How to Curl Thick & Kinky Hair With a Curling Iron

With prep work, you can curl thick, kinky hair with a curling iron.

Thick, kinky hair is capable of every style on the curl spectrum. You can wear it in its natural state, loosen the curl, or wear it straight. If you want to style your hair with a curling iron, it will probably be difficult due to the texture of your hair and the sheer amount of hair you have. To make the job easier, you should first loosen the curl, then proceed with the curling iron.

Things You'll Need

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• T-shirt
• Rat tail comb (optional)
• Hair clips
• Spray bottle with water
• Styling product (optional)
• Curling iron

Instructions

1. Wash and condition your hair before you go to bed at night. Blot it dry with a t-shirt, since a towel is more likely to cause kinky hair to frizz.

2. Use a rat tail comb, or your fingers, and part your hair down the middle from front to back. Gather one side in a hair clip.

3. Part the loose side of your hair down the middle from left to right. Gather the bottom half in a hair clip.

4. Part your loose hair down the middle from left to right. Gather the bottom half in a hair clip. You should have 1/8 of your hair still loose.

5. Gather your loose hair between your thumb and index finger. If the lock is more than 1 inch wide, part and clip it further until you have a lock of loose hair no more than 1 inch wide. Because your hair is thick, you want to divide it into manageable sections before continuing.

6. Spray water on your hair if it's no longer damp. Start close to the root and plait your hair to the tip. Plaiting will loosen your natural curl so that the curling iron is more effective in the morning.

7. Remove the clip from the last section of hair you clipped and repeat Step 6. Repeat this process with the rest of the hair on this side of your head, starting with Step 5. Plait the other side of your head the same way.

8. Turn on your curling iron in the morning. Set it to medium or medium-low heat to avoid burning your hair.

9. Undo a plait in the back of your head. The curl should be looser now and your hair should be dry. Apply your usual styling product to this lock of hair.

10. Grasp the tongs of the curling iron around your hair near the root. Slide the curling iron down the length of your hair, then roll it up towards your head to curl your hair at the end. Repeat this process with each plait until all your hair is curled.

Tips & Warnings

• Plait neatly, but don't pull your hair tight or you may damage it.

References

• Long Healthy Hair Advisor: Alleviating Dry Curly Hair