Curl Hair

Even if you weren't born with bouncy, glossy curls, you can always convince your hair to spring up for a day or two. This article will show you lots of ways in which to curl your hair.

10 Second Summary

1. Use a curling iron on dry hair. Use a heat protection spray and work in small sections.
2. For a wavy look, use a flat iron like you would a curling iron.
3. Use hair rollers on wet hair. Apply a styling product first, and work in small sections.
4. Try the scrunching method to define natural curls.
5. For tight waves, braid your hair while it is wet, then remove the braids once it dries.

Steps

Using a Curling Iron

  1. Heat up the curling iron. Most curling irons will need a little time to heat up before you can use them. If you try to curl your hair with the iron before it reaches the correct temperature, the curls will not hold.
    • Some curling irons will have different settings which you can play around with until you achieve the best result. Try to keep it at the lowest temperature possible though, to cause less damage to your hair. Look for curling irons that say None Damage on the box.
    • A good guide is 320ºF (160ºC) for fine hair and 430ºF (220ºC) for thicker hair.
  2. Make sure your hair is completely dry. Putting a hot iron on damp hair can seriously damage it — not because the iron is too hot, but because the water will turn to scalding steam. Play it safe, and completely dry your hair first. Run a blowdryer over any damp spots. (Although, try to wait it out. Depending on your hair thickness, this may take time. But, if you want to reduce heat on your hair, you can wait. However, if using a blow drying is the best option for you, keep it on a cool setting.)
  3. Brush out any tangles while the iron heats up. Start at the end of your hair and brush out the bottom few inches or centimeters, then work your way up until you can easily brush through the length of your hair. This reduces damage to you hair like split ends, fallout, etc.
  4. Apply a heat protection spray. If you regularly use heat to style your hair, it's really important that you use a heat protection spray. It will protect your hair from the damage caused by exposure to high temperatures and prevent it from becoming dry and frazzled looking. Just spray it liberally all over your hair before curling.
    • Heat protector sprays can be found at most drug stores and hair salons.
  5. Split your hair into sections. Even if you have thin hair, you'll get better results if you work with small sections of hair. That way, you can make sure you're curling everything and curl in a more uniform style.
    • Pin or clip up the top section of your hair. Using your thumbs, grab everything that's above the top of your ears and clip it up on top of your head.
    • Release upper sections as you work. When the bottom section of hair is finished, unclip your hair and let out a little more, clipping up the excess again. Continue working this way until all your hair is curled.
    • Remember that using bigger sections of hair will result in bigger, looser curls, while using smaller sections of hair will give you smaller, tighter ringlets.
  6. Start curling. Now that all the prep work is out of the way, you're ready to start curling. Begin by taking a small section of hair and wrap it around the curling iron, beginning at the top or bottom, depending on the type of tongs:
    • Some curling irons will have a clamp near the handle. If this is the type of curling tongs you're using, open the clamp and position the end of the hair at the lower end of the barrel, near the handle, then close the clamp to secure. Then you can wrap that entire section of hair around the iron, by rolling the iron upwards towards your roots. Stop rolling when you get about an inch away from the roots, to prevent the iron from burning your scalp.
    • Other curling irons, often referred to as wands, don't have a clamp. With this type of iron, you should start near the top of your hair and use your hand to wrap a piece of hair around the iron. You will need to hold the end of your hair in place while that section of hair curls. Some curling wands provide a safety glove that you can wear while doing this, to prevent your hand from burning.
  7. Hold the iron in place. You will need to hold the curling iron with the hair wrapped around it for a few seconds, while the hair heats up and curls. This should take approximately 10 seconds, but the time will vary according to the individual curling iron and the temperature it's heated to.
    • Play around to find a time that creates a perfect curl with your iron, but remember to start out with a lower time to prevent your hair from burning.
    • After 10 seconds, let go of your hair to release the curl. If your hair is still a little flat, try pinning it while it's still curled (tutorials on internet) then at the end take all the pins out of each curl.
  8. Move on to the next curl. Once you are happy with how your first curl turned out, move on to the next piece of hair and do the same steps as before. Make sure that you wrap all the curls around the iron in the same direction, so the curls will look uniform.
    • Alternatively, if you want less uniform curls, you can mix up the direction a little bit for a less styled look.
  9. Loosen your curls (optional). If you want your hair to look softer and looser, run your fingers through the curls a few times. The curls will pull down and loosen up as you do so. You can also turn your head upside down and use your fingers to fluff up and separate the curls.
    • Once you have curled your hair, do not brush it with a hairbrush. It will loosen the curls too much and they will fall out.
    • If you brush out curls with a hairbrush, your hair will look wavy rather that curly, which can be a nice style in itself.
  10. Set your curls with hairspray (optional). If you tend to have straight hair, or you're worried about your curls turning frizzy or falling out throughout the day, mist some hairspray over your curls. If you want tight curls, you can spray each curl individually as soon as you've finished with it, but if you want a looser style, wait until the curls have relaxed a little and only spray them when you've finished curling your entire head.
    • Choose a loose hold hairspray so your curls aren't too stiff and you hair doesn't feel too "crunchy". Hold the can about 12-14 in (30.5 cm - 35.5 cm) away from your head and spray evenly around your head. Be careful not to apply too much.[1]
    • Never apply hairspray to the curls while they are still wrapped around the iron. The combination of the heat from the irons and the alcohol in the hairspray will fry your hair.

