We all love those beautiful, flawless, bouncy curls. But do you know what's even better? Beautiful, flawless, curly hair that lasts all day. In this article, we'll give you our best tips and tricks on how to keep your curls longer!
How to keep curls longer – it all starts in the shower
The perfect curl starts at the very beginning - when you shower. Although it's best not to do the curls until the second or third day, there are a few things you can do when you wash your hair to ensure that your curls are nice, defined, and last for hours when the time comes.
Avoid using conditioner when washing your hair as it can sometimes make the hair too soft and slippery, causing the curls to fall out more quickly. The key to curls that last longer is having enough texture in the hair to keep the curls in place.
Don't wash your hair right before curling it
With all of the above said, the best hair to start with is actually second or third day hair! Although we all love the feeling of fresh, clean hair, curls hold better in dirtier hair. That's because your scalp's natural oils give hair a coarser texture and natural hold without the need for hair mousse, so curls are more likely to last longer.
Tipp: If you're between washes and worried about your hair looking greasy, use some dry shampoo at the roots to soak up any excess oil.
Prepare your hair
As we mentioned earlier, it's important that your hair has the right texture so that the curls last all day or all night. Before you start curling, you should apply a thickening foam to your hair. Since hair mousse contains alcohol, it removes some of the moisture from your hair, which increases the grip and hold of the hair.
Notice: Although we typically recommend using alcohol and sulfate-free hair products, this is one of the few cases where using a product containing alcohol is actually recommended! Use a generous amount of hair mousse to fill the entire palm of your hand and work it into your hair from roots to ends.
Use the right hair products
HEAT PROTECTIVE: This is the most important styling product you can apply to your hair before heat styling because this is the main reason why most women damage their hair. You can purchase a heat protectant at any drugstore or salon, or you can use certain hair oils as heat protectants that are all-natural.
Tip: Grapeseed oil, almond oil and shea butter are some natural and effective ways to protect your hair from heat styling.
HAIRSPRAY – So your curls last longer: Help your curls! Apply styling products to your hair to help curls last longer. Depending on what works best for your hair, you can apply a little foam before drying. Or spray on a little hairspray before, during and after curling. This will give your hair a coarser texture and help extend the life of your curls.
Tipp: Don't hold the hairspray too close to your hair or your curls will become crunchy and heavy. Spray a light mist onto hair and wait a few moments for it to dry before heating.
Invest in good hot hair tools
You may be thinking, “Your curls will fall apart in 20 minutes anyway.” Well, you will continue to think so as long as you use cheap drugstore curling irons! It's only when you upgrade to higher quality, hot tools that you realize the problem isn't your hair, it's the curling iron!
High-quality curling irons are typically coated with tourmaline or ceramic, materials proven to cause less damage to your hair than smooth metal. Investing in quality curling irons is an investment in the health and beauty of your hair - who doesn't want that?
Use the correct barrel size
The size of the barrel is essential because the strength of your curls goes hand in hand with how they will wear and fall throughout the day or night. It's a common misconception that using a larger barrel curling iron will give you the perfect curls. However, we have found that in most cases a smaller barrel will do the trick. Depending on your hair type, try using a smaller barrel than you normally would. The curls not only look more defined, but also last longer.
Making curls with a curling iron and straightening iron - what's the difference?: It's also important to differentiate between a curling iron and a flat iron, which will give you different types of curls. A straightener is usually ideal for tight curls, while a curling iron gives you more freedom to customize the type of curl you want.
How to make your curls last longer – Cool them down
One of the most effective tricks to making your curls last is to let them cool and harden before letting them go. Take each fresh curl (maintaining the shape of the curl) and secure the spiral shape with a clip or bobby pin. How does this work? Well, as you wrap your hair around the curling iron, heat is transferred to the hair strands, causing them to change shape. Once your pinned curls cool, the cuticle of the hair closes and solidifies, making the curls last much longer.
Tipp: Have you ever wondered what the cool button on your hair dryer is for? If you don't have the time to wait 10 to 15 minutes for the curls to set, you can pin them to the scalp and use the blow dryer to blow cold air on them from a distance.
Keep curls tight and set with texturizing spray
Once your curls have cooled, take them down, throw your head back, and gently shake out the waves. Run your fingers through your hair to gently break up the curls, but be careful to leave the waves a little tighter than you actually want them to be. This way, by the time you reach your goal, the curls will likely have relaxed just enough.
Because texturizing spray is less stressful on your hair than hairspray and you don't have to use as much product to make it effective, it will weigh your hair down less and keep curls smooth for longer.
Curls without a curling iron - how does it work?Here you will findIdeas with instructions!
