How to Add Waves to Hair Using a Curling Iron

You know curling irons can, well, curl, but they can do many other hair tricks as well. Add some new style to your normally straight hair with this technique.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brush
• Medium to large barrel curling iron
• Hair clips or bands
• Mirror
• Hairspray

How to Add Waves to Hair Using a Curling Iron

1. Seating yourself in front of a mirror. A full length mirror is best, but any will do in a pinch.

2. Separate your hair into three sections vertically. If your hair is thick, consider adding more sections. The thinner the sections, the more defined the wave will be.

3. Bind the layers so that only the bottom one is loose.

4. Plug in the curling iron and let it heat up. While you wait, brush the loose section flat.

5. Section the loose hair so that you will be working from one side to the other with your iron. Start at the root of your hair and clamp the section so that the hair is held between the tongs of the iron (not wrapped!). Hold for five seconds, release, and slide the iron down to the next spot of your section that hasn't yet been styled.

6. Work your way down each section and then move on to the section next to it. Repeat this until you've completed the loose section.

7. Loosely bind the completed section, preferably with a clip to avoid damaging the style.

8. Release a bound section and repeat steps 5 and 6.

9. Repeat step 8 until all hair is waved.

10. Release all waves from their clips. Lightly finger style and spray for a sleek, flat look, or flip your head upside down and spray generously for a funky, wild style.

Tips & Warnings

• Larger barrel curling irons create rounder, looser curls while smaller barrels create tighter waves. Play with this look by pulling hair into a ponytail first then repeating the technique.
• Do NOT brush. If you must, use a wide-toothed comb, but it's best to just style with your fingers.