How to Curl the Ends of Your Hair

Co-authored by Wyvetta Bowles

Last Updated: April 28, 2023 References

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Curls are a great way to spice up your look. Even if your hair isn’t naturally curly, there are several ways to add natural-looking waves to the ends of your locks. If you have short or medium hair, try using a straightener to create relaxed curls. Those with longer hair can leave it in a bun overnight for heat-free curls, or tie it up in a ponytail and use a curling wand for a quick morning routine.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Curling Wand for Medium-to-Long Hair

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1
Tie up your hair in a high ponytail and brush it. Use an elastic band to secure your hair in a high ponytail. Use a brush to smooth out any bumps or lumps as you pull it back. Then, after you’ve tied back your hair, use the brush to get out any tangles or knots left in your ponytail.^{[1]
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- This method works best with medium to long hair that can be completely pulled back into a ponytail. It also works well for thick hair at either of those lengths.
2
Apply heat protectant to your ponytail to avoid damaging your hair. Prep your hair for the curling wand by running a few drops of heat protectant through your hair. You only need to apply the product to your ponytail, since you won’t be curling the rest of your hair.^{[2]
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- Some heat protectants come in spray form, in which case, you should spray your ponytail several times and run your fingers through it to distribute the product further.
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3
Choose a heat setting that's right for you hair thickness. For fine hair, choose a low heat setting of around 375 °F (191 °C). Thick or textured hair will curl best if you use a high heat setting of around 415 to 420 °F (213 to 216 °C). All other hair types can use a medium heat seating of around 400 °F (204 °C).^{[3]
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- If you have colored or damaged hair, it's best to use a low heat setting to prevent further damage or dulling of color.
4
Divide your ponytail in half, then gather a 1 in (2.5 cm) piece of hair. Position the sections of your ponytail in front of either shoulder to keep them in place. Decide which half you want to start with, and pull out a small section of hair from that half.^{[4]
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- This section will become your first curl.
5
Wrap the piece of hair around the barrel of the curling wand. Start wrapping at the very top of your ponytail, beginning the curl as close to the hair tie as possible. Begin your curl around the base of the curling iron and work your way to the top as you continue to wrap. Make sure the hair doesn’t overlap around the barrel of the wand.^{[5]
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- You should wrap the hair until there’s a 1 in (2.5 cm) piece at the tip of your hair left in your fingers.
- Make sure you begin wrapping each curl away from your face.
6
Hold the curling wand in place for 10-20 seconds, then release the hair. Once you’ve wrapped the section of hair around the curling wand, allow it to sit for 10-20 seconds. Then, let go of the end of the curl and your hair will slide off the wand.^{[6]
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- Curling wands come with differently sized barrels—the larger the barrel, the wider and looser your curl. Select a large barrel for loose, relaxed waves. Choose a small barrel for tighter, more defined curls.
Grab the just-curled section of hair and lift it with the palm of your hand so it compresses into a small circle. Allow the hair to cool before you release it, which will give the curl time to set completely and last longer in your hair.^{[7]
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Repeat until you’ve completed one half of your ponytail. Working in roughly 1 in (2.5 cm) sections, curl the entire half of the ponytail. Make sure you’re continuing to curl away from your face, which will create the most flattering look once you remove the curls from the ponytail.^{[8]
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- Don’t forget to support the curled section of your hair for 5 seconds after it’s released from the curling wand, in order to achieve longer-lasting curls.
9
Switch to the other half of your ponytail and continue curling. Once you’ve completed one half, switch to the other side. Work in 1 in (2.5 cm) sections. Continue to curl away from your face, which will require you to reverse the direction of your curling iron.
- Since you’re only curling the ponytail, the top part of your hair will remain straight. Once you untie your hair, only your ends will have waves.
10
Allow your curls to cool, then take out the elastic band. Once you’ve curled both halves of your ponytail, wait a few seconds for all of the curls to cool down. Then, remove the elastic hairband and find your part. Use your fingers to comb through the curls and finalize your style.^{[9]
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- You can use a bit of hairspray to make the curls last longer.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Straightener on Short-to-Medium Hair

