I get asked about my hair almost every time I post an outfit here or on social media. Which is kind of funny to me because I spend so little time on my hair, and it usually feels like a hot-mess. And I don’t consider myself any kind of hair expert, so I kept putting a tutorial post off. Then it dawned on me that I’m not an expert on 99.99% of the stuff I babble about here, so I finally decided to go for it.
I’m certainly no pro, and I don’t do anything ground-breaking with my hair, but this is the method I’ve used for ages and it works for me. I hope it comes in handy for you, too!
Shower Cap (so perfect for 2nd & 3rd day curls!)
You’ll notice the post is titled, ‘How to Curl Your Hair…& Make it Last.‘ The ‘make it last’ part is what’s key for me because I like to go several days between shampoos.
So the first step is starting with clean, dry hair. I upgraded to this hair dryer a few years ago and it literally cut my drying time in half (see my full review on the Dyson Dryer here).
After shampoo and conditioner, I add a little smoothing serum, then do a quick blow dry using a paddle brush. My goal is to get it dry and mostly smooth. I usually do this step at night, then curl it the next morning.
Start by clipping the top two-thirds up, and comb a 1-inch section.
Hold the curling iron parallel to your head, and place close to the root.
Wrap the section around the iron, holding the bottom inch away, and leave for 10-seconds or so. If you’re curling larger sections, hold it longer, and vice versa for smaller sections. Pull the iron out without touching or pulling the curls.
You want the most concentrated curl at the roots, not the ends, for a more natural look. So if you’re using an iron with a clamp, don’t place the iron on the ends and roll upwards toward the root. And just a sidenote, it took me 6 months to be able to use a curling wand without wearing the glove. There is no shame in the glove!
Work your way around, curling the bottom layer in 1-inch sections, then let another layer out of the clip.
Repeat the same process on the second layer. I like a messier look, so I don’t worry if some sections are curlier than others, or if I miss a section completely.
Once you’ve curled all the layers, spray a light mist of hairspray on your whole head.
Let your hair cool completely without touching or pulling on the curls…this step is key for making them last!
It typically takes me less than 10 minutes to curl my hair, and I let it ‘set’ while putting on my makeup and getting dressed. Then lightly run your fingers through your hair, separating the curls.
Follow with another light mist of hairspray.
For a piecey look, I finish by rubbing a little pomade in the ends with my fingers.
And there you have it!
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For day 2, I lightly comb the ends and re-curl a few pieces on the top and around my face.
Cozy V-Neck Pullover | Bralette | White Jeans | Bangle Set
Turtleneck Tunic Top | Jeggings | Leopard Flats
Day 3 is typically a ponytail or messy bun, with a couple of new curls around my face.
Fringe Sandals | Tote Purse | Off-the-Shoulder Top (on sale!) | Favorite Jeans | Earrings | Sunglasses
Quilted Puffer Jacket | Camo Crewneck Sweater | White Oxford Shirt | Jeans | Sneakers (20% off!) | Aviators
Shower Cap (so perfect for 2nd & 3rd day curls!)
Thank you for this post Cassie! You read my mind since I just bought a curling wand and was on the hunt for a good "how to" tutorial. This was right on target! Thanks also for your always candid and refreshing approach on your blog. .. as a "fan" of yours I appreciate that you keep it real:-)
Thanks so much, Debi! That means so much…I'm glad you like the real parts!! Have fun with your new curling wand!!
i love your hair curled! im totally hair challenged and I dont have the patience to curl mine but i wish i did bc this looks great! xo jillian
Your smooth, shiny hair is adorable!!
You are so dang cute! I'm going to try it today – keep your fingers crossed that I don't end up with a Shirley Temple look! 🙂
If it's feeling too curly, recurl some pieces using larger sections. Also, if you run your fingers through the hair while still warm, it will relax even more.
It took me years to finally figure this out!! And years to find Kenra hairspray! You are adorable!
Isn't that hairspray the best!!!???
