Short hair with curls are sassy, chic, and sexy but it can prove challenging to create them. Gorgeous-looking curls can certainly add volume even to short hair and give it a break from monotony. Learning how to curl short hair is not so much of a difficult task if you have the right kind of curling iron. Read on to find out how you can curl your short hair in no time at all with recommended curling irons that will not damage your hair.
Like most women who have short hair, you might feel that yours may be too short to curl. Some women even believe that you can only get tight, small curls with your short hair. Learning how to use a curling iron on short hair requires not only the appropriate hairstyling products but finding the curling iron most suitable to your hair type and the kind of curls you want to have.
Items You Will Need
Here are some of the things you will need to start you off in the creation of those sought-after curly locks which you should have ready before you begin curling:
- Quality curling iron.
- Moisturizing cream, styling gel or conditioning mousse.
- Mild hairspray or light setting spray.
- Hair pick.
- Hair protector.
- Root booster.
The Curling Process
1. Prepare hair for curling, meaning, it must be thoroughly clean and completely dry. If your hair is on the wavy side or with cowlicks, straighten it first with a flat iron before curling it.
2. Set up your hair with a small amount of moisturizing cream, styling gel or conditioning mousse. Spritz on some hair protector before proceeding to curl.
3. Spray the root booster at the hair roots while hair is still slightly damp from shampooing. This will provide body for the hair roots as they become the base for the curls. You can skip this process, however, if you already have thick hair.
4. Blow dry hair; pay special attention to hair roots to ensure that these are totally dry before proceeding with the curling process.
5. Separate hair into several sections of top and bottom layers with the use of a wide-toothed comb. Pin your hair’s top section with double pronged-clips or bobby pins to enable you to work your hair’s bottom layer first.
6. Pre-heat your curling iron at a setting of medium heat and section your hair into two inches of width and, beginning at the roots, wrap this around your curling iron’s barrel.
7. Begin curling by taking a small hair section upfront and wrapping this around the curling iron’s barrel. Hold the curling iron at a safe distance away from your facial skin in particular.
8. The curling iron should be positioned to your head’s back to enable you to roll the curl away from the face instead of towards it.
9. Short hair needs to have their ends left straight to give it some length and prevent the curls from awkwardly sticking out.
10. If it’s a curling iron equipped with a clamp that you’re using, you should clamp down on your hair’s separated section half an inch away from its bottom before you roll it upwards to curl.
11. Hold the curl between five and ten seconds but no more than 15 seconds if your curling iron has a maximum heat capacity of 400°F lest you expose your hair to excessive heat and damage it.
12. Loose waves can be created by holding the curl for about five seconds and then releasing it. If you want ringlets, hold hair for seven to eight seconds. Remember not to touch any curl that has been done until it has cooled completely so as not to cause frizz to develop.
13. Spritz the finished curl with some mild hairspray or light setting spray to help it hold. Tighter curls, however, should be left relaxed for five minutes or so before spraying them. Use a hair pick to separate finished curls before moving on to the top layer.
14. Finish your hair’s bottom layer and continue the steps 1 to 14 for the top layer. For a more natural and softer look, vary the section sizes instead of separating hair by evenly sectioning it. You can also alternate curling your hair away from and towards your face to obtain that particular look.
15. After you have curled all your hair, pull your curls gently with the fingers to prevent them from forming into ringlets (unless you want that look). You can add volume to the curls by backcombing the roots nearest your hair’s crown.
16. Spray on a final mist of mild hairspray to finish your look and hold the curls in place for a longer period of time.
Choosing the Best Curling Iron for Short Hair
There are several basic factors to consider before your purchase a curling iron if your hair is short:
1. Barrel size or diameter: the best curling iron size for short hair is the thinner kind since a large one may prove to be too wide to wrap your short hair’s section around. Curling irons for very short hair with barrel diameters of about ¾ of an inch to ½ inch should be suitable. A barrel that’s an inch in diameter is ideal for medium short hair for long-lasting curls.
2. Barrel shape: the kind of curls you want for your short hair will also depend on the shape of the curling iron’s barrel. For curls that are wider near your scalp and a little tighter toward their ends, the barrel must be conical in shape. The best curling iron for short hair that can create spiral curls is a cylindrical-shaped barrel, while curls that are tight near your scalp but a little wider toward their ends require a barrel with a reverse cone shape.
Double barreled-curling irons can create wide hair waves (similar to those of Taylor Swift’s) while those with brush attachments can add soft and loose waves (just be careful not to get them stuck in the hair).
3. Material: ceramic and titanium are the best conductors of heat because of the even and consistent way they distribute heat. Both materials emit large amounts of negative ions when heated to result in static- and frizz-free hair.
4. Adjustable temperature control: the majority of curling irons can emit heat in temperatures of up to 250°F or higher which can cause damage to hair when exposed for longer periods. A good curling iron should have at least three different heat levels for the user to choose from.
Recommended Curling Irons for Short Hair
Here are two of the best, tried and tested curling irons for short hair:
1. Helen Of Troy 1512 Mini 1/2″ Professional Brush Curling Iron
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This curling iron’s ½ inch barrel is perfect for adding volume to short hair, curling bangs, and creating tight, small curls that look bouncy and natural. Its other features include:
- Lifetime quality of heating element: this means you won’t have to spend unnecessarily for repairs of diminishing heat capability of your curling iron.
- Solid state circuitry: another feature that ensures performance durability.
- Fast heating from its strip bristles with soft ball tips: this feature makes curling more comfortable while yielding curls that hold longer.
- Flexible settings: you can have high and low settings immediately while curling your hair.
- Contoured handle: allows a firm yet comfortable grip for your hand while you curl and style your hair.
- Swivel cord: the eight foot swivel cord is tangle-free so you can move without restriction – stand up or sit down – while curling your hair.
- Cool tip: there is no worry that you might accidentally burn your fingers, hands or facial skin while curling your hair because of its tip remains cool throughout curling.
- Quick heat up: you don’t have to wait for this baby to do its job because of the way it heats up fast.
2. Babyliss Pro 1″ Oval Curling Iron
This curling iron packs a wallop in terms of features mainly because of its unique oval-shaped barrel design that features the innovative Sol-Gel technology that has high concentrations of both ceramic and nano-titanium materials that provide increased durability and a reduction in friction against hair to result in a smoother glide when curling. Its other equally excellent features include:
- Heat settings: with 50 settings for up to 450°F heat capacity to do the job faster while distributing heat evenly.
- Turbo heat: increases the rate at which the level of current heat is emitted by 50°F to result in quick curling.
- Nano-titanium material: guarantees temperature’s optimum performance for curling by maintaining consistent heat.
- Ceramic technology: its release of far-infrared and negative ions eliminate frizz and seal in natural oils and moisture to keep hair shiny and smooth.
- Built-in stand: no scorching of counter- or tabletops with its built-in stand after usage.
- Ergonomic design: comfortable and lightweight to use with its ergonomically-designed handle.
- Cool tip: easy to manipulate and hold while curling your hair because of its cool tip that won’t burn fingers, hands or facial skin.
- Cord: its eight feet of cord length has a swivel that lets you move around without tangling while curling your hair.
Looking for a Great Curling Tool? – See Hair Styling Girl’s Top 5 Best Curling Wands & Irons!