When it comes to styling, short hair can be intimidating. If you decided to go short for summer after lusting over the hottest summer hairstyles but now have no idea how to curl your new 'do, you're not alone. While a wavy bob or a coifed pixie cut may look effortless, knowing how to style these cuts is key.
Luckily, no one way is best when it comes to curling hair — whether you want to use a diffuser to help define your natural curls, a curling iron or a curling wand, there are tons of different ways to ensure your hair can look its best.
We enlisted the help of celebrity stylist Frédéric Fekkai to offer pro tips for curling shorter styles, whether you have natural ringlets or want to use a hot tool.
How to curl short hair with a curling iron
You can curl freshly washed and blow-dried hair or next-day hair (though next-day hair is known to hold curls better).
- Prep your hair using a heat protectant before reaching for any tools.
- "Use a hot barrel [on a 1 to 1½-inch iron] without the clip, roll the hair around it and let loose," Fekkai says.
- Use a texturizing spray or for extra hold and to add definition.
- Flip hair over and shake out the curls to loosen them up.
- Add a pea-sized amount of hair oil to curls if they need a moisture boost.
Pro tip: Curl pieces of hair away from the face for the most natural-looking curls. If you want more tousled beach waves, try alternating between away from your face and toward your face.
How to curl short hair with a curling wand
- Shield your hair using a heat protectant before you begin styling.
- Roll 1 inch pieces of hair around a 1 to 1½-inch wand.
- Leave out the very ends out to create natural-looking waves, and start working from the top down to ensure hair doesn't get too poufy — it's okay if some of the pieces underneath are left uncurled.
- Once hair is cooled, comb through the waves with your fingers to make them more piecey.
- Finish with a hair serum to add in shine and moisture.
Pro tip: When using a curling wand, try alternating directions you curl the hair for a more dimensional finish.
How to curl short hair with a flat iron
Fekkai explains that flat irons are better tools to use when curling long hair, and anyone with shorter hair should stick to a curling iron or wand. If you do want to try your hand at flat iron waves, however:
- Section off your hair into three or four sections, depending on how thick your hair is.
- Wrap 1 and 1/2 inch strands of hair around the iron away from the face.
- Use the iron like you would normally until halfway down the hair shaft. Then, flip the iron over to begin curling the hair.
How to curl short hair without heat
If you'd rather not heat-style your hair but still want effortless-looking curls, you can still achieve a curly look:
- Start with damp hair, and part it down the middle.
- Take two 1/2 inch pieces of hair at the very front and start twisting them over each other, taking more hair as you go along.
- Tie up the ends and repeat on the other side.
- Allow hair to dry, then carefully let it out of the twists and shake out curls.