Using a Flat Iron

  1. Heat up the flat iron. Most flat irons will need a little time to heat up before you can use them. If you try to curl your hair with the iron before it reaches the correct temperature, the curls will not hold.
    • Some flat irons will have different settings which you can play around with until you achieve the best result. Try to keep it at the lowest temperature possible though, to cause less damage to your hair.
    • A good guide is 320ºF (160ºC) for fine hair and 430ºF (220ºC) for thicker hair.
    • The width of the flat iron is also important when it comes to curling your hair. You need to use a thin flat iron - about one to two inches (2.5-5 cm) in width - as a flat, paddle-style flat iron will not work for curls.
  2. Make sure your hair is completely dry. Putting a hot iron on damp hair can seriously damage it — not because the iron is too hot, but because the water will turn to scalding steam. Play it safe, and completely dry your hair first. Run a blowdryer over any damp spots.
    • You can add a little volumizing mousse to your hair before drying, which will help give you bouncy curls and prevent your hair from looking flat once styled.
    • Brush out any tangles while the iron heats up. Start at the end of your hair and brush out the bottom few inches, then work your way up until you can easily brush through the length of your hair.
  3. Apply a heat protection spray. If you regularly use heat to style your hair, it's really important that you use a heat protection spray. It will protect your hair from the damage caused by exposure to high temperatures and prevent it from becoming dry and frazzled looking. Just spray it liberally all over your hair before curling.
    • Heat protector sprays can be found at most drug stores and hair salons.
  4. Split your hair into sections. Even if you have thin hair, you'll get better results if you work with small sections of hair. That way, you can make sure you're curling everything and curl in a more uniform style.
    • Pin or clip up the top section of your hair. Using your thumbs, grab everything that's above the top of your ears and clip it up on top of your head.
    • Release layers as you work. When the bottom layer of hair is finished, unclip your hair and let out a little more, clipping up the excess again. Continue working this way until all your hair is curled.
  5. Start curling. Now that all the prep work is out of the way, you're ready to start curling. Grab the piece of hair you wish to curl and give it a quick brush through to remove any remaining tangles. Clamp the flat iron around the hair and give it a half turn so that your hair is in a U-shape. Hold the flat iron in this position as you move it down the hair shaft, right to the ends.
    • The position of the flat iron will determine what kind of curls you end up with. If you want your hair curled from the root to tip, position the flat iron as close to your scalp as possible, without burning it.
    • If you just want to curl just the ends of your hair, position the flat iron about halfway down the hair to begin. This is called a flick.
    • The slower you move the iron, the tighter the curls will be. If you move the iron down the hair too quickly, your curls will be soft and loose.
    • Remember that using bigger sections of hair (more than two inches wide) will result in bigger, looser curls, while using smaller sections of hair (less than two inches) will give you smaller, tighter ringlets.
  6. Loosen your curls (optional). If you want your hair to look softer and looser, run your fingers through the curls a few times. The curls will pull down and loosen up as you do so. You can also turn your head upside down and use your fingers to fluff up and separate the curls.
    • Once you have curled your hair, do not brush it with a hairbrush. It will loosen the curls too much and they will fall out.
    • If you brush out curls with a hairbrush, your hair will look wavy rather that curly, which can be a nice style in itself.
  7. Set your curls with hairspray (optional). If you tend to have straight hair, or you're worried about your curls turning frizzy or falling out throughout the day, mist some hairspray over your curls. If you want tight curls, you can spray each curl individually as soon as you've finished with it, but if you want a looser style, wait until the curls have relaxed a little and only spray them when you've finished curling your entire head.
    • Choose a loose hold hairspray so your curls aren't too stiff and you hair doesn't feel too "crunchy". Hold the can about 12-14 in (30.5 cm - 35.5 cm) away from your head and spray evenly around your head. Be careful not to apply too much.
    • Never apply hairspray to your hair before you curl it, as some styling guides recommend. The combination of the heat from the irons and the alcohol in the hairspray will fry your hair.

