A crunchy cast is usually a sign that too much gel met too little water. Here is the method we use for movement and definition at the same time.
Start soaking wet
Apply your styler in the shower with the water still running. Every section should sound squelchy when you scrunch it.
Scrunch, do not rake
Raking breaks the curl clumps apart. Cup the hair in your palms and squeeze upward to encourage the coil.
Break the cast with oil
Once the hair is fully dry, warm three drops of oil between your palms and gently scrunch out the crunch. The definition stays, the stiffness does not.