5 Ways to Curl Short Hair

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Beautiful curls can give life and volume to short hair, allowing you to change your daily look a bit. Curling short hair is really easy and you can style it faster than long hair. This article will show you how to curl short hair in an instant using a straightener or curling iron, but also walk you through ways to get curls without the heat using bobby pins or a hair band. Enjoy your fabulous and feminine curls!

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Using a Curling Iron

Step 1. Prepare your hair

Before you start curling your hair with an iron, it should be clean and dry, as well as fairly straight. If you have wavy hair or hair with various unruly tufts, you may want to straighten it with a straightener before proceeding.

At this point, adding a dab of styling gel or wax might help you set the style; however, you should never apply hairspray before curling, as this will only damage the hair.
Also, be sure to spray a heat protective spray on your hair before proceeding.

Step 2. Separate the hair into sections

Use a comb to divide your hair into two layers, one top and one bottom. Take a pair of chunky salon pliers and pin the top section of the canopy to the top of the head, allowing you to work with only the bottom one.

Leave the bangs alone. You can leave it loose or stop it on the top of the head. Either way, don't include it in the curling process.
If your hair is particularly double, you may need to divide it into three sections for best results.

Step 3. Begin to curl them

Starting at the forehead, take a small strand of hair and wrap it around the iron, keeping it away from the face so that it stays at a safe distance from the skin.

The curl should be turned towards the outside of the face, not inwards, with the curling iron towards the back of the head.
The wider the section of hair to be curled, the larger the curl will be. For shorter hair, a 2.5-5cm strand should suffice. This will give you medium sized curls.

Step 4. Depending on the length of your hair, you may want to use a thinner curling iron

The thicker ones may be too big to wrap short hair strands, and will not produce good results. A 2.5 cm diameter iron should be fine.

Step 5. Leave the tips straight

With shorter hair, it may be better to leave the ends smooth instead of curling the whole strand. This will leave some length to the hair and prevent the curls from sticking out of the head too much.

If you are using an iron with pliers, close it on the strand you are curling about 1.25 cm from the bottom before curling the hair upwards.
If you are using an iron without pliers, start wrapping the hair from the top, but stop approximately 1.25 cm from the tips of the hair.

Step 6. Keep the hair wrapped around the iron for 5-10 seconds

Depending on how thick you want the curls to be, you can keep the hair around the iron for different periods of time.

For soft waves, hold the iron for just 5 seconds, then take it off. For more defined curls, hold the iron for at least 10 seconds.
Once the iron is off, make a light splash of hairspray. This will help each strand hold its shape. However, if the curl is tighter than you wanted, let it relax for a couple of minutes before you spray the hairspray.

Step 7. Finish the bottom layer and then move to the top one

If you prefer a more natural look, avoid separating your hair into even strands. Instead, vary the size of the sections and alternate between curling the hair inward and outward of the face.

Gradually curl the top layer. Free one strand at a time from the top of the head. Curl each strand the same way you curled the bottom layer before moving on to the next one

Step 8. Add the finishing touches

Once you've curled all of your hair, rock the curls with your fingers to prevent them from turning into ringlets. Touch up any curls that have lost their shape.

Tease the roots. Add volume to the hairstyle by taking the top of the hair and teasing the roots.
Add a final splash of hairspray. A good hold to finish will help keep the curls in place.

Method 2 of 5: Making Pin-up Curls

Step 1. Wash your hair as usual

Use lukewarm water and a shampoo formulated for your hair type.

Then, apply a rinse-off conditioner for softer curls. Rinse with cold water. If you want firmer, stiffer curls, you can skip the conditioner part.
Remove excess water, but do not dry completely. Gently pat your hair dry with a towel so it doesn't drip anymore. However, the hair should be moderately damp in order to achieve good pin-up curls.

Step 2. Apply some mousse to the hair

This product stiffens the hair enough to set the style. A gel or cream may work as well, depending on your hair type.

For thin hair, use a mousse.
For medium to thick hair, opt for a gel, which has a higher fixing power.

Step 3. Separate your hair into small sections

For this style, neat and tidy locks might work better than uneven ones. The sections of the hair should be approximately 0.6 - 1.25 cm wide. The wider the lock, the softer the curl.

Place a finger at the end of a section of hair. Wrap your hair around your finger, rolling it down and away from your face. The hedgehog should be soft enough for your finger to slide.
Use bobby pins or small, smooth salon pliers to attach the hedgehog to the head. Insert the bobby pin or pliers diagonally across the top of the hedgehog.

Step 4. Fix with water

After you've wrapped and fixed all the hair on your scalp, use a bottle with a spray nozzle to spray the water into your hair. This process ensures that they dry evenly.

