Now, I love big bouncy hair as much as the next girl & if like me you struggle to stop your curls from dropping by lunchtime then hopefully this post will help!
I recently got my hands on the wide iron straightener by Cloud 9 and have really enjoyed creating my signature everyday look with them as I've found my curls last quite a lot longer than when I use a classic tong, which is what I'm used to doing.
I've been using it for a few weeks now and highly recommend it without hesitation! It literally heats up within seconds, a significant improvement to my previous curler. It glides through the hair & I love that it came with a heat protectant guard and case. I also read in the manual that it smartly switches itself off when not in use for 30 minutes - that will save you those 'did I turn everything off-my house is going to burn down' heart attacks! This straightener definitely exceeded all expectations.
Quick pointers:
Why the wide iron and not the original size?
I prefer a bigger, looser curl that either looks like a curly blow dry or relaxed beach waves. The wider iron creates a larger ringlet that works beautifully on mid-long length hair. You may want to pick up the smaller size if you have shorter hair unless you want a really relaxed look.
Why would I want to buy a straightener to create curls?
If you don't mind the learning curve, I think it's the logical choice as it eliminates the need for 2 tools.
You can create quite a few looks with a straightener if you're willing to learn to use it to its fullest potential, everything from waves to curls and of course straight hair or slightly curled ends to mimic the effect of a sleek blow dry. I've also found that you apply less heat to the hair as your not clamping it into a tong & holding it for several sections but rather gliding a straightener through for less time.
Prep
The products you wash your hair with will definitely affect how your style lasts. My hairdressers over the years have recommended shampoo's with no silicone or coating agents as this weighs the hair down, increasing the chance of the style falling flat. You want to look for shampoo's with a slightly lighter texture, they'll usually be marketed as volumising or for oilier hair types. I've also found that organic SLS free products are very lightweight and hold styles well, a shampoo that I have enjoyed using is the Aloe & Mint shampoo and conditioner by Less is more, it has a refreshing scent and the conditioner nourishes without being too heavy.
Styling Products
Mousses work very well at adding body to the hair and helping styles last but I find they're often forgotten about. I concentrate the application of products like this to the roots as my hair tends to lose volume there first due to my oily skin type, I then apply a small amount to the midsection and ends.
There is definitely a learning curve with mousses as some hair can take quite a bit of it whereas others cant - this is something you will have to discover for yourself. I personally apply a palm-sized dollop to my entire head.
The product that I have enjoyed using at the moment is the Big Fat root boost mousse spray by Lee Stafford, the precision applicator nozzle makes it very easy to apply to the roots and it feels very refreshing on the scalp, It really helps with adding volume, without it, my hair looks so flat it's almost like its stuck to my head by the end of the day- not cute.
*Lee Stafford products are currently 3 for 2 in boots at the moment. (18/10/17)
My Tips:
Avoid any oils prior to heat styling - I don't know if it's just in my head but I feel like I'm frying my hair if I apply it before, I usually pop an oil on after heat styling to define the curls and nourish the ends.
Hair Drying
I've also found the way in which you dry your hair also affects its ability to hold style.
First, make sure your hair is thoroughly combed through - I've loved using Lee Stafford's tangle terminator brush seen in the video ( launches 30th October in boots) as the moving brush plates don't pull or tug at the hair, getting knots out quickly and gently.
Blast Dry - The most time-efficient option: It can make your hair look fluffy/frizzy if you don't heat style it after. If going via this route tip your head over to get volume at the roots then make sure you dry your hair with the nozzle pointed downwards as this helps smooth the hair cuticle down, reducing frizz.
If you have a bit more time section off your hair and dry it with a round brush concentrating on building lift at the roots but be sure not to spend too long smoothing it through the midsection as this essentially will have your hair 'setting' into a straighter style.
After I'm done with drying, it's at this point that I spritz a curl-specific heat protectant onto my hair. The one that I like to use is the Loreal Studio Pro Heat Hot & Curl Spray I usually buy this on fragrance direct, or, I just noticed its on sale in boots at the moment (18/10/17) My old favourite was the Waves heat protect spray by Elnette. However, I haven't been able to get my hands on that for ages so I can only assume it's been discontinued, which is a shame because it was fantastic.
Show me how to do it already!
Alright, alright, I'm getting to it! To write how to do this would have left you more confused than informed so here is a very quick video that I uploaded on my Instagram of the technique that I use for curling hair. Note this is for curls that fall flowing away from the face, you will have to the wrap the hair in the opposite direction per side for a different style. Alternatively, you can alternate if you want more texture, however, I prefer when my curls flow in the same direction.
I love to finish up with a spritz of Lee Stafford's Hold Tight Strong Hold Hairspray, I've used it in the middle of the day to help refresh my curls and it did an excellent job at holding my style without feeling crispy.
& that's all folks! I hope you found this post informative and enjoyed the video. let me know if any of these tips worked for you and feel free to comment any suggestions for tutorials that you would like to see in the future.
