HOW TO MAKE YOUR NATURALLY STRAIGHT HAIR CURLY
Many people love to try out new looks and this includes the hairstyles they wear. This is totally understandable. We mean who wants to be known for a monotonous fashion style? And what better change in hairstyle can be thought of for straight hair than to go curly? Think of celebrities like Taylor Swift and Arianna Grande. They wear their hair in curls often and they always look absolutely fab.
So if you have naturally straight hair and you want to try out curly styles, we get you. There’s so much to be done with curly hair because of the bounce and volume that comes with it. You can achieve many beautiful hairstyles with curled-up hair: from bob with bangs to curly pixie cuts. If you are looking for ways to make your naturally straight hair curly, you are in the right place. Let’s get right into it without further ado!
- Sleeping in Braids Method
If you are trying to get really loose curls for a day or two, then consider putting your hair in braids before going to bed. This method is not time-consuming and easy to achieve. The tighter your braids, the more defined your curls will be.
Tools Needed for Braids Method
- A spray bottle
- A rat-tail comb
- A brush or comb for detangling
- Hair ties or scrunchies
- A satin hair cap/ bonnet
How to Achieve the Braids Method
- Wash Your Hair Thoroughly
The first step to take in achieving any style is to prepare the hair. Start by washing your hair with sulfate and paraben-free shampoo. This is to get rid of dirt, debris, or build-up from the hair and scalp. After cleaning the hair, apply your conditioner.
- Dry Your Hair
You can choose to air dry or blow dry the hair. Don’t dry the hair thoroughly because you need it to be damp for easy manipulation. If you are dealing with already dry hair, spray it with water from a spray bottle. Overall, your hair needs to be 80% dry.
- Detangle Your Hair
Use a brush or comb to detangle the hair thoroughly. You need to remove every knot and tangle from your hair to avoid ending up with lumpy curls. However, you need to be careful when detangling. Avoid tugging at the roots so that you don’t end up with a headache or breakage.
- Moisturize Thick or Coarse Hair
Working with dry, thick or coarse hair makes your hair prone to frizz and breakage. To avoid this, moisturize your hair strands with oils like olive oil or coconut oil. If you have fine and thin hair, skip this step because oils and other moisturizing products can make your hair fall flat.
- Apply Setting Lotion or Mousse
This is to hold your curls in place. Squeeze a small amount of lotion or mousse in your hand and apply it to your hair evenly with a focus on the ends.
- Part your hair into Two Sections
To get more defined curls, it is better to part your hair into two sections. Use a rat-tail comb to part the hair from the middle of your head. Alternatively, you can use your fingers to section the hair.
- Braid Each Section
After parting your hair into sections, braid one part from the top of your head down to the nape. There are two ways of achieving braids: the two-strand twist method and the three-strand twist method. For the former, you will twist two strands of hair around each other while for the latter, you will twist three strands of hair around one another.
- Put the Tails of Each Braid in Buns
After braiding each section down, wrap each tail into a bun to curl up your ends. Make the buns as tight as possible to avoid them coming undone overnight.
- Secure the Buns with Hair Ties or Scrunchies
You need to hold your buns in place with a hair tie or scrunchy. Avoid elastic bands because they can cause hair breakage. If you must use elastic bands, we advise that you oil them first so that they can slide across your hair easily.
- Keep the Braids on Overnight
For your curls to form, you must keep the braids on for at least 8 hours. It is better to leave them on overnight; this way, you can rest assured to get fully defined curls. Sleep with a satin hair cap or bonnet to keep the braids in. You can get yours from our virtual store.
- Take the Braids Down
After eight hours of installing your braids or after leaving them on overnight, take them down carefully. Remove the hair ties or scrunchies and unravel the curls carefully to avoid pulling them out.
- Apply Curling Cream or Hair Spray
The final step is to apply curling cream or hair spray to your newly formed curls to keep them in place. Do not brush or touch your hair or the curls will unravel. You can now style as you wish.
- The Curling Iron Method
Using the curling iron method to curl your straight hair gives tighter and more defined curls than the braids method. It also lasts longer than the aforementioned method. Depending on the curling iron you use, your curls can be big or small.
Tools Needed for the Curling Iron Method
- A curling iron
- A brush or comb for detangling
- A heat protectant
- A rat-tail comb
- Hair clips
- Hair pins
How to Achieve the Curling Iron Method
- Heat Your Curling Iron
Turn your curling iron on and set it to an appropriate temperature. For thick and coarse, set the temperature to 430 degrees and for thin and fine hair, set the curling iron to 320 degrees. Alternatively, you can experiment with different temperatures until you find the suitable one for your hair. To avoid heat damage, go with the lowest temperature possible.
- Dry and Detangle Your Hair Thoroughly
For your curls to come out fully defined, you need to detangle your hair thoroughly. Also, your hair needs to be thoroughly dry.
- Apply a Heat Protectant to Your Hair
To avoid heat damage and give your hair a shine, apply a heat protectant to your hair. Spray the product evenly on your dry hair to get the best results.
- Part Your Hair into Four Sections
With a rat-tail comb, part your hair into four equal parts for easy handling. Hold each section in place with hair clips until you’re ready to work on it.
