Kristina is the founder of Lockenbox & Lockenexpertin. She has been intensively involved with the topic of curly hair care since her youth, when her straight hair suddenly turned into curls.
Not everyone is naturally blessed with curly hair. Fortunately, there are many tools and tricks available today that can help you transform straight hair into an exciting mane of curls.
Do you know this feeling? You've invested a lot of effort and know-how into curling your hair, and as soon as you're out and about, the once bouncy curls are hanging limply again. Sometimes they've even disappeared completely after a few hours.
Many people are familiar with the problem: the curls don't last and the curly hair dream is quickly over. Totally frustrating and a shame about the effort! Would you like to know how to make your curls last longer and how you can prevent them from losing their elasticity after a short time?
In this guide, we will introduce you to various techniques and tips that will help you to hold your curls and maintain your curly hair dream all day long.
How long do curls last?
The length of time curls last depends on various factors and varies from person to person.
- Your hair structure and thickness,
- the type of curling method used
- and the products you use will affect how long your curls last.
Some curling methods , such as a perm, can last for several months. Curls made with a curling iron or flat iron can last for a few hours or up to a day, depending on the hair texture and weather conditions.
In general, curls hold better on thick, strong hair than on thin or fine hair. You often hear "curls don't hold in thin hair," but that's only partially true and shouldn't discourage you at this point!
There are now various products such as curl sprays and curl mousses that can help curls last longer by fixing the hair and increasing its grip – even on fine hair!
If you are looking for more techniques for making curls, then take a look at our Curls magazine in the Styling & Techniques section.
Why don't my curls hold?
It sounds paradoxical, but curls hang out when the hair is very healthy and well moisturized. The cuticle layer of the hair then lies tightly together and the hair prefers to return to its natural and smooth original shape.
Now, of course, you should definitely not damage your hair just to make your curls last longer! But there are some styling tricks , helpful products and good tips that make curls last longer and help to hold them in place. We'll show you how!
Techniques for curls that last
There are many ways to get to Rome – or in this case, to long-lasting curls. Below we present you with various options and techniques .
Wavy hair with a straightener or curling iron
Both tools are truly classics for creating waves and curls in straight hair. If it weren't for this common problem: curls made with a straightener don't hold! And the waves made with a curling iron disappear after a very short time!
The right preparation can help. Before drying your hair, add some curl mousse and heat protection . This will make your hair easier to handle and help the curls to hold better.
Divide hair into smaller strands
If the curls fall out quickly, it can help to divide the hair into smaller sections before twisting the curls. If the sections are too large, the individual hairs will not get enough "twist" and the shape will not be strong enough.
Try using a smaller diameter curling iron or curling your hair into small papillotes. It may take longer, but the smaller the sections you make, the more voluminous and defined the end result will be.
The right haircut
A good haircut can also help to prolong the life of the curls . Broken tips and split ends are difficult to shape and only create a frayed, unsightly look.
Regularly trimming the ends not only optimizes the overall appearance of your hair and ensures a healthy look, it also makes curly hairstyles easier to hold in your hair.
A gentle layered cut also makes the hair lighter and airier. This not only helps prevent the curls from falling out so quickly, it also gives your waves a beautiful bounce and extra volume.
mousse before styling
Using mousse is a popular technique for making curls last longer. Mousse or styling mousse gives the hair texture and grip . This helps the curls stay in the hair better and fixing curls becomes child's play.
There are also special curl mousses. It is important to apply the mousse to damp hair and knead it in well. The curls can then be rolled onto curlers or curlers while they are still wet.
If you want to curl your hair with a curling iron or straightener, you should let it air dry first or use a hairdryer. Using a curling iron on wet hair is a no-go, as it will quickly damage the hair structure.
Applying mousse to dry hair is also not a good idea. The result is reminiscent of the unsightly 90s mousse look and makes the hair quickly become stringy and crunchy.
Pin curls and let cool
Hair clips are your best friend when it comes to keeping your curls in place. After you've curled a section of hair, use the clip to hold it in place and only remove it once the curls have cooled down . This creates hold and definition.
Expert tip: Make sure to pin the hair close to the roots. This will allow the curls to curl up nicely and take on a defined shape. Clipping the hair is also a great trick to prevent flat roots, as it gives extra volume to the roots.
The trick with the sugar spray
Many people have already heard of salt spray for hair to give the hair a summery beach look. But have you heard of sugar spray? It is the sweet counterpart to the well-known beach wave salt spray.
With one crucial advantage: unlike salt, sugar does not damage the hair or dry it out.
The fine sugar particles form a thin film around the hair and literally melt when exposed to body heat or a hairdryer. This gives the hair a good grip and texture and makes the hair shine wonderfully. Sugar spray often contains nourishing ingredients and does not dry out the hair.