Instead of using water, you could use a curly hair spray to moisten the hairstyle. This will aid in the curling process

Step 5. Allow the curls to dry

Keep the bobby pins for several hours or overnight for the hair to dry. If you plan to sleep on it, put on a plastic shower cap to prevent frizz.

If you are in a hurry, you could use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process. In any case, remember that the curls won't be as defined if you use this method

Step 6. Remove the bobby pins

Once the hair is dry, remove the tweezers or bobby pins and gently rock the curls. Run your fingers through the hair to separate it so it doesn't look sticky.

Run your fingers under the curls at the roots and gently shake them to give them a natural shape.
Spray a strong hold hairspray on curly hair to keep the style long.

Method 3 of 5: Using a Plate

Step 1. Start with completely dry hair

Before using the straightener, your hair should be completely dry, as subjecting wet or even damp hair to intense heat could cause damage.

Hair washed the day before will hold curls better than fresh shampooed hair, especially if you have very thin hair. If your hair is a little oily, apply dry shampoo to the roots before starting.
Always apply a product to protect the hair from the heat before using the straightener, otherwise the hair will become dry and brittle. Ask your hairdresser to recommend one suitable for your hair.

Step 2. Use a thin plate

For shorter hair, a straightener of this type is ideal, as you can wrap your hair more times than a wider straightener, thus generating more curls.

If you only have a wide straightener, it will still work, but your hair will be wavy instead of curly.
Also, set the soleplate to the lowest temperature needed to curl them. Thin hair will curl at a temperature of approximately 160 ºC, while thicker hair may need a temperature of around 200 ºC.

Step 3. Part your hair into sections

It will be easier to curl your hair if it is divided into sections. Take all the hair from the ears up and pin it well on the top of the head.

Step 4. Begin to curl

Take a small section of hair from the lower section. It should be about 1.25-2.5cm wide. Close the plate at the roots and make a half turn, so that the hair forms a U in the plate.

Keeping the straightener in the same position, slowly pull it over your hair. The slower you do this, the tighter the curls will be. Moving the plate quickly will give you soft waves.
Move to the next section. For even curls, always turn the straightener in the same direction. For more messy curls, alternate between turning the straightener up and down.

Step 5. Dissolve the upper section of the hair

Once the lower part of the canopy is complete, you can untie the upper one and curl it using the same method.

When you curl the front parts, make sure you turn the straightener outward, not towards your face, so that the curls don't fall over your eyes.
Instead of curling the bangs, simply take the final part, close the plate down and twist your hair away from your face.

Step 6. Secure the curls

Once each curl is complete, define its shape and position with your fingers, before it completely cools down. Then, spray some hairspray. Once the hedgehog has cooled completely, it should set and stay in place.

If the hair is a little too "bushy" for your taste, let it relax while you curl the rest of the hair and give it a general sprinkle with the hairspray when done.
A light to medium hold hairspray is best if you want soft, relaxed waves. Strong hold hairspray can leave hair frizzy and stiff.

Method 4 of 5: Use a Headband

Step 1. Wash your hair

This method does not involve heat to curl the hair, so it is best to implement it with freshly washed hair. Shampoo as usual and let your hair dry naturally until it is slightly damp.

While the hair is still damp, apply a product for flexible curls, such as a gel or cream (if the hair is very straight) or an anti-frizz serum (if the hair tends to wrinkle).
You will need to leave the curls on overnight, so it's best to do this in the evening.

Step 2. Get an elastic band of fabric

A thinner band will work, choose one that is about 1.25-2.5cm wide. Place it around the head; it should be on the hair at the back of the head, not below. At the front, the band should be approximately halfway across the forehead.

Step 3. Begin wrapping sections of hair around the headband

Starting at the front, take a small section and tuck it under the headband, twisting it slightly as you go.

Take a second strand of hair, twist it like the first and then tuck it under the headband in the same way. Continue working all over your head by wrapping even sections of hair around the headband.
The more tightly you wrap your hair, the more defined the curls will be, and vice versa.

Step 4. Finish on the back

Once all of your hair is wrapped around the headband on both sides, you will be left with a single strand in the back. Twist it until it curls upwards towards the scalp, then secure it with a bobby pin.

For a little more volume on the forehead, push the band up towards the hairline. This will create volume and prevent a red mark on your forehead

Step 5. Leave it overnight

Now, all you have to do is go to sleep with your hair pinned in the headband. If you're worried about frizz, try putting a shower cap on your head.

Step 6. Remove the band

The next morning, remove the bobby pin that secured the hair at the back and gently pull the band from the hair.

Use your fingers to gently part the hair and work it to get the desired shape. You should have big, very glamorous and voluminous curls.
Style your hair however you want, using a curling iron if necessary to fix any unruly strands. Spray medium-hold hairspray to set.