Using Hair Rollers

  1. Choose the hair rollers. Hair rollers come in many different types, shapes and sizes. Try to choose a set of rollers that work best for your hair type and also for the type of curls you are trying to achieve.
    • Hot rollers are very efficient and will curl hair more quickly, but they are more damaging to your hair. Velcro rollers and foam rollers are very easy to use, but your curls will take a little longer to set.[2]
    • Velcro rollers are also a great option for hair that is naturally smooth as they are less likely to get tangled in your hair.
    • Small curlers will give you lots of tight curls, whereas large rollers will give you big loose waves and are great for adding volume.
  2. Figure out if your hair needs to be wet or dry. Depending on the type of rollers, your hair may need to be wet or dry when putting them in. Hot rollers should always be applied to dry hair, as they would cause too much damage otherwise. Velcro rollers are also usually applied to dry hair, whereas special wet set rollers are used if you want to put them in while wet.
    • If you are applying rollers to dry hair, try to wash your hair the day before you curl. Day-old hair will curl much better than freshly washed hair.[3]
    • If your hair is particularly resistant to curling, try skipping the conditioner after shampooing. This will make sure your hair isn't too soft for the roller to get a good grip on the hair.[3]
    • If you are doing a wet set, be aware that you will have to wait for your hair to be completely dry before removing the rollers, which may take a long time. Consider putting the rollers in wet hair before bed and sleeping with them in overnight.
  3. Apply product. Using a little product can go a long way when using hair rollers. Again, which type of product you use will depend on what type of rollers you use and whether your hair is wet or dry.
    • If you're using hot rollers, you should use a heat protection product like a mist or dry oil, to prevent your hair from being damaged. A setting product will also help curls to hold their shape.[2]
    • If you're using velcro or foam rollers, you should use a setting product along with some volumizing hairspray to prevent your curls from falling flat.[2]
    • If you're doing a wet set, a smoothing cream or serum can really help to minimize frizz.[2]
  4. Section your hair. You should divide your hair into three separate sections or layers, using hair ties or claw clips. The more uniform these three sections, the tidier your curls will turn out. To separate the sections, use your thumbs to grab the section of hair around the crown of your head. This will be the top layer and the last section you insert the rollers. The grab any hair that's above the top of your ears. This will be the middle layer.
    • The first section of hair you insert the rollers in should be the bottom layer of hair, running around the base of your scalp from one ear to the other.
    • Release sections as you work. When the bottom section of hair is finished, unclip your hair and let out the next section. Continue working this way until all the rollers are in.
  5. Use the right amount of hair for each roller. Resist the urge to grab sections that are too large for the curlers — you'll end up with nothing but a small curl at the bottom. A one- or two-inch section (2.5 to 5 cm) per roller is a good standard to follow. The section of hair should be no wider than the roller, otherwise hair will not curl properly.[2]
    • If your rollers have variable sizes, use the small ones on the top of your head. Use smaller sections accordingly.
