How to Curl Thick Hair

Thick hair presents extra difficulty when it comes to styling. Because the hair shaft is large, it is often more resistant to styling products than thin hair. In order to curl thick hair, you will have to work just a bit harder.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Wash your hair thoroughly. It's imperative to remove old styling products, especially those that begin losing their effectiveness after several hours. Hair spray and gel applied the day before will only hinder your efforts to curl thick hair.

2. Condition the ends of the hair. Use leave-in conditioner or rinse well. Your hair will be more pliable and easier to manage when well conditioned.

3. Apply a firm hold hair gel. Work into the hair from the scalp outward, making sure to coat the hair well.

4. Dry all hair section by section from the roots to the tips. Thick hair takes longer to dry than thin hair, so take care not to over-blow the ends. (this can dry them out and cause damage).

5. Heat the curling iron on a high setting. Comb hair through, and then separate a small section the width of an ink pen for curling.

6. Place the hair section in the curling iron, spreading it slightly against the barrel. Twist the iron to form the desired curl. For example, twist several times for long ringlets, or once for a wave. Hold in place for 5 seconds.

7. Release the curl and check the effectiveness. If more curl is desired, allow the section to cool and then repeat for an additional 5 seconds. Move on to the next section.

Tips & Warnings

• As you dry your thick hair, leave the tips slightly damp. Allow them to air dry as you finish the rest--this puts less heat strain on this vulnerable part of the hair shaft.
• Heat products such as curling and flat irons are not effective on all hair types, and overuse can cause irreparable damage. If your thick hair is highly resistant to the curling iron, a perm may be your only option for curls.