For kinky and very curly hair, Lopez says the key is patience and styling technique. "Shrinkage factor is higher in tighter curls than someone with a looser curl, so people who have tighter curls will feel like they're in the in-between phase longer than someone with a looser curl pattern. Give yourself the patience and time to get to a length where you get to see the full rotation of the curl." He also says that, similar to wavy hair, it's best to stop heat styling if you really want to see the full potential of your curls. If it's length and definition you're craving, Lopez is a fan of the double-strand twist. "They stretch out your curls and give them definition without disturbing the curl. Remember: the bigger the double-strand twist, the looser the curled style will be."

From a styling perspective, Lopez favors mixing the hold of a gel with the moisture of a cream together for hydration, curl hold and a bit of weight, and recommends girls with tight curls avoid brushing. "I see a lot of brushing tutorials on Instagram where they take the Denman and brush through their hair. Disrupting those curl families doesn't work for those tighter curl patterns where they're looking for more definition and stretch out of their hair."

Lopez says another way to get definition is to let the curls just do what they do by leaving a little conditioner behind when you rinse, putting product into soaking wet hair with your head upside-down, flip your head back up and then leave as much moisture in it as possible. "You don't want to leave the house with your hair dripping wet but try to leave just enough so it's not dripping into your eyes and then leave it alone so it leaves as much weight as possible in it and it dries stretched out."

When it comes to haircuts, always have curls cut dry and show up to your styling appointment with your hair dry and down so your hair falls naturally. "Help your stylist by coming to your appointment with your hair down and loose, not in a ponytail, braid or a bun. Get your hair cut with your hair down with your curls in their natural state the way they would normally fall on their own."

Image via Imaxtree