How to Curl Long Hair with a Curling Iron

Curling your hair can completely change your look! Experiment with loose, beachy curls, or try small ringlets. Prepare your hair with a protectant spray to keep it from being damaged by the heat of the iron. Curl your hair using the iron and then play around with the curls until they have dropped to your preferred style. This can be a time-consuming process for long hair, but the final result will be worth the wait.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing your Hair

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1
Start with dry hair that hasn’t been washed for at least a day. Hair that hasn’t been washed for 1 to 3 days, will hold much better than freshly-washed hair. Makes sure your hair is completely dry as wet hair won’t hold the curls well.
- If you decide to wash your hair before curling it, use as little shampoo and conditioner as possible.^{[1]XResearch source}
2
Apply a heat-protectant to your hair. Liberally spray a heat-protectant over the top layer of your hair as well as throughout your hair. Use your fingers to lift up sections of hair and spray the heat-protectant all over your hair. This helps to stop the heat of the curling iron damaging your hair.
- Don’t worry about rubbing the product into the hair as it will dry quickly.^{[2]XResearch source}
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3
Mist your hair with a light to medium hold non-aerosol hairspray. This helps your curls to stay in place and gives your hair another barrier of protection from the heat. This is especially important if your hair doesn’t tend to hold curls well. Spray the non-aerosol hairspray lightly over the top layer of your hair.
- If you accidentally spray on too much hairspray and the hair goes crusty or sticky, brush the hair to remove the excess spray.^{[3]XResearch source}
- It is important to use non-aerosol hairspray because the aerosol kind will make your hair sticky and difficult to curl.
It is much easier to tell what hair you have curled if you only have half your hair down. Gather the top half of your hair into a bun on the top of your head and secure it with a hair tie.^{[4]XResearch source}
5
Heat up the curling iron. Plug the curling iron into an outlet that is close to a mirror. If you have fine or colored hair, choose the lowest heat setting. If you have thick, coarse or healthy hair, choose the medium or high setting. Higher temperatures will set your curls better but are more likely to damage your hair.
- Experiment with different temperatures. Choose the lowest temperature that sets your curls, as this will cause the least damage to your hair.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Curling irons take about 2-3 minutes to heat up.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Making Different Types of Curls

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1
Create beachy waves with a thick-barrel iron. Hold the curler vertically with the clasp facing forward. Curl a 2 in (5.1 cm) section of hair from the ends of the hair to the roots. Squeeze the hand lever to open the clasp. Close the clasp onto the ends of the hair. Wrap the hair around the curler until you reach the roots.
- Wrap the hair away from your face to give the curls a natural look.^{[6]XResearch source}
- Continue curling the bottom layer of hair in {2 in (5.1 cm) sections.
2
Style your hair into ringlets using a small-barrel iron. Repeat the beachy-waves curling process, but use a thin-barrel iron instead. This will create tighter ringlets and makes your hair look extra curly.
- If you find that the ringlets aren’t holding their curl well, spray hairspray onto the hair right before you curl it.^{[7]XResearch source}
3
Curl hair from bottom to top to create bouncy curls. Hold the curler horizontally with the clasp facing away from you. Clip the section of hair into the clasp and wrap the hair around the barrel, keeping the iron in a horizontal position.
- These curls give a Hollywood glamour look.^{[8]XResearch source}
4
Repeat on 2 in (5.1 cm) sections to curl the rest of your hair. Curl the front strands of your hair and then work your way around your head. When you have finished curling the bottom section of your hair, secure it into a loose ponytail at the nape of your neck. Remove the hair tie from the top bun and curl the top layer.
- Use a mirror to help you see the back of your head. This will show you what hair you still need to curl.^{[9]XResearch source}
Release the hair from the clasp and pull the curler away to reveal the curl. Don’t hold the curl for more than 7 seconds as this can damage your hair.^{[10]XResearch source}

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Setting the Curls

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For a looser curl, lightly dust the hair with hairspray. For tighter curls, liberally spray the hair with hairspray. Try to spray the hair as evenly as possible to avoid sticky patches forming.^{[11]XResearch source}
2
Run your fingers through the curls to achieve a beachy look. If you prefer looser curls, run your fingers from the roots of your hair to the ends. Spread your fingers apart and use them like a comb. This will open up the curls and make them looser.
- If you like tighter, more traditional curls, skip this step.
- The more you run your hands through your hair the looser the curls will become.
- Keep in mind that the curls will naturally become looser over the course of the day, so don’t comb them too much.^{[12]XResearch source}
Leave the last 1 in (2.5 cm) sticking out of the iron when you clamp it down. This will help to make your curls look more natural.
4
Flip your hair forward and then back to add volume. Long hair can be heavy which can make the roots look limp. Try bending your head down and flipping all your hair over your head, and then spray your hair lightly with hairspray. Bring your head back to its usual position and pull your hair back so it sits normally. This will add volume and texture to your hair.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Another option is to blow dry your hair upside down to add volume.^{[14]XExpert SourceChristine George
  Master Hair Stylist & ColoristExpert Interview. 10 January 2020.}
Try to stay away from the rain or steamy areas while your hair is curled. Moisture will make the curls droop and can cause frizziness.^{[15]XResearch source}

Expert Q&A

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Question
How do you get good curls?
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
Section the hair neatly and don't curl too much hair at once. Prepping the hair with a thermal protectant also helps create smooth curls that stay.
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Question
How do you get big, loose curls?
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
The size of your curling iron or rollers determines the size of the curl. Use a large barrel iron and lift each section up from the roots for big, soft curls.
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Question
How long can you hold a curling iron in 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
You can hold it on for 5-10 seconds. Any longer and you'll risk damaging the hair. You can clip the curled hair while it cools for a stronger curl.
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