This couldn't have come at a better time!I just bought one of those clipless curiling irons to take to Paris (dual voltage) for my daughter and I to share while we're there so I've been practicing. I can't stand the glove so I've burnt myself a few times but I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. I'm going to try your layered method, bottom to top, I've been trying to do it the other way! Love these tips and I"m going to check out your hair twin now!!
Def going bottom to top, and working your way around the head is much easier! And there's no shame in the glove…wear it until you get the full hang of it. You may feel like Michael Jackson, but at least you won't have burns on your hands! 😉
What size is the curling wand?
I use a 1-inch graduated wand since my hair is so short. If I went much larger, each section wouldn't be able to do a full wrap around it. Hope this helps!! xo
LOVE, love, love THIS!! I am so inspired to get the wand!! I've been thinking about trying it out but never really knew if it was worth it for short hair like ours.
Thank you!! xo, B
It was def a learning curve for me…but once I got the hang of it, I loved it! But I still use an old-school curling iron with a clamp every now and then!
cute! but I just cut all my hair off. I've tried to grow it out but I just have too much hair. way.too.much. my hairstylist always tells me I have enough hair for 5 people. I'm actually really digging the cut since I got someone to finally cut it correctly. I just looked at the spike bracelet. have u bought the Kendra scott looking necklaces from them before? I bought some Kendra scott looking earrings from groopdealz and they are horrible looking. thot these might be the necklaces you wear.
I don't have the problem of too much hair, that's for sure! I have the Kendra Scott and the Groop Dealz…huge difference between the two. Not sure if I wear my KS more bc the color goes with more, or bc I know that it looks better. My spike bracelet though looks great, so I've had great luck with her shop.
Sp pretty!! Love it!! Thanks for posting! xoxo
Thank you for this! I get my hair cut next week and I am really thinking about going shorter 🙂 I just always run out of ideas, etc on styling. This is perfect! And I so love your hair!
I LOVE hair appointment days!! have fun!
Oh my goodness! This is so helpful, and I'm like you- ain't nobody got time to wash her hair everyday 🙂
Halleluiah for dry shampoo!!! xo 😉
Your hair is GORGE. Seriously perfect. So… is there a huge benefit to having the wand vs. a traditional curling iron when it comes to making the waves look like yours? My hair is much longer but I love your waves.
-Claire
http://www.fashionanfeathers.com
Thank you so much, Claire…that is so sweet of you to say! I don't know that the wand vs curling iron makes a difference so much as the quality of the iron. The good ones smooth the hair cuticle as it curls, so you get more shine and longer lasting curl. I use a regular iron sometimes too, it's just that my wand is better quality. I could show a tutorial on curling it with a traditional iron if it'd be helpful??
I would love if you would. I hope I can do it.
Thank you so much for your awesome tutorial. I have often wondered how you style your hair, it always looks so cute in the photos! What temperature do you usually set the curling iron? I want to buy one but do not want to fry my hair.
I'm thrilled you liked it, Nicki! My iron doesn't have a heat setting…just off and on. But if you get a good quality iron, it shouldn't burn your hair…unless of course you leave it on for an extended period of time. I think to get a good curl, you need it pretty hot!
You have gorgeous hair Cassie. Such a cute and flattering cut you have. It really suits your fun bubbly personality! Great tutorial on curling.
Thank you darling Allison!!!
Hi Cassie,
Cute post…I know this does not relate to the styling of your hair, but I was wondering if you color your hair, what brand of color do you use? I totally love that you can wear hair so flat in the front and the curls in the back. Thanks again for sharing as I know a lot of your readers were curious how do you do it!
A fellow Texan in McKinney
PSR
Hi PSR! I for sure color my hair…or just enhance what God gave me anyway. 😉 Sometimes I do it myself using Goldwell color that my friend gets me from the hair supply store…it's a #11 ash, mixed with violet and 40-volume! High lift over over!! xo
Do you do a single process? What level is your natural color? I tend to go brassy with a single lift and have heard of goldwell. Was wanting to try it if it will do it in a single process.
I finally had to stop coloring it myself because it was no longer lifting enough #orangeroots But I was doing a single process, with 2 shades of blonde (ash and violet)…and 40 volume. So I was basically frying my scalp. :/
Well it's about dang time you posted this! I bought one of those InStyler wands, but it has confounded me with its ability to spin in opposite directions but the thing is black and it's really hard to know which way it's going. So I'm off to get one of those clippless wands. I'll have Cassie curls one of these days!
I know, I know!! 😉 Those are beyond my skill-level, that's for sure! I use a regular curling iron with a clamp still, too.
I love that you posted about this! You always have the cutest hair. I have not used any type of curling iron for years, but I might have to give this a try. 🙂
Thank you so much, Aimee!! I'm thrilled you liked it!
You're a beauty! I love your shorter hair. I just learned how to curl with a flat iron in the past few months… it's about time!
I have not mastered that technique…I need to work on it though bc I love the type of curls it creates!
You are so adorable! And now, I'm off to buy a curling wand! 😉
However you already curl your hair is working…it always looks amazing!! xo
This is on my list! What size barrel do you have and brand!
My barrel is a 1-inch, but if your hair is longer, I'd recommend using a larger size. I've had mine for a few years and can't find it online, so I linked a really similar one with good reviews. Hope this helps!
your link for the wand takes me to Ulta, but it’s a curling iron.
Cassie- Love it!
It is always so interesting to see how to style hair. Yours looks beautiful! I have the world's biggest, thickest wavy hair and it is no picnic to try and do anything with. It's kind of hopeless.
But anyway, I laughed over your comment about "no shame in the glove" and your comment today about if you ever find $150 in the laundry.
Can't wait to see how you style your new boots. Have a great day!
Thanks Kathy — you have gorgeous hair…having too much is not a problem I deal with! 😉
Thanks so much! Today I had 'Cassie' hair….(sort of!).
I just love your hair, so I'm so glad you did this post! It's cute and spunky!
I have been waiting for this post forevah! And although I finally mastered the flat iron curling method, I may have to revisit the curling wand… my first experience was a disaster!
FYI- I found the suave oil you posted on clearance at Walgreens yesterday for a couple bucks! Score! Thanks for your post!
So so pretty Cass. Love the shorter style on you!
How do you keep your hair from looking greasy during the no shampoo days? My hair is a greasy mess if I don't wash it everyday.
Hi Anon! I use dry shampoo, or sprinkle a little baby powder on my roots. It helps buy me another day or two! xo
A tidbit, especially for darker hair, is to use the dry shampoo the night before to avoid looking like you're a white haired 80 year old! My biggest challenge is making curly hair look good beyond day 1. It gets weird and lumpy 😖.
I always have a hard time communicating the right color I want for my hair. I saw your comment about the brand of color you use. Is this a common brand that I can let my stylist know? Also, how often do you color your hair?
I use Goldwell, which is a professional brand your stylist will know, but they have the full spectrum of colors. I've found the best way to communicate color is to take inspiration pics to your stylist of what you like, but keep in mind your hair may take some colors differently. For instance, anything too warm goes strawberry on me, so I've had to learn through some trial and error! 🙂 Hope this helps!
This probably seems like a small thing, but what kind of rubber bands do you use on ponytail days? I love the invisible look of the clear, tiny elastics but they pull my hair out. I have thin, fine hair and can't afford to lose any! Thank you!
Since my hair is so short, I don't want to use up half my ponytail with a thick band. So I use those tiny clear bands, and just take them out carefully. xo
My niece uses the clear bands and I bought her a seam ripper from Joanne’s and it works great to cut the band without hurting your hair”
Your cut is adorable. I am considering a similar cut, but my hair is pretty fine, so not sure it would work for me. Wondering if your hair is fine or fairly thick?
Thank you, Michelle! My hair is pretty fine, but I have a decent amount of it. You can see in the Before pics before I curl it what it's natural shape is. Hope this helps! xo
can you comment on the brand of hairdryer and products?
Susan
Hi Susan…I just use a middle-of-the-road hair dryer that has the ionic thing in it. As for products, I linked my faves in the post!! xo
I'm in love with your post. I'm having a hard time sleeping with my hair curled and still looking decent in the morning. If I pull it up to shower it ruins the curls. What do you do at night and for showers in between shapoos?
