Keep Curls in Your Hair

If your hair is straight and fine, it can be difficult to get it to hold curl. The best way to keep curls in your hair is to start with wet hair and let it dry in curls. If you're short on time, you can start with dry hair and use a curling iron. Either way, help your curls stay intact by using plenty of hairspray.

Steps

Starting With Wet Hair

  1. Wash your hair, but skip the conditioner. Use a curl-enhancing or clarifying shampoo to give your curls a boost. Skip conditioner, which makes it more difficult for your hair to hold curls. Conditioner makes hair smooth and silky, but you want a rougher, drier texture in order to keep curls in your hair.
  2. Towel dry your hair. Squeeze the excess water from your hair, then pat it dry with a towel. You want your hair to be damp, but not dripping wet. If your hair tends to stay wet for hours, dry it about 50 percent using the low setting on your hair dryer.
  3. Apply curl cream. This product is designed for curly hair, but it helps to define curls you put into straight hair, too. Rub a dime-sized amount between your palms and smooth it through your hair from the roots to the tips.[1]
    • If you don't have curl cream, use a small amount of mousse or gel instead. This will help your hair hold curl.
    • Avoid using too much product, since it can weigh your hair down and cause curls to fall out.
  4. Put up your hair in curls. Choose your favorite method to put up your hair in curls without using a curling iron. You can use sponge rollers, hair pins, or even an old t-shirt to roll up your hair in a curled shape. Try one of these easy methods to put your hair up while it's damp:
  5. Let your hair dry completely. Sleep on your hair or wait several hours to let it dry completely in curls. The hair will set in a curled shape, and once it's dry it will stay curled for days. Be sure you don't take your hair down too soon, or the curls will fall right out.[2]
    • If you're sleeping on your hair overnight, fasten a satin scarf or a t-shirt around your head so your curls don't get crushed.
    • If you're in a hurry, you can help it along by using a hair dryer on a low setting to blow dry your hair while it's still rolled up.
  6. Take your hair down. Carefully unroll each lock of hair and let your curls drop. Use your fingers to separate the curls, but avoid using a comb or brush if you want to keep your curls intact.
  7. Use firm-hold hairspray. Apply it liberally to your curls to help them stay in place all day long.

Starting With Dry Hair

  1. Start with day-old hair. Instead of washing your hair the same day you want to curl it, try to wait a day or two before curling your hair. The natural oils in your hair will give it some texture and help the curls stay in place instead of slipping right out.[3]
  2. Add a texturizing product. If you have fine, straight hair, adding a product to create more texture will help your curls stay in place. Apply one of the following products to ensure your curls stay as long as possible:
    • Curl-enhancing cream. Make sure to use a formula designed for use on dry hair.
    • Dry shampoo. Just sprinkle it over your scalp and comb it through your hair to add dry texture.
    • Hair gel. Use just enough to add texture; don't use so much your hair feels weighed down.
  3. Apply a light coating of hairspray. This extra step will add even more texture to your hair to keep your hair in a curled position. Apply it just before you start to curl your hair. Distribute it by combing it through from the roots to the tips.
  4. Curl your hair. Use a curling iron or hot rollers to add curls to your prepped hair. The products you used to add texture to your hair should ensure that the curls stay in place. Try one of the following styles:
  5. Pin your curls as you go. If you're using a curling iron, it can help to pin your curls against your head as you form them. That way they'll cool in a coiled position and stay curly that much longer once you take them down. After creating a curl, coil it against your head and use a bobby pin to hold it in place. Take them down once your hair is cool.
  6. Finger-comb your curls. When your curls have cooled and you've taken them down, use your fingers to style your hair. Avoid using a comb or brush, since this could cause your curls to come undone.
  7. Finish with hairspray. Use a medium or strong-hold hairspray to hold your style in place for the rest of the day.

Tips

  • Spraying too much hairspray in your hair makes it look artificial, so try not to use too much.
  • Mousse also works just as good as curl cream. With this step, you can also skip the hairspray.
  • Make sure it is completely dry -- if you don't, it will become frizzy.

Warnings

  • Touching your hair a lot or brushing your hair may ruin the curls.
  • Sometimes using a curling iron in hair damages it so try to avoid the curling iron and use soft foam curlers.

Things You'll Need

  • Curl cream
  • Curling iron or soft foam curlers or bobby pins
  • Hairspray

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.thefashionspot.com/beauty/396543-how-to-curl-straight-hair/
  2. ↑ http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/blogs/daily-beauty-reporter/2013/11/five-major-hair-curling-mistakes.html
  3. ↑ http://laurenconrad.com/blog/2013/12/primp-tip-how-to-make-your-curls-hold/
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