How to Make Straight Hair Curly Wavy
If you have straight or limp locks and you want to experiment with different looks without making a drastic change, try wearing curly or wavy hairstyles. However, stay away from perms, which won't just possibly damage your hair but will have to grow out for a few months before you see your naturally straight hair again. While there are undoubtedly many methods to make straight hair curly or wavy, here are a few suggestions you can use as a springboard toward creating bouncy curls and waves. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Hairspray
- Blow dryer
- Soft fabric rollers
- Hair cap
- Flat iron
- Curling iron
Instructions
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Braid hair after washing it. Do this while your tresses are still wet to get a tighter wave. Sleep with your hair in braids, unraveling them only when you are ready to step out for the day. Mist the braids with hairspray before you loosen them to help the waves retain their shape.
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Put long hair in a bun and leave as is for about half a day--when you let your hair down, it will be wavy. This also works if you want wavy hair and a blow dryer is the only styling tool you have on hand. Gather long hair into a bun while it is still damp from washing. Blow-dry the bun using the cool or medium heat setting until your hair no longer feels wet. You may leave the bun in place for longer if you want well-defined waves, or let your hair down right then and there for a subtly wavy style with body. To make straight hair curly using this technique, fashion several mini-buns all over your head.
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Go to bed with soft fabric rollers in your hair. Top off with a hair cap to keep hair from coming loose. If you don't have soft rollers but have regular rollers that won't get crushed under the weight of your head when you lie down, feel free to use these as a substitute. The damper your hair is when you set it, the curlier it will be the next day. This is ideal if you have to get up early in the morning and would rather sleep than wake up even earlier to style your hair.
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Style your hair with a flat iron for a wavy or curly hairdo. If you already use a straightener to eliminate frizz from your hair, there is only a minor variation in the process of using this tool to create waves or curls; after you clamp down on a section of hair; twist your wrist inwards toward your head and hold that position as you glide the straightener down the lock of hair (see Resources for videos). This will make your straight hair wavy or curly.
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Use a curling iron with detachable barrels in a variety of diameters for curls of different sizes (see Resources for instructional videos). This will make the texture of your curls realistic, as those with naturally curly hair have a head full of curls that vary in size. For ribbon curls, use a spiral curling iron.
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Tips & Warnings
If you will be using your curling or flat iron frequently--about once a week or more--invest in a ceramic or tourmaline model; stay away from copper or metal-plated ones, which cause the most trauma to hair.
Always coat hair with thermal styling protectant when using a curling iron or hair straightener. This minimizes heat damage inflicted on your tresses when you use thermal hairstyling tools.
Resources
- Photo Credit Leprechaun Art & Photography