    • If you have long hair, remember that not only the bottom part of the section will actually be touching the roller — the rest of it will be layered over hair. Use smaller sections for more curl.
  6. Wrap your hair around the roller. Starting at the bottom, hold the tip of your hair firmly against the roller with a finger, then roll the roller up along the hair, smoothly and tightly. Tension is the key to creating a good curl, so make sure the hair is wrapped securely around the roller.[3]
    • You should also make sure there are no lumps or bumps in your hair as you wrap it around the curler, in order to create smooth, consistent curls.
    • If you're using hot rollers, be careful not to burn your fingers on the ends of the roller. Try to find a cool spot where you can consistently grip the roller as you put it into your hair.
  7. Secure the rollers. While velcro rollers will attach themselves to your hair without the need for clips, other rollers will need to be pinned into place. Some roller sets will come with pins provided. These pins probably look like long U shapes, with one straight side and one crimped side. Pin the roller so that the straight side is against your scalp, and the curve of the U is cradling the roller at the side of your head.
    • Be aware that these pins aren't terribly secure. If you move your head too quickly or suddenly, they might fall loose.
    • If no pins are provided with your set, similar pins can be purchased at a drugstore. Alternatively, butterfly clips will also work to hold the hair in place.
    • If you want to avoid an indentation from the clip on your hair, try placing a tissue in between the pin and the hair.[3]
  8. Leave your hair to set. Once all of the rollers have been inserted - in one to two inch sections from the base of your scalp to the crown of your head - you will need to leave the rollers to set. How long this takes will again depend on the type of roller and whether your hair is wet or dry.
    • Hot rollers can be removed once they have cooled completely - which usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. This is enough time for the heat to penetrate all of the hair wrapped around each individual roller, as well as for the hair to cool into a curled shape.[2]
    • Velcro or foam rollers should be blasted with some heat from a hair dryer, then allowed to cool and set for about 15-20 minutes. The longer you leave them in, the tighter the curls will be.[2]
    • Wet set rollers will need to be left in until all of your hair is completely dry, which may take several hours or overnight. If you are unsure whether your hair is dry all the way through, you can give it a quick hit with a hair dryer before removing the rollers.
  9. Remove the rollers. Once you're sure your hair has set, you can pull out the rollers from bottom to top. Remove the rollers near your neck and ears first, then move incrementally to the ones at the top of your head.
    • Once the rollers are out, you can brush out the curls to loosen them. Just don't overdo it, your curls should keep their shape for two or three strokes, but overdoing it might cause them to fall out.
    • Alternatively, you can just run your fingers through the curls to separate them and add a some volume.
  10. Set your curls with hairspray (optional). Mist hairspray over your hair to make sure the curl hold their shape throughout the day. To avoid your curls from looking stiff, make sure to hold the can 12-14 inches away from the hair.
    • For a looser look, pull up a section of hair and mist it with hairspray as it falls back down.
    • You can also work a small amount of serum into your hair to add shine and reduce frizz.

