Buzz
Curling short hair can sometimes feel like a challenge, as the length doesn't always make it easy to work with. However, if you want to curl your short hair for a special occasion or just to change up your style, what should you do? Before curling your hair, be sure to prepare styling spray, heat protectant products, and a good-quality comb. You can then curl your hair using a handheld curling iron or straightener. If you don’t have styling tools, you can also use bobby pins, a pencil, or even a pen to help.
Steps
Prepare for Styling
Spray texture-setting product on dry hair. Start by spraying the texture-setting product, which will help your hair lift and hold the curl. This product ensures your short hair stays curly for a longer period. Simply spray it over your entire hair and use your hands to distribute the product evenly.
- The texture-setting spray is a perfect choice after washing your hair because it helps maintain the style.
- You can find texture-setting products at beauty supply stores or order them online.
Apply gel or heat protection spray to protect hair from heat damage and aid drying. Choose a spray if you have thin hair as it typically helps add volume. Opt for a gel if your hair is thick. Spray or apply the product to your entire hair to ensure it stays glossy and protected while curling.
- You can purchase heat protection gel or spray at hair product stores or online.
- Let the product dry on your hair for about 1-2 minutes.
Brush your hair. Select a good-quality comb and gently brush from the roots to the tips. This helps distribute the heat protectant evenly across your hair and ensures it doesn’t become tangled.
- If you have thin hair and want to add volume, consider using a round brush.
Clip the top section of your hair. Gather the hair from above your ears and clip it securely. This step makes it easier to curl the lower section of your hair.
- If your hair is too short, the top section won’t be long enough to clip up. In this case, you can skip clipping the hair.
Use a handheld curling iron or straightener
Choose a curling iron with a clip width of about 1.3cm. This size ensures the clip is ideal for creating curls on short hair without being too large for the hair length. You can buy a handheld curling iron online or at stores that sell hair care products.
Use a straightener with a surface width of about 3cm. You can purchase a straightener online or at hair product stores.
Take a section of hair around 2 to 2.5cm from behind the ear. Hold the curling iron with your dominant hand.
- If your hair is very short, you may only be able to grab a smaller section, less than 2.5cm at a time. Try to gather a little hair from the front.
Wrap the hair around the curling iron barrel 1 to 2.5 times, facing away from your face. Carefully wrap the hair tightly around the barrel, about 1.3cm away from the roots.
- If your hair is very short, you can only wrap it once around the barrel. However, try to wrap it at least 1.5 times for soft waves. To create tight curls, wrap the hair around the barrel 2.5 times.
Hold the hair around the barrel for about 30 seconds for thick or medium-thick hair. For natural hair, set the curling iron temperature between 175°C - 200°C. If your hair is colored, avoid going over 200°C. For fine or heavily processed hair, use a lower temperature between 175°C - 190°C.
- If you have fine hair, hold the hair on the iron for about 10-15 seconds.
- You can count to time how long the hair stays on the iron or set a timer to ensure the right duration.
Release the hair from the iron and hold it in your hand for 3-5 seconds. After 30 seconds of holding the hair, gently release the curl and pull the curling iron away. Keep the curl in your palm for about 3-5 seconds to set the shape.
Adjust the direction of your curls. If you’ve curled a section of hair outward, curl the next one inward towards your face. Alternating the direction of each curl will help add volume to your hair.
- Ensure the sections of hair you curl are consistent in size, and alternate the direction of each curl to create a balanced, uniform look.
Start curling from one side to the other on the lower sections of your hair. Continue curling your hair, taking about 2.5cm sections at a time. Work through the front sections first, then gradually move towards the other side of your hair. Try to create curls that are consistent in size and shape.
Repeat the process for the upper sections of your hair. Remove the hair clips and begin curling the top sections, taking around 2.5cm of hair at a time. Remember to catch and hold each curl to set the shape.
- Be patient when curling very short sections in the front. Wrap the hair once around the iron and be careful not to burn your fingers.
- If there are very short sections on top, you can try curling the hair upward and wrapping it once around the iron. This will add volume to the top. However, many people consider the "bubble style" outdated.
Wait for 1-2 minutes to allow the curls to cool. Once you’ve finished curling, leave the curls as they are and allow them to cool. Try not to touch or disturb the curls to maintain their shape.
Use your hands to tousle the curls lightly. Once the hair is no longer hot, lift sections of hair and gently tousle the curls. You can also push the front sections to one side and run your hands through the hair. This will create a natural, slightly messy look.
