Luscious curly hair is always in fashion but it’s a difficult ideal for many to achieve. Curling long thick hair, in particular, can often feel like an impossibility. For one, curling long hair is very time-consuming. And to make matters worse, the thickness of the hair makes it extra heavy which tends to straighten any curls very quickly.
Still, there has to be a way for how to curl long layered hair easily enough. So, what is the fastest way to curl long thick hair and how can you make it last as long as possible?
How to curl long layered hair with a curling iron?
If your hair is healthy enough for you to safely use a heated curling iron you can use this method. Still, beware that heat can be damaging to your hair so you should be very careful when using a curling iron. Use the lowest possible heat setting, at least at first, keep the curling iron for no more than 3 seconds per strand, and make sure your hair is well-nourished and moisturized at all times.
So, here’s a quick step-by-step for curling long and thick hair with a curling iron.
- Wash your hair and let it dry off completely. Your hair should be clean before you start but it should also be dry. Wet hair straightens out when it dries off so if you curl wet hair your efforts will very quickly go in vain. So, wash, shampoo, and condition your hair properly but then let it dry off before you start.
- Apply some heat protection. Even if your hair is well-nourished and conditioned, the heat from the curling iron can still damage it. Spraying some heat-protecting serum to your hair before you start is a good idea.
- Heat up the heating iron before you start. If you want a hotter curling iron for more effective curls (and if you’re sure that your hair can take it), go with a ceramic curling iron. If you want big and loose curls, use a curling iron with a bigger barrel. If you prefer tighter curls, go with a smaller barrel curling iron.
- Start wrapping your hair on the curling iron one strand at a time and then pin them in place. You can start with a strand from the lower back of your hair if this is your first time. This way, if an accident happens on your first try, it won’t be too visible. Or, you can start from the front of your hair where you’ll have better visibility.
Either way, Make sure that you curl your hair on the iron as tightly as possible but also that you’re being quick – if the hair stays on the iron for longer than three seconds, the risk of it getting damaged or even burnt away is quite significant. After that, just pin each strand to its roots, facing backward. - Apply some hairspray. Once you’re done with every strand of hair, spray them with hairspray while they are pinned down. This will help the curls stay in place for longer.
- Remove the pins once your hair has cooled off. The curls don’t need to be kept pinned down for long – once they cool off you can let them loose. If you haven’t sprayed them with hairspray yet, you can do so now too.
And that’s about it. Good ceramic curling irons are the best way to curl long and thick hair but they are also risky so make sure that you’re careful when using them.
