All products featured on Teen Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Having straight, fine hair might seem super easy — after all, it's effortless to just toss it in a ponytail in a few seconds and jet out the door. But anyone with this hair type will tell you that it can be difficult to style — and though Blake Lively-inspired waves or Taylor Swift's ringlets offer amazing inspiration, nothing is more frustrating than spending an hour battling with a curling iron to recreate the look — only to have your perfect curls fall flat the moment you step outside.
However, pulling off a curly-haired look for a school dance, date night, or beyond isn't a hopeless feat. In fact, every hair texture can hold a curl with a little (okay, maybe a lot) of patience and some know-how. But trust us, the results are so worth it. Read on for seven tried-and-true tips to get your curls to stay intact all day (and night!) long.
Consider your cut.
If you have particularly thick or long hair, your hairstyle could be the culprit to weighing down your curl. The longer and heavier your hair is, the harder it will be for a curl to hang on to its shape. Ask your stylist to cut lots of layers, especially around your face, to trim the weight but maintain most of the length.
Prep the right way.
Ideally, a curl holds best with day-old hair (and some help with volumizing dry shampoo), but if you're in a time crunch, prep hair with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner to help breathe as much bounce into your strands as possible. Spritz a curl-boosting spray onto damp strands (we love Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancing Hair Spray to give it texture and grip, then give it a rough blow-dry with your hands. Before you tango with your hot tools, it's always a good idea to use a heat-protectant spray so you don't fry your strands. Chi 44 Iron Guard is lightweight, protects against damage, and gives each curl extra hold without feeling stiff.
Invest in the right hot tools.
Now that you've prepped your hair with the perfect cocktail of products, it's time to talk technique. If bombshell, Veronica Lake-waves are your goal, use hot rollers. You ideally want a mix of at least two dozen large and medium velvet rollers for your whole head. If tighter ringlets are what you're after, look for a curling iron with a slightly slimmer barrel, like a three-quarter-inch (like this Conair Instant heat Curling Iron, as opposed to a one-inch or larger, since curls loosen quickly on straight hair.
Work in sections.
Even if your hair is thin, working in sections ensures that you'll reach the roots on the back of your head and will give your curls a more consistent style. Use alligator clips to divide hair into three or four sections and save the top half of the hair for last.
Use the proper heat setting.
If you're using a curling iron, keep the setting at the lowest temperature to avoid damage. Don't leave your hair on the barrel for longer than 10 seconds at a time. Unclamp the iron and re-curl if necessary to get the look that you want.
Don't forget to let the curl set.
While the curls are still hot, use your fingers to clip each coil to your head with a metal prong (try: Diane Single Prong Clips). This little trick helps the curl that lasts for hours and won't leave an indent on your hair while you're styling it. Give each coil a blast of strong hold hairspray and let it sit until it's cooled completely while you work on the rest of your hair.
Admire the look!
After you take your curls down one by one, resist piling on was and gels that tend to weigh your hair down. Instead, give your hair a final blast of hairspray and try to touch your hair as little as possible. We have a feeling you'll be too busy whipping your curls back and forth on the dance floor anyway!
Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email.
Related: 20 Before-and-After Pictures of Real Girls Who Finally Learned to Love Their Curly Hair
Check this out:
