Going short is the ultimate cool-girl hair move — nothing exudes effortless confidence quite like a tousled, textured bob. Plus, shorter hair means less maintenance, since there’s less of it to style and maintain, quite literally. While shorter lengths can be easy to pull off for the most part, certain styles like curls can be trickier to achieve. But styling short hair can be a breeze with the correct tools, hair styling products and just a little bit of practice. Whether you’re looking for a heatless process, or large, voluminous curls, here are 3 different ways to curl short hair.
Classic, long-lasting curls
The simplest, most classic way to achieve curls that really last is with a heat curler. If you’re wondering how to curl short hair with a curling iron, the answer lies in picking out the correct tools. It’s important to choose your hair curling instrument carefully — while thicker barrels will give you larger curls that may not be as full, thinner barrels can help you get tighter curls, which are ideal for shorter or even finer hair. Once you’ve chosen the heat curler for your hair type and hair length, start by applying a heat protecting serum on clean, damp hair. This will ensure that your tresses remain protected from heat damage caused during styling. Next, section your hair and use the curler on every section for 3-5 seconds. Remember, the smaller the section, the tighter your curls will be. Once all your hair has been curled, finish off with a setting spray to ensure that your curls last for hours.
Tira recommends:
Wella Professionals Eimi Thermal Image Heat Protection Spray
Ikonic Curling Tong - CT 16
BBlunt Hot Shot Hold Spray For Instant & Firm Hold
Overnight, heatless curls
If you’re planning to give your strands a break from heat styling, this old-school method may just be what you need. This simple way requires some level of patience, (since we’re using time to set our curls in place instead of heat), but ensures you get tight, bouncy curls, no hot tools required. Again, picking out the correct size of hair rollers is crucial here, since smaller rollers will give you tighter curls, as opposed to thicker rollers that will deliver larger curls. Before you start putting the rollers in place, apply a texturizing mousse onto damp hair to hold the curl pattern. Next, section your hair and start putting it in the rollers. Let it sit for 3-4 hours (or overnight) before you take the rollers out. Brush your hair out gently to separate the curls and finish off with a setting spray to make them last longer.
Tira recommends:
Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse
Bronson Professional Hair Curling Roller Stick Set
Milk Shake Lifestyling Strong Hold Hair Spray
Effortless, bouncy volume
If you’re looking to achieve wavy, ultra-voluminous hair, this is the route for you. All you need to ace this look is a blow-drying brush and a little bit of practice. Start by applying a volumizing mousse onto damp lengths to really get those lush, supermodel-esque waves. Now, section your hair and work on each part to create waves. You’ll need to place the blow brush on one section and curve it slightly while running it from root to tip to create bounce and a larger curl pattern. Once all the sections are covered, spritz on a volumizing spray for lush tresses all day long.
