Are your curls falling flat too quickly? Curling your hair is not something you’re gifted with being able to do, anyone can get beautiful curls! You just need to learn what works for you, and we are here to share some curling techniques that will help you. Keep reading to find out the most common mistakes people make while curling their hair.
- You’re using the wrong size barrel
Are your curls falling out just a few hours after curling your hair? Do you avoid touching your curls at all costs because you’re worried they’ll flatten? Well, you could be using the wrong sized barrel! You want to be very selective with the size of your curling iron or wand because every size creates different curls, and each size affects how long your curls will last.
For short to medium length hair, you want to use around a 19 mm (0.75 inch) barrel. It does seem a bit small, but we promise you aren’t going to get ringlets! To get those beautiful, seamless waves, you need to be able to wrap your hair around your barrel at least twice. So even if you have shorter hair but want to lose waves, you’re going to need to use a smaller barrel.
For medium length hair, use a 22 mm (1 inch) barrel. It will create more defined curls at first but throughout the day the curls will relax and get prettier and prettier. This size works well virtually on any hair length but specifically on medium length and long hair.
For long hair, use a 32 mm (1.25 inch) barrel. When you have long hair, you can typically get away with any size barrel. The 19 mm barrel will give you more defined curls, the 22 mm will get you waves that last for days, and the 32 mm barrel will create gorgeous, loose waves instantly. The bigger the wave though, the less room there is for it to relax before falling out. You want to keep that in mind when you’re curling your hair.
- You’re frying your hair
Obviously, any type of heat is going to damage your hair. But that hasn’t stopped millions of women from blow drying or curling their hair everyday – and it shouldn’t have to! You just need to be mindful of the temperature you are using on your iron.
- For fine hair, try to stick between 270 and 300 degrees.
- For regular hair, 300 to 350 degrees is a good temp.
- For coarse hair, 350 – 400 degrees is where you should iron your hair, trying to keep it under 400 degrees.
Keep in mind that this might affect your curling time, but it is worth it if it means you aren’t frying your hair off!
- You’re not using heat protectant beforehand
Did you know that using heat protectant will not only will protect your hair from heat but also will help to retain curls?! It doesn’t matter if you use leave-in cream after the shower, an oil after your hair is dry, or a spray as you are styling – all of these heat protectants are important, and you should be using one!
- You’re taking too big of sections to curl
You want to only be grabbing one-inch sections to curl at one time and you don’t want that section too wide either. The best way to do this is to section your hair layer by layer, working from the bottom to the top of your head. Within those layers, curl one-inch sections of your hair at a time. If your curls are appearing inconsistent, that’s probably because some of your sections were too large or small while curling them.
- You’re curling the wrong way
Some people like to alternate directions when curling their hair, but we have found that you get the best results when curling all of your hair away from your face. Curling your hair away from your face will lift your curls. If you like the beachier look, then alternating directions will give you the look you’re going for.
- You’re holding your iron wrong
A LOT of people tend to make this mistake when curling their hair. Whether you are using a curling iron or a wand, you ALWAYS want the barrel angled down. It helps you drop the curl, set the curl, and get consistency throughout your locks.
- You’re wrapping your hair wrong
So there are essentially two ways to wrap your hair around your wand or iron. The first way would be to twist up that section of hair you are about to curl, and keep it twisted a little bit when wrapping it around your iron. This will give you a great tousled wave look! The other way is to just keep your hair flat against your iron. This will give you more of a traditional hair curl look.
- You’re using hairspray
Do not, under any circumstances, spray your hair with hairspray while you’re curling it. That is not only going to fry your beautiful locks, but it will also ruin the finishing on your iron.
- You’re not cleaning your barrels
A lot of us don’t realize that we need to clean our hair tools! Product build-up on your iron or wand not only affects the consistency of your curls but also can cause damage. You should try cleaning your tool right after you turned it off with the iron still mostly hot. Take a wet washcloth to the barrel and gently scrub away any leftover product. Do NOT use any solvents or you will risk ruining your tool.
There are many different techniques to curling and styling your hair, and we hope we have shed some light on your hair curling process! Avalanche Salon and Spa is always available to answer any questions you might have about your hair. Give us a call at 610-489-2049 with any questions or to book your next appointment!
