5 Tips for Keeping the Curls in Your Hair
You know how it goes, don’t you? Before going out for the night you set aside a huge chunk of time just to curl your hair. After spending hours tied to the curling iron, you’re finally ready to leave, looking more gorgeous than ever before. But, before you step out of the car at your destination, your hair is as flat as flat can be.
What went wrong? Why can’t your hair hold a curl as well as it holds knots?
You might think it’s just because your hair is too long… but then you see all those other women on TV sporting gorgeous curls when their hair looks thicker and longer. So what is the secret?
Unbelievably, the trick to long curls could just be the small things.
The Way You Wash Your Hair
Now, you know you shouldn’t try to curl freshly washed hair. It just doesn’t have the natural texture you need. But, there’s more to it than that. You also want to cut down on the amount of shampoo and conditioner you use so your hair isn’t weighed down unnecessarily. Usually a pea-sized amount is all you need.
Pre-Curling Products
You absolutely need heat protection for your hair. But, you should also be adding a volumizer into the mix to help with the lift. What shouldn’t you do? Weigh your hair down with too many styling products. You may have to try several ‘cocktails’ to find what works best.
Are You Using the Right Iron?
You’ve got long hair, so you need a wider barrel right? Wrong! Anything over 1½” is just too big for lasting curls. That 2” barrel will certainly add volume, but you aren’t going to get the curls you’re after. Try a 1¼” or 1½” barrel for the best results. Remember, you need to section, no matter what!
Start from the Top
When straightening your hair, you always work from the bottom up. When curling your hair, it actually tends to work better when you work from the top down. That’s from the top of your head usually referred to as your roots – and the longer the hair, you will need to slide the iron down the section, curling a new piece as you go.
Hold It in Place
Don’t just leave those curls to hang there. Roll them up and attach them to your head with bobby pins while they cool completely. Otherwise, gravity will definitely counteract the heat you’ve just put into it. Whatever you do… resist the urge to touch your curls until they’re totally cool