One of the best things about hair is being able to play around with different looks and styles. Not everyone is a hair-styling fashionista since birth and can style the perfect hairdo every single day, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn!
Whether you have loose curls, tight coils, or beach waves, every curl looks stunning and beautiful when styled well. Not to mention, it’s just plain fun to play around with your look! You don’t have to be naturally curly to have luscious locks, either. There are so many different ways you can add some curls and volume to your hair. Here are our top picks for getting that perfect curl.
Curling Iron
The first, and most obvious, is the trusty curling iron method. A curling iron can give you pretty much any curl shape you are looking for, as long as you have the right barrel size. Beauty technology has developed tremendously in the last few years, giving you a plethora of high-quality curling tools to choose from for the perfect curl.
Remember to always add a heat protectant to your hair when you use heating methods to style your hair, and do not use the tool on the highest temperature option. The last thing you need is frizzled, split ends and lackluster hair.
Flat Iron
Despite its name, a flat iron can help you achieve some beach waves and volume to your hair. This one has a bit of a learning curve, but once you’ve got it down, you’ll be styling your hair like a pro.
Start by parting your hair into sections. Take one of those sections, and start by putting the flat iron by the base of the scalp as you normally would to straighten your hair. Here’s where you change it up; turn the iron, and run it down your hair. The slower you do it, the tighter the curl. Keep in mind, the flat iron is another curling method that uses heat, so don’t forget that heat protectant here, either!
Diffusers
If you already have well-defined curls but aren’t sure how to tame them, a popular hair curling method is to use a diffuser. A diffuser hooks to your blow dryer and allows you to control how your curls are drying, which helps give them a cute bounce that everyone will secretly be envying.
The best part? Diffusing your hair is super easy. Just put in that heat protectant, tilt your head to the side, and diffuse large sections of your curls on low heat, starting from the bottom and working your way to the roots. After you’re done, you can also flip your head upside down to get in there and add extra volume to your curls.
Rollers
Rollers are probably the most iconic method of achieving big, beautiful curls. Some people might think they are outdated, but if you are on TikTok or any social media, you’d know this curling method is making a huge comeback. It’s just reinvented and improved, of course!
The type of curls you get from rollers completely depends on the size of the rollers: the bigger the rollers, the looser the curl. If you already have a curl to your hair, you are going to want to straighten it before putting your rollers in for clean curls. Simply section off your hair, grab two-inch strands, put the warm rollers on, and wait for your hair to cool down.
Plopping Method
Another TikTok and Instagram favorite, the plopping your hair will leave you with tight and bouncy curls. Here’s how to do it: lay a towel or t-shirt in front of you. Plop all of your freshly-washed curls onto the middle of it, and then pull the bottom of the fabric around the base of your neck to smush your hair down. Then, tie the ends into a knot behind your head, or secure with a hair tie. Once secure, let it dry before removing. For extra tight curls, say goodbye to that bedhead and just leave the headband in while you sleep.