A few years ago, I did a post about my favorite tools for curly hair. It's still a good post, and I still recommend all of those products. However, as with all things in life, my hair needs and goals have changed, especially within the last year.

Case in point: I'm no longer focused on super defined curly hair. Instead, I'm letting my naturally wavy hair do its thing most days, which means it looks different from day to day without a whole lot of effort from me. Also, my hair is quite a bit shorter now than when I wrote that original post.

So, here is an updated review of my current most-used tools, as well as a highly-recommended tool that just does not work for me.

Shampoo Brush/Scalp Massager - I use this every time I wash my hair, and that's not an exaggeration. Not only does it feel amazing on my scalp, but it helps keep my scalp healthy. It breaks up any build-up I may have so that it's easier to wash out. Plus it stimulates blood flow to the scalp, which helps with growth. It also helps me to get a really good lather no matter what shampoo I'm using and ensures the product is evenly distributed over my entire scalp.

Pick - This is really my go-to for anything I can't do with my fingers. I only use the ones with metal teeth, though, because they seem to move through my hair more smoothly than the plastic ones. I use my pick for detangling and to help with even product distribution. I'm not linking to one because you can find these literally anywhere. I'm almost positive mine came from the Dollar Store.

Terrycloth Headbands - I have so many of these, y'all. I use these whenever I take a bath. It helps to keep my short hair off my neck and face, and they're absorbent. They don't squeeze my head, and they don't usually leave a dent. Plus they're just really cute.

Square Claw Clips - All claw clips are not created equal. I have fallen in love with the square-shaped ones. They just look so much more sophisticated than traditional clips. I have them in both a large and small size for partial and full updos. I can't remember where I got mine from (maybe Five Below?), but I'm linking to some that look really similar.

Flat Hair Clips - I don't know what to call these, but when I searched 'flat hair clips,' they came up so we're going to call them. I use these when I'm getting ready in the morning to keep the front pieces of my hair out of my face while I'm putting on makeup. The ones I have came in a Monat grab bag from back when I was still selling/using their products, so I can't link to them, but they're pretty common, and Amazon has a set for under $10.

Phone Cord Hair Ties - These are still my favorite ponytail holders. I've tried different brands, but Teleties are my favorite because of their smoothness. They also have tons of colors and prints and are always releasing new designs.

Spray Water Bottle - This is my number one tool for refreshing my hair in between washes. My bottle isn't anything special. It came from Walmart and cost about $1. Of course, prices have increased since then, and there are a ton of options out there now. I've linked to one that's very similar to what I currently use, but I'm intrigued by the continuous spray bottles like this one.

There's one product I recently bought that just has not worked for me, and that's a Denman brush. This brush is supposed to detangle, separate, shape, and define. It has more than 90,000 reviews with an average 4.5 star rating, and it cost me more than $20. But, y'all, it just isn't for me. The bristles are hard and they hurt. Instead of detangling, it feels like it's pulling, and honestly, my curls are less defined when I attempt to use it. I've watched all the how-to videos, but maybe I'm just not using it the right way. I don't know, but for me, it was a waste of money.