How to Get Loose Curls: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

If you’ve ever reached for your curling iron with voluminous, loose curls in mind, then you already know that it’s one of those hairstyles that only looks effortless. There’s actually a lot of deliberate forethought that goes into creating natural-looking loose curls - especially if you want them to last all day.

But don’t worry! Once you get the hang of it, this look can be easy to achieve, especially with the right products and a few tips to create just the effect you’re going for. Here’s how to get loose curls that last all day, plus some tips for switching up the look to see what suits you best!

What You’ll Need for Long-Lasting, Perfect Loose Curls

Here’s your product and tool lineup for healthy, bouncy, shiny loose curls that last all day! 

• Propolis Infused Polishing Primer: Our Propolis Infused Polishing Primer is a lightweight styler that preps your hair for styling, reduces frizz, speeds drying time, and provides workable hold. It’s essential for loose curls because it enhances texture and volume while leaving the hair soft and helping to prevent damage during heat styling.
• Propolis Infused Heat Protectant: Our Propolis Infused Heat Protecting Spray is essential for protecting your hair from damage that can occur during blow drying and curling. It’s infused with propolis, honey and proteins to strengthen and fortify the hair while preventing breakage, adding texture, and controlling frizz.
• Propolis Infused Texturizing Wave Spray: Our Propolis Infused Texturizing Wave Spray provides the perfect amount of hold without ever being heavy or sticky or drying out the hair. It’s amazing for giving body and volume to loose curls.
• Curling Wand: Gisou’s Curling Tool features a versatile 1-inch ceramic barrel with 10 temperature settings. It’s designed for all hair types and is perfect for achieving long-lasting bouncy, loose curls.
• Hair Clips: Clipping your hair into sections will make it easier to curl. You may also want some smaller clips to clip individual curls while they cool for extra longevity.
• Honey Infused Hair Oil: Our Honey Infused Hair Oil provides the perfect finishing touch to loose curls. This multitasking product adds softness and silky shine to the hair while also nourishing its overall health and protecting it from breakage.

Styling Tips for Loose Curls

Here are our top tips for achieving long-lasting loose curls and switching up your technique to get just the look you’re going for.

• Curling your hair in alternating directions will make your curls look more natural. It will also help to prevent your curls from clumping together, providing a softer,  more bouncy look.
• The larger and thicker the strands of hair you wrap around your curling iron, the looser your curls will be.
• The longer you keep your hair wrapped around the barrel of the curling, the tighter your curls will be. Holding some pieces a little longer, some a little shorter, will result in some tighter curls mixed with some looser ones. This can be a fun technique to play around with when you want to switch up your look. 
• Taking smaller sections will produce longer-lasting, tighter curls that will loosen gradually. This is an excellent strategy for those who only want to curl their hair every two or three days.
• Don’t touch your curls until they are completely cool. Touching them too soon will make them fall out too quickly.
• If your curls are a little tighter than you want them to be, once they’re completely cool, you can brush through them with a wide-tooth comb to loosen them. Just be careful not to overdo it or you may relax them too much.

How to Get Loose Curls Step by Step

Here’s how to make loose curls step-by-step. Once you get the technique down, try experimenting using the tips above to get different effects and see what you like best!

Step 1: Start with Clean, Conditioned Hair

Begin your styling routine with clean hair. Our Honey Infused Wash and Go Combo cleanses and conditions without stripping the hair of natural oils. It’s formulated to gently remove buildup, resulting in silky, shiny, hydrated hair that’s ready to style.

Step 2: Prep Your Hair for Styling

Prep your hair for styling by placing a pea-sized amount of Polishing Primer into your palms. Rub your hands together to warm the product and then work it through your towel-dried hair from root to tip. Follow up with our Heat Protectant Spray to prevent heat damage during styling. 

Step 3: Dry Your Hair Completely Before Curling

Spritz your hair with Wave Spray before drying. This will provide texture and lasting hold without being stiff or sticky. If your hair is straight or naturally wavy, you can allow it to air dry completely before styling. For naturally curly hair, a smoothing blowout with a round brush will yield the best results. 

Step 4: Section the Hair

Once your hair is completely dry, divide it into top and bottom sections for easier curling. If you have very long or thick hair, you might find that three or four sections work best.

Step 5: Curl the Bottom Section of Your Hair

Starting with the bottom section of your hair, take a 1 to 2-inch piece and wrap it around your curling wand, holding the wand in a vertical position. Work your way around the entire bottom section curling each piece in an alternating direction. This will give you the most natural-looking loose curls. 

Negin’s pro-tip for long-lasting curls: Allow each curl to cool in the palm of your hand before dropping it. If you want your curls to last an extra long time, consider clipping each individual curl as you go and allow them to set until completely cool. If you have more than two sections, curl the remaining sections using the same technique until you reach the top section of your hair. 

Step 6: Curl the Top Section of Your Hair

Now, let down the top section of hair. Spritz the roots with Wave Spray and use your fingers to add volume and lift to the top layers. Curl this entire section away from your face, leaving the front pieces for last.

When you get to the front pieces, smooth your curling wand down the hair and pull it away from your face. Create a bend by pausing parallel to the cheekbone, leaving the ends out. This will provide a face-framing effect that’s super flattering on any face shape or hair type.

Step 7: Finish Your Style

If you’ve clipped up your curls, the longer you leave them clipped up, the bouncier your curls will be. For the loosest waves, take out the clips as soon as the hair cools. For more defined curls that last longer, leave the clips in for 30 minutes to an hour after they cool.

Once you take out the clips, give your hair a mist of wave spray and fluff up the roots gently with your fingers. Finish off the look with a drop or two of our Honey Hair Oil from the mid shafts to the ends of your hair to add shine and smooth out any frizz or flyaways.

Step 8: Maintaining Your Loose Waves

If you want your curls to last for an extra day or two, try misting your roots with wave spray and sleeping with your hair in a loose bun on top of your head. In the morning, flip your head upside down and fluff up your curls. Add a drop or two of hair oil to the lengths and ends of your hair, then brush with a smoothing brush.

FAQs: How to Loose Curl

Can I get loose curls on short hair?

If you’re going for loose, bouncy curls, you’ll get the best results if your hair has some length, preferably chin-length or longer. Hair that’s cut into long layers will get more of a tousled beachy look, but this hairstyle looks amazing on blunt-cut hair, too. Shorter hair will require a curling wand with a thinner barrel, 0.5 to one inch in size. 

Can I Get Loose Curls with a Flat Iron Instead of a Curling Iron?

There are many different ways to curl your hair and you can achieve similar results with a straightener. However, flat irons tend to get hotter than curling irons, which could lead to damage, especially if you have fine, damaged, or dry hair. In our experience, it’s also easier to create smoother, more natural-looking curls with a curling iron.

What Size Curling Iron is Best for Creating Loose Curls?

A curling wand with a 1-inch barrel creates the longest-lasting, most natural-looking loose curls on all hair lengths. It’s the most versatile sized barrel for creating a variety of effects, from beachy waves to tighter curls.

Wrapping Up

Now that you know how to loose curl, try different techniques to change your look. For example, you can leave the ends out for a beachy wave. Or, you can start the curl closer to the root for more volume at the crown. The options are virtually endless!