Should I use oil to break gel cast?

We curly girls are a funny bunch as we talk in code amongst ourselves easily. Whether you are talking about a gel cast, TWA, WNG, rake and shake or carve and slice, talking about curls can feel like its own language. If you are looking for more curl definition and less frizz, it's time to get to know all about a gel cast. 

What is a gel cast?

During the drying process after gel is applied to wet hair, the gel will harden around the curls, creating a gel cast. A cast is actually a good thing for your curl definition, but if you don't know how to properly break the cast, it can be mistaken for hard hair, and you may feel you have a bad product. If you have ever felt that a gel or styling product made your curls feel "crunchy," this was probably a cast. 

What are the benefits of a gel cast?

A gel cast actually helps to hold the curls in their natural formation until the hair dries while simultaneously protecting the hair from outside elements like wind, sun, and humidity. This is why we discourage touching your hair after you have styled it. The more you touch your hair, the more likely you are to disturb the curl and create frizz and lose definition. This works the best for me on wash day after I have cleaned my hair, deep conditioned, and applied my gel throughout my hair.

Make sure your gel does not have any drying alcohols so that your hair is not losing moisture. Another tip is if you have frizzier sections pay more attention to applying the gel to every strands in those areas to fully fight the frizz.

How to scrunch out the crunch

Once your hair is dry, it is time to remove the crunch of the gel cast to release the hair from the protective barrier. Simply break the cast by lightly scrunching upward. I usually have to take my finger into my hair to reach my scalp. This helps to release the gel while lifting from the scalp to give my hair height. You can rub a few drops of your favorite light oil between your hands to keep your hands from causing friction in your hair and disturbing the curls.

You not only end up with softer curls but fully moisturized, frizz-free curls that can give you second, third, or even fourth day hair. I cover hair with a Loc Soc (you can pineapple) spritz with some water in the morning, fluff, and go.

Here’s a simple video by Curly Susie on how to easily create a cast and then scrunch out the crunch for soft, touchable curls.

And here is one more video from Bianca Renee showing how she scrunches out her crunch.

The Best Gels for Curls

If you're looking for a styling gel that works, these were voted the best gels for wavy, curly, and coily hair by the NaturallyCurly community in our Best of the Best awards.

Raw Curls Firm Hold Gel

Best for: Wavy Type 2 

This gel is made up of 99.7% natural ingredients and is Curly Girl Method-friendly. Wavies love that it gives them defined, soft curls without drying them out.

Ecoco Eco Styler Argan Oil Gel

Best for: Curly Type 3 

This gel is a go-to for curlies because it creates great definition and extends their wash and go for days. This will create a cast so make sure to master your scrunching skills. 

Ecoco Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel

Best for: Coily Type 4

This gel also won the award for Best Gel for All Hair Types and you probably recognize this bottle because it is a classic Holy Grail product. And coming in at under $5, it can't hurt to give this gel a try. 

Many curlies also DIY their gel using natural ingredients like flaxseed gel, sea moss gel, and aloe gel.

Is a gel cast part of your styling routine? Let us know in the comments!

This article has been updated with new products and resources.

Last Updated on September 19, 2022 by

If you’ve ever had a crunchy feeling in your hair after applying a gel or mousse, you’ve likely got a gel cast! This can feel hard and may seem like it’s not normal, but it’s actually common and a good thing.

But, how do you remove the crunchy cast? Well, that’s where the process of ‘scrunching out the crunch’ or SOTC comes in. The key to getting those soft and fluffy curls is to give them a good scrunching to break up the cast created by your styling products.

In today’s article, we’ll share 16 fool proof ways to scrunch out the crunch, or “break the gel cast’ ‘, as we like to call it. This ‘cast’, as it’s been termed, is what can help to create smooth, soft clumps, once you remove it.

Back in my day, the crunchy curl look was all the rage. We would scrunch our hair with gel, mousse, and even hairspray, and hope for the best. The result was rock hard glossy defined curls. It was definitely not a style that everyone could pull off, but we liked it anyway.

Nowadays, there are much better ways to achieve the well-defined soft curls without the crunchy feeling. The crunchy curl look is out and the smooth, glossy, soft curl look is in.

Let’s get right into it.

How to Scrunch Out the Crunch

If you want to eliminate the crunch from your hair, follow the simply steps below.

Things you may need:

• a satin fabric (it can be a pillowcase, bonnet, scarf, or headband)
• microfiber towel
• old t-shirt
• oil

Step 1: Hair must be 100% dry

Examine a clump of hair between your fingers and check for dampness by gently squeezing it. If it still feels damp or moist, it will not work and you must continue to dry your hair until it’s completely dry.

Step 2: Scrunch upwards

Scrunch your hair by gently cupping the curl clumps in your hand and scrunch upwards with a little bit of pressure (be gentle), then release it and repeat. You can also scrunch your hair upside down to help loosen the gel cast.

Some curlies like to use oil to help break the cast. You can use any oil you like, such as olive oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil. Just add a small amount to your hands and scrunch it into the ends of your hair.

Step 3: Break the gel cast

You’ll notice that your hair will start to feel softer and more pliable. Keep scrunching and cupping until you have scrunch out the crunch or “break the gel cast” from all of your hair.

16 Different Ways to SOTC

There are many different ways to scrunch out the crunch, so find the method that works best for you and your hair. Experiment and have fun!

1.Use an old cotton t-shirt. Try scrunching your hair with a t-shirt or microfiber towel instead of scrunching it with your bare hands.

2. Use a tiny amount of oil. To help achieve soft and pliable curls, add a small amount of oil to your hands before scrunching. This will also add shine to your hair.

3. Use a satin fabric. Gentle scrunching with a satin fabric will help to break the gel cast and achieve softer, shinier curls. The satin fabric can be in the form of your pillowcase, scarf, bonnet, or headband.

