How much time have you spent trying to make perfect curls like the ones you see on all the instagram influencers? If you are like me, then you have been blessed with bouncy curls that just don’t quit.
However, if you are like any of my friends, you have spent a large amount of time and money trying to get beautiful, frizz-free curls.
Getting the perfect curls is a difficult task. Not only do you have to have the right tools and hair products with you, but you also need to understand your hair texture.
Unfortunately for some women, creating the perfect curls might not be possible because of your hair texture, or, if you are lucky enough to curl your hair, the curls won’t last very long; this is why it is incredibly important to understand your hair texture.
Hair Textures vs. Hair Type
What is hair texture? Hair texture describes the thickness of your individual hairs and they can be fine, medium, or thick. Fine hair is delicate, medium hair is a little thicker than fine hair and it is better at holding a hair style, and thick hair is the thickest and it handles heat a little bit better than fine hair; however, thick hair tends to get frizzier than the other two types.
Hair texture and hair type are different, too. Hair texture is the thickness of the individual hairs, and hair type describes whether or not you have straight, wavy, or curly hair.
Curling Straight Hair
Straight hair is one of the oiliest and strongest hair types because it is hard to damage, and curling this hair is about as realistic as finding a unicorn.
If you have the time, patience, and proper tools, it is possible to curl your straight hair!
Some hair stylists say that curling your straight hair is easier with dirty hair because the buildup helps the curl hold. If you don’t have time to wait for your hair to get dirty (or you just don’t like the feeling), you can use certain products to recreate that build up effect without all the oiliness.
For trying the product route versus wait to get oily option, try a strong volumizing mousse or texturizing spray like the Boldify Hair Thickening Spray because of its non-sticky, mineral infused thickening and texturizing qualities. The key here is to apply the product in layers: first when its damp, then after its dry, and, depending on the texture of your hair, again before you style it.
Before you jump into curling your hair, it is always helpful to add a quick spritz of your heat protecting spray, like the RUSK Thermal Shine Spray, because you don’t want to add any damage to your hair. Damage will only make your hair frizzy and even more difficult to tame.
Make sure you grab a curling iron that is smaller because a smaller curl will hold longer. As the curls become loose the curl will become larger, so it is important to start with a smaller curling iron similar to the Anjou 1-inch Curling Iron in order to get the best curls.
Some hairstylists say that you should clip your curl to your head after curling to prevent gravity from loosening the curl before you even walk out the door. Others say that you should spray a ton of hairspray, let the curl cool, and then you can run your fingers through it for a natural looking curl. Voilà! You should have beautiful and bouncy curls now.
More: Get Natural Curls Back After Heat Damage
Curling Wavy Hair
Wavy hair is a little bit curlier naturally than straight hair, but it is not as curly as naturally curly hair. There are three different categories of wavy hair, and it is important to know which one your hair is in order to curl it effectively. Unfortunately, wavy hair can sometimes be prone to frizziness, so it is important to protect your hair with heat protectant and moisturizing products.
To curl your wavy hair try using a more gentle technique than the straight hair ladies have to use. Make sure that you are moisturizing your hair with masks and conditioners because that can bring out a little bit more of the natural waves you already have.
Or, you can use a curling iron to add some definition and a little more bounce to the curls you already have. Make sure you spray a great heat protectant to avoid adding even more frizziness to a frizz-prone hair type. After adding a few curls to your hair using a small barrel curler, spray a gentle hair spray to add extra hold.
Curling Curly Hair
The only time you would want to curl your already naturally curly hair is if you wanted to tame a few strands or create a more polished or uniform look. Curly hair is prone to damage, so make sure that your using heat protectants and moisturizing products, too. The look of natural curls can change depending on how much product you apply, so make sure you don’t put too much or too little.
If you do decide to curl your already curly hair, make sure that you are very careful with the products you use and the heat you apply! If you apply too much heat or forget to add moisture, you could damage your natural curls.
Start with adding a good conditioner to your hair to preserve the natural moisture in your locks, and then follow the conditioner up with a curl cream. The curl cream will add some bounce and definition to your natural curls.
Next, take a small curling wand, about ½” or 1”, to just add some curl to frizzy pieces or strand that aren’t following your natural curl pattern. The trick to this is to curl just a few sections of hair to just polish the curly hair look that you are going for.
