DIY: The Perfect Layer of Curls

From beautiful Taylor Swift-like ringlets to soft romantic waves, curls set the standard for a soft, elegant appearance and sometimes even an innocent, doll-like look.

Curling hair can be a rather tedious process (which is why people with curly hair should feel lucky), and if it’s your first time learning how to curl hair, it can be difficult. But of course, with the right tools, guidance, and the old saying “practice makes perfect”, you’ll have a head full of beautiful curls in no time.

The first things you’ll need are tools to curl your hair with. There are many ways to curl hair, but for the purposes of this article, I’ll just go with the conventional way of curling hair by explaining how to use a curling iron.

Curling irons are quick and easy to master, but if used incorrectly, they can damage your hair. Let’s talk about temperature control first. Using heating appliances often can damage your hair, and cause it to look limp, dry and frizzy.

If you have thin hair, it would be better to use a lower heat setting, so that your hair won’t fry. If you have thicker hair, use a higher heat setting, but be sure to monitor how long you keep the iron on your hair so that you don’t accidentally end up cooking it.

And before using any sort of heat appliance for your hair, always use a thermal protection spray to absorb the harsh heat, so your hair will have a smoother, frizz-free style.

Curling irons are made from various materials. The most common ones on the market are metal plated, ceramic and tourmaline ceramic.

Metal-plated irons are good only if you seldom curl your hair. Their high heat settings can easily damage hair if used too often. Ceramic and tourmaline ceramic have gentler heat settings, and are essentially better for frequent use.

You have a range of sizes to choose from depending on the style of the curl you want and the texture of your hair. The smallest barrel, ½ inch, produces tight, bouncy ringlets, so if you’re going for that Taylor Swift look, this iron would be perfect.

The ½ and ¾ inch barrels are recommended for short or fine hair because they give hair a more voluminous appearance.

The largest barrels, 1 ½ and 2 inches, create waves which are great if you’re going for that beach hairstyle.

The last essential item you’ll need for that perfect curly hair-do is hairspray. Regardless of hair type, a spray with a stronger hold will help your curls last longer.

For this article, my friend Priya Sekhon will show step-by-step how to curl your own hair.

She is using a 1 inch curling iron from Bed Head. 1 inch curling irons are best for creating those basic, natural-looking curls.

Step-by-Step:

1. Section the top and bottom layers of your hair with a clip. Part the bottom layer of hair in half and bring both sections in front. Spray both sections with a heat protecting spray.

2. Starting from back of head, take about a 1 inch section of hair closest to the nape of your neck.  Face the clamp of barrel away from you, and twirl the iron away from face. Hold the iron vertically for 10 seconds.  Leave about 1 inch of hair sticking out at the end out of the clamp. Repeat this step until you have finished both sections of your bottom layer.

3. Spray hairspray, or scrunch each curl with mousse after you have finished section.

4. Release the remaining sections of your hair, and repeat steps 1-3 until you have finished.

An optional step if you have a side fringe like Priya: When curling a side fringe, tilt the iron at a 45° angle, so that when you release the curl, it flows naturally with the rest of your hair.

Tara Temkar can be reached at taratemkar@gmail.com.