The Rake-and-Shake Styling Method
Uniformity in curly hair is often lost to friction or uneven product distribution. The rake-and-shake method addresses this by using your fingers as a comb to separate hair into distinct clumps before releasing them to coil naturally. By applying tension during the application process, you ensure that styling agents coat every strand thoroughly.
This method relies on moisture and gravity. You will need a water-rich environment to execute the motions without damaging the hair shaft. Follow these steps to standardize your curl pattern.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Total time
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Product dependent
- Cadence
- Every wash day
Ingredients
- Humectants: Maintain moisture levels for coil elasticity
- Polymers: Provide necessary hold for the shake formation
Tools List
- Wide-tooth comb
- High-slip curl cream
- Styling gel with hold
Step by step
Saturate the hair
Your hair must be soaking wet before you begin. Apply a leave-in conditioner or a curl-defining cream starting at the mid-lengths and working toward the ends. Ensure every strand is slick to the touch, as dry patches will cause tangles during the raking phase.
Tip: Use a wide-tooth comb only if knots are present.Rake through sections
Divide your hair into four manageable quadrants. Take a section, place your fingers at the roots, and rake them through to the ends in a fluid motion. Your fingers act as a distributor, forcing the product into the cuticle and organizing the hair into vertical sections.
Tip: Maintain consistent tension throughout the stroke.The shake
Once your fingers reach the ends of the hair section, hold the ends firmly. Gently shake your hand side-to-side. This motion encourages the hair to snap back into its natural coil pattern, undisturbed by the interference of adjacent strands.
Tip: Do not let go until the vibration reaches the root.Secure the clump
Release the hair section carefully. Do not touch or manipulate the curl once it has formed. Repeat the rake-and-shake movement across the remaining quadrants of the head, working from the nape of the neck toward the crown.
Tip: Tilt your head slightly to allow hair to fall away from the scalp.Set the pattern
Once all sections are completed, refrain from brushing or running your fingers through the hair again. Allow the hair to air dry or use a diffuser on a low-heat setting. The less disturbance the hair encounters during the drying phase, the tighter the resulting curl definition will be.
Tip: Wait until hair is 100 percent dry before scrunching.
Trouble
My hair feels crunchy after drying.
You have likely used too much product. On your next attempt, decrease the amount of gel and ensure your hair is saturated with water before application.
The curls are too stringy.
This happens when hair is divided into sections that are too small. Increase the size of the sections you rake and shake.
I have no volume at the crown.
The rake-and-shake tends to weigh hair down. Use a hair pick at the roots once the hair is fully dry to lift the curls away from the scalp.
It takes too long.
Practice improves speed. Focus on larger sections initially, and eventually, the muscle memory will allow you to complete the process in under ten minutes.
The shake is where the pattern is born; let gravity do the work.
Consistency is the objective. Do not overthink the movement.