Curling Kinky Hair
Kinky hair is incredible delicate and fine hair, and because of its tight curls and fine hair texture this hair is more prone to damage than any other hair type. It is crucial that you moisturize this hair type daily, otherwise you’ll be prone to the dreaded breakage. Make sure you use sulfate free, natural oil rich moisturizing products in your hair routine.
Because hair with a kinky texture is so delicate, I would not recommend that you curl your hair using heat. For the most part, there aren’t many ways to loosen the natural curls in kinky hair without risking damaging your beautiful texture.
One way to loosen your curls is to use a “wash and wear” relaxer that just loosens the tight curls in kinky hair without loosening the curl so much that your hair is straight. Another method is to roll strands of your hair on small perm rods that you then secure to your head using bobby pins; this look will give a little bit more definition to your curls.
The number one key to getting curl definition with a kinky hair texture is to condition, condition, condition! Without moisture from conditioning products (without sulfates), you’re hair can lose the curl and be prone to breakage.
How to Make Curly Hair Last without Hairspray
Most stylists will tell you that adding hairspray to a curly style can help hold the curls for longer, but why would you want to expose yourself to chemicals for an extra hour of curls? Don’t worry, despite what many people think, there are many ways to get and keep curls without using hairspray.
One way to get curls is to use the “scrunch” method, but be warned, this method really only works on wavy and curly hair. You need a curl enhancing product, try Osensia’s Curl Defining Cream, its lightweight, enhances curls, and moisturizes at the same time.
All you have to do is put the product on your hair while it is damp, and, with your hands or a microfiber towel, tousle your hair to develop texture. Once your hair is dry, add another layer of the product and tousle your hair again; this helps create depth, texture, and curls in your hair.
If you don’t want to use the “scrunch” method, try putting your hair up pins to get curls. All you need to do is take small pieces of hair that are mostly dry (it is easier if you do this after a shower), and twist the strand around your finger.
Slide the twisted loop off your finger and pin to your head. You can do this for all of your hair, or you could just do a few pieces. Either way, you’ll have delicate ringlets that would make anyone jealous.
More: How to Curl Short Hair
Some people born with natural curls can remove harmful chemical and heat from their hair routine, and what was once damaged looking hair, will reveal beautiful natural curls. This step definitely takes time and it only works if you have the hair texture for it, but you just need to remove sulfates, silicons, and heat from your hair routine and then you’ll have curly hair.
Diffusing is another way to curl your while also avoid exposing your hair to too many chemicals. In order to get the perfect curls using a diffuser, you need to find a great diffuser (duh!). Check out the Bio Ionic Diffuser attachment to get the perfect curls without breakage or chemicals.
The diffuser helps to reduce frizziness and form distinct curls with a few simple steps. Take damp to somewhat dry hair, twirl it around your finger, and then use the diffuser to dry the curls on a low heat setting.
Regular trims are another way to hold onto curls, especially if you have naturally curly or wavy hair. When the hair starts to break and create the dreaded split ends, the result is frizzy hair. This frizziness leaves your with fluffy, less defined curls, and if you just got a trim every now and then you can prevent this effect.
If you do decide to use hairspray in the future, make sure you read the ingredients in the formula, you want to choose a product that is moisturizing, lightweight, and silicon and sulfate free in order to preserve the texture you already have.
How to Make your Curls Last Overnight
So, how many hours did you spend patiently creating the perfect curls today: 20 minutes, a couple hours, all day? You put in so much work into curling your hair, and now you want to go to sleep. How do you keep all your hard work from falling apart? There are a few methods to keep your curls safe, but remember, your hair will never look exactly how it did when you finished it today.
You could use a hairspray method and spray a can of the product on your head. You could add a little dry shampoo or a dash of baby powder along your scalp to prevent buildup and oiliness weighing your look down.
Some stylists recommend that you pin your hair up in pin curls to protect the spiral, and then you should wrap your head with a silk scarf to prevent frizziness from tossing and turning at night.
If you want that 1990s crimped look, you could braid your hair in loose braids, or create a vintage old Hollywood wave by putting wet hair in a bun. You could go “old school” and leave your hair in curlers/rollers while you sleep, or, maybe a little bit more comfortable, just buy a silk pillowcase.
Long story short, successful and long lasting curls happens with time, patience, and the best products. If you are dedicated, you can create the beautiful waves and bouncy curls with even the straightest of hair.
One of the key takeaways here is that you should condition your hair with a lightweight, silicon-free, hair mask or curl cream, and then follow that up with a silky pillowcase for those moments when you want to preserve your hard work like the masterpiece it is.