How to Hair Guide

Some women are blessed with natural curls that put even the best perm to shame. For the rest of us with bone straight hair, it is a full time job to try and achieve even the slightest curl. And even after an entire can of hair spray, the curl is gone is five minutes. Finding the time and money to hit a salon is not always an option.

But have no fear! There are ways to achieve great curls, regardless of your hair type. With these easy to follow guidelines, even the straightest of strands can become beautiful curls!

Start off with…

• Clean Hair: Before beginning any style, always ensure your hair is freshly washed and conditioned. Cleanliness is the first step to healthy, manageable hair.
• Hair Gel: This product works best for hair that is wavy. In gel or spray form, it helps create the curls and hold the style in place.
• Hairspray: This one is a given. Straight locks do not require any final product to remain straight but curly hair needs some hold.
• Blow dryer : A blow dryer is needed to lock the style in place. For best results, purchase a diffuser to attach to the end of the dryer. This device is made especially for curly hair types.
• Curling Iron : For individual spiral or ringlet curls, usually at the end of the hair, this tool is essential. It is hands down the easiest and quickest way to achieve great curls.
• Hot Rollers and Pins: For all over curls, these rollers work best. Plus it’s convenience to set it and forget it while you finish your makeup or pick out your outfit!

Next, decide on the type of curl you want to produce. There are several to choose from: tight all over curls, body waves or spiral curls. You can also choose to keep your hair straight with a slight curl at the end of the hair. Once you have chosen the desired look, follow these easy directions.

For Tight All Over Curls

• Plug in your hot rollers.
• Dry your hair the way you normally do it. Separate the hair into three sections: left, middle and right.
• Begin with the middle section, start with a piece of hair about 1” thick. Use the smallest rollers for the pieces neat your face and move through the sizes as you work through each section.
• Place the roller at the ends of your hair and roll back until about an inch from your scalp. Secure with a pin. Work your way to the nape of the neck before moving on to the next section.
• Once all the hair has been rolled, give it a light spray with the hair spray. Leave the rollers intact until every one of them have completely cooled.
• Begin to remove the rollers, starting with the one you put in first. This allows for each curl to set for the same amount of time to avoid having some areas curlier than others.
• Styling: This is your choice. You can use a large round brush to brush out each curl individually to soften and loosen the curl. You can simply part the hair and leave the curls tight. Or you can pull the curls up for a cute up do.

For Body Waves

• Begin with wet, clean hair. Apply your favorite curl enhancing product all over, the amount you need varies depending on the length and thickness of your hair. Always start with a smaller amount; it is easier to add more than to rewash your hair because you used too much.
• Part your hair in the desired direction. Using the diffuser attachment, gently scrunch your hair with your hands. This technique produces gentle waves and a wet curl look.
• Once the hair is dry, apply a generous amount of hairspray to set the look.

For Spiral or Ringlet Curls

• Plug in your curling iron.
• Once again, begin with clean hair. Dry your hair in the straight style you normally use, remembering to part it.
• Start with a 1” section of hair nearest your face. Lightly spray the ends with hairspray.
• Place the curling iron with the handle face up on the end of the section. Hold the hair taunt and slowly roll the curling iron under, moving up the hair.
• Remember to stop at the point in which you want your curl to start. For spiral curls, turn the curling iron with the top pointing up. For ringlets, leave the curling iron in the rolling position.
• A good rule of thumb is to count to forty five slowly. Gently glide the hair out of the curling iron and lightly spray once more with hair spray.
• Continue on around your hair in the same 1” section pattern.
• Once all of your hair is curled, it is time to style. There are several styling options. You can leave the curls as they are for a tighter curl. Or you can brush through each curl individually to have softer curls. For waves, brush through the hair in a normal fashion. These curls look great in an up do as well.

Now enjoy those salon perfect curls! Practice makes perfect so have fun trying out each of the different types of curls!

• Styling With A Blowdryer
• Ten Ways To Defrizz Your Hair
• How To Add Volume To Hair
• Home Remedies For Different Hair Types

Thanks to Melissa for writing this article for Misikko!