Curling already curly hair with a curling iron enhances your natural curls, creating definition and volume, or achieving a different curl pattern altogether. Here's how:
Preparing Your Hair
Before you begin, ensure your hair is clean and conditioned. Using a heat protectant spray is crucial to prevent heat damage. This step is vital, regardless of your hair type. Slightly damp hair often works best for curling with an iron, as it holds the curl better.
Curling Techniques
Several techniques work well for curling curly hair:
1. Defining Existing Curls:
- Sectioning: Divide your hair into manageable sections. Smaller sections yield tighter curls, while larger sections create looser waves.
- Wrapping: Gently wrap a small section of hair around the curling iron, avoiding pulling too tightly. Hold for a few seconds—the exact time depends on your hair type and the heat setting. Experiment to find what works best for you.
- Release: Gently release the curl, allowing it to cool completely before touching.
- Setting: Once all sections are curled, let your hair cool completely before styling. You can gently scrunch your hair with your hands to loosen the curls or leave them as is for a more defined look.
2. Creating Different Curl Patterns:
- Variable Sizes: Use different sized curling irons to create variations in curl size and wave patterns throughout your hair.
- Direction: Alternate the direction you wrap your hair around the curling iron to prevent a uniform look and create a more natural appearance. For example, wrap some sections away from your face and some towards it.
- Loose Waves: For loose waves, use a larger barrel curling iron and hold it loosely while wrapping the hair.
- Tighter Curls: For tighter curls, use a smaller barrel curling iron and wrap the hair more tightly and hold for a longer duration.
The reference video snippet mentions holding the curling iron still and wrapping the hair around it, pulling fingers to the end of the hair until it reaches the very end for a couple of seconds. This technique aligns with the "Defining Existing Curls" method described above.
Product Recommendations
The specific products you use will depend on your hair type and needs, but a heat protectant is non-negotiable. Experiment to find what works best for you and your hair type.
