Rough vs. Soft Hair: How to Choose Odele Curl Products Based on Your Hair’s Finish

A Curls Monthly x Odele collaboration by guest blog contributor Barbara DelleMonache

For years, curly hair education has focused on curl type charts and porosity tests, but if you’ve ever followed all the “rules” that correspond with both categories and still felt confused, you’re definitely not alone.

After working hands-on in the curl industry for over six years, I realized something important: people are struggling and wasting money on products and techniques simply because they are classifying their hair incorrectly!

Because the truth is - you cannot actually tell what porosity you have unless you own a microscope!

That realization led me to create my signature curl classification method: Hair Finish.
In this guide, I’ll break down what Hair Finish is, how to identify yours, and exactly how to build a routine using Odele curl products based on whether your hair has a rough or soft finish.

What Is Hair Finish? (My Signature Curl Classification Method)

Hair Finish is a simplified, intuitive way to understand your curls, based purely on how your hair looks and feels, not on charts, numbers, or technical testing. Instead of asking:

• What curl type am I?
• What’s my porosity?
• Do I need protein or moisture?

Hair Finish asks one simple question: How does your hair behave on its own, without products? Your Hair Finish generally falls into one of four categories:

• Soft Finish
• Rough Finish
• Medium Finish
• Or somewhere in between

This approach removes guesswork and immediately tells you:

• What product textures you need
• How much moisture vs structure to add
• Which styling techniques will actually work

It’s the foundation of how we teach curl care inside Curls Monthly, because when you work with your hair’s finish, styling becomes easier, faster, and more consistent.

How to Tell Your Hair’s Finish (The No-Guesswork Test)

To identify your Hair Finish, follow this exact process:

• Wash and condition your hair as usual
• Do not add any styling products
• Let your hair air dry completely
• Observe how it looks and feels once dry

If your hair is:

• Soft, shiny, silky, smooth, and feels hydrated without products, you have a soft finish
• If your hair is rough, coarse, dry, dull, brittle, or stiff to the touch, you have a rough finish
• If you notice that either of those really apply to you and you’re somewhere in the middle, you likely have a medium finish

This method works because it removes outside influence. Your bare, product-free hair tells you exactly what it needs.

Rough Finish vs. Soft Finish: What’s the Real Difference?

Understanding the difference between rough and soft finish hair is the key to choosing the right Odele curl products.

Soft Finish Hair

Soft finish hair is naturally moisturized, sometimes even over-moisturized. The goal with soft hair is adding roughness and structure so curls hold their shape.
Without enough structure, soft curls often:

• Fall flat
• Lose definition quickly
• Look limp or overly fluffy

Rough Finish Hair

Rough finish hair is naturally dry and coarse. The goal here is adding softness and slip so curls can clump, hydrate, and shine. Without enough softness, rough curls often:

• Feel brittle
• Look frizzy or dull
• Struggle to define

Once you understand this, product choice becomes obvious, and Odele’s curl defining line fits beautifully into both routines.

Your Rough Finish Routine ft. Odele

If your hair has a rough finish, you’ll thrive with richer textures layered for hydration and definition.

Products to Use:

• Odele Curl Defining Cream
• Odele Curl Defining Gel

How to Style:

1. Start on soaking wet hair
2. Apply the Odele Curl Defining Cream and brush through using a detangling brush
3. Working in sections, rake through the Odele Curl Defining Gel
4. Brush style or scrunch curls into place
5. Once fully styled, scrunch with a microfiber towel
6. Hover diffuse until completely dry
7. Scrunch out any crunch using a lightweight oil

This routine adds softness first, then seals it in with structure, perfect for rough finish curls.

Your Soft Finish Routine ft. Odele

If your hair has a soft finish, your routine should focus on lightweight hydration and intentional structure.

Products to Use:

• Odele Leave-In Conditioner
• Odele Curl Defining Foam

How to Style:

1. Start on damp (not soaking wet) hair
2. Rake through the Odele Leave-In Conditioner
3. Rake in the Odele Curl Defining Foam, then scrunch (You can do this in sections or all at once)
4. Scrunch with a microfiber towel
5. Optionally add more foam for extra hold
6. Cup diffuse or section diffuse until dry
7. Finish with a light mist of hairspray, then scrunch with your hands to add volume

This routine adds just enough moisture while increasing texture, so soft curls don’t collapse.

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About the Odele x Curls Monthly Collaboration

This philosophy is exactly why Odele and Curls Monthly partnered for a special February takeover. For one month only, subscribers to Curls Monthly receive:

• 5 Odele products
• 3 full-size curl stylers
• A complete start-to-finish curly wash day
• Exclusive educational videos showing how to use Odele products based on Hair Finish

It’s the most affordable, guided way to try Odele, especially if you’ve wanted to test multiple products without committing blindly.

Want to Try Odele the Right Way? February Is Your Moment.

If you’ve ever felt unsure which curl products are right for your hair, this collaboration was created for you. 

Subscribe to Curls Monthly during February to receive 5 Odele products, education, and curl coaching- available this month only.

Learn more and subscribe at curlsmontly.com