There’s a lot of factors involved with effectively curling your hair, including using the right styling products, figuring out the best temperature for your hair type, and maintaining your overall hair health. Below, you’ll find their advice, along with helpful photos.
Start With Dry Hair
You should start with completely dry hair before using a curling iron, flatiron, or curling wand. Putting any kind of heat on wet hair is going to be much more traumatic compared to when the hair is dry because the cuticle is completely open and exposed. You’re going to damage it more when it’s wet. Keeping your hair as healthy as possible is important in achieving curls.
Avoid Using On Damaged Hair
Your hair might be hard to style if it’s damaged. Hair is made with protein that’s held together by disulfide bonds. (These are very strong chemical bonds that keep the protein strong.) In healthy hair, these bonds are unbroken, but elements like sunlight, bleach, hot tools, and hair dyes, can weaken the bonds and make them break. When this happens, hair becomes damaged and won’t hold a curl. If you notice that your hair feels drier or frizzier than normal, then it may be damaged. Another big sign? Split ends.
Don’t Use Hot Tools Daily
There’s no denying that heat strips your hair of its natural oil and makes it dry. If you really prefer to use a curling iron every day, then look for other ways to keep your hair healthier like towel drying or even air drying your hair instead of blow-drying if you can.
Use The Lowest Temperature
Try to use the least amount of heat possible. It’s a good rule of thumb to keep your tool under 400 degrees. Of course, everyone’s hair is different. Generally speaking, people with fine hair require less heat to curl their hair compared to people with thick hair, she says. You can change the temperature on many curling irons, but not all devices have this capability.
Use A Heat Protectant
A heat protectant can act as a barrier between your hot tools and your hair. There are a variety of formulas that you can use on either dry hair or wet hair before blow-drying. Before using any product, you’ll want to read the instructions to make sure that it’s suited for your particular use, hair type, and hot tools.
Section Your Hair For The Style You Want To Achieve
Let’s talk about parting. It seems like a small detail, but the direction you part your hair can affect the final style. If you want volume, you’re going to take a horizontal section and curl while lifting from the root. But if you want a wavy look, use a vertical section.
Brush Your Hair When It’s Cool
You also want to be patient and let your hair cool completely before grabbing a brush. Letting your curls set first will make your style last longer.
Use Hairspray
Hairspray is essential for maintaining your style. Using hairspray after your hair is curled because this keeps your style soft and bouncy. Using the product before will make hair crunchy.
