Curl Friends rejoice! Shrinkage may have been a problem in the past, but it’s time to find solace in knowing that it doesn’t have to be like this anymore. Anyone who’s prone to shrinkage knows how much of a bummer it can be, but with these four tips, you can avoid it and let your length get the shine it deserves.

Give roller and rod sets a try.

If you’re stuck in the mindset that roller sets, perm rods and flexi rods are only for your mother and grandmother, you should think again. By setting your hair in either of these techniques, you are guaranteed to stretch your hair more than before. So whether you’re looking to wear a straighter style or want to show off a different type of curl, this will give you what you need. Setting lotions or the mousse of your choice are the best products to help achieve these styles.

Go for the bantu knots.

One of the best things about bantu knots is the fact that you can get a two-for-one when it comes to style. You can also create the look on wet or dry hair. Just be sure to let your hair completely dry if you complete the style on wet hair. Once you decide to take the knots down, however, you will have achieved a beautiful textured style that’s stretched more than your natural texture. Our Curl Mane-tenance Defining Curl Whip can be used to help nail the look.

Banding works well, too.

Never heard of the term “banding?” Well, you’ll definitely want to throw this into your routine moving forward. Just divide your hair into sections and place hair holders in multiple places on that section from root to tip. After your hair has air dried, remove the bands and you’ll find a head full of non-shrunken hair.

Twist outs and braid outs can be your saving grace.

It’s no secret that twists outs and braid outs can produce awesome textured styles for any curl type, but it also helps elongate your strands, too. Something else that makes each of these styles beneficial is the ability to create different stretched hair styles when these get old. And while flat twist outs will deliver a more stretched look to your hair than the others, all of the styles will give you what you need. To help your curls drop a little lower, use our Don’t Shrink Elongating Curling Gel while styling.