Thanks Rebecca…I'm glad you liked the post! On days 2 (and usually 3), I just lightly comb through my hair, then add more curls in spots where it got a little wonky. I don't recurl my entire head, and it's def more messy, but I just go with it! 🙂
Hi Cassie….I recently found your blog…I love it!! Just curious….which pomade do you use? The picture shows Kenra brand but I can't tell the specific name. Thanks and please post more hair tutorials…my hair very similar to yours!!
Thanks so much, Michelle!! I'm thrilled you find inspiration here! I updated the post with the correct link of the pomade…hope that helps!! xoxo
Hello! What do you feel sca good quality wand? Thanks in advance!
Thank you so much for your tutorial it’s very helpful to see it step by step. I need a lot of practice using the wand. Keep sharing your ideas & steps to great looking hair.
Darling hair and great tutorial. My fine, straight, limp hair has suddenly over the past year turned curly! And voluminous! You’d think I love it, but I just don’t know how to deal with it. I have layers in it and it’s a little shorter than yours in the posted picture. Would this method you demonstrated work in my hair, do you think? And how important is the smoothing serum with the blow dry?
Hi Cassie,
Love the hair and the curls! I have a marcel curling iron but plan on getting a wand. When and how do you use the volumizing tonic and the texture spray?
I spray the volumizing tonic in my roots before blowdrying (like you would mousse), then once it’s fully styled, I spray some texture spray in to break it all up! xo
Is there anything that you put on that does not look hot? Honey if I could put anything on this body and look like you do, my closet would be busting out of its doors. You rock any and everything you put on. Thanks for sharing
I’m’64 and my hair is thick and wavy. I have sectioned my hair but have a hard time with the curling. It is a challenge and I might just get a wand. I have been scrunching for yrs and it gets frizzy, as I age,, from the gray. I just took your picture to my hairdresser and got this cut last week. It looked great when she fixed it. She uses the same products, too. First try today since the haircut. 🤞
I’m 64 and my hair is thick and wavy. I have sectioned my hair but have a hard time with the curling. It is a challenge and I might just get a wand. I have been scrunching for yrs and it gets frizzy, as I age from the gray. I just took your picture to my hairdresser and got this cut last week. It looked great when she fixed it. She uses the same products, too. First try today since the haircut. 🤞
what is brand of the curling wand you use?
I just started using the T3, and even tho it’s crazy $$, it really is amazing!
Love your posts! This one was very helpful:) Do you mind sharing the details of the ring you’re wearing?
This is the first time EVER that I have successfully curled my hair. I have seen hundreds of YouTube videos, Pinterest tips and tricks, and listened to friends and hair stylists advices over the last 10 years at least, and this was the first that ever worked! Every time prior to this that I have attempted to curl my hair, has ended in finger and ear burns, absolutely no curls or curls that are beyond wonky, and tons of frustration and tears. The first tome I tried this, I was successful and have continued to be successful with other attempts. So, thank you so much!
Sara, I am SO glad my post was helpful!!!!!! xoxo, C
Your hair is darling. I am going to try this today!
OH gosh, thank you so much!! What an old post! xo, C
Love your styling technique! I’ve been searching ideas on Pinterest-have baby fine hair but same length as yours. I use products for volume but still not enough protein to “hold” the curl. I need to use products that actually “freeze” control in order to last the day. Can’t wait to give it a try & see if my hair will create that affect! Thanks, Lisa
Thank you I appreciate the information I too am one that does not do well with products and curling but I need to try
Yes, just try, Michelle! It took me time to get my technique and everything “right” and I’m still learning! xo, C
Great advise and demonstration !
So cute!! Wondering if it works w thin hair?!! What curling iron is that?
Thanks!
Hi Lori! Oh gosh, this post is so old! I’m sure that my tricks work on thinner hair. 🙂 And here is the link to the current curling iron I use, the one in this post is long gone by now!
Curling iron: https://shopstyle.it/l/bUMWO