If you have thin hair that doesn’t hold a curl well, you might want to start with wetter hair. However, if your hair is very thick, it might be best to work with barely-damp hair to cut down on the drying time. If you don’t have styling lotion, use lightweight mousse instead. Don’t use heavy products, as this can make your curls look stiff and crunchy, rather than soft.
If you experiment with pin curls, you may find that slightly larger or smaller curls work better for your hair! If you prefer, you can pin up the hair on the top of your hair and start the curls at the bottom, then work your way around to the front of your head. [2] X Research source
For bouncier curls, wrap the curl upward around your finger, or toward your face. For more voluminous waves, wrap downward, or away from your face. Don’t roll too tightly or it will be difficult to remove the curl from your finger without disturbing it. You can also roll the hair around the very tips of 2 of your fingers, instead, which may make it easier to remove the curl.
Don’t twist the hair as you’re rolling the curl, as this will create frizz. This part can take a little practice, but be patient and keep trying!
If you have any short hair remaining when you’re finished, like bangs or short layers around your face, pin it in sections around the curls. You can also sweep your bangs to the side and pin them in one curl. [4] X Research source
For big, fluffy, vintage curls, brush out your hair. Keep brushing until you get the smooth look you want, but keep in mind that it can take as much as 5 minutes of brushing to calm down the curls, so be patient. [5] X Research source You can also use your fingers if you’d prefer more defined curls.
If you’re only making one bun, comb your hair back away from your face.
You can also make a donut bun with a sock. Cut the toes off of a sock and roll it into a donut shape, then place the end of your ponytail through the hole in the sock. Spread the ends of your hair until they cover the entire sock, tucking the ends underneath. Then, roll the sock down the length of your ponytail until you reach the crown of your head, and secure it in place with bobby pins. [8] X Research source
You can also tuck the twist into a wraparound cloth headband to secure it. For curls that start lower on your head, place the buns near the nape of your neck.
Use a little hairspray to set the waves, if you want.
Rod-shaped curlers are great for creating spiral curls or defining natural curls. They’re also perfect for curling short hair, since they tend to have a smaller diameter. If you don’t have rollers, you can cut strips out of an old T-shirt, instead. Make the strips the same width that you want your curls to be, and a little longer than the length of your hair. Foam rollers might get damaged if you put them into wet hair, so make sure to use a roller that’s designed to be used while your hair is damp. Also, look for a soft roller, like one made from rubber, satin, or silicone, if you’re planning to sleep with the rollers in.
Do not apply serum or leave-in conditioner to your hair, as the curls may not set.
Avoid brushing your hair when it’s wet, which can lead to breakage.
If you’re using a T-shirt, roll your hair the same way, then tie the ends of the strip to hold the curl in place. If you only want to curl the ends of your hair, stop rolling halfway up your head and tie the strips at the place where you want the curls to stop.
This will give you plenty of volume at your roots.
Roll your hair under for curls that curve toward your neck, or roll it up for curls that bounce outward. You can arrange the rollers at the back of your head horizontally or vertically, depending on the look you’re going for. Using horizontal rollers will give you more of a voluminous curl, while putting in your rollers vertically will result in more of a spiral curl.
Hide the rollers by wrapping your head in a silk scarf if you need to go somewhere before your curls are set.
For loose curls or big waves, gently run a wide-toothed comb through your hair. You can also run your fingers through your curls to fan them out, but do not brush them. Set the look with a little hairspray if you’d like.
Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair, as well.
This is a great option if you want to go out while your curls are setting! Your hair will be pulled up in a soft, romantic style. Try picking a headband that will match your outfit for the day!
If you don’t have bobby pins, you can just tuck the ends of your hair under the headband to hold them in place.
To make sure your curls are even, you may want to wrap all the way around one side, then move to the front of the other side and work toward the back again.
To speed things up, you can use a hair dryer on the cold setting to blow air over your hair.
This style will give you pretty, vintage curls. Lightly scrunch your curls with mousse or hairspray to hold them in place.
