The Different Ways to Curl Your Hair
Bouncy blowout curls with hot rollers, loose waves with a curling iron, tousled messy curls with a wand, and beachy waves with a flat iron. Each technique creates a completely different look, and the tool you use matters as much as the technique. Once you understand which method creates which result, you can choose the right curl for any occasion.
Most people learn one way to curl their hair and stick with it forever. That's fine if you love your signature look, but you're missing out on variety. The same hair can look glamorous, effortless, polished, or undone depending on how you curl it.
I'm Bri, a stylist at The Warehouse Salon in Fairfield. I teach curling techniques constantly because so many clients come in frustrated that their curls never look like they want them to. Let me tell you about one client who thought she just "couldn't do curls" until we figured out she was using the wrong method for the look she wanted.
What Happens When You Use the Wrong Curling Method?
A client named Danielle came to me convinced she was bad at curling her hair. She was a photographer in Montclair who needed to look put-together for client shoots but could never get her curls to cooperate. Every time she tried, they either fell flat within an hour or looked too tight and formal.
"Bri, I've watched a hundred YouTube tutorials," she said. "I bought three different curling irons. My curls still look terrible. I think my hair just doesn't hold curl."
I asked her to show me what she was doing. She wrapped her hair tightly around a small barrel curling iron, held it for 10 seconds, then immediately brushed through the curls. She wanted loose, effortless waves but was using the technique for tight ringlets.
"Your hair holds curl fine," I told her. "You're just using the wrong technique for the look you want. Tight curls brushed out don't become loose waves. They become frizzy poof."
I showed her four different curling methods and explained which one creates which result. She practiced each one and finally understood why her curls never looked right. The technique she needed was completely different from what she'd been doing.
A month later she texted me: "I did beachy waves for a wedding I photographed and they lasted 12 hours. Twelve! I've never had curls last past lunch."
Three months later: "I rotate through different curl styles now depending on my mood. People think I'm getting my hair done constantly."
Here's what I taught her.
Bouncy Blowout Curls
Bouncy blowout curls are that classic, voluminous look that screams old Hollywood glamour with a 90s twist. This style is having a major moment right now, and hot rollers are the best way to achieve it. Danielle wanted this look for her own headshots but didn't realize hot rollers were the tool she needed.
Heat up your rollers, wrap sections of hair around each one, and let them cool completely before removing. The size of the roller determines the size of the curl, so use larger rollers for looser bounce and smaller ones for tighter curls. Match your section size to your roller size for the most even results.
Once the rollers are completely cool, remove them and set with hairspray before touching. Danielle used to pull her rollers out too early because she was impatient. Once she started letting them cool fully, her bouncy curls lasted all day instead of falling flat within an hour.
Pro tip: For a looser, more natural look, use larger rollers and leave them in for a shorter amount of time.
Loose Waves
Loose waves are polished but not too done, perfect for work or a nice dinner. You can achieve this with a curling iron or flat iron, and the technique is more important than the tool. Danielle wanted this look for client meetings but kept ending up with either tight ringlets or limp hair.
Section your hair and wrap each section around the iron, leaving the ends out. Make sure the curls go away from your face for the most flattering result. Hold for a few seconds, then release without pulling or stretching the curl.
Here's where Danielle was going wrong: she was brushing through immediately. Wait for your curls to cool completely before touching them. This lets the curl set and last for days instead of hours. Once cool, use your fingers or a boar bristle paddle brush to gently separate into loose waves, then finish with a medium hold hairspray.
Pro tip: Wait for curls to cool completely before touching or brushing them out. This is the secret to curls that last for days.
Tousled and Messy Curls
Tousled and messy curls look relaxed and natural, like you woke up with perfect bedhead. A curling wand creates this look better than a traditional curling iron because the tapered shape gives you more natural-looking curls. This became Danielle's everyday style because it looked effortless but put-together.
Wrap small sections around the wand, alternating the direction of each curl. Some go toward your face, some go away. This variation is what makes the style look natural instead of uniform. Don't hold the curl too long or it will look too defined.
Once you've finished, use your fingers to separate the curls and create that messy, tousled look. Don't brush. Danielle learned to scrunch the curls with a little texture spray for extra hold and that lived-in finish. The key is making it look like you didn't try too hard.
Pro tip: When using a curling iron or flat iron for this look, only give it a slight bend or wave. The ends should not be curled for this look.
Beachy Waves
Beachy waves are that relaxed, just-came-from-the-ocean look that works for almost any occasion. You can achieve this with a curling iron or flat iron, and leaving the ends out is essential for the authentic beach vibe. This was the 12-hour curl Danielle wore to the wedding she photographed.
Section your hair and wrap each section around the iron, but leave the ends straight or smooth them down with the iron for a true beach wave. Hold for a few seconds, then release. The straight ends are what make it look beachy instead of pageant-ready.
Use your fingers or a wide tooth comb to gently separate and define the waves. Finish with a texture spray to add grit and hold. My favorite is the IGK Beach Club Volumizing Texture Spray because it adds texture without making hair crunchy or stiff.
Pro tip: Alternate the directions of each curl for an effortless beach style that doesn't look too uniform.
Your Curling Questions Answered
Why do my curls fall flat so fast?
You're probably touching them before they cool or not using enough hold product. Danielle's curls lasted an hour until she started letting them cool completely and using hairspray. Now they last all day. The cool-down time is when the curl actually sets.
Which curling tool should I buy?
It depends on the look you want most often. A curling wand is best for tousled, natural curls. A curling iron with a clamp is better for polished waves. Hot rollers are best for bouncy volume. Danielle owns all three now but uses her wand most because tousled curls fit her lifestyle.
How do I know what size barrel to use?
Larger barrels create looser waves, smaller barrels create tighter curls. For most people, a 1-inch to 1.25-inch barrel is the most versatile. Danielle uses a 1.25-inch for almost everything and only pulls out the larger barrel for really loose waves.
Why do my curls look different from the tutorials I watch?
Hair texture, thickness, and length all affect how curls turn out. A technique that works on fine hair might not work on thick hair. Danielle had to adjust every tutorial she watched because her hair is thicker than the models in the videos. Practice on your own hair until you find what works.
Book Your Curling Lesson
The right curling technique depends on the look you want and the hair you have. Danielle thought she couldn't curl her hair when really she was just using the wrong method for her desired result. Once she matched the technique to the look, everything clicked.
If you want to learn how to curl your hair for different occasions, book a styling lesson online. I'll assess your hair type, find out what looks you want to achieve, and teach you the specific techniques that will work for you. You'll leave knowing exactly which tool and method to use for any curl you want.
Book at The Warehouse Salon in Fairfield at 1275 Bloomfield Ave, Building 1, Unit 3 by calling 973-500-4536. If you're closer to Chatham, visit Studio 360 Salon and call 973-701-3030.
Your hair can hold curls. You just need to find the right technique.
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About the Author
Brianna Thompson
Brianna is a highly skilled and licensed cosmetologist, stylist, and color expert at Studio 360 Salon in Chatham, NJ. She possesses a thorough understanding of hair products and the science behind hair and hairstyling.
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