8 Different Ways to Curl Your Hair – With or Without Heat

From Jayme Jo to Dina Galwash, curls, waves, and volume are trending. And let’s not forget about Negin’s signature curls. When your hair is looking flat or a little dull, curls and waves give it that sexy, celebrity volume we all envy. But learning how to style them can be a challenge.

What you may not know is, there are many different ways to curl your hair! Tight spirals, big beachy waves, voluminous red-carpet curls… there are lots of curling methods to try and each one yields a different curl and texture.

So, if you’re feeling like you’re in a hairstyle rut, try one of these fun new ways to curl hair. Something as simple as switching up your hairstyle can boost your entire mood! 

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The 8 different ways to curl your hair outlined in this article:

1. Wide, Voluminous Curls with a Curling Iron
2. Loose Waves with a Curling Iron
3. Spiral Curls with a Curling Iron
4. Ribbon Curls with a Flat Iron
5. S Waves with a Flat Iron
6. Loose Waves without Heat
7. Beach Waves without Heat
8. Heatless Glam Curls with Velcro Rollers

What to Know Before You Curl Your Hair

Before we dive into the different ways to curl your hair, there are a few things you should know. 

• First, we want to stress how important it is to prepare and protect the hair anytime you’re using heat. Before you curl your hair, apply our Propolis Infused Polishing Primer to add shine and flexible hold. Then apply our Propolis Infused Heat Protectant Spray to prevent damage.

• Keep in mind that large barrels and large sections produce looser curls, while small barrels and small sections produce tighter ones. If you prefer big bouncy curls opt for Gisou’s 1-Inch Curling Tool and take wider, thicker sections wrapped loosely around the barrel.

• Whether you’re using a curling iron or straightener to curl your hair, choosing the best temperature for your hair type is also important. For fine, damaged, chemically processed, or dry hair, always use the lowest effective setting. Thick hair will need a higher temperature setting to produce a long-lasting curl.

• Allow each section to heat through completely before releasing your curling iron. Not allowing the section to heat all the way through is the leading cause of curls that fall out too quickly.  Let the curl sit in the palm of your hand for a few seconds before letting it go completely. Then, make sure every curl is completely cool before styling.

• Run a few drops of Gisou’s Honey Infused Hair Oil through your hair after curling to lock in moisture, add shine, and eliminate frizz. Always style freshly curled hair with your fingers or a wide tooth comb. Avoid using a brush on curled hair because it might pull out the curl.

• A spritz of flexible-hold hairspray will set the curls without making them crunchy. Our Propolis Infused Texturizing Wave Spray is the perfect choice for flexible hold, texture, and definition without stiffness or stickiness.

• If you’re brand new to curling your hair with a curling iron or straightener, consider practicing with the curling iron off first. This will allow you to master the curling techniques without burning yourself or applying unnecessary heat to your hair.

8 Different Ways to Curl Your Hair

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into eight different ways to curl hair, with and without heat.

Ways to Curl Your Hair with a Curling Iron

Here are three different ways to curl your hair with a curling iron. Each technique will lead to different types of curls depending on the size of the barrel, the size of the sections, and the method you use to wrap your hair around the wand.

• Wide, Voluminous Curls with a Curling Iron

If you want a wide curl with lots of volume, try the flat wrapping technique. You can curl the hair away from your face,  toward it or alternate, depending on your preference.

Simply take a vertical section of hair, choose the direction you want to curl, and focus on keeping the hair flat as you wrap it around the iron. Wrap until you get to the ends and hold for about 15 seconds. Release the hair gently and allow the curls to cool before styling them gently with your fingers.

The wider and thicker your sections are, the looser your curls will be. We recommend starting with sections that are about 1 ½” to 2” thick and experimenting until you find just the right size curl for you. Be careful not to twist the hair as you wrap, or you won’t get the same results!

• Loose Waves with a Curling Iron

If you love the look of loose waves, try this technique with a 1-to-2-inch curling iron. To get the look, separate a 1 ½” section of hair and flat wrap without twisting until you’re about halfway down the length of your hair. 

Allow the section to heat completely, then release it and flat wrap the rest of the section in the opposite direction. Leave the ends out for a more natural look. Allow the hair to cool completely before finger combing to separate the curls. Set the look with our flexible-hold, texturizing spray for definition and hold. 

