Curly hair that doesn't hold a curl with a curling iron 🤣? What to do about this?

[Anonymous]

I've got the weirdest hair type! I've been told it's "fine, but a lot of it," so basically each hair strand is small/thin in diameter, but there's a decent amount of those hairs. It looks like fluff. 😭 It's naturally curly, but I prefer a looser curl and less frizz, so I usually try to curl the top layer (or all of it if I'm feeling fancy) with a curling iron in order to get the look I want. I usually am pretty happy with how it looks when I've just gotten done styling it, but within 30 minutes, it has somehow fallen mostly straight, lost all of its volume, and gotten stringy at the ends. It drives me absolutely insane, and I don't feel right until I've washed it again! I've been told that some hair types like this require blow drying so I've tried that, but it either makes it so frizzy it needs to be re-washed in order to do anything with it, or if I only partially blow dry like I was suggested, the same exact issue with it falling flat and going stringy happens, so it makes no difference. I do have layers, which were also suggested to me, but now I'm thinking they're making the ends too wispy and encouraging them to go stringy. My hair is currently at around bra strap length (the longest I can get it to grow 😭), if that matters.

Is there anything I can do to keep my style longer? I honestly try to avoid hairspray because the feeling of it bothers me and my sensitive skin has had reactions to it on my neck area before, but I'm open to just about anything, really. Thanks!

[AI Opinion]

Curly hair can be tricky, especially when aiming for a specific style. For your fine yet abundant hair, try using a heat protectant with a hold feature before curling. Opt for a lightweight mousse or curl-enhancing cream to set the foundation. Finish curls with a lightweight, flexible spray to give structure without the stiffness. A ceramic curling iron may help maintain consistent heat and hold. Consider using satin pillowcases to reduce frizz overnight. Avoid touching your hair too much after styling to prevent oils from weighing it down. 🌟

[KittygosMeoWW]

I use mousse when my hair is wet because my hair is fine but wavy and nice curls fall out fast