4. Twist. Take a section of your hair, then twist it around and release it. Repeat this scrunching technique all over your head.

5. Clap out the crunch. Here’s a short video to demonstrating the clapping out the crunch technique.

6. Rope scrunch. Take a section of the top of you hair and squeeze your hair downwards until you reach the ends. Repeat this technique all over your head.

7. Sleep on it. This is great option if you prefer to wash your hair before bed. Wait until your hair is completely dry, then sleep on a satin pillowcase. This will help to break the gel cast while you sleep.

8. Use a small amount conditioner. Emulsify a tiny amount of conditioner into your hands and scrunch out the crunch.

9. Diffuser. With the blow dryer on “off”, place your curls in the bowl of the diffuser and push it upwards towards your head. Turn the blow dryer on for approximately 10 seconds then turn it off and release it.

10. Fluff the roots. To help loosen the cast at the root area, begin by inserting your fingers into your hair at the root, wiggling or shaking them around. This will also create a little volume at the roots. Hopefully these tips will help you achieve the soft and shiny curls of your dreams!

11. Achieve volume at the root. To achieve volume at the root area, scrunch your curl clumps quite vigorously. The more you scrunch, the more volume you will achieve.

12. Use a pick. you may need to use a pick or comb to help loosen the gel cast. Be careful not to over-comb or pick your hair, as this can cause breakage and frizz.

13. Use a little bit of water.  If your hair is still feeling crunchy after you’ve scrunch out the crunch, you can add the tiniest bit of water to your hands and scrunch it through your hair. This will help to loosen the gel cast even further.

14. Use a curl cream. You can a curl cream to help soften your hair. Emulsify a small amount into your hair and scrunch away.

15. Smoothing. Gather a section of your hair near the roots, holding it between your palms. Gently run your hands down the length of your hair to the ends. This will help reduce the chances of getting frizz, which is a common problem with over-vigorous crunching.

16. Mix up the techniques. You don’t have to just use one scrunching technique. You can mix and match different techniques to find what works best for you and your hair. The bottom line is that there are many different ways to scrunch out the crunch.

How To Achieve A Gel Cast

Combining styling products on wet or damp hair creates a firm gel cast. Different formulations can yield many different types of casts, but strong-hold gels and mousses are generally the most effective technique to make one.

There are a few tips that one can follow in order to achieve a gel cast.

The first is to make sure that the hair is completely wet before applying a gel or mousse.

Secondly, let your hair dry completely without touching it. This will allow the products used to set properly into the hair and form the cast.

For a list of the best gels for curly hair, click here.

If you have issues with achieving a gel cast, click here to find out the science behind it.

How To Prevent Frizz With Scrunching Out the Crunch

Frizz can be a major problem when trying to break the gel cast out of your hair. There are a few things you can do to prevent frizz when scrunching out the crunch.

The first is to make sure that you are using the right products for your hair type. If you have frizzy hair, it is important to use a gel or mousse that is designed to control frizz.

You may get frizz when SOTC for the following reasons:

• hair was not completely dry
• too much product used
• you were overly aggressive when scrunching
• hair needs moisture
• using the wrong products
• you have product build up. Click here to learn how to get rid of it.

Products To Scrunch Out The Crunch

There are many different products that can be used to scrunch out the crunch. The type of product you use will really depend on your preferences.

Some people find that using a leave-in conditioner or curl cream helps to scrunch out the crunch and add moisture to the hair.

Others prefer to use oils or serums. Here is a list of my favorite oils to get the job done.

• Righteous Roots Oils
• Argan oil
• Grapeseed oil
• Jojoba oil
• Olive oil
• Avocado oil

Some even like to use a mousse or foam so as not to weigh their hair down. My favorite products are:

• Innersense foam
• OUIDAD Vitalcurl+ Soft Defining Mousse
• SheaMoisture Curl Mousse for Frizz Control 
• GIOVANNI Mousse Air-Turbo Charged Styling Foam
• OUAI Air Dry Foam
• Coconut Oil and Shea Wrap Me Foaming Mousse by Lotta Body
• Mielle Organics Babassu Brazilian Curly Cocktail Curl Mousse 

Other Helpful Tips For Scrunching Out The Crunch

1. Soaking wet hair. Applying gel or mousse to soaking wet hair is a sure way to achieve even coverage and allowing the product to get beyond the top layers of your hair. When it comes to curly hair, many curly hair stylists utilize this approach in the salon.
2. Damp hair. Ok, I know this sounds contradictory to what I just said, but hear me out. Applying product to soaking wet hair doesn’t work for everyone. It really depends on your hair type. I have high porosity hair, which means my strands are dry and drink up moisture quickly – especially after being washed and conditioned. So, applying products to damp hair works best for my hair. If you have fine hair, it also may be best to apply products to damp hair.
3. Even product distribution .  When scrunching out the crunch, it is important to make sure that the product is evenly distributed throughout your hair. You may be applying too much product to a section of your hair, which can lead to overly crunchy ends while softer hair towards the area where you didn’t apply enough product. If this happens to you, rake the product through your hair or use the prayer hands technique for even distribution.
4. Don’t use too much product. Simply put, too much product can weigh your curls down and may not help form a gel cast.
5. Attempt to form larger clumps. Using a curl clumping cream (Discount code: muse) will really help with this. Also, using the right technique such as using the squish to condish method. Here is a great tutorial on how to do this.
6. Be patient. scrunching out the crunch can take time. If you don’t have success the first time around, give it another try. Don’t give up! Try one of the above techniques and see how it works for you.

I hope these tips help you in your journey to scrunch out the crunch! What’s your favorite method or product to use? Let me know in the comments below.

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