• Spiral Curls with a Curling Iron

If you like a tight, spiral curl with texture, this technique is for you. For this look, you’ll wrap ½” sections around your 1” curling iron. Twist the entire section from root to end, ensuring that you wrap the entire section in the same direction.

You can curl all the hair in the same direction, either toward or away from your face, depending on your preference. Or you alternate directions for a multi-directional, more natural-looking curl. 

For longer-lasting curls, let each section heat all the way through before releasing it into your palm. Let it sit in your palm for a few seconds before letting it go completely. 

Allow your hair to cool completely and then shake out your curls with your fingers to separate them and add volume.

Ways to Curl Your Hair with a Straightener

There are several different ways to curl hair with a flat iron, too. Here are two techniques to try.

• Ribbon Curls with a Flat Iron

Ribbon curls are tight curls that have a lot of bounce. One of the best things about this technique is that the curls can last for days, gradually loosening into a beachy wave as time goes by.

Start with a medium-sized section of hair about ½” thick and 1” wide. Hold the section in one hand with the flat iron in a vertical position in your other hand. Your palm should be facing your head. Close your straighter at the roots of your hair and twist so that your palm is now facing away from your head.

Slide your straighter down the hair slowly, all the way down to the end, and release. Allow the hair to cool and then separate the curls with your fingers. Run 2-3 few drops of our Honey Infused Hair Oil through the hair to tame frizz and add shine, spritz with our Propolis Infused Texturizing Wave Spray, and you’re done.

• S Waves with a Flat Iron

This technique creates loose “S” waves, similar to push or finger waves, using a flatiron. In essence, you’re going to create an S shape with each section of hair and use your flat iron to set the shape. The result is a very loose, natural-looking wave.

Take a horizontal section of your hair and pinch with your thumb and index finger right at the scalp. Move down the section forming an S-shape, pinching and heating with your straightener as you go. Repeat until you reach the end of the section.

Allow your hair to cool before running your fingers through it to separate the waves. The result will be a loose, organic wave with a totally different texture than you would get with a curling iron. Feel free to spritz with our Propolis Infused Texturizing Wave Spray for added longevity.

Ways to Curl Hair without Heat

Heat tools can give you amazing curls and waves that last, but sometimes you want to give your hair a break from the heat. The good news is, there are countless ways to curl hair without heat.

• Loose Waves without Heat

The easiest way to curl long hair without heat is to braid your hair before bed and sleep on it. One large braid will create loose waves, while two or more smaller braids will create tighter waves. When you wake up in the morning, undo the braid(s) and run a few drops of Honey Infused Hair Oil through your hair for softness and shine, and to tame any frizz.

• Beach Waves without Heat

This technique will work best if your hair already has some texture to it, whether it’s a bit of natural wave or leftover curls from styling your hair the previous day. Start with damp hair and mist it generously with our Propolis Infused Texturizing Wave Spray from mid-shaft down to the ends. 

Now scrunch the hair upwards with your hands to form the waves. The result will be an effortless, natural, beachy wave.

• Heatless Glam Curls with Velcro Rollers

If you’re looking for big, voluminous, glamorous curls without heat, go ahead and pull out your large Velcro rollers.  Roll damp sections of hair from the end to the scalp and secure with clips or bobby pins. Leave the rollers in until your hair is completely dry. 

Unroll your hair and run your fingers and a few drops of our Honey Infused Hair Oil through to separate the curl. Add a flexible hold hairspray for extra longevity.

• Negin’s heatless curls

Let’s not forget about Negin’s favorite heatless curls hack. Use the Propolis Infused Polishing Primer to prep your hair. Then, apply the Heat Protecting Spray to protect from UV rays and provide texture & hold. Wrap your hair around the belt of your bathrobe (watch the video for the exact technique), leave it in for a couple of hours. Finish off with 2-3 drops of Honey Infused Hair Oil et voila, the perfect beach waves! 

Wrapping Up

Now that you have eight different ways to curl your hair in your arsenal, you’ll never feel like you’re in a hairstyling rut again. There’s nothing like switching up your hairstyle to boost your self-confidence, too.

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