- The best way to mess up curls without losing the curl shape is to run your fingers into the roots and massage the scalp.
- Avoid using a comb to tousle the curls, as it could straighten them out.
Set the curls with a hairspray. Simply spray the hairspray evenly over your entire head to maintain the shape of your curls. Use a moderate amount of product to avoid the curls becoming too stiff or brittle.
- If you prefer a more natural, tousled look throughout the day, you can skip the hairspray step for a more carefree style.
Use bobby pins and a cylindrical object.
Begin the process while your hair is damp or wet. This method works best right after a shower when your hair is still wet. Alternatively, you can wet your hair using a spray bottle. Damp or wet hair will hold curls more easily.
Use a cylindrical object to wrap your hair around for two full rotations. You can use a pen, pencil, or even a mascara tube. Choose a cylindrical item that is just the right size for wrapping your hair in two full turns to create a beautiful curl.
- You can test whether the item is suitable by wrapping your hair around it. If you can wrap it around twice, the item is appropriate for the job.
- You can also use multiple cylindrical items in different sizes, like a small pen for tighter curls and a thicker mascara tube for looser curls. This allows for more versatility in styling and is especially useful for handling shorter sections of hair.
Wrap around 2.5cm of hair twice around the chosen cylindrical object. Hold the hair between your fingers, with the other hand positioning the tool above your hair. Then, wrap the hair outward towards the face for two full turns, bringing the tool close to the roots.
- If your hair is very short, you may have only a few centimeters to work with. In this case, try to take enough hair to wrap at least one full turn around the cylinder.
- Wrap the hair backwards and away from the face to create extra volume in the curls.
Remove the curling rod. Gently use your fingers to slide the curling rod out of the hair that has been wrapped around it. At this stage, it should be easy to remove the rod from your hair.
- While removing the rod, use your other hand to hold the hair in place, ensuring it doesn't unravel.
Use bobby pins to secure the rolled section of hair. Hold the hair with one hand while the other hand places the pins to secure it. Use one or two bobby pins to keep the curl in place.
- It's best to use curl clips for this step.
Continue curling the remaining sections of hair. Take another section of hair and curl it in the same way. For shorter sections, use a smaller curling rod to ensure the hair wraps around the rod at least once.
- For a more natural curl, try alternating the direction of the curls. For example, if one section curls away from your face, curl the next one towards your face.
Use your thumb and index finger to curl the bangs or smaller sections of hair at the front. To curl your bangs or shorter front sections, use a smaller diameter rod. Hold the hair with one hand and position the curling rod at the end of the section. Hold the rod in place using your thumb and index finger while curling the hair. Afterward, remove the rod and secure the curl with pins.
- You might only manage to wrap shorter sections once around the rod, but that's perfectly fine as the hair will still have curl.
- You can curl shorter sections backward, away from the face for volume. If you'd like the curls to frame your face, curl them forward towards your face. However, if you have bangs, this method may result in an outdated style.
Wrap your freshly curled hair with a silk scarf. Once all the hair is curled and pinned in place, use a silk scarf to wrap around your head. Tie it securely at the back to cover the curls.
- The scarf will help prevent frizz as your hair dries.
- If you don't have a scarf, a shower cap can work as an alternative.
Allow the curls to form after 2-4 hours or overnight. Since this method doesn't involve heat, you will need to wait for the curls to naturally form. After a few hours, your hair will dry, even if you wrap it with a towel or wear a towel wrap overnight to let it dry while you sleep.
Remove the clips and gently unravel the hair with your hands. Once the curls have set, carefully take out each clip one by one. Then, gently separate the curls with your fingers to give your hair a messy, natural look. You can also loosen the curls further or run your hands through them to create a more tousled effect.
- Avoid using a comb to brush through your hair as it will straighten the curls.
Set the curls with a hairspray. Lightly spray a setting product on your hair to keep the curls in place. Use only a small amount to avoid making the curls too stiff or brittle. Run your fingers through the curls again to maintain that messy, natural look.
Things you will need
Use a handheld curling iron or flat iron.
- Texturizing hair spray
- Heat protection spray or gel
- Comb
- Hair clips
- Handheld curling iron with a clip width of about 2-2.5cm
- Flat iron with a surface width of about 3cm.
- Hairspray to set the curls
Use bobby pins and cylindrical objects
- Bobby pins
- Cylindrical objects like pens, pencils, or mascara tubes
- Shower cap or towel
- Hairspray to set the curls
