tips for curling long hair

[Miranda]

I know we have some long pony tails flying out of the back of bike helmets here on TE lol. So, looking for some long hair styling advice.

I want some loose to medium tightness curls for my hair just to switch up the look (not a perm). My hair is basically one length with minimal layers, pretty fine, and almost to my bra strap for length.

The last time I got a trim, my new stylist sold me a nice quality flat iron which she showed me could also make these curls. Well, me trying to do it at home is a joke. I got a larger barrell curling iron, and can't quite get that going either. What's next? Rollers or something? Any tips?

TYIA.

[jessmarimba]

I've gotten pretty good at drying ringlets with just a hairdryer and a round boar-hair brush. You can kind of secure the end of a hair segment onto the brush on the end opposite the handle, twist it not quite one rotation around so it's stuck, and then continue to twirl the brush while pulling it down (handle first) and blowdrying the twist that forms above it. It's kind of hard to describe and it took a bit of practice for me to get...but it might help that my hair is slightly wavy and will catch a curl pretty quickly.

I never got the hang of curling with a flat iron and I've never owned a curling iron.

Besides that, my next suggestion would be pin curls. (kidding).

I should find a photo of when my mother did that to me - I had an enormous 'fro

[Miranda]

I've gotten pretty good at drying ringlets with just a hairdryer and a round boar-hair brush. You can kind of secure the end of a hair segment onto the brush on the end opposite the handle, twist it not quite one rotation around so it's stuck, and then continue to twirl the brush while pulling it down (handle first) and blowdrying the twist that forms above it. It's kind of hard to describe and it took a bit of practice for me to get...but it might help that my hair is slightly wavy and will catch a curl pretty quickly.

I never got the hang of curling with a flat iron and I've never owned a curling iron.

Besides that, my next suggestion would be pin curls. (kidding).

I should find a photo of when my mother did that to me - I had an enormous 'fro

Yea, I remember those pin curls! I think the biggest fro type curls I had from my mom were made with a brown paper lunch sack / shopping bag. She ripped the bag into segments, somehow twisted the hair wet on the sack, tied it, I slept in it, and omg in the morning WHOA. Thanks for the hairdryer suggestion.

[arielmoon]

Look on youtube for tutorials! I have learned a few neat things on there for hair!

One trick for wavy hair is to section the hair, heat a small section with hair dryer and then twist it tight, wrapping around itself and then pin it to your head. Go around the head and then hairspray. Wait a minute then heat your head again with the hair dryer. Wait a few minutes to cool and then take them down.

Hot rollers work pretty good. The smaller the size the tighter the curl. I use a little bit of hairspray before hand.

I love curling irons but can not figure out how to get curl from my flat iron!!

Recently, I watched a stylist make gorgeous ringlets in long hair with a medium size curling iron. The trick was to start closer to the scalp and and slowly make your way down (instead of curling up) to the ends so that the curl starts higher. When she got to the bottom she curled up a few rotations. The result was stunning!

[XMcShiftersonX]

I had hair down to almost my waist, and am growing it out again, it's about to my chest now. Hot rollers will change your life and they're cheap too. Just look for a set at Target. I would recommend a set of all large ones for hair mid-back to waist length. But, probably the mixed set for your hair length of the large, medium, and small curlers. You can twist your hair up in 5-10min, leave the rollers in while you finish getting ready, pull the pins out and voila! Big sexy model hair!

[Miranda]

Thanks for the additional tips!

I did find a good tutorial on YouTube. Watched a couple of this lady's stuff. She explain's things simply... that's what I need lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmsDigwVn1E

p.s. she also has a big curling iron vid... and a diff vid, I tried where you twist the flat iron itself in a swirling motion

[jelee1311]

My hair isn't super thick so on days when I don't have a lot of time to mess with it I cheat. I put frizz serum in my hair then blow dry it damp,then I twist it into a low bun and secure it with hair screws(goody makes them& target has them) I then hairspray and blow dry some more, finish getting ready,then take the screws out and finger comb.I end up with loose curls and not much heat damage.

[Pedal Wench]

I do that without any of the extra steps. Blow dry a bit, twist into bun (it stays up by itself) and then a few hours later, when the bun falls out, voila, curly hair.

My hair isn't super thick so on days when I don't have a lot of time to mess with it I cheat. I put frizz serum in my hair then blow dry it damp,then I twist it into a low bun and secure it with hair screws(goody makes them& target has them) I then hairspray and blow dry some more, finish getting ready,then take the screws out and finger comb.I end up with loose curls and not much heat damage.