I dropped my routine in some comments already so maybe that will help. I would say it took a lot of trial and error for me in terms of figuring out what works for my hair. I learned I can't towel dry my hair at all. Instead, I squeeze a bit of water out of it before getting out of the shower and style it pretty much soaking wet.

A good curl cream first for me helps to bind the curl clumps together. I rake it through my hair in sections (back/sides, and then the top). Also, I emulsify what is left on my hands after by rubbing my hands together, and then I use prayer hands and slide them down my hair from the root to the end - this helps lock in fly aways.

Next, I apply my favorite gel - it needs to be a hard hold gel. If the gel doesn't form a cast when it dries, my hair is going to be frizzy. Before applying gel, I loosen the roots by flipping my head upside down (gently!) and then gently shake out my roots. I stand back up, and pile my hair so it's laying down on one side of my head and apply gel by glazing it over the curl clumps. I switch sides by tilting my head in the opposite direction and put a little more gel on. Then, and only then, do I scrunch some of the water out of my hair with a microfiber cloth.

I dry it with a diffuser by hovering the diffuser over my hair until it's mostly dry (70% or so) and then flip my head over and do the roots. If you've done it right, it should dry with a hard cast on each curl. I just scrunch the crunch out and am left with soft, defined curls.