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1
Split your hair into two sections and clip up the right side. Divide from the back, using your fingers to separate the sections. Lay one in front of each shoulder, then pick up a flat clip and secure the right one so the hair is pulled away from the left section.^{[10]
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- This method works for all lengths of hair, although it’s easier with short and medium length.
- Consider spraying your hair with a heat protectant if you’re worried about damaging it with hot styling tools.
2
Divide the left section of your hair in half again and clip the top piece. Using your hands, split the left section of your hair in half so there’s a top and bottom section. Twist the top piece loosely and clip back so it’s out of the way.^{[11]
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- If you hair is at all tangled or knotted, give bottom section a quick brush at this point.
Use your fingers to separate out a smaller section of hair from the back of the bottom section. It should be close to the nape of your neck. This will be your first curl.^{[12]
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4
Put the piece of hair in the straightener and twist away from your face. Use a mirror so you can see what you're doing. Start about halfway down the hair in order to curl just the ends. Hold the straightener diagonally so the end points upwards, then twist it towards your ear once to wrap your hair around the barrel of the straightener.^{[13]
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- For a tighter curl, keep your straightener parallel to the ground and slide it more slowly down your hair.
- For medium or tight curls and waves, use a straightener that’s 1 inch (2.5 cm) or smaller. Large straighteners will create much looser waves that may not work well on short hair.
5
Allow the straightener to glide slowly down the entire length of your hair. Go slowly and gently, but don’t pause as you slide down which can cause unwanted crimping. At the end, the tips of your hair should simply slide out of the straightener.^{[14]
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- You’ll be left with a loose, relaxed curl.
6
Repeat the curling process until you’ve curled the entire bottom section. You should be moving back to front, picking up an adjacent 2 in (5.1 cm) section of hair each time. Make sure each piece of hair wraps around the exterior part of the straightener, since that’s what creates the curl.^{[15]
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- Clip up the curled bottom section and release the uncurled top section. Use a flat clip to pin the now-curly bottom section of your hair towards the back of your head so it’s out of the way. Unclip the right top section, which you’re about to curl.^{[16]
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- Brush the top section if it has any tangles or knots.
7
Start from the back and curl 2 in (5.1 cm) sections of hair. Use the same curling method you did for the bottom section of hair. Holding your straightener diagonally, start in the middle of your hair and twist away from your face. Then, slide the straightener down the length of your hair.^{[17]
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- Repeat this process until you’ve curled the entire top left section.
8
Repeat this process with the right section of your hair. Pin the curled left section so it’s out of the way, then divide the right section in half and clip up the top half. Curl the bottom section, working back to front, then pin it up and curl the top section.^{[18]
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- Make sure you continue to twist the straightener away from your face, which will be the opposite direction from what you did on the right half.
- Once the top and bottom sections on the right are curled, remove any remaining clips or pins.
9
Finger comb through your hair for a more relaxed look. Brush through your curls with your fingers to loosen them up. You can also leave them as-is if you prefer a more polished look.^{[19]
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- This method can also be used with a weave made from natural human hair. If your weave is made of synthetic hair extensions, however, check with your stylist before using a straightener. You can also check the packaging your weave came in to see if using heat is okay and what temperatures are best. The heat could damage or melt the weave.^{[20]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Tying Long Hair into an Overnight Bun

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1
Wash your hair and wait until it’s almost dry, then brush it. This will remove any tangles or knots in advance. Once your hair is curled, you want to avoid brushing it to prevent your style from fluffing up or getting frizzy.^{[21]
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- This curling method works best with long hair.
- Unlike styles that require a straightener or curling iron, this method will not damage your hair with heat.
This step is optional—you can still create beautiful curls without the oil. Argan oil helps with split ends, adds moisture without adding shine, and makes your hair silkier.^{[22]
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3
Pull your hair into a high ponytail and secure with an elastic band. As you pull back your hair, use a brush to smooth out any bumps. Don’t pull too tight on the elastic hairband when you tie up your ponytail, which can leave crimps in your hair when it sets overnight.^{[23]
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- If you have bangs or a shorter fringe in the front of your hair, use a straight clip to pull them out of the way and make sure they don’t become part of the ponytail.
4
Cut the toe off a sock and roll it up to make a sock bun. Cut the toe off your sock with scissors, then turn it inside out. Starting at one end, fold the sock down about 1 in (2.5 cm), then continue folding until the entire sock is rolled up into a circular donut-shaped sock bun.^{[24]
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- Select a sock that goes past your ankles—a short ankle sock will not be long enough for this purpose.
- This is a great way to reuse a sock that’s lost its match.
5
Put the sock bun around your ponytail, then split your ponytail in half. Slide your ponytail through the circular sock bun you just created until it’s at the top. Then, using your fingers, divide your ponytail in half and position one half over your right ear and the other half over your left ear.^{[25]
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- The sock bun should sit on top of the elastic band that’s securing your ponytail.
6
Wrap one half of your ponytail repeatedly around the sock bun. Starting with one section of your ponytail, wrap the hair around the sock bun until there's just a short piece left sticking out. Secure this end piece with a hair clip.^{[26]
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- Repeat this process with the other half of the ponytail.
7
Combine the end sections and continue wrapping. Pull together both pieces of the ponytail that are still sticking out. Keep wrapping this piece of hair around the sock bun until there’s no more hair left to wrap.^{[27]
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- Secure the ends with bobby pins so your hair doesn’t unravel from the bun overnight.
8
Sleep on your bun, then pull out the sock bun and hair elastic. Let your hair stay in the bun overnight to allow the curls to form and set. Then, remove the bobby pins, sock bun, and hair elastic. Style the curls with your hands a bit, but do not brush them.^{[28]
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- Instead of sleeping, you could also allow the hair to sit for 5-6 hours.

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Question

Why does my hair swoop up at the ends?

Wyvetta Bowles
Beauty & Hair Care Advisor
Wyvetta Bowles is a Beauty and Hair Care Advisor and the Founder of Crown of Glory Beauty Salon Inc. With over 27 years of experience, Wyvetta specializes in bridal and special event hair and makeup, hair care maintenance, and hairstyling techniques that lead to less damage. Wyvetta attended Flair Beauty College and received her Associate’s in Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.

Wyvetta Bowles

Beauty & Hair Care Advisor

Expert Answer

If we're speaking about afro textured hair, the ends do curl up because of the way that textured hair is formulated, since it's coily and curly. Now for people who have wavy or curly hair, that happens due to their DNA and the way that the hair strands are formulated.

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