I’ve gotten a few people who have asked me how I curl my hair so I decided to show the four ways I use most to do so. I am not a hair expert by any means, I’ve learned almost everything I know from youtube tutorials.
Here are the four tools I use, none of them are top of the line, but I’ve been very satisfied with each of them.
1. Regular 1″ Curling Iron ($32.88) Many people use this as a wand, but I’ll be showing basic curls using the clamp on it.
2. ½” to 1″ Curling Wand ($24.99) I use this for tiny curls that last a long time.
3. 1″-1½” Curling Wand ($22.09) A larger wave for a more mature, glamorous look.
4. Sponge Rollers ($1.25 for a 10 pack, get two packs) Easily found at any convenience store, I use 1″ sponge rollers. This is the easiest way I curl my hair.
1″ Curling Iron
1. I have my hair parted to one side, making one side have almost double the amount of hair than the other. I clip half of the hair up on that side to begin. The key to the curling iron is to curl away from your face, and start in the center of the hair as seen in the first picture. Curling up, back down, moving the iron down to grab more hair.
2. Continue the above method until all the hair is in the iron, and the outside of the hair is hot. I learned this method best from watching this youtube video. She explains it very well and it will change the way your hair holds a curl.
3. When you release, don’t pull the iron out, gentle loosen the clamp and let it fall out. If you want subtle curls, continue curling the same way. If you want your curls to stay longer, use a duck clip or bobbi pins to pin the curl to your head and let it set so it holds its shape longer.
4. This is how my hair looks like when I’m done with my whole head. I wait about ten minutes while getting ready for my day to let the curls set, and then I’ll brush the top of my head and the ends, and then use my fingers to soften the curls.
5-6. After softening my curls, I have a look that holds the curl in the ends and keeps the top smoother. Although I use this method the least, I like the way it looks when it falls out throughout the day turning into a subtle curl.
½” to 1″ Curling Wand
This wand tapers from a 1″ to a ½” at the bottom.
1. The key is the wrap your hair away from you face, hold it for a few seconds, and then slowly let it fall out. Keep the wand vertical as seen in the photo. You may notice my black glove I use – that is a heat protectant glove that lets me get really close to the ends of my hair while curling without burning myself. I wouldn’t use the wand without one!
2. Notice this will give you really tight curls, so you will want to make the sizes of the hair pieces and their location a little more random to make it look more natural.
3. The curls will seem tight at first, and a little like Shirley Temple, but they will fall out and look beautiful after a few hours.
4-6. I brush the ends a little bit, and push a few pieces around so it gives me more volume on the top of my head. These pictures were taken right after I curled, but they will loosen up over time. I can usually make these curls last 3 days.
1″-1½” Curling Wand
This is by far my favorite method of curling. I’ll wear this look anywhere from an everyday style to attending a wedding.
1. Like the last tutorial, keep the wand vertical and wrap away from the face. Hold it until the thickest part of the piece is hot and then either lightly let it fall or clip it up for a more long term hold. If I have a wedding, I will clip up the curl and let it set, but normally I release it.
2. You’ll want to curl in the same direction and same curl pattern. Notice in the second photo the curl all goes in the same wave.
3. This is how it looks when I’m done. I let it set for at least ten minutes before I do anything else.
4. You can end here and keep the big curls. This is a great look, but if you want a softer curl you’ll have to loosen them up.
5. I like to gently brush out the curl by starting at the bottom and brushing the ends, using my fingers (not the brush) on the main part of the curl, and then brushing the top of my head.
6. This is the end product, and notice I used the same curl pattern and softened them up. A great tutorial that I use is from the Beauty Department.
1″ Sponge Rollers
1. These things are my go-to curl for when I know I want have time to curl my hair in the morning but still want an easy hair style without heat. I used sponge rollers as a kid, and my hair dresser told me a few years ago that they will still work in my hair but to get larger ones (1″) so they don’t look as childish. They are super cheap, and easy to find at any Walgreens or beauty supply store.
2. Hair prep – do not skip this step – dampen your hair slightly so it’s not wet but not completely dry. I even put some product such as hair spray just to help it hold the curl. Take small pieces and roll them up into your hair away from your face. I don’t like to overload a roller with a lot of hair, but you don’t want it to be too small either.
3. When your done, your entire head should be covered in sponge rollers. This normally takes me no more than a few minutes to get all my hair up in rollers.
Next step – Go to sleep.
4. When you wake up, you’ll need to take your rollers out. This will take you about two minutes, but there are two methods for the curl. The first one shown is to roll the sponge roller out of your hair.
5. You can also pull the roller straight out of your hair to create a different look.
6. Notice the curl on the left has been rolled out, and the curl on the right has been pulled out. I tend to do a mix of both because I take them out pretty fast. They’re different looks, and you can see what one you like better.
7 & 8, This it the final result. Notice that it gives me larger at the bottom with a little volume on the top. This method usually lasts the entire day, but by the next morning it is just a wave. This is a back pocket method for when I want curls without all the heat. It’s inexpensive, quick, and gets the job done!
I hope you enjoyed the four methods I use for my curls. A few overall tips – I normally do about 400 degrees on my curling iron and wand, but I also have thick, coarse hair. If you have finer hair, you’ll need to turn down the heat. I also use a heat protectant spray before I do any curling, with the exception of the sponge rollers. I do not hair spray before I curl, only sometimes after, because heat and hairspray together can do a lot of damage to your hair. I try to make my curls last as long as possible, and I use Psssst! Dry Shampoo to help keep my hair fresh.
[…] Download Image More @ http://www.thedressdecoded.com […]