Being born with pin-straight hair may sound like an absolute dream for some but not when you try holding up a curly hairstyle for longer than an hour. I was convinced that I had some rare uncurlable hair type and was just forced to live with it. For years, I abandoned my dream of achieving the perfect beach wave.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
It wasn\u2019t until I decided to visit a hairstyling professional that everything changed. I found out I had been curling my hair wrong all this time. There are a few things the stylist pointed out to me that completely changed my hairstyling routine and transformed my hair. Today, I plan to share every one of these unique tips and tricks with you!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Grab your curling iron, and follow my steps and advice closely. By the time we\u2019re done, you\u2019ll learn the following:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Achieving the perfect curl is extremely easy, but there are some things you need to know before you press the \u201con\u201d button. For starters, you need to find the perfect curling iron for your specific hair type.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
You should be looking at a few things: hair length, hair type, and hair damage.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
If you have hair damage after doing a lot of treatments, like bleaching, for example, you need to look for specific plate materials when buying a hair curler. You don\u2019t want to add to your damage when using a hair curler.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Your best bet would be a ceramic tourmaline hair curler. Tourmaline is a unique material, crushed into powder and mixed with ceramic, and it has some unique properties that protect your hair from damage. Tourmaline battles the negative ions that cause static and frizz in your hair and won\u2019t create additional frizz.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Depending on your hair type, it\u2019s essential to find a curling iron that can heat up accordingly. Always curl your hair to the correct heat setting. Let\u2019s start throwing in some numbers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Do you have fine, super damaged hair? Look for a curling iron with adjustable temperature, and choose a setting between 250\u00b0 and 300\u00b0 Fahrenheit. The 250\u00b0 and 280\u00b0 won\u2019t do much for fine hair but can work wonders if your hair is thin and damaged. Otherwise, try staying closer to the 300\u00b0 mark for best results.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
If you\u2019re one with normal hair, not too thick, not too thin, choose a setting along the 350\u00b0 range. For natural hair, also referred to as \u201cvirgin\u201d hair, you can crank it up to 375\u00b0 and not worry about any hair damage.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Finally, if you\u2019re on the other side of the spectrum and you have thick and coarse hair, you might need to crank up your curling iron. Anywhere between 400\u00b0 and 425\u00b0 should be fine for you, but bear in mind that most hairstyling professionals will frown at the thought of going over 410\u00b0, as this may do some irreversible damage to your locks.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
When it comes to finding the perfect curling iron, hair length is also a crucial detail to consider. There are different curling iron sizes you should browse if you want to achieve specific hairstyles. We have a fantastic guide on the different curling iron sizes<\/a> according to your hair length, which is worth checking out if you need some details.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Follow this step-by-step guide to achieve the perfect curl. I recommend you read the manual first, as well as the tips and tricks below, before you start curling.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Step 1\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Make sure your beautiful tresses are parched. No good will come out of curling your wet hair. I don\u2019t care if you\u2019re in a rush and you haven\u2019t had enough time to dry, and I don\u2019t want to hear it. You don\u2019t want to know the damage you can create by curling wet hair. If you think I\u2019m exaggerating, allow me to explain what happens inside damp hair when it\u2019s curled.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
You might not know this, but below the cuticle of a particular hair strand lies the cortex (the filling, if you will) and the medulla (the core of the hair). The cortex holds moisture, which keeps the hair healthy and hydrated. When your hair is wet, the cuticle walls allow easy access to the cortex. So, imagine yourself burning at the cortex and medulla when your hair is wet. You\u2019re essentially boiling your hair inside out, which results in the breakage of your cuticles. Once your hair is dry, you\u2019ll notice it has become frizzy and dry, and all the shine it used to hold is now burned away.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
That\u2019s why you should always blow dry your hair or, even better, wait for it to naturally dry, so it remains healthy and shiny.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Step 2<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Use the right-sized barrel when curling your hair. Do you want to achieve tight curls a-la Gilmore Girls? A small barrel is your thing. Wrap the hair around the barrel only for an old-school curl. It helps if you have a curling iron with a clip, which will help keep your ends fixed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Do you want fabulous and lush mermaid hair? The larger the barrel, the better. Leave the end of your hair strand, and start lowering your head. Curling wands are great for achieving a beach wave curl. If you want to find out the difference between a curling wand and a curling iron<\/a>, have a look at our article!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Step 3<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Step 4<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Step 5<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Step 6<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Step 7 (Optional)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
