I scrunch my hair, but it's to make it curlier. I agree that if you run your fingers through it and don't dry it all the way with heat, it will come out more messy/wavy than curly and won't be as big.
I found that Fudge makes some good products to aid scrunching. Choose weight (light vs heavy hold) and form (gel, spray, foam) based on your hair experience. I need a light product that holds firmly, so I use a gel of theirs.
- Rae