Tips & Tricks: How To Curl Short Hair [2021] Ways / Ideas

Table of Contents

Are you tired of the same straight hair look as your short hair? If you are looking for some change in your hairstyle, then curling your hair would be one of them. It adds volume to your hair, a creative element to your face, and changes the entire face value. Curled hair adds versatility, is low in maintenance, and very attractive (35 Curled Hairstyles on latest-hairstyles.com). Above all, curled hair keeps your head warm. Sounds cool? If you want to try this style and wondering how to do it and do it right, then you are in the right place. You will learn step by step process of how to curl short hair along the way.

You can curl your hair either with a curler or a hair straightener or flat iron (Straightener vs. Flat Iron on numehair.com). The best way is to curl around a wand to a full revolution when it comes to curling short hair. It is easier and quicker too. It adds to the freshness and makes you look extra cute. You can curl your hair overnight with pin curls and knots. You can pick the one that suits your need and time.

Things You Need

Volumizing Mousse or Cream

Dry Shampoo

Curling Iron/Flat iron

Teasing comb

Hair Spray

How to Curl Short Hair: Pre-Preparation

Hair wash – Washing your hair is the first and preliminary step. Clean hair gives fuller and bouncier locks. A clean hair appears nourished and adds to volume.

Apply Volumizing mousse or cream – After hair wash, apply a little of volumizing cream/mousse to add volume to your hair.

Blow-dry – Your hair should be at least 90 percent dry. Ensure you blow-dry at the hair roots to get some lift.

Add texture – After you dry your hair, you can add some texture to your hair. This can be done by spraying dry shampoo at the hair roots. After this rub the spray in and tease comb that hair. This way overall hair volume is enhanced.

How to Curl Short Hair with a Flat Iron: Step by Step Instructions

This multi-functional heat styling tool can give you amazing curls and very quickly too. Ensure the flat iron has plates that are not very wide.

Once you are done washing and blow-drying properly, proceed to the below steps:

1. Strands preparation. When using a heat styling tool, it is essential to shield your hair using a heat protectant (more info about heat protectant on hairstory.com). This will essentially calm your hair frizz, offer lock protection, and seal in the hair shine from the heat styling tool. Apply the mist of heat protection over the hair strands from the hair root to the hair tip.

2. Divide your hair into sections. Make use of a rattail comb and split your hair into a section of 1″ in size. Clip the remaining hair leaving this section as it is.

3. Begin curling. Take your flat iron and hold it downward. Clamp the top hair section and twist the iron away or off the head. Hold the iron for a couple of seconds. Gradually drag the iron down to the end. Now release it for an immediate curl.

4. Repeat the process. Repeat the above process by splitting the hair section and curl. Do it section after section until the whole hair is curled up. Alternate the hair twist each time to blend in the curls to offer you a natural look.

More information about How to Curl Short Hair with a Flat Iron here.

How to Curl Short Hair With a Curling Iron

If you are looking for some old-fashioned curling then a curling iron is a better tool for short hair (Pros & Cons of curling iron on mystraightener.com). A smaller-sized curling iron would be the best option. The size should be about 3/4th thick. This will easily curl your short hair.

Once you are done washing and blow-drying properly, proceed to the below steps:

1. Ensure the right curling iron’s temperature. Set the curling iron to the right temperature. You do not want too hot or very little heat on your curling iron. You can carry a strand test by curling a little. Adjust the iron temperature to that setting and you are ready to start.

2. Section your hair. Divide your hair into a 1-inch section while clipping the rest away. Clamp the iron lightly at the hair root and slide the iron to the end of the hair. Close completely. Twist the iron to the roots ensuring a wrap along the length around this hair section. Hold for a couple of seconds and gradually remove the clamp. Your curl is ready right away. This is where you can try out different methods of curling (21 Extremely Useful Curling Iron Tricks on buzzfeed.com). You can wrap your hair around the barrel for loose curls. You will have to take bigger sections to curl your hair. It looks good on short hair.

3. Repeat. You need to do curling on your hair section by section. Split the hair and curl and repeat. Once you are done, you can mist a spray for the stronghold of curls intact.

More information about How to Curl Short Hair With a Curling Iron here.

Curling Very Short Hair

Here is a really quick tutorial on how to do the super curly cute little curls from completely straight hair. It’s just so nice to be able to look like you have some volume in the hair! If you’re wondering how on earth you can cope with this shortest hair, here is the way! Get a hair straightener. It’s great because it is small enough and thin enough for you to be able to get your hair around it. And because it is so small, you can carry it around with you everywhere in a cute little travel bag.

And the only other product you’re going to be using for your hair is the care and protecting spray. Use a little bit of it and don’t douse your head, because your hair is so short.

Start from the back sections, just because it’s easier, and curl them towards the front. Continue that on going around your head. Just fiddle around a little bit and you’ll get these cute little curls. That’s great about having such short hair and curling it! Even if your hair is a bit messy, no one’s going to notice it. If you like, have the curls coming forwards. You can also spin them a little bit inside and pull them down.

If you want a looser curl, you can pick up a larger amount of hair, and then it will be wavier. If you want a more prominent curl then obviously you need the smaller sections and the curls will be tighter.

