Want wavy curls? Top styling tips for learning how to curl your hair

Long hair really is a gift: lending itself to countless updos, as well as being the ideal length for weaving braids. However, when it comes to curly hairstyles, things can take a challenging turn. As anyone blessed with lengthy tresses will know that creating wavy, loose curls is no easy feat. 

But if you’re craving the sweet and elegant taste of curly locks for your new look, don’t fret! We at All Things Hair have a few tried and tested tricks up our sleeves and enlisted the help of one of our fave beauty influencers, Daisie Smith (aka Beauty’s Big Sister).

Trust us, she’ll help you to learn how to curl hair and create killer wavy curls from the comfort of your own home. So don’t forget to take a look at Daisie’s video (above)!

Curling long hair: Tips and tricks for wavy curls

Tools of the trade

Okay, so we probably don’t need to tell you, that a curling wand is probably the ideal styling tool for curl execution – which is why it’s so important to pick the right one for you. But if you don’t currently own a curling wand, know that there are other tools you can style with: curling tongs, hair rollers, and even your straightener (yes, you really can use it to curl your hair!).

Don’t forget to protect your hair

But whatever your preferred tool/method of hair curling may be, remember to safeguard your tresses from excess heat damage. Wondering how you can protect your hair from becoming dry and damaged? Well, the answer is: by using a heat protectant.

Editor’s tip: Stuck on which heat protectant to use? We love the easy-to-use spray formulation of the VO5 Heat Protect Spray.

It also has a heat activated complex that helps protect from the heat of styling tools, up to 230°C. Smart, eh?

Section your hair

When curling long hair, it’s easy to get a bit lost in the sectioning process. So, our top ‘how to curl hair’ tip, is to start with the under sections first and tying the top sections of your hair into a bun. 

You may be thinking that if a bun works, then surely a ponytail will do the job just as well, right? Sort of. But we think buns are perfect for your tresses neatly out of your way!

How to do loose curls with creation hairspray

Want to know the secret behind how to do loose curls? Believe it or not, loose curls hold better when you spritz them with a creation hairspray, like the VO5 Wave Creation Hairspray before curling.

Section your hair into equal portions (large or small, depending on your desired curl size) and spritz each one, before curling it. Easy peasy!

Add volume

Want to know how to curl your hair like pro? As well as curling your long hair, it’s important to give your tresses a little lift at the roots. Because without volume even beautiful wavy curls can lacklustre!

Our current styling crush has to be on the VO5 Instant Volume Powder, which creates volume and grip at the roots. Did we mention that it has a matt finish? Honestly, what more could you want?

Shake it out!

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can simply curl and go. On the contrary, if you want to nail how to do loose curls, you’ll have to softly brush them.

Note: You don’t want to brush out your curls as soon as you release them from your styling tool. Be patient and allow them to fully cool, before gently using your fingers to loosen them up. They’ll look less stiff and far more natural!

Feeling more confident about curling your long hair? Great! Now that you know how to curl hair, you need to start trying out some on-trend styles – so get yourself over to our Curly Hairstyles page, where you can put your new-found skills to the test!