If you take the time to curl your hair, you need to know how to make them long lasting curls! Curling your hair and then losing them, is enough to make you want to pull out your hair. Curls, after all, were meant to be curly!
Women put for a lot of effort in doing their hair. No one likes to make the time for creating curls, only to have them fall out an hour later. Rain, high humidity, and other various weather conditions can make your hair go from fab to flat in no time at all. You need to know that the efforts you make curling your hair, will last all day!
If you want long lasting curls, you will need to know a few things about curls, to better help you understand how your hair actually creates new patterns.
When you curl your hair, it changes the chemical makeup of your hair structure temporarily. The only way to permanently change your hair pattern, is to perm it. The chemicals in perms, permanently change the chemical structure of your hair. That being said, using curling irons, hot rollers, or regular rollers, only makes your hair curly for a little while. This is basic curly hair 101!
When you use flat irons or other rollers, you must prepare your hair for your curls. The only way to create long lasting curls, is to use various types of hair products. The rules vary a bit when you're using various rolling tools, so you need to know what to do in each case.
If you want more professional looking curls, in all cases, you should straighten your hair before you curl it. This becomes especially important if you have wavy to curly hair to begin with. Your curls will look more professional and uniform if you straighten it first, then curl it. Of course, if you have straight hair to begin with, you'll cut out a few of the extra steps you need to take if you have curly hair.
Long Lasting Curls for Hot Irons
Before you begin, heat up your curling iron. Use lower heat for easy to curl hair, and higher heat for harder to curl hair.
Start with wet hair. Use a hair brush to blow it dry straight until it's damp.
Apply a styling product such as mousse or styling gel to damp hair ends and mid hair shaft.
Comb out your hair and continue to blow it dry, while straightening it out with your brush. Brush your hair down while blow drying. For super straight hair, use your straightening iron too.
Use several hair clips and clip your hair into at least 4 sections, top and bottom. Start with one section at a time to create long lasting curls. As you finish with one section, clip that hair out of the way to prepare you for the next section. (If you start with the bottom sections first, it'll be much easier:o)
Take small sections of your hair and use a thermal hair protector on them before you curl it. If you don't have a hair protector, use a water spritz instead. If your hair is extremely resistant to curls, or you have vigorous activities planned, use a spritz of hairspray too. Be sure to concentrate on ends. Hair ends lose their curl the fastest.
If you have hard to curl hair, you will need to use a higher heat setting on your iron. You absolutely must invest in a hair protecting product so you don't damage your hair while you curl it!
If you want shine, use a polishing spritz or glossifier.
Comb each hair strand before you begin curling.
Clip the ends of your hair with your iron and wind up your hair. Allow your iron to heat up your hair. Hold in place until you can readily feel the heat through your hair. Don't grab your iron though. You'll only burn your fingers. Instead lightly tap on your curl with your fingertips to feel the heat. Harder to curl hair should wait the longest, depending on your heat settings. Wind curls up as high as you like. Be careful not to burn your scalp if you wind your curl up to your scalp. A comb in between your scalp and your iron is a good idea to protect it.
Carefully unwind your hair and release the clip to reveal your curl. If your hair didn't curl well, lightly spray the section again with a firm holding hairspray and re-roll the section but leave the iron in longer, or turn the heat setting to a higher control.
Move from section to section until you have finished curling your hair.
Once finished, allow your hair to completely cool.
Turn your head upside down and use a flexible hair spray to spray your hair ends especially. Flip your head back over.
Lightly finger your hair or use a wide tooth comb to gently separate your curls. If you want lasting curls, be very careful not to pull your hair too hard and never brush your hair out. You'll pull your curls out!
Make any adjustments and spray them again using a strong holding hairspray.
If you want to lift your roots, use a root lifter on them and blow dry your roots UP. Lightly comb through your roots only to separate your hair.
Long Lasting Curls for Rollers
Before you begin, heat up steam rollers. If you're using regular rollers, this step isn't necessary.
Start with wet hair. Use a hair brush to blow it dry straight until it's damp.
Apply a styling product such as mousse or gel to damp hair ends and mid hair shaft.
Comb it out and continue to blow it dry, while straightening it out with your brush. Brush your hair down while blow drying it. For the absolute longest lasting curls, leave your hair damp. After you curl it, you'll have to wait to remove curlers until your hair is completely dry though!
Use several hair clips and clip your hair into at least 4 sections, top and bottom. Start with one section at a time to create long lasting curls. As you finish with one section, clip that hair out of the way and go on to the next section.
Take small sections of your hair for longer lasting curls. Lightly spritz water and/or hairspray on the entire hair strand. If your hair is extremely resistant to curls, or you have vigorous activities planned, be sure to concentrate on ends. Hair ends lose their curl the fastest. If you want shine, use a polishing spray.
Comb out your hair strand before you begin curling.
Wind up your curls, starting with ends, up to the top. Clip in place. If you want your curls to lift off your scalp, be sure to hold your hair section(s) up and roll your roller down towards your scalp.
Move from section to section until you have finished curling your hair.
Once finished, allow your hair to completely cool.
Once cooled, unwind your rollers carefully.
Turn your head upside down and use a flexible hair spray to spray your hair ends especially. Flip your head back over.
Lightly finger your hair or use a wide tooth comb to gently separate your curls. If you want lasting curls, be very careful not to pull your hair too hard and never brush your hair out. You'll pull your curls out!
If your roots aren't lifted enough, use a root lifter on them and blow dry your roots UP. Lightly comb through your roots only to separate your hair.
More Tips for Long Lasting Curls
A little bit dirty hair curls better than clean hair. If you have to wash, don't a lot of conditioner or use heavy conditioners.
If your curls keep flopping, the sections you're using are too large for the curler. Use larger sections for large curlers and smaller sections for smaller curlers.
If you're using hot rollers and your clips don't seem to be holding the curlers, clip them from the bottom up instead of from the top down.
Twist your hair section tight before you curl, for funky spiral curls.
Use gel or mousse on your hair ends if they come out frizzy.
After you take out your curls, add a spritz of gel spray to them to set them.
When you curl your hair, tuck in hair ends for a formal look. Leave out your ends for a messy look.
Check out Misikko's beauty tips - They have some great videos, including one on how to curl your hair with a flat iron.
If you want long lasting curls, use different techniques with different curling tools. Curling your hair takes up precious time. Be sure you get the most bang for the time you spend by using these procedures. Most of all, have fun!
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to damp hair ends and mid hair shaft.
on them before you curl it. If you don't have a hair protector, use a water spritz instead. If your hair is extremely resistant to curls, or you have vigorous activities planned, use a spritz of hairspray too. Be sure to concentrate on ends. Hair ends lose their curl the fastest. 
and re-roll the section but leave the iron in longer, or turn the heat setting to a higher control.
to spray your hair ends especially. Flip your head back over.
on them and blow dry your roots UP. Lightly comb through your roots only to separate your hair. 
. 
