This Hair Stylist Trick For Getting Voluminous Curls To Stay Is A Must-Try
Whether you were born with hair that's wispy thin or super thick, chances are you've struggled to get it to hold a curl. Even after using high-tech curlers like the Dyson AirWrap or Shark FlexStyle, humidity can easily unravel it all, causing you to end up with a situation that's frizzy and flat, rather than glam and gorgeous. But before you give up all hope and toss your expensive iron, know that there are some tricks to get the curls of your dreams. And it mostly has to do with how you prep and finish your hair.
For one, you'll want to skip conditioner completely. Hairstylist Adir Abergel explained to Allure that one of the reasons your locks may not be holding curl is because you've used too much conditioner, which can weigh hair down. But even if you ditched the heavy conditioner, there are other tips to ensure your gorgeous curls maintain their shape and volume all day long.
Add mousse and hairspray before curling to hold curl
If volume is what you're after with your curls, mousse is an essential. When the lightweight, foamy product comes into contact with damp hair fibers, it causes the individual strands to lift, giving your hair natural-looking volume and bounce. It may take some trial and error to find the mousse that's right for you, but aim for a product that doesn't have a lot of alcohol in it. Too much alcohol in hair products can make your hair dry and brittle. Adir Abergel told Allure most people will need a baseball-sized amount of mousse to get their desired volume, but the longer your hair, the more you'll need. Hairstylist Tommy Buckett told Byrdie mousse is usually suitable for all hair types, but if your hair's dry, you may also want to try a curl cream for added moisture.
Now, mousse is one thing, but what about making sure your curls last? Well, although most of have likely grown up thinking you apply hairspray to finish a style, Abergel tells Allure the secret is to actually spritz it on before taking your hair to the iron. This will help the hair better form to the curl shape and create an extra barrier between your hair and the heat. But, it's important to make sure you only do this when your hair is already dry. Spritzing hair spray on wet or damp hair, and then placing it in a curling iron will likely only cause your iron to start sizzling, and give you that fried or crunchy locks. Make sure you're not holding the spray bottle too close to your strands, either. Otherwise they will become oversaturated. Instead, hold the bottle about 8 inches away and give it a good spritz before wrapping hair in your curling iron.
Curl the right way to get that volume to hold
When it comes time to curl the hair, Adir Abergel told Allure it's important to make sure you're using the right curler for your hair length. A larger barrel may allow you to grab more hair and create volume, but it will only produce loose waves, at best. These can flatten quickly, depending on how thick your hair is. However, with a one-inch barrel or smaller, your curls may be tighter at first, but, throughout the day, they'll gradually relax into a looser shape, allowing the curls to hold for longer
There's also a real sweet spot when it comes to the perfect temperature. Abergel suggested setting the temperature of your tool to around 300 degrees Fahrenheit for regular, healthy hair, or around 350 degrees for thicker hair. If you go any lower, you run the risk of your hair not retaining the shape, thus resulting in you having to go over it multiple times. Remember, you should never turn your heat tools to more than 365 degrees, as anything hotter could cause serious hair damage.
Equally important is ensuring your hair is evenly spread on the barrel, rather than twisted over itself. Keep your tresses as flat as you can against the barrel and try not to twist it at the root, so each piece is getting the same amount of heat for the same amount of time. This will prevent sections of your curl from going flat throughout the day.
Pin curls will help give you extra hold
Once you've successfully curled your hair, it's time to pin curl it. Gather your curl into a donut shape while it's still warm (you may want to wait a few seconds so you don't burn your fingers), and pin it to your head. You can use bobby pins for this, or specific no-crease clips. You should find your hair naturally falls into the right shape off your wand or iron, but if it doesn't, roll it back on itself from the tip to the root as if you're using an imaginary roller. This will allow it to cool in the shape you want, making the curl last way longer. The longer you leave your pin curls in, the better, but try at least 15 minutes or until it's cool to the touch.
After that, take out each pin one at a time and run your fingers though to separate the curls. Using your fingers is less harsh than brushing it, so you won't be disrupting your curls too much or running the risk of brushing them out. If you feel you need more, try a wide-tooth comb. Then give it a spritz with a texturizing spray rather than a hairspray. The benefit of texturizing spray is that it won't add as much weight as a hairspray, which could weigh down your curls and straighten them out. Texturizing sprays can also provide extra volume, as they'll give the hair some grit and hold.