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How To Best Curl Short Hair Without Using Heat

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Faster, regular heat styling can be really rough on your hair. As we covered in our previous feature, How Best to Curl Short Hair with Heat, curling hair with heat is effective, but not without potential shortcomings. In fact, it’s not just the very idea of heat, but the actual amount, that will determine the extend of the damage. A 2011 study found that “hair surfaces tended to become more damaged as the temperature increased”.

The following oh-so-easy methods are here to help you avoid the potential damage (think split ends, breakage and dry hair) that heat tools can cause. They will take more time set, but much of that time you can be doing other things around the house or even go to sleep.

If something comes up unexpectedly and you need curls pronto, heat treating is likely to be better for you. Yet be careful in how you do this, as another 2011 study found that “the type of damage caused by heat treatments is different in wet versus dry hair”.  If you’re not in a rush, though, enjoy these more natural fixes. Effective with all kinds of short hair, and in every kind of season from summer to winter, curling your hair without heat is a great and safe option, as we will describe in this How Best To Curl Short Hair Without Using Heat feature!

How To Curl Short Hair With Foam Rollers Or Flex Rods

Pink foam rollers in hair.

Foam rollers.

You can achieve that timeless retro vintage look with these, and you’ll look fabulous. Big rollers will create big and lengthy curls while small ones will create small and short curls. Foam rollers will be really soft on your head, or you can even get Flex-rods which will create pretty, tight, spiral curls

1. Decide on rollers or flex-rods. You can buy them at any beauty shop. If you have flex-rods, but you don’t want such tight curls, try tying a few flex-rods together before using them. This might only work with certain flex-rods.

2. Wash your hair. Since you’re not using heat to curl here, it’s best to start with freshly washed hair. Wash your hair as normal, and then allow it to dry naturally, or softly blot it with a towel until it’s just slightly damp.

3. Comb it properly and make sure there aren’t any tangles.

4. Section off a small bunch of your hair and apply a good setting spray. Apply the lotion to each section as you work on it rather than your whole head up front, so as to not have the lotion dry out before you get to that section. Carefully roll the section up and immediately put one of the rollers or flex rods on. Pin or attach in place. Repeat sectioning and rolling like this until your head is covered with rollers or flex-rods.

5. After three to four hours, carefully take the rollers or flex-rods out. Just gently finger comb your hair and you’ll have amazing, luscious curls.

Or 6. Leave the rollers or flex-rods in for the night. You can even sleep with them in if you want. In the morning, just unravel them and finger-comb through your hair for glamorous soft curls.

How To Curl Short Hair With Pin Curls

Pile of hair curlers.

Hair curlers.

Pin curls are a wonderful, traditional approach to creating curls. They tend to radiate that classy 50’s feel, yet these gorgeous full-bodied curls are still relevant and sexy. Pin curls can be created using bobby pins or pin curl clips. This method takes a bit more patience to get right, but the elegant look is definitely worth it!

1. Wash your hair. Since you’re not using heat to curl here, it’s best to start with freshly washed hair. Wash your hair as normal, and then allow it to dry naturally, or softly blot it with a towel until it’s just slightly damp. While your hair is still damp, apply a flexible curling product like a gel or cream if your hair is very straight or an anti-frizz serum if you need it.

2. Comb it properly and make sure there aren’t any tangles.

3. Add a little mousse in your hair. Mousse will make the hair rigid enough to hold a style. You could also use a gel or cream, depending on your hair type. Fine hair works best with a mousse. Medium and thick hair works better with a gel, which has more holding power.

4. Separate the hair into small sections. For this style, neat, orderly sections may work better than uneven sections. The sections of hair should be about 1/4 to 1 inch (2/3 to 1 1/4 cm) wide. The wider the section is, the softer and looser the curl will be. Place your finger at the ends of a section of hair. Wrap the hair around your finger, rolling the curl under and away from your face. The curl should be just loose enough to slide off your finger. Use bobby pins or a small, smooth salon clip to secure the curl to your head. Slide the pin or clip diagonally over the top of the curl.

5. Spray the finished set with curling spray. After you have wrapped and pinned your entire head of hair to your scalp, use a curling spray to spritz a small mist over your hair. This will aid the curling process. Or you can spray a little mist of water, just to ensure it all dries evenly.

6. Allow the curls to fully dry.  The pins should stay in for several hours or even overnight to allow them to thoroughly dry. If you’re planning on sleeping with the curls in, place a plastic shower cap over your hair to prevent any frizzing. If you’re in a hurry, you may use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process. However, just be aware that your curls will likely not be as tight if you use the hairdryer.

7. Remove the pins. Once your hair is completely dry, remove the pins or clips and gently unwind the curl. You can run your fingers gently through your hair to separate the curls if you do not want them to be so tightly wound. Run your fingers beneath the curls at the root and give the curls a gentle shake to tousle them into a natural shape. Spritz a firm holding hairspray over the finished curls to hold the final style.

Boost those curls with our premium Castor Oil Shampoo!

How To Curl Short Hair With Fabric Strips

Fabric strips in woman's hair.

Rag wrapping.

This is a time-tested method that has been around for hundreds of years. Not only are you being eco-friendly and recycling fabrics that you already have lying around, but by cutting your own fabric widths, you can really customize exactly how big or small you want your curls to be.

