Curling your hair using a straightener can create full, bouncy curls that won't look frizzy. It does take a little practice, but if you know the right technique, you will look very attractive and ready to walk the red carpet. Follow these steps to learn how to get those beautiful curls you've always wanted without using curling irons.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing Your Hair
Step 1. Start with completely dry hair
Wet hair cannot be curled, nor can dry hair. Even when you use a hair straightener for wet and dry hair, it will be better with dry hair.
If you dry your hair first, use mousse. The added volume of the mousse will prevent your hair from looking too thin during curling
Step 2. Use a vise with a thin heating iron
Your vise should be 2.5-5cm wide between the handle and the hot iron plate. A flat flat iron paddle style will not produce the curls you want. This type of plate will be difficult to hold and twist so the hair can't hold where it's supposed to. You can try it, but it's not easy to do.
Heat the iron to the minimum temperature you need to style your hair. If your hair is fine and thin, stick to a minimum temperature. Increase the temperature only if your hair is lumpy and rough
Step 3. Use a heat protectant
Using a heat protectant or heat spray creates a protective layer between your hair and the straightener so your hair doesn't curl and burn. Spray all over your hair and comb it neatly; if you don't have a comb, trim it with your fingers to make it even.
If you have thick hair, spray each section of hair before you work on it. If you only spray on top of your hair, then your undercoat won't get it
Step 4. Divide your hair into sections
If your hair is really thick, you'll get better curl results if you curl it section by section rather than doing it all at once. Tie your hair above your ears and tie it over your head so it doesn't interfere with the curling process.
- Start with the part closest to the scalp, close to the ears and neck. Untwist as many sections of hair as you can from the first section, and tie the rest.
- When one layer of hair has been curled, untie your hair and untwist another layer of hair. Then, tie the hair that you are not going to curl yet.
- Keep curling layer after layer of hair. For the final layer of hair, you may want to curl it from front to back.
- However, if you have very little time and your natural hair is wavy, you can just curl your hair on top and around your face.
Method 2 of 3: Exploring Different Techniques
Step 1. Alternative Flicks and curls are two different ways to curl your hair with a straightener
Try both to get the results you like.
- Flicks: Start with the bottom half of your hair, pin it up with a straightener and pull half a loop in the opposite direction. You will create a U-shape with hair and a straightener. Keep the straightener in that position, then slowly move it towards the ends of the hair. The faster you move the vise, the less curl you will get. If you want softer flicks, slow down your vise.
- Curls: Start with the hair closest to your scalp (but don't get too close to avoid accidentally burning it), curl it up and pull half a turn in the opposite direction (same as flicks). Move the iron slowly all the way to the ends of the hair. The slower you move the vise, the tighter the curls will be. The faster you move the vise, the softer the waves you get.
Step 2. Make your hair more curly by moving the flat iron in one complete turn, not in half
With flicks and curls, you only turn the vise half a turn. If you want full, perfect curls, turn the straightener fully and create the perfect spring shape with your hair.
Find out what happens to your hair in half turns and one full twist. You might think half a spin is good enough for you, or maybe a three quarter turn looks better. Or maybe, you use half a round for some days and other days use a full round. All up to you
Step 3. Experiment with turning your vise
When you turn your thin vise, either half a turn or a full turn, you have two options: to turn it down or to twist it. There is no wrong choice although the angle of the curls will change as you change the direction of your twist. Decide which option is best for you.
Make sure to always be consistent. It's easy to curl in one direction on one side of your body, and then you switch hands and change directions. If you accidentally do this, you may be the only person who will notice that your curls are in a different direction
Step 4. Or try a wavy hair look
Once in a while, you might want to look like 1995. Instead of using a crimper tool that you'll only use every two years, use a vise instead. Clip the flat iron into your hair and twist it in a quarter circle. Then pin it to the section of hair underneath and twist it again in a quarter circle. Repeat this process all over your hair.
For wavy hair results, little by little clip your hair. To curl, you need to curl the top of your hair and pull it down, like curling a gift ribbon or balloon
Method 3 of 3: Curling Hair
Step 1. If your hair is difficult to curl, apply hairspray right before you curl a section
If you want curls like you just did, spritz some hairspray right before you curl your hair.
Don't use too much hairspray as it will make your hair hard and break easily, and you don't want that
Step 2. Take a section of hair that you want to curl
How much hair you take is up to you, but there are a few things you need to pay attention to:
- Smaller sections will result in smaller, stronger curls. If you want a more curly look, the section you take should be less than two inches.
- Larger sections will result in wider, wider curls that look more natural. Use sections longer than 2 inches for large curls.
- Merge. You don't have to stick to one style. You can do big curls at the bottom of your hair to add volume and lift, then smaller, finer curls around your face. Try several ways to get the best results for you.
Step 3. Use one of the above techniques
The technique above actually has the same principle: twist your straightener and then slowly pull it down your hair. Gently pin your hair in a straightener; not so hard that it is difficult to move, nor too free so that the hair falls.
- But what can you vary? You can change where you start your curling hair (the end close to the scalp or the ends of the hair), how slowly you move the curler, and how much you twist the curler. Experiment with them to get your best look
- Or, you don't need to curl your hair. Just a few straight or curly hair can make you look natural.
Step 4. Finish
You can leave your hair as it was when you were done curling it, or you can give it a few extra touches to get the style you want.
- For larger curls: gently comb your hair with your fingers and then pull out a little. You'll get more volume and a lighter, more natural look.
- For longer curls: spritz some hairspray all over your curls to keep them neat and strong all day long. If you live in a humid area, consider using a moisture repellent spray.
Tips
- Practice your technique. It might not work perfectly at first, but the more you do it the better your technique will be.
- It is very important to use a heat protectant when using hair products. This will protect your hair from damage, breakage and keep your hair healthy.
- Make sure there are no clumps in your hair.
- Make sure you pay attention to what you're doing so you don't burn yourself out.
- Straighten your hair before curling for better results.
- Don't hold it in for too long or your hair may burn and break.
- You may need someone to help you curl the back of your hair to avoid burning your hair.
- If you don't have a heat protectant, use coconut oil.
- Ceramic irons are better for hair than iron irons, which can cause hair damage.
- The more firmly you hold your hair in the straightener, the more precise your curls will be.
- Steam rising from your hair is normal; only the heat shield is doing its job. However, if you smell burning hair, or hear a hissing sound, immediately remove the heat from your hair and move it faster or find a lower heat setting the next time you do this.
Warning
- Do not pin your hair for more than 7-10 seconds in one section.
- Never straighten wet hair unless your straightener is made for it.