Using the Hair Scrunching Method

  1. Wash and condition your hair. Scrunching only works properly on wet hair, so in order to use this method, you will need to wash your hair. While taking a warm shower, work your hair into a thick lather, using a volumizing or curl-enhancing shampoo. Then work a small amount of conditioner into the ends and mid-lengths of your hair.
    • After you apply conditioner, brush your hair with a wide-toothed comb and try to get out all the major knots. The conditioner will make the tangles a lot easier to tackle and will prevent you from causing damage to your hair.
    • Make sure to rinse your hair thoroughly afterwards, as excess product can weigh down hair and prevent it from curling as well.
  2. Towel dry your hair. Once you get out of the shower, use an absorbent towel to pat your hair dry and squeeze the ends to get excess water out. If your hair is too wet, any product you apply will drip out along with the water and your hair will not curl as well.
    • Do not rub your hair with the towel as this will damage your hair and cause it to look frizzy.
    • You should also avoid using a hair dryer to get rid of excess moisture, as the hair dryer will blow and straighten the hair, making curling more difficult.
  3. Comb your hair. Use a wide-toothed comb to get the smaller knots out of your hair. Make sure no knots are left in your hair, or else they will show once your hair is dry! If you brushed your hair in the shower, there should be no major knots left, so just brush out the small ones.
    • Use a detangling mist or spray if you have particularly stubborn knots.
    • Always brush or comb from the ends of your hair up as this causes less damage to wet hair.
  4. Apply product. There are many different curling products available which you can use to scrunch your hair, such as curling sprays, gels and creams. However, the most popular product which probably provides the most defined and long-lasting curls is curling mousse. Choose a volumizing or strong-hold mousse, particularly if your hair is not naturally wavy, as this will help to give you long-lasting, voluminous curls.
    • To use the mousse, shake the can before squirting a golf ball size amount of mousse into your hand. Turn your head upside down so your hair is in front of your face, then work the product evenly into your hair with both hands.
    • Only work the mousse into the ends and mid-lengths of your hair - avoid putting it in the roots as this may weigh your hair down or cause it to look greasy.
  5. Scrunch your hair. Keeping your head upside down, scrunch your hair by grabbing a small section in your hand and crumpling it up towards your scalp, using the same motion as you would use to crumple a piece of paper.
    • Use this motion to scrunch sections of hair all over your head. Keep doing it for a minute or two, then flip your head up and scrunch again until you're happy with the style.
    • The same technique can be used regardless of what kind of curling product you use, just adjust the amount of product according to the instructions on the bottle and the length of your hair - more for longer hair, less for shorter hair.
  6. Dry hair. At this point you have two options. You can let your hair air dry naturally, using the scrunching motion every five minutes or so until it's dry. Or, you can use a diffuser attachment on your hair dryer to dry hair gently, without blowing or straightening the curls.
    • If you're using the diffuser attachment (a long-finger diffuser works best for curls) be sure to set the hair dryer to its lowest heat and speed setting. Use the scrunching method as you dry to help the formation of curls.
    • If your hair is naturally curly or wavy, the air dry method will usually work just fine. However, if your hair is naturally straight or flat, using the diffuser will help give your hair a little extra "oomph!"

Using Braids

  1. Wash and condition your hair. This method works best if you braid your hair while it's wet or damp, then leave your hair to dry. Use a volumizing or curl-enhancing shampoo and conditioner, and make sure to rinse your hair well afterwards.
    • Brush out your hair in the shower while you still have the conditioner in, using a wide-toothed comb. This will make it easier to work out any tangles and will cause less damage to your hair.
    • Towel dry your hair once you get out of the shower. Try to wring out any excess moisture. If your hair already has a bit of natural curl to it, you're probably fine to work with damp hair; if it's stick straight, though, it's best to braid it wet.
  2. Apply gel or mousse to your hair. Applying a curl-enhancing product to your hair will help it to keep the shape of the braids even after you've unbraided it. It will also give your hair a glossier and more controlled finish. Just work a small amount of your chosen product into the ends and mid-lengths of your hair, avoiding the roots.
    • Curl-enhancing or volumizing gels, mousses, sprays or serums will all work well. Use a product with a texture and scent that appeals to you.
    • If you want looser, less structured curls, you can skip this step.
  3. Decide how many braids you'll do. The number of braids you put in your hair will determine how your curls look:
    • More braids means tighter curls. For instance, you'll have more crimps in your hair from doing two braids than you will from one, and more from four than two.
    • However, more braids means more work. If you're not totally comfortable braiding or you're short on time, stick to the lowest possible number that gives you the curls you want.
  4. Part your hair into sections. If you're doing more than one braid, parting your hair into sections will make braiding easier and your finished curls neater looking. They don't have to be perfect, though!
    • Use a comb to part a straight line from your forehead back to your neck. Then divide each half into however many sections you like, using the comb to ensure they are a fairly uniform size.
  5. Use a normal braid or a french braid on each section. Doing a French braid, instead of a regular braid, will curl the hair up around your scalp as well.
    • See How to French Braid for more detailed help.
    • Ask someone else to help you. It's almost always easier to braid someone else's hair than it is to do your own, so consider asking for assistance.
  6. Secure the braids. Tie off each braid with a non-rubber hair elastic. Try to put the tie as close to the end of the hair as possible, otherwise the tips of your hair will look straight and it will ruin the effect of the curls.
    • Rubber can damage the hair shaft, and is especially menacing on wet hair. Avoid at all costs!
  7. Leave the braids in for several hours or overnight. After your hair's had six to eight hours to dry, gently undo your braids. The easiest thing to do is to leave them in overnight. Run your fingers through your hair a few times to get out any knots, but avoid brushing it as this will make to too fluffy looking.
    • Finish with some hairspray. If you're worried about your curls falling out during the day, set the style with a spritz of hairspray.