- Curl Your Hair Section by Section
You will work on each of the four sections one after the other. Divide each section into subsections of about 2-3 inches, depending on how big you want your curls. Wrap each subsection around the curling iron carefully without letting your hair overlap. Alternate between clockwise and anticlockwise movements to achieve natural-looking curls.
- Pin up Your Hair After Curling
This is to help each of the curls stay in place until they are no longer hot. It will help your curls last longer. To do this, grab the curled strand from the tip and roll it up following the curl pattern. Then, secure it with a hair pin. Repeat this for each of the curls.
- Remove the Hair Pins
Once the hair is cool, remove the hair pins to reveal your curls. Adjust the hair with your fingers to fix any messed-up curl; remember to do it gently. If you want, you can tousle the hair with your fingers to create waves or you can just leave it in its original state.
- Apply Hairspray and Style
Finally, spray your hair lightly to give your curls a grip. Do not apply too much hairspray as this will weigh your hair down. You can now style your curls as you wish.
- The Perm Method
Since the 1980s, perms, short for permanent hairstyles, have been a go-to method for curling several hair types. It lasts for up to 6 months, depending on hair type. They can be tailored to give you the exact type of curls you need: from corkscrew curls to bouncy curls. If you are in doubt about this method, think of celebrities like Olivia Munn, Emmy Rossum, and Jennifer Lopez. We hope that is enough inspiration!
Tools Needed for the Perm Method
- Shampoo and conditioner
- A perm kit
- Gloves
- A shower cap
- Vaseline
How to Achieve the Perm Method
- Avoid Chemical Treatments Before Getting Your Perm Done
Since perms are chemical treatments themselves, avoid adding any form of chemical to your hair one month before getting your perm done. This includes hair color, relaxers, texturizers, or any kind of chemical alteration. This is to avoid hair damage or an unsuccessful perm.
- Know the Type of Curl You Want
Do you want soft and subtle curls, bouncy waves, or pin curls? You can browse online for different forms of curls to choose a suitable one for your person, hair type, and hair length. You can also discuss this with your hairstylist before making a decision. They will be able to give you professional advice.
- Ask for a Hot or Cold Perm
There are two perm options: hot/digital perms and cold/ alkaline-compound perms. The type you get depends on how tight you want your curls and the thickness of your hair. The table below explains the differences between the two options.
| Hot or Digital Perm | Cold or Alkaline-Compound Perm |
|---|---|
| Works for thick hair. | Works for thin hair. |
| Produces loose wave-like curls. | Produces tight ringlet curls. |
| The hair is prepared with a relaxing treatment before applying heated rods. | The hair is soaked in an alkaline compound solution and then wrapped tightly around rollers to form ringlets. |
| Less likely to cause damage. | More prone to damage. |
| Needs fewer styling products. | Needs curl-enhancing products more frequently. |
| Takes up to 3-4 hours to achieve. | The overall process is shorter. |
- Wait for 2-3 Days before Shampooing the Hair
Freshly permed hair needs time to adjust to the chemicals added to it, so give it time. Also, your curls need time to be set fully. Washing your hair immediately after getting a perm can unravel your curls. When you are ready to wash your hair, use curl-enhancing shampoo and conditioner. It is also good to use a conditioner rich in protein that will help restore all the nutrients your hair has lost during the perming process.
- Do not Dry Your Hair with a Towel
Permed hair is prone to frizz and tangle, so do not rub a towel on it. It is better to let your hair air dry. If you must use a towel, pat the hair gently with a microfiber towel. Avoid heat drying because too much heat can damage permed hair.
- Avoid Chemicals While Your Hair is Permed
Chemicals like hair color and chlorine are the sworn enemies of permed hair, so you have to avoid them. They may cause your hair to look damaged and dry. If you must dye your hair, wait at least one month after getting your perm done. When going for a swim, make sure you wear a swim cap to avoid getting chlorine water in your hair.
- Trim Your Ends Regularly
To keep your curls bouncy and alive, you must get rid of your split ends. You may be tempted to leave your ends untrimmed to keep your curls for a longer period. However, if you want healthy hair, you have to let the damaged parts go.
FAQ 1:
Will my hair remain curly after washing?
Answer:
It depends on your hair and which method you used to get your curls done. If you use the braids method, your hair will most likely not remain curly. If you use the curling iron method, you can get it to stay curly after washing if you use a dry shampoo and apply mousse. For the perm method, your hair will remain curly if you wait at least 3 days after perming before washing your hair.
FAQ 2:
Does hair length matter when getting a perm?
Answer:
As long as your hair is long enough to be wrapped around the perming rod, you’re good. According to Michelle O’Connor, when speaking to Byrdie, your hair needs to be long enough to go around a rod 2 to 2½ times.
FAQ 3:
Can my naturally straight hair turn permanently curly?
Answer:
No, naturally straight hair cannot be turned curly permanently. Even with permanent styling (perm), it can only stay curly for up to 6 months. The good news is that you can always get curly hair whenever you want using any of the aforementioned methods.
Now that you have learned three different ways to make your naturally straight hair curly, which method will you try out? Or have you tried any of them before? If yes, how did it turn out? We await your answers in the comments section!
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