smooth
• The hair forms into its natural curl pattern after styling
• You don’t see wet frizz after styling
• It’s clumped and defined, not stringy or frizzy

How to apply the right amount of product:

• Start small and add more as you go.
• You want to make sure you’re applying it evenly.
  • Avoid grabbing a large amount to start. This makes it difficult to spread.
• Pay close attention to the feeling in your hair.

The key is to adjust in small amounts until you find the right balance for your hair.

Step 3: Styling

Once I applied gel, I brush styled for even distribution and definition. On my top section, I finger coiled the front pieces for root lift.

​Tangle Teezer Naturally Curly Detangling Brush​
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Step 4: Microplopping + Extra Gel (if needed)

After styling, microplopped and added an extra layer of gel for added hold. If you notice your hair doesn’t feel right, this is the point in your routine where you can best “fix” it. You want to make sure to do this before diffusing. Once the hair is dry, it’s much harder to “fix.” So, here are some ways to “fix” having too much or not enough product:

How to Fix Too Much Styling Product:

You’ll need to remove the product while your hair is still wet when styling.

• Re-wet your hair if needed.
• Gently scrunch or squeeze out the excess product with your hands or a towel.
• Don’t apply a second coat of gel

This is difficult to fix when refreshing, so I recommend re-washing if needed. You can try wetting your hair and scrunching with a towel but you may notice frizz. If you can’t get your cast out once dried, you can try using your diffuser to scrunch it out and some oil.

How to Fix Too Little Styling Product:

If you didn’t apply enough styler, this can be fixed wet or dry; however, it’s easiest to fix while wet.

• Apply more gel or mousse to wet hair. If you’ve already styled, gently glaze or scrunch it in.
• If your hair is dry, you can wet your hands, add some gel or mousse, and glaze that over your hair.

If you’re refreshing, you can do the same thing by adding more gel. You’ll likely need some water too. You may notice frizz within the inner layers if you’re just glazing over the surface. Doing a full refresh where you wet your hair down and add more product in sections is not ideal.

Step 5: Diffusing

Next, I diffused and used the same routine, same settings, and same technique on both sides.

Diffusing sets the gel cast and freezes the curl shape in whichever position it’s in while drying. This is why I like to gather the hair in the diffuser and press it up towards my scalp. Then, I use the prongs to lift the roots to create volume. Diffusing helps my curls to dry more defined and last longer, so I always diffuse.

But, if you don’t have the time to fully diffuse, just diffuse for a few minutes to set your cast then finish air drying.

​Curlsmith Defrizzion Hair Dryer & XXL Diffuser​
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Step 6: Scrunch out the crunch

Once your hair is dry, you can leave the cast in if you want it to last longer, or scrunch out the cast for a softer look. With dry hands, reach underneath and shake out the roots. Gently scrunch the lengths until it softens up.

If your hair is coarse or you live in a dry climate, you can use a little oil when scrunching out the cast. But I usually avoid this because oil on top of gel can shorten your hold. I have also found that when I go to refresh, I struggle to get my hold back with the oil in the way.

Results Comparison

Too Much Product

• Little to no visible frizz.
• Volume is reduced; hair looks weighed down and limp, especially at the roots.
• Cast is very hard to scrunch out — or doesn’t release at all.
• Takes a long time to dry
• Hair still looks or feels wet when dry; may appear darker even after wash day.
  • Note: A wet look on Day 1 isn’t always bad — moisturizing gels often look softer and less wet by the end of Day 1 or Day 2.
• Feels producty, sticky, oily, or dirty (especially with gritty gels) and residue comes off on your hands.
• Clumps are heavy and less bouncy.

Not Enough Product

• Frizz shows up quickly — even before fully dry.
• Hair looks fluffy with extra volume, but lacks definiton.
• Little to no cast forms.
• Dries too fast and looks lighter; finish is dull, not shiny.
• It looks like the hair is “dry,” when really it’s just missing hold.
• Clumps don’t hold together and look stringy.
• Definition fades quickly and results don’t last.

Just the Right Amount

• Minimal frizz; curls stay intact.
• Balanced volume and definition.
• Light to medium cast that scrunches out well (often softens by Day 2).
• Shine without a greasy, residue feel.
• Cast can be broken if scrunched, but still has hold.
• Defined clumps that aren’t stuck together.
• Hold that lasts for days.

Day 2 Results

By day two, the differences between the two sides were even clearer. The side with not enough product became much frizzier, especially on my higher porosity ends, and some pieces even straightened out from lack of hold.

On the too much product side, the curls still looked clumped, but they felt sticky and product-y, with residue transferring onto my hands. My roots were stuck flat, making it hard to fluff or add volume.

In contrast, when I use the right amount, I usually get soft, touchable definition that still holds up on day two without feeling coated or frizzy.

The Secret is in the Application

When we don’t get the results we want, we usually think it’s a problem with the product. Sometimes it’s not that a product “doesn’t work” — it’s that you’re not using the right amount for your hair type, density, or porosity. Or, the formula itself just isn’t the right fit.

And keep in mind, how much you need will depend on the product type. Some gels are more forgiving if you use a lot, while others will easily look like too much if you go heavy-handed.

It also could be HOW you’re applying your product. And that’s where my Strong Hold Method comes in. It guides you through the steps to make sure you have the best chance of success.

Still stuck?

Finding your perfect amount takes some testing — and that’s exactly what I help you do inside my Curl Coaching Membership. I’ll walk you through how much you need, often with products you already have, and help you adjust until you’re getting results you love. If you want more personalized help and feedback from me every week, email me to join the Fall Coaching Program for $100 off until end of day Aug 31.