How to Make Your Curls Stay

Often I have clients who sit down in my chair and say "Good luck with my hair.  It's stick straight and won't hold a curl for anything."  Then I secretly do the mad scientist cackle in my mind and think. . . Oh just you wait. . . your hair will curl.

And it does!  Your hair can curl, I promise.  It's just a matter of knowing the right tricks to make it stay.     

Next time you curl your hair, take these tips into consideration:

1.  If your hair is stick straight or freshly washed, the key to making it curl is using the right product.  If you want your hair to curl, and you want your curls to stay, you can't skip the product!  Boing Cream by Unite is my favorite curling cream.  Technically this product is for people with naturally curly hair, but it works great on stick straight hair or hair that never holds a curl.  Styling Mousse, spray wax and curl setting spray are also good prepping products. 

2.  Flat iron curls tend to hold better than curling iron curls.  It's tricky at first to curl with the flat iron on yourself, but once you get it down you will be amazed how well they stay in!  To curl, use a flat iron that's thin, has rounded edges and gets hot on the outside as well.  When curling, if you are getting kinks that means you are holding it too tight.  If the flat iron won't slide down the hair, try brushing out the section first so it's nice and smooth.   

3.  If you'd rather curl with the curling iron, spray your hair with hairspray before you curl, let it sit for a second to dry (so it doesn't sizzle), and then curl it.  Once it's curled, gently brush through the curl so it's not crispy.  The hairspray will help with the hold, but brushing it out will keep it looking soft.  Best of both worlds!

4.  Try clipping up each curl as you go to let it set in place while it cools.  This will allow the cuticle to cool and close while it's in the curl shape, making it stay a lot longer once you take the clips out.  

5.  Once all of your hair is curled, spray it one last time with hairspray and then blow dry it on low for a few seconds.  The heat plus the hairspray will really glue the curls in place.  

6.  If your ends won't curl no matter what you do, that means it's time for a trim.  Damaged and split ends are stubborn and sometimes won't take to the curl.  Getting a trim and keeping it healthy will help it curl a lot better.  

7.  Invest in nice tools.  I use Hot Tools curling irons, and they work great.  Having a nice curling iron will not only speed up your curling time, but it will be less damaging, create bouncier curls and help your curls stay in longer.    

Here are links to some of my favorite tools and products for making my curls stay, if you are interested in purchasing them: