A leave-in is the base layer, and a cream is what goes on top. I think of it as a sweater over a shirt: one keeps you comfortable, the other keeps everything in place. Apply the cream while the hair is still soaking wet and the whole thing will dry with far less frizz.

dae's Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream is a good middle option, a styling cream that does a few jobs at once. Fenty Beauty's The Homecurl Curl-Defining Styling Cream is the one I would choose if I wanted definition. Moroccanoil's Curl Defining Cream with Argan Oil is softer and has a richer feel through the ends.

Olaplex's No. 6 Bond Smoother Frizz Control Styling Hair Cream is the smoother, the one for humid days when curls want to puff up. JVN's Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Styling Cream is easy to like, since it is made for air drying, which suits anyone who skips the diffuser. Gisou's Honey Milk 5-in-1 Styling Cream is the 5-in-1 option, and the one I would try on looser waves.

The test: after a cream, squeeze a curl gently in your palm. It should feel slick and springy, not tacky or crunchy. If it feels sticky, you used too much, and half the amount next time will fix it.

Gel is what keeps curls in the shape you give them, and it is the step people are most nervous about. Do not be. The crunch is the point, because you scrunch it out once the hair is fully dry and you are left with soft, defined curls that stay put.

Crown Affair's The Flexible Hold Finishing Hair Gel is the gentlest, meant for a softer hold that still looks natural. Bounce Curl's Chia Seed Clumping Gel is exactly what the name says, made to bring curls together in neat ringlets. Pattern Beauty's Palo Santo Curl Gel Creme is a hybrid of gel and cream, good for tighter textures that like moisture and hold in the same step. adwoa beauty's Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Gel is the moisturizing one, for curls that want definition without drying out.

The unexpected favorite here is Act+Acre's Microfiber Hair Towel. Rubbing with a regular towel can add frizz. A microfiber one lets you press and scrunch rather than scrub.

What I would skip: raking a comb through dry curls, and touching your hair while it dries. Every touch breaks up the clumps you just worked to make. Set it, walk away and let it dry, and only scrunch out the gel once your hair is completely dry.

The order I keep repeating is easy to remember: wet hair, leave-in, cream, gel, then leave it alone. Work in sections, and rake the products through with your fingers or a wide comb while the hair is dripping wet.

Use a diffuser on low heat or let curls air dry, wrapped in a microfiber towel for a few minutes to catch drips. Wash days will vary, and so will the weather, so change the amounts with the season. More water in the summer, more cream in the winter. Once your curls feel soft, bouncy and springy, you have found your ratio, and it is worth writing down.

A last note on the scalp. Curl products belong on the hair, so keep them a finger's width from the roots, and clarify with a gentle wash when hair starts to feel coated or dull. If the scalp itches or flakes and it does not settle, that is a question for a dermatologist, not another cream. Otherwise, keep it easy, since curls respond best to a routine you can repeat without thinking.