1. Cut up any fabric or old t-shirt into 1-inch (2.5cm) strips. Make the strips as wide as you want your curls to be. For tiny curls, make them 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) wide; for bigger, looser curls, make them up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) wide. You can use for this method any type of thin fabrics such as rags, old items of clothing, dish towels, etc. Just make sure the length of the strips is a couple of inches longer than your hair.

2. Wash your hair. Since you’re not using heat to curl here, it’s best to start with freshly washed hair. Wash your hair as normal, and then allow it to dry naturally, or softly blot it with a towel until it’s just slightly damp. While your hair is still damp, apply a flexible curling product like a gel or cream if your hair is very straight or an anti-frizz serum if you need it.

3. Comb it properly and make sure there aren’t any tangles.

4. Divide your hair into sections. If you want a more natural look, all you need to do is avoid separating the hair into even sections. Instead, just vary the size of the sections and alternate between curling the hair towards and away from the face. Gradually let down and curl the top layer. Remove hair from the top layer pinned to your head one section at a time. Curl each section in the same manner used to curl the bottom layer of hair before pulling down the next section.

5. Wrap your hair around the fabric strips. This should be done as if you were wrapping each piece of hair around a curling iron, and tie a knot to keep the curl in place. Or use a comb to separate a small section of your hair from the rest. Line up the bottom of a strip with the end of your hair. Roll your hair up toward your roots, keeping the strip in place the whole time. When you’ve rolled your hair and the strip up to your scalp, tie the ends of the strip to hold the rolled hair in place. If you only want to curl the ends of your hair, stop rolling halfway up your head and tie the strips at the place where you want the curls to stop. Roll your hair under, rather than up, for curls that curve toward your neck rather than curls that bounce outward (or vice-a-versa if that’s the look you prefer). If you would rather have tight, ultra-curly ringlets, you can slightly dampen the strips of fabric (and your hair will dry with the curl).

6. Leave the strips in overnight or for at least four-five hours.

7. Remove the strips. Undo the knot and free your hair sections. Do this gently if you want tight curls. For looser curls, run a wide-toothed comb through your hair to separate them into waves.

8. Add mousse or hairspray when removed. Do not brush your hair out, just gently comb through the hair with your fingers and you’re good to go!

How To Curl Short Hair With A Headband

Woman wearing headband.

Headband curling.

These heatless curls are bouncy and add volume to your hair, and this method is the most comfortable to sleep in. If you begin this with your hair dry, when you wake up and take the band out, your hair will be wavier, rather than curly, style.

1. Wash your hair. Since you’re not using heat to curl here, it’s best to start with freshly washed hair. Wash your hair as normal, and then allow it to dry naturally, or softly blot it with a towel until it’s just slightly damp. While your hair is still damp, apply a flexible curling product like a gel or cream if your hair is very straight or an anti-frizz serum if you need it. You will have to leave your headband curls in overnight, so it’s best to do this in the evening. With damp hair, your curls will last longer.

2. Comb it properly and make sure there aren’t any tangles.

3. Find a thin stretchy, fabric headband. A thinner headband will work best, about 1/2 inch to an inch in width. A soft stretchy fabric will be more comfortable to sleep in. Ensure your part is where you want it to be in the morning, and place the headband around your head– going over the hair at the back of your head rather than underneath it. At the front, the band should be just under your hairline. You can leave the bangs out (or very loosely wrapped) if you don’t want them to be curled up on your forehead.

4. Start wrapping pieces of hair around the headband. Starting at the very front, take a small strand of hair and tuck it underneath the headband, twisting slightly as you go. Keep working your way around your head wrapping uniform sections of hair around the headband just as you did at first. The tighter you wrap the hair, the tighter the curls will be, and vice versa. The looser curls will add more volume.

5. Finish at the back. Once you have wrapped all the hair around the headband on both sides, you will be left with a single strand of hair at the very back. Twist this until it curls upwards towards the scalp, then secure with a bobby pin. If you want a little more volume at the front, push the headband upwards towards your hairline. This will create volume and prevent you from getting a red line across your forehead!

6. Leave it overnight. Now all you need to do is go to sleep with your hair secured in the headband. If you’re concerned about frizz, try sleeping with a plastic shower cap over your head.

7. Remove the headband. In the morning, remove the bobby pin securing the hair at the back, and then gently pull the headband out of your hair. Use your fingers to gently separate the hair and work and work it into the desired shape. You should have big, glamorous curls, with plenty of volume. Spritz your hair with a medium-hold hairspray to set.

Learn all about curls in our Curls Explained: What Kind Of Locks You Have And Why It Matters

Conclusion

Practicing proper hair care when styling your short hair can be a pain, but it’s also a very important part of keeping your hair healthy and strong! Short hair with curls looks flattering with all hair types and colors and can be fun, sassy, chic, sexy, and even elegant but it can prove challenging to create. For a quick fix, you can use heating irons and blow dryers, but they can cause damage and are unhealthy to hair over time.

Fortunately, there are a variety of other methods for you to pick from in order to achieve curls without the use of expensive and potentially harmful heating equipment. We hope the above guide has furnished you with some good ideas on getting your short cut looking stylish and trendy. Have fun experimenting to find out which method you like the most!