Curl Troubleshooting Live — Ask Me Anything Q&A


Curl problems are rarely random — they’re clues. In today’s live, I answered your curl troubleshooting questions in real time. We covered reasons your curls don’t hold, determining if your hair is dry, how to cover your scalp, and more. Watch the replay below.

Livestream Replay

video preview

Below is a recap of everything we covered, plus the products I recommended during the stream.

Topics We Covered with Timestamps

Below are the timestamps that you can use to navigate the replay.

0:00 — Welcome + what to expect; mousse testing sneak peek
4:22 — Curlfriend Collective Bonnet review + hair match headbands
9:00 — Q: Squish to condition — is it necessary? Does leave-in time matter?
13:14 — Q: How to conceal a cowlick; styling the back of your hair
17:40 — Q: Dealing with multiple curl patterns in one head
20:00 — Q: High porosity / damaged hair — how to start wearing it curly
25:00 — Q: Stringy curls — causes and fixes
28:32 — Q: Does coarse hair equal dry hair? Is the goal to make it softer?
33:04 — Q: What products to use for gray hair
41:48 — Q: Dry, coarse, wavy hair — product recommendations (fragrance-free)
43:24 — Q: Ouidad alone not lasting — how to layer or top with a second gel
44:53 — Q: Soft finish, fine hair — why it falls and how to extend hold
51:00 — Q: What does “lightweight” actually mean — consistency or ingredients?
54:49 — Q: Do you need both conditioner and deep conditioner on clarify days?
56:51 — Q: Hair looks great after diffusing but goes limp as days go on
59:30 — Closing thoughts + coaching program details

Products Mentioned

The following products came up during the Q&A.

Want Personalized Help with Your Own Curls?

A live Q&A is a great way to get general guidance — but there’s a real limit to what I can do when I can’t see your hair.

In my Group Curl Coaching Program, I actually watch you style, diffuse, and refresh in real time. I can see what your hands are doing, what your products are doing, and give you feedback in the moment — not just general advice that may or may not apply to your situation.

That’s the difference. It’s not a class you watch. It’s a coaching experience where your specific curls get specific attention.

The result: curls that last longer, a routine that actually works for your hair, and a lot less time, money, and frustration spent on products and techniques that aren’t right for you.

The fall program isn’t open yet, but you can pre-register now to get early access when enrollment opens.

Gena Marie

Curly hair coach helping you better understand your naturally curly hair through easy-to-follow tutorials, science-based haircare tips, and problem-solving.

Read more from Gena Marie
video preview

I don’t normally recommend a mousse to style curls. But I tested 10 of them to find out which ones actually hold, and which ones are wasting a step in your routine. Why I Don’t Usually Recommend Mousse Most people add a mousse for volume, however they often don’t make a difference and can just soften your gel’s hold. Test your routine with and without it and you’ll probably find it isn’t doing anything. If anything it’s softening your gel’s hold, especially underneath your gel, which means...

video preview

Curly hair does not have to be hard or high maintenance. Most people have just been taught to overcomplicate it. Too many products, a routine found online with a dozen steps you can’t explain, and results that still don’t last. This post covers four changes that simplify your routine by helping your curls last longer, take less time, and work with your busy lifestyle. ❌ Layering Several Styling Products✅ Use One to Two Styling Products This is usually the first thing I have coaching clients...

video preview

If your curls are still frizzy and not lasting even though you’ve been doing everything you were told, the advice might be the problem. These are five pieces of popular curl advice that could be working against your hold — and by extension, your frizz, your definition, and how long your style lasts. This advice isn’t necessarily wrong. But nobody explains what it costs. Once you understand that, you have control. The Moisture-Hold Balance: Why Hold Controls Everything Hold is what controls...