Confession: I've struggled with curling my super straight hair for practically my entire life. Don't get me wrong, I love having straight hair, but since it's super long, it can take me hours to curl just half of my head — sweet, precious hours that I just don't have. And even when I'm able to successfully curl my locks, they stay in for two hours at most. I started to grow frustrated, weary, and well, totally frizzed out. But thankfully, over time, I've really mastered the art of curling super straight hair. I'd even go so far as to say I'm the Yoda of straight hair curling. NBD.
For all my ladies out there who get too much of an arm workout from curling their super straight hair, I'm here to help. Here are 6 mistakes you're probably making when curling your hair and how you can fix them.
1. You're Not Using the Right Hair Tool
HSI Professional Flat Iron, $37, Amazon
Conair Foam Rollers, $9, Amazon
I know this might sound odd, but have you ever tried curling your hair with an actual hair straightener? Before using a straightener, I tried every kind of barrel curling iron in existence to try and get those Victoria's Secret supermodel locks. Still, nothing seemed to work. The curls would never stay. So, here's my pro tip: try using a straightener next time. Start from the root of your hair and continuously wrap each section of your hair slowly, moving down to your ends. The result will not only look magical, but it will also appear even more natural-looking. If you don't want to use any hot irons at all, try curling your hair the old-fashioned way with bobby pins, sponge curlers or clips.
2. You're Not Prepping Your Hair
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, $16, Amazon
Prepping is SO important. If your hair is as straight as mine, you're going to need all the help you can get. I try to prep my hair with a little product to give an extra bounce before applying any kind of heat. Use a texturizing spray (like this one from Bumble and Bumble) to give your hot tool something to work with. Curls will easily fall through hair that's too clean and slick. Prepping your hair with product will encourage the curls to stay put.
3. You're Not Locking Them In Properly
TIGI Bead Head Hair Spray, $10, Amazon
Hairspray, hairspray, hairspray. If I say it enough, you'll understand its significance, yeah? After creating each curl, remember to apply a spritz of hairspray. Even when you get to your last curl, all of your other hair sections will still look like you just did them. It's a real struggle making curls last and lock in for straight-haired people like me and I've learned that hairspray is the only way.
4. You're Probably Not Taking Care Of Your Hair In General
OGX Intensive Moisture Mask, $11, Amazon
At the end of the day, if your hair isn't keeping its curls, it's probably because you're not taking care of your hair in general. If your hair is super damaged, curling it could only make it worse. Be nice to your hair and put the curling iron down. Put a mask on it. Get a trim. Just give it some time to get healthy before you start styling it again.
5. You're Not Curling It Right
I cannot explain how crucial it is to divide your hair in sections before curling them. In a perfect world, I'd be able to start curling my stick-straight hair anywhere and somehow end up looking runway-ready, but that is far from reality. So make sure to divide and tie up your hair into sections, curling one section at a time. You'll thank me later.
6. You're Not Taking Your Time
You MUST take your time when curling your hair. If you try to curl your hair in five minutes, you can't expect it to come out looking like Beyonce's locks. It just doesn't work that way. Your hair is a work of art, so leave at least a good hour to prep and curl for the best results. If you love your curls, your curls will love you back. Promise.
Bottom line: it's all about being patient and experimenting with ways that are best for you. It took me over two decades to learn all this information, so don't be too hard on yourself if you don't get it on your first try.
Images: Giphy (6), quickmeme.com
