How to curl hair with straighteners
How to curl hair with straighteners
With winter beating a retreat, our minds have started turning to relaxed summer styles. And sandy beaches. And cocktails at sunset…
But top of the wish list has to be beautiful, tumbling curls. You might have heard of a certain hair wizardry that happens when straighteners suddenly double up as curling irons to achieve perfect curls, saving you precious space in your holiday suitcase. But is it just an urban hair myth?
Exciting news ladies, this myth is 100% true! You just need a little know-how and our go-to hair superhero, the amazing Miss Alex, is here to lead the way. She’s created a step-by-step video to show you exactly how to create gorgeous flowing curls with just your straightener. That’s wizardry Hermione Granger would kill for!
You’ll need
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Hair extensions if you’re wearing them
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Heat protecting spray
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A hair straightener with rounded edges
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Hairspray
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Hairbrush
How short is that list!
Apply your wefts
Apply your first set of wefts up to the centre of your head and stop there – it’s easier to add your wefts and curl in sections rather than applying all of your wefts at the start. This way you’re less likely to miss a bit when you’re curling. If you need any help with applying your wefts, just check out our handy how to apply clip-in hair extensions tutorial. We’re just a wealth of information dontcha know!
Spray your hair with your heat protector and gently brush it through.
Grab your straightener
As the title of this tutorial suggests, you’re going to use a hair straightener to achieve your curly look today. So grab yours and get it heated up. The best kind of straightener to use is one with rounded edges, as this makes it so much easier when it comes to twisting your hair around it. Hair straighteners with straight edges can leave hair more zigzagged then curly if you’re not careful.
How to curl
It’s time to curl – the moment you’ve all been waiting for! First up, take a section of hair of a similar width to the straightener and run your straightener over it a few times so that it’s lovely and smooth. Then take your straightener and place it horizontally onto the section of hair, up near your roots.
To make your curls, twist your straightener around and then pull it slowly down your hair. It’s a bit like curling a ribbon with scissors when you’re doing your Christmas wrapping! You should be left with gorgeous curls right down to the tips of your hair.
You can then repeat this process with the rest of your hair, clipping in the rest of your wefts for each new section. Clamp your hair with your straightener horizontal, twist and pull down. Super easy, right?
Getting the curl you want
Once you’ve mastered the basic technique, there are a few ways you can switch things up to create your perfect curls:
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The more you twist your straightener, the tighter your curls will be.
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The closer to your roots you place your straightener, the fuller and bouncier your curls will be.
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If you want your curls to flow away from your face, you need to twist your straightener backwards. If you want them to fall onto your face, you just need to twist your straightener forwards.
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If you want to create beautiful loose curls, try placing your straightener around the middle of your section – but instead of clamping your straightener in a horizontal position, place it at an angle instead, with the handle pointing towards you and the tip pointing away from you. Then simply twist it just a small amount and pull down the length of your hair to achieve that looser curl.
The pre-curling option
Another handy option when it comes to curling your hair with straighteners can be to pre-curl your clip-in hair extensions before you apply them. This can be a great way to save time and get ahead if you know you’ll be in a rush – and also takes away some of the trickiness in curling sections at the back of your head!
To pre-curl your extensions, clamp them somewhere securely and use the exact same technique to curl them as you would for those on your head. Clamp your straightener either horizontally or at an angle, twist it and pull down.
Separate your curls
Once you have curled all your hair, you want to separate out the curls so that they flow together more naturally. Give them a good spray of hairspray to make sure they hold and then gently pull them apart using your fingers. You can also carefully use your hairbrush if you like to create a looser, relaxed look.
Abracadabra! All you have to do now is throw on your favourite dress, grab your mates and head out to enjoy a night of compliments about your fabulous curls! And not a curling wand in sight.
If you’ve got any questions or tips you’d like to share, either leave a comment below or hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube