How to Crinkle Hair

Crinkling your hair can be a fun, exciting style to try! You can get casual crinkles no matter your hair texture, which is what makes this such a versatile look. Your crinkles can look more defined like crimps or looser like waves. To crinkle your hair, you can use a waver or flat iron, or get heatless crinkles through braiding.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Waver or Crimping Iron

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1
Apply a texturizing spray to damp hair. One way to help give your hair stylish crinkles is to prime your hair with texturizing spray. This helps give your hair enough grip that the crinkles will hold. Cover your hair with a heat-protectant texturizing spray when wet, and then blow it dry.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Hold the spray bottle around six inches away from your hair. Spray a light mist of spray over all of your hair, then comb through the strands to spread it.
- If your texturizing spray doesn’t have a heat protectant, spritz one on after your regular texturizing spray.
2
Choose the right tool for the type of crinkles you desire. You can have loose or tight crinkles depending on the tool that you use. For loose crinkle waves, use a heat waver iron. You can also use a wider crimp tool for loose crinkles.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Use a small crimping iron for tight crinkles. This will give you tiny crinkles spread out through your hair. You can achieve this look with a crimping iron with small, narrow plates.^{[3]XResearch source}
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This makes it easier to use the waver or crimping iron. Divide your hair in half, and then section and style off one half before the other. Place your hair into small sections that are around one inch (25 mm) each.^{[4]XResearch source}
Use the heat tool on the bottom, back sections first. This helps you get the harder to reach parts styled before you let more hair down.^{[5]XResearch source}
5
Start the tool near the roots of your hair and move down. Move the waver or crimping iron down along your section of hair instead of up from the bottom. Hold the waver closed for 5-10 seconds, long enough that the hair should be crinkled when released and it will be hot to the touch.^{[6]XResearch source}
- You can go all the way to the tips or leave the ends free for a bit of a casual, beach-vibe.
After you finish putting the waves over your entire hair, run your hands through it. This helps get rid of the “just crinkled” look and give your hair a more natural, casual look.^{[7]XResearch source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating Crinkles with Braids

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1
Apply a texturizing product. After washing your hair, put a texturizing product in it. This can be a cream or a spray. You want to give your hair some grip and texture so the crinkles will hold on to the hair.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Hold the texturizing spray about six inches from your hair and cover your entire head. If you are using a cream, use about a dime-sized amount and spread throughout your hair. Use a comb afterwards to spread the texturizing product through your hair.
- If you have a dry or kinky hair texture, you can also add a small amount of hair oil to wet hair before you braid it. Just place a small amount in your hair and spread it throughout your hair.^{[9]XResearch source}
2
Braid your hair. To get crinkles in your hair, braid it after applying the texturizing product. You can do a regular braid, French braid, or double French braids. For more defined crinkles, use two braids on both sides of the head. Make each strand of the braid around one inch (25 mm) wide.^{[10]XResearch source}
- You can do this when your hair is wet or dry.
- Braid your hair tight enough to keep the braids from coming undone, but not so tightly that it causes you scalp pain.
- The tighter the braid, the tighter the curls will become.
- You can leave a few inches at the end of the hair so the crinkles don’t go down all the hair. If your hair is naturally straight, you will likely need to secure the braid with a hair tie.
The number and size of the braids will determine how defined your crinkles are. Looser crinkles can be achieved from larger braids. Tighter crinkles can be attained with smaller, more numerous braids over your head.^{[11]XResearch source}
After your braids are secure, use a hair dryer to dry the hair. You probably won’t get all of the moisture out, but it helps you not go to sleep with super wet hair. The heat also helps set the crinkles in your hair.^{[12]XResearch source}
5
Sleep on the braids. Sleep with the braids in your hair. This helps your hair have time to develop crinkles. Sleep on a satin pillowcase to protect the strands of your hair. In the morning, take down the braid and comb your fingers through it.^{[13]XResearch source}
- You can also leave the braids in for a few days to let it set even more.^{[14]XResearch source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Trying a Flat Iron

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1
Separate your hair into smaller sections. To use the flat iron to create crinkles, you need to divide your hair into manageable sections. Divide your hair in half, and then separate one side into smaller sections. The sections of hair should be around one inch (25 mm).
- You will do the same thing with the other side when you finish styling the first side.
Hold the section of hair away from your head. Clamp the flat iron around the section of hair near your scalp. Then, bend your wrist down to create a crinkle. You are almost folding the hair under itself with the flat iron. Hold for a few seconds.^{[15]XResearch source}
Move the flat iron down your hair to the next straight section. Right under the crinkle you just made, clamp the flat iron down. Bend the wrist the opposite way you did to begin with, like you are folding the hair over the crinkle you just made. This should make another crinkle.^{[16]XResearch source}
Go down the strand of hair bending the flat iron back and forth until you get to the ends. This should create a crinkled strand. Repeat this bending and folding for each part of your hair you sectioned off. Run your hands through your hair when finished.^{[17]XResearch source}

Expert Q&A

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Question
How can you crinkle hair without using direct heat, and if opting for a heat option, what tools do you recommend?
Martha Ellen Mabry
Hairstylist & Salon Owner
Martha Ellen Mabry is a Hairstylist and the founder of Headchop Hair Studio in Brooklyn, New York. Martha Ellen founded Headchop in 2011 and has been providing high-quality hair styling services in New York ever since. In 2023, Martha Ellen expanded her business to include Lil’ Chop, an express version of Headchop focused on quick and easy in-and-out hair styling. In addition to running two businesses, Martha Ellen's specialties include dry cutting, natural curl and texture, extensions, brow microblading, lamination, freckle tattooing, as well as wedding and event styling. Martha Ellen works exclusively with Great Lengths extensions specializing in changes for length, density, and chemical-free color.
Martha Ellen Mabry
Hairstylist & Salon Owner
Expert Answer
When styling, especially synthetic hair, it's key to go wet to dry without direct hot tools or irons. You can use a blow dryer on low heat to speed up drying, but it's best to use pin curl clips and pin the hair up. Another good option is Velcro rollers to create a roller set that lets the hair dry into shape. My top non-heat picks are pin curl clips and Velcro rollers. If you want a heat tool for real human hair, I love the Tea tree series. They have an iron that can be a single or with clamps. Their versatile Trio tool switches between sizes - it's like three tools in one! These are fantastic for hair, safe, and have adjustable temps so they protect your hair.
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Question
How do you make your dreads crinkly?
Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Expert Answer
You can braid your dreads to create a crinkle or wave effect. Just braid them when damp and let your hair air dry completely before removing the braids.
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Question
What does a crimper do to your hair?
Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Expert Answer
A crimper presses a section of hair between two heated plates leaving behind a zigzag shape. This creates a crimped effect.
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Things You'll Need

Waver or crimping iron
Flat iron
Brush or comb
Texturizing spray
Clips

Tips

If you wear a part in your hair, such as a middle part or side part, put that part in place before you create the braids. Creating a part this way prevents you from messing your crinkled hair up later on when you style it.
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If you want to wear crinkles for a night event, you could braid your hair, slightly damp, early in the morning, and let it air dry for the remainder of the day.
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