See? It was a lot easier (and quicker) than you might think!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Step 8\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
I wouldn\u2019t dare leave you without the most crucial hairstyling tips and tricks. That is to say, the steps described above are essential, and you should combine them with the additional advice in this section if you want a curly hairstyle that lasts!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
It is essential to those of you who plan on implementing hot curling into your everyday routines. It won\u2019t be long before your hair starts rebelling against it. Frizz pops up here and there, and treated hair now looks more like a witch\u2019s broomstick than ever before. Spraying your hair with heat protectant pre-curling will act as a shield or barrier between your hot curling iron and the hair.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Before you buy a heat protectant, make sure you know what temperature you\u2019re curling your hair at. Some heat-protective sprays may go up to 300\u00b0, for example, so if you\u2019re curling at 375\u00b0, you won\u2019t be providing your hair with enough heat protection. Always read the fine print!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Sectioning your hair will help create specific hairstyles. It seems like it\u2019s no biggie, but parting your hair is extremely important. Grab a hair clip, and brush your hair thoroughly. With the pointy end of a comb or a pencil, you can start detangling your hair. Separate your natural parting. Then consider if you want voluminous curls or wavy curls. Start sectioning your hair. A horizontal parting will give you root volume, while a vertical parting will be better for a trendy beach wave.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Brushing your hair is just as important at the start and the end of your curling. It\u2019s important to have tidy curls so you can easily separate your hair and take out individual 2-inch strands when curling. Did you know it\u2019s equally important to brush your hair after curling?\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Depending on the style you want, if you're going to move further away from the Victorian curl, brush your hair once it\u2019s cooled down (extremely important!). This will create a consistent look, and your hairstyle will look a lot more natural. You can brush your hair with a hairbrush, or you can run your fingers through your hair if you prefer.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Last but not least important is hair spray. I mean, an entire musical was named after it, so that should be a sign of how important it is! Hair spray is what made my curls last, and it\u2019s essential to use it last after you have brushed your hair. That way, your hair strands won\u2019t stick together and will help maintain soft and bouncy curls.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Some hairstylists argue that hair spraying should be done before curling with a light-setting spray. This is important for people with stubborn pin-straight hair (like mine!) and will help prep your hair. Make sure to mist your hair instead of saturating each curl lightly. Repeat the process at the end, even if your hair isn\u2019t resistant to curling. It\u2019s essential to steer clear of moisturizing hair oils like argan oil or coconut oils, as those may weigh down your locks.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Using a lot of product will leave residue on your curling iron, whether you like it or not. Even if you don\u2019t use a curling iron, some shampoos and conditioners are so strong that they don\u2019t wash off and remain in your hair, creating steam when you curl your hair. This residue product can build up, mainly if you use a lot of setting spray. You\u2019ll know it\u2019s there if you notice a black substance on your curling iron.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
How do you clean a curling iron? Grab yourself a few round cotton pads and some white spirits. Add a few drops onto a pad, and start rubbing the residue away. I don\u2019t need to tell you to wait for the curling iron to cool down before doing this, right?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Another method you can use is mixing three parts baking soda and one part water and rubbing the cool unplugged curling iron. This should get rid of the unpleasant stains, and it\u2019s essential to do this every so often if you want your curling iron to function normally.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
I hope you find this article helpful! Trust me; I know the pain of dreaming for curly waves and struggling to achieve your desired hairstyle. I have been trying to ace my hairstyle for years, so it gives me great pleasure to share some advice with you.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
If you\u2019re having trouble finding the proper hair curler, allow me to suggest a couple of articles on the subject. Here is a review of the best curling irons for short hair<\/a>, where you\u2019ll be able to find a fantastic curling tool no matter your budget.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
In case you want to protect your hair thoroughly and you\u2019re looking for some safe and heat-free curling methods, why not take a look at some no-heat curlers<\/a>? They are the ideal way of creating lasting locks without worrying about permanent heat damage!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n