There are a few things in this world that scare me.
Pastry bags, Splenda, and up until now, curling irons. Okay, well they still do scare me a little bit. But for the most part – minus the fact the occasional minor neck burn – I’m starting to get the hang of it.
{And the pastry bag. I guess I’m starting to get the hang of that, too}
Living in South Florida, it doesn’t really get more humid than this. And humidity, as we all know, is the enemy of any sort of good hair day. So, when I discovered that this foolproof method using the curling iron was the secret to getting my waves to survive (even through to the next day), it was a pretty big moment.
No matter your hair struggle – be it the weather, the utensil, or just another bad hair day – here is my go-to method for achieving perfect waves that will last through just about anything.
What You’ll Need:
- Blow dryer (or you can allow your hair to air dry if you prefer)
- Curling iron – preferably high quality ceramic; use 1 inch for waves as shown, 1.5-2 inches for looser waves, and 0.75 inch for tighter curls
- Hair spray – something with strong hold, but still touchable
First, give your hair a rough blow dry. I usually use my fingers for the most part, maybe running a brush through a few times at the end. I find that if you make your hair too smooth, the curl doesn’t hold as well.
Now, begin with a 2 inch section of hair. Give it a nice shot of hair spray – very important if you want good hold.
{I usually start with the front of my head, and when I get about halfway done – to the back of my head – I bring over what I’ve done to one side, and then start from the front of the other side; in the picture above, I’m actually just re-curling a front piece}
Holding the iron upside-down and with the clamp closed, wrap the section of hair around the iron.
When you get to the end of the section, hold it there for about 15-30 seconds. How long you hold it will depend on how hot your curling iron gets and how your hair takes the heat. I have a 1 inch ceramic curling iron by Hot Tools, and it gets pretty hot – but I like to let it sit for a full 30 seconds because I have thick hair and it can handle it.
After each section of hair is curled, give it another light spray. Repeat, section by section, until all of your hair is curled. You will have tighter curls at first (see first photo, after I had just curled most of my hair), but they will fall into looser waves after 15-20 minutes. You can also run your fingers through your hair to loosen them up, if you wish.
End result: perfectly soft waves that will last for hours. Like, 24 humidity-filled ones.
So you don’t actually put your hair inside the clamp…but curl your hair over it?
Amber – Exactly. Some people open the clamp and then do the same thing, but I find it easier to just leave it closed and wrap the hair around the whole thing. Enjoy! xxSAS
I am petrified of curling irons, but I really want to try this. It’s supremely humid up where I am right now and I need to find something else to do with my hair besides pulling it back in a pony.
It looks beautiful!
What gorgeous hair! I love curling my hair like this. Because my hair is curly to start with (I blowdry, straighten, only to curl again? Issues), it holds for seriously one or two days. Well worth the time spent to barely have to touch your hair.
Sarah – I did the same exact thing when I had longer hair. And for the under side and back, I found that flipping my head upside down and doing it was a great way to get it done. You have perfect hair~
Gorgeous!
My hair has gotten a lot longer in the last few years and I’m loving it but usually end up twisting it into a bun every day. This weekend, I am trying this. I looks like wrapping the hair around the barrel itself will solve my problem with curling irons – the ends curl tight and the hair near my roots doesn’t even get hot. Fabulous!
Ugh, the Florida humidity. I agree, sometimes a curling iron and a big can of hairspray is the answer. I do a similar technique, starting from the top and curling down, but I do use the clamp. I think you’re right, it does make the waves look more natural as they soften. (Okay, who am I kidding. 1 hour in the FL humidity and my previously curled hair usually just has a slept on look. C’est la vie!)
gorgeous! I miss long hair.
Killer PSA. The waves turned out beautiful!
That looks beautiful…I wish I could do this too:) kisses,sweeti…Great post! happy Thursday
Thank you! I am def. going to try that! Whenever I use the clamp I end up with the crimpy edges! No bueno!
Love your bangs! The past few years I got back and forth between real bangs and half side part ones. Everytime I see cute ones like yours, I got full blown. (No pun intended)
I’ve been curling my hair this way for years. My hair is naturally wavy but the curling iron helps turn the frizzy pieces into smooth curls. It’s definitely the way to go!
Thanks for the tips! I do blow dry my hair with a round brush, but with my hair is naturally thick/wavy and frizzy. And I have to use a curling iron. Before I curl, I use a heat protection spray (you can find at Sally Beauty Supply or any other professional hair product store) and spray/comb all over. It protects my hair from heat, but also locks in the curls/waves for hours. However, I section my hair into clips—easier for me to style and less frustration to see which sections I’ve missed. Also, I either recite the Pledge of Allegiance or the alphabet while curling my hair instead of counting so that my curls are heated enough–20 to 30 seconds to the max. I will use a different type of curling iron from now on. I use a professional 1″ one, but it gives me the “Shirley Temple” look sometimes.