Did you know that you can easily make your own sugar spray? Here are simple instructions on how to make your own sugar spray using just a few ingredients.
Recipe for sugar spray:
- 250 ml of water
- 6 tablespoons white granulated sugar
- A few drops of hair oil
- A spray bottle
Preparation:
To increase the shelf life of the spray, the water should first be boiled. The easiest way to do this is with a kettle.
- Then stir the sugar into the still hot water.
- Before you add the hair oil, you should let the water-sugar mixture cool to room temperature.
- Now put it in a spray bottle and store the sugar spray in the refrigerator.
- Before use, always shake the bottle well so that the oil is distributed in the water before application. Your sugar spray is ready!
tease curls with your fingertips
To make the curls last longer , you can gently tease the curls using your fingers . Hold the curls at the bottom and carefully push them upwards in the direction of the twist.
When backcombing, the keratin scales of the hair are lifted against the direction of growth, which gives the hair hold and texture. This way, curls last longer. However, the procedure is not particularly gentle on the hair and should only be used on special occasions.
The next time you wash your hair, it is advisable not to forget to use conditioner . This can close the cuticle of the roughened hair and help to retain moisture in the hair.
Papillotes make curls last longer
A classic but by no means out of fashion is curling your hair with papillotes. To make this curling method last as long as possible, it is important to curl the papillotes into damp hair.
Beforehand, you can apply hold-giving styling products such as mousse or curl mousse to wet hair . This also increases the durability of the curls.
Afterwards, the curlers or rollers should be left in the hair until the hair is completely dry. This works wonderfully overnight, for example. If you remove the curlers too early, the beautiful curls will quickly disappear and the hair will become frizzy.
Conclusion
Too much moisture and a smooth cuticle are the biggest enemies of any curl in straight hair. Keeping the curls in place is a challenge, especially in humid weather.
It's all the better that there are plenty of styling products and techniques that can help adjust the feel and texture of the hair. This means that curls can be easily maintained in straight and fine hair all day long.
By trying out different products and techniques, you will quickly find out which method is best suited to your personal hair type. This way, your dream of curly hair can come true. We hope you have lots of fun as a Curly Girl!
FAQ
What is the best way to keep curls in straight hair?
Moisture is good and important for healthy hair, but if you want curls to last, you need to make sure that your hair gets a little drier - at least for a short time. Hair styling products such as hairspray, mousse or curl mousse can help here.
If you are styling your hair with a straightener or curling iron, it is a good idea not to curl it on the day you wash it. Your hair will have more grip and hold on day 2 or 3 after washing. The natural oil from your scalp and dust particles from the environment, which are everywhere, will then help to keep the curls in place.
Keeping curls overnight: is that possible?
Once you've gone to the trouble of getting curls in your hair, you'll naturally want to keep it for as long as possible. After all, the effort should be worth it!
But how can you keep your beautiful curls through the night without waking up the next morning with a disheveled bird's nest on your head? Our guide on this topic gives you lots of helpful tips to keep your curls in shape while you sleep: Keep your curls overnight : How to protect your hair.
Which products can I use to preserve curls?
There are various products available that can be used to hold curls. Some are designed specifically for curly hair, others are classic hair styling products and are suitable for any hair type. Here are some examples:
Hairspray: Hairspray is a popular product for setting curls and giving them hold. It can be applied either before or as a finish after styling.
It gives the hair more grip and volume. One of our favorite hairsprays is the alcohol-free Bounce Curl hairspray with a delicious floral and vanilla scent.
Mousse: Another product that can be used to hold hair is mousse. It gives the hair structure and volume and ensures that the curls last longer. You can sometimes find mousse under the name styling mousse.
There is also a special curling foam that is designed to help curl and curl your hair. You can find hair-care mousse, moisturizing curling foam and lots of other great products from the mousse category in our Lockenbox curling foam range
Curl Cream: Curl cream is a product specifically designed for curly hair. It helps define and condition curls while increasing hold.
We love curl creams and offer many different varieties for every curl type in our shop: The Curl Box Curl Creams.
Heat protection spray: When creating curls with a curling iron or flat iron, it is important to use a heat protection spray. This protects the hair from possible heat damage and also helps to make the curls last longer.
Whether it's heat, UV rays, sea water or chlorine - the Miracle Shield Spray from CURLSMITH is a real all-rounder when it comes to protection.
Texturizing sprays: Texturizing sprays such as salt spray or sugar spray give the hair grip and structure. Salt spray gives a natural and casual beach wave look and makes the hair look intentionally "undone".
We were delighted with the Create Waves Spray from Innersense Organic . It pampers your hair with pink Himalayan salt and real amethyst crystals. Sugar spray, on the other hand, can conjure up a breathtaking shine in your hair and offers very good hold and fixation of the curls.
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