Video: How I Curl My Short Pixie Cut | TINIETASHAA

Main Mistakes You’re Making When Curling Your Hair

1. Curl the hair directly after washing it	You know the thing that curls hold longer with dirty hair. That is true because if your hair is super soft, it doesn’t want to curl and holds for like five minutes. You can wash your hair the night before and then curl it in the morning. Probably, you shouldn’t wash your hair every day.
2. Curl wet hair	Always make sure your hair is completely dry before you start curling with a hot curling iron. Wet or even damp hair is extremely fragile, so blasting it with heat will cause damage and breakage. It’s not worth cutting corners and styling wet hair. Never start curling hair until it is 100% dry.
3. Wrong use of heat protectant	Heat protectants bring a great benefit and really save your hair from the damaging effect of hot tools. But do not try and curl your hair if it’s still damp from the heat protector, because it literally forces the dampness of the water to go out that fries your hair. Let your hair dry.
4. The wrong sized barrel	Without a doubt, using a flat or curling iron, each of you dreams of beautiful and long-lasting curls. Do you know that this depends on the size of your hot tool? It’s true because each size gives different curls and holding periods. Get the correct size according to your hair length: for short hair – 19 mm barrel; for medium length- the 25 mm barrel; for long – the 32 mm barrel.
5. Your barrel is too short	If you are a happy owner of the extra-long hair, the extra-long-sized barrel is for you! You need the curling tool with a 50 mm barrel. This size can be useful not only for long but for medium and even short hair. It makes the curling process easier; you can really control what you’re doing and reach the back sections of hair.
6. You’re using too much heat	Every morning you’re short of time but want to look great, so you blow-drying and curling your hair with too much heat. This damages and stresses out your hair! Moreover, you should know that every hair type requires its own range of temperature. It’s recommended: for fine hair – 270-300 degrees; for regular hair – 300-350; for coarse hair – 350-400 degrees. The curling process will take a bit longer, but it’ll bring invaluable benefits to your hair!
7. You’re often getting burned	If you constantly burn your hands while curling, get gloves. At least at first. When you gain experience, you can opt-out of them, if you want.
8. You’re holding your iron wrong	That’s important! Keep the barrel angled down! If you don’t plan on setting the curl or you used to curl your hair in a different way and it’s working for you, then you can hold the barrel pointed up. If you are not one of them – keep the barrel pointed down!
9. You’re taking too big of sections	If you take a big section, your curls will be damp and sluggish, because the heat hardly manages with this volume. The width of each hair section should be not any wider than an inch. When curling, work your way from the bottom up to the top.
10. You’re curling towards your face	Curl your hair away from your face and your hairstyle will be more voluminous, your face will be open and you will generally look confident and ambitious. You can curl towards their face only If you’d like to have a more frivolous look. But remember one general rule – never curl the hair towards your face, covering it. With an open face, you show off a confident attitude.
11. You’re not setting your curls	If you chose the right size barrel, your curling process is quite easy – keep your curls between five and ten seconds (but more than 15 seconds!) and you’ll get a great hairstyle for a couple more days!
12. You’re brushing your curls out too fast	Don’t touch your curls until they are cooled. Then use a wide-toothed comb or just your fingers to relax the curls. But do not hurry up and separate them gently.
13. You’re wrapping your hair in the wrong way	Wrap each hair section around the barrel, holding at its section end at the barrel’s base. Curl your hair a considerable length away from your face and try to avoid wrapping hair sections at the tip or center of the barrel.
14. You’re avoiding texture spray	Everybody dreams of voluminous hair. The texture sprays help to get this result. There are plenty of these sprays on the market. You should take the time to find the one that is right for you. Another way – get the layered haircut. Layers always give richness to the hair. You don’t need to cut length, just a few layers.
15. You’re using hairspray	If you don’t want to fry your hair or spoil the finish of your iron, never use hairspray while curling! But if your hair is thin and you need hairspray to fix your curls, spray it lightly only when the curls have absolutely cooled.
16. You’re not cleaning your barrels	It’s a crucial point! Every time you use the iron, its barrel is covered with product build-up that leads to the damage of the hair and even to the breakage of the tool. Clean the barrel right after it becomes cool enough with a wet washcloth, removing any product. Do not use any solvents otherwise you can harm the finish.

How to Curl Short Hair Overnight

If you are looking for overnight curls without using any heating tools, then you can do it in the following three ways:

Pin-curls. You get stunning curls using pin curls. But, since it has no heat associated with the process, you need to leave it overnight. You need to use these curls on damp hair. By creating hair sections of 1″ each, tuck each hair sectional hair around your finger and roll up from the end to the root. Secure the rolled hair using a bobby pin. Repeat with each hair section until all the hair is done. Wrap a silk scarf on your rolled hair. Leave the rolls overnight. In the morning, gradually eliminate all your bobby pins, and your stunning curl falls over the shoulder bouncing away.

Hair rollers. The procedure of using hair rollers is all the same as for pin curls. Here you can apply some curling mousse to your hair before rolling your hair onto the roller. Once you roll your hair onto the hair roller, secure it with the bobby pins and cover it with a scarf over your head. In the morning, your curls are all set.

We have prepared you a list of some of the best hair rollers in our Best Hair Rollers – TOP 5!

Bantu knots. Create 1 or 2″ hair sections and roll the hair and form a bun. Secure it with a hair tie. Repeat until all your hair is done. Cover with a scarf. In the morning undo the knots one by one and add a touch of hairspray.

Conclusion

It is not hard to curl your short hair to add a change to your look. The curling hold in place depending on your hair type and other factors (more about hair types on hairshop-tr.com). It is essential not to use styling products in large amounts as they weigh down your hair. This way your curls may not hold long. By following the steps appropriately, you can get bouncy curls and make yourself look vibrant and attractive. You will enjoy the change as much as the people looking at you.