Tips

  • Don't add too much hairspray as it can stiffen your hair instead of curling it.
  • If you want tighter curls make smaller braids and then braid them together until you run out of braids to braid together.
  • Try curling your hair with rags or stretchy foam sticks. This is also useful to get bouncy curls.
  • Try twisting your hair before braiding it; then you will wake up with spiral curls instead of 'zigzag' curls.
  • Braid your hair then put on a roller. Sleep with over-night and when you wake-up you'll have luscious curls. The size of the braid and the size of the roller will determine the size of your curls.
  • If you need to comb through your hair, don't use a regular comb. It ruins the curls and makes them frizzy. Use a wide-tooth comb. It keeps your curls intact, and lets them be combed very nicely.
  • Another curling idea is to make sure your hair is completely dry add some heat protection (you can get at Dollar General) then take a small portion of your hair rap it around a pencil then place the pencil and hair inside a flat iron for about 10 seconds and you will have natural looking curls.
  • Use volume sprays like vo5 plump it up for better results.
  • Pin your curls after curling them. Doing so allows them to cool off and last longer. Run your fingers afterwards.
  • If you want waves, put your hair in braids, then use a straightener and run it down your braids slowly and take out you braids. Easy as pie!
  • You can also use an elastic headband overnight by wrapping all of your hair into it.Use more of a soft headband,and make sure your hair isn't dripping wet.
  • You can also use an elastic headband overnight by wrapping all of your hair into it. Use more of a soft headband,and make sure your hair isn't dripping wet.
  • You can curl your hair using a curling iron and hairspray so that that the curls stay in place.
  • Make many pony tails of your hair and leave them for few hours.When you open them,your hair will be curled.
  • If you sleep with braids overnight, don't make them too tight as it can damage your hair.Instead, make them loose.
  • If you want curled hair in a ponytail, put in the ponytail first. Then curl from there. It is very hard to pull curled hair into a ponytail if it isn't already.
  • Don't put hairspray on your hair before curling. It can damage your hair.
  • Roll the curling iron away from the face when you get to the sections around the face, as the sections usually will fall right in your face if they are curled against the face.
  • You can also use gel to curl it.
  • You can curl your hair with your fingers too. But it takes time and they don't stay in place for that long.
  • For more defined curls use 4 sections or more, it will help you a lot.

Warnings

  • Don't use too much hair spray. It will dry out your hair and it will be too hard to comb out. It will also make your curls very hard and crunch-like.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.beautylish.com/a/vcyzi/hair-spray-101
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 http://fashionista.com/2013/04/how-to-use-hair-rollers/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 http://www.thehairstyler.com/features/articles/hairstyles/hair-rollers-tips-and-tricks
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