Stylists reveal the biggest mistakes you make when curling your hair
BY CARRIE MADORMO, RN,
MPH
We all want to head out of the
house every morning looking effortlessly beautiful. Like you're not trying to
hard, but just happen to have it all together. One of the best ways to get that
laid back style is with loose, romantic curls. The perfect curls add a
freshness and lightness to your look. Unfortunately, curls done the wrong way
can leave you looking like you just stepped off the stage on Toddlers and
Tiaras. From frying your hair to creating a cave over your face, the wrong
curling mistakes can really cost your look. We checked-in with some of our
favorite stylists to learn how to avoid the biggest curling mistakes out there.
Too much heat
One of the quickest ways to
damage your hair is regularly using too much heat. This is the number one
mistake stylist Jarrod Harms sees from his clients. "Extreme damage easily
happens when the tool is too hot," he says. "Just [look up] YouTube
videos of young ladies melting their hair and see." Don't feel that you
need to use the highest heat setting on your curling iron to get fast curls
that will last.
Try experimenting with lower
settings to find out the perfect setting for your individual hair. Dani Everson
of Clementine's Salon recommends adjusting the heat level based on your hair
type. "Course or thick hair requires a higher setting," she explains,
"while thin hair doesn't need as much heat."
Wrong direction
Another hair no-no is curling
every strand of hair in the same direction. According to Everson, curling your
hair in the same direction "can cause the outcome to all jumble
together." She explains, "This creates less defined curls."
For sexy, defined curls, try
alternating the direction of your curling iron as you make your way around your
head. And while you're at it, never curl the hair around your face towards your
face. "You should curl away from the face towards the hairline, because
curls toward the face end up covering it, creating a cave," says Everson.
"Curling away from the face enhances and opens the face."
By opening up your face,
you'll show off that confident attitude, rather than hiding behind a jumble of
curls.
Wet hair
Always make sure your hair is
completely dry before you start curling with a hot curling iron. Wet or even
damp hair is extremely fragile, so blasting it with heat will cause damage and
breakage. If you are always rushing in the morning, try washing your hair the
night before. It's not worth cutting corners and styling wet hair. "I was
surprised to see how many people use an iron on damp hair!" commented
celebrity stylist, Justine Marjan. "Never start curling hair until it is
100% dry." Take it from the stylists!
How the pros do it
Every stylist has his or her
own favorite tools, but a common one is a curling rod or wand. This is
basically a curling iron without that clamp that holds your hair in place. This
tools allows you to wrap hair sections around it and really control what kind
of curl you want. The downside is that it can get a little dangerous with your
hands that close to such high heat. Always use the lowest heat setting possible
and look into using a special glove when curling.
Everson is a big fan of the
curling rod. "I can get a light romantic loose curl or manipulate a
tighter wave to hair," she explains. "Because it doesn't have clamps,
you never get that kink in your hair that some curling irons can leave
behind."
Harms also likes to use a
curling wand with his clients, but explains to always use caution with it.
"Regardless of the tool, make sure your hair is bone dry before using
it," he says. "Read the directions and use a heat appropriate for
your hair type."
Have a plan
Our stylists agree that you
need to know what kind of curls you're going for before breaking out that
curling iron or rod. Do you want tight, voluminous curls, or relaxed waves? The
answer will determine what tool and which size iron you reach for.
Marjan changes her technique
based on what her clients are hoping for. "Bear in mind that the longer
you hold the hair on the iron and the smaller the curling iron, the more of a
curl you will see, she shares. "If you use a large curling iron, you will
see more of a wave." She is also careful to use the same technique and
direction on both sides of the face, leaving an even, finished look. "Make
sure that what you do on one side, is repeated on the other so that both sides
are even," she adds. "For a more natural finish, leave the ends off
the iron so they stay straight."
Pump the volume
Many of us love using gorgeous
curls to add a little more volume to thin or fine hair. To get that natural
looking volume, break out your curling rod. Everson likes using this tool to
add volume because it's easier to curl closer to the roots of the hair. "This
helps to increase volume," she says.
And while we'd all love some
sexy volume, we're definitely not going to get that with frizz. It can be hard
to avoid the frizz and flyaways when curling your hair, so make sure your hair
is perfectly combed before styling. "Make sure each section is combed
smooth before curling," recommends Harms. "Curling a messy section
makes frizzy hair."
Ditch the heat
Sure, all stylists love their
tools, but sometimes there's an easier way. If you're worried about damaged
hair or simply don't have a lot of time in the mornings, Nina of Nina B
Artistry has some great tips. Nina starts the night before to achieve wavy
curls with tons of volume. Start by wetting your hair at night, either out of
the shower or with a leave-in conditioner. Then start wrapping small sections
of hair into knots. Aim for at least 10 knots of hair. Then simply tie a scarf
over your head to prevent frizz and get some shut eye. "In the morning
unravel the knots," says Nina. "You have perfect bouncy curls and so
much volume that will stay throughout the day." This works especially well
on women with thin or fine hair looking for volume.
To soften the curls, take a
fine feather comb and gently brush out the waves.
SOURCE: THE LIST
SOURCE: THE LIST
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