Tips for curling hair

volleygurl0306

I decided over the weekend I want to leave my hair down and curl it into long loose curls.  To save money I will be doing it myself or my mom/a BM will do it for me or help me.  My hair is normally straight.  It isn't thin but not quite thick either so it can hold a style for several hours before it falls.  I recently had it done professionally and they used a curling iron (not curlers which I hate).  What curling iron do you love and recommend?  What hairspray is your favorite that holds without being too stiff?

OBX2011

I can't answer which curling iron I like better than the other but I do know that you should not wash your hair before styling it.  Having semi-dirty/messy hair allows the natural oils to come out better and will hold a curl a lot longer.  My hair is not thin and not really thick, but my hairdresser recommened this and it actually allowed my hair to hold the curl better and longer.  I washed my hair the night before and let it be until it was time to get ready.

volleygurl0306

Appreciate that tip, especially since it sounds like you have similar hair!

bltata

The best curling method I've found is to use a flat iron.  The curls last for a long time.  There are tons of tutorials on youtube that you can watch, and the best thing to do is practice so you get used to how it feels to do it yourself and to play with the direction of the curl.

I'm still deciding on what hairspray I like so I'm no help there.

FutureMrsPaulG

Hot Tools curling irons (and flat irons) get really hot so your hair holds the curl really well.  I am able to curl my hair and it stay in for at least a day, granted the curls loosen a little bit but it still looks really nice.  

LeiselEB

Use a ceramic curling iron, with a large barrel since you want looser curls. 

I actually think a better way to get the curls to hold is to wash your hair the day of, and use a volumizing mousse before blowdrying your hair straight. Then curl in sections. This little bit of product gives some more hold and since your hair is kind of thin, it'll have an extra oomph without being too "big". My hair doesn't hold curl well and I SWEAR by volumizing mousse to keep my style.

After curling, shake out your hair, flip it upside down, and then finish with hair spray. This will make sure it looks softer and not like a bunch of spirals on your head.

Hope that helps

Jenni8412

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-beauty_tips-for-curling-hair?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:358Discussion:1c28392a-b530-47bc-86c5-1f4b401403bfPost:86839bab-ad52-4d1f-914d-e1db376593e4">Re: Tips for curling hair</a>:
[QUOTE]After curling, shake out your hair, flip it upside down, and then finish with hair spray. This will make sure it looks softer and not like a bunch of spirals on your head. Hope that helps :)
Posted by LeiselEB[/QUOTE]

THIS. I have similar not too thick/not too thin hair, and have been experimenting with a similar hair style. I've actually found that using hair spray (I use Aussie Sprunch) on the underside while my head's upside down, and then a shine spray (Matrix Biolage Smoothing Shine Milk) on the top after I flip my hair back up is giving me the best look of hold with natural movement :) Ask the person who cuts your hair for some direction with products to try as well - different products work better for different cuticle situations as well as hair color (ie. a lot of shine products make dirty blonde hair look greasy.) Good luck!

xobride

The best thing I've ever found for holding curls is Sexy Hair's Curly Sexy 24/7 Curl Spray.  They don't make it anymore, but I found it on Amazon and went ahead and bought it so that I have it in case it becomes even harder to find.  I've only ever used it for formal events, but my curls have been the same the next morning after I woke up.  It isn't crunchy at all and everyone I've ever told about it loves it.  You spray it on each section before you curl it.  Here's the Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RT71B8/ref=oh_o05_s01_i00_details

volleygurl0306

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-beauty_tips-for-curling-hair?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:358Discussion:1c28392a-b530-47bc-86c5-1f4b401403bfPost:5cc8f461-0d4a-43ed-8b1f-fa266cc2fa26">Re: Tips for curling hair</a>:
[QUOTE]The best thing I've ever found for holding curls is <strong>Sexy Hair's Curly Sexy 24/7 Curl Spray</strong>.  They don't make it anymore, but I found it on Amazon and went ahead and bought it so that I have it in case it becomes even harder to find.  I've only ever used it for formal events, but my curls have been the same the next morning after I woke up.  It isn't crunchy at all and everyone I've ever told about it loves it.  You spray it on each section before you curl it.  Here's the Amazon link: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RT71B8/ref=oh_o05_s01_i00_details" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RT71B8/ref=oh_o05_s01_i00_details</a>
Posted by xobride[/QUOTE]

I just like the name of this haha!  Thanks I'll look it up

leia1979

My stylist used Kenra Platinum Hot Spray on my hair for my wedding, so I ended up buying some. She used a ton of product in my hair for my wedding, but I don't remember what else was used. The Kenra stuff is also a heat protectant, so you can put it on both before and after.

I've also found that loose curls are easier with a flat iron. I have two Solia irons--a 1-1/4" that I've had for years that produces really loose curls and a 3/4" iron that does tighter curls, but it's also more likely to cause creases. A 1" iron is probably a good size to use.

I also like my Remington curling wand, but it produces rather tight curls and my larger one doesn't work as well.

BubbsNBubbs

I hated curlers too...until I got a Revlon IONIC set for xmas. LOVE IT!!!!

nicolej518

I just saw this on pinterest a few hours ago. I haven't tried it, but it looks pretty good. http://pinterest.com/pin/70087337920921305/

When I've done my hair I would do something similar: spray it first so it holds the curl a bit more, curl with a curling iron,  do pin curls so it held while I was still getting ready, spray with a bit more hairspray and a shine product, then blast it with the blow dryer. I would take it out right before I was ready to walk out the door.  

plswitze

I have super straight hair & my stylist used a thing straigh iron (chi) to curl my hair and it lasted 10 hours with light bouncy curls. I agree with bltata, check out you tube tutorials