How to Get Big, Bouncy Curls

Co-authored by Christine George

Last Updated: November 29, 2024 References

Big, voluminous curls are the epitome of sexy hair and are perfect for those days you want a bit of added 'umph!' to your look. Thankfully they aren't too difficult to create, and there are many ways to go about getting them. Try one of these four methods, and you'll have lovely, full curls in no time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using a Curling Iron

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Plug your curling iron in and set it on a temperature that works with your hair's texture. Coarser hair will need a higher setting, while fine hair will need a lower setting. For big curls, use a curling iron at least 1” wide; the wider the barrel of the iron, the larger your curls will be. Give the iron at least 2-3 minutes to heat fully before attempting to curl your hair.
Hair must be totally dry before being curled with an iron, so use a blow-dryer if necessary to dry it out. Add in a heat-protectant spray or mousse to keep your hair glossy and prevent it from getting fried. If desired, you can also add in a curl-enhancing product to help create big, voluminous curls with your iron.

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Curling your hair is a timely process, and you will get the best results if you work in sections. Tie the upper ⅔ of your hair into a ponytail on the top of your head, and leave the bottom-most layer down. Brush out your hair to remove any knots and tangles to prepare it for curling.^{[1]
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Begin curling your hair. Take subsections of hair about 1” wide and wrap them around the barrel of your curling iron, starting in the center (rather than the ends) of each strand. Then, twist their iron up toward your scalp to curl the length of your hair up to the roots. Hold the hair in place around the barrel of the iron for 5-10 seconds, and then release the curl. Repeat this process throughout the entire bottom layer of your hair.^{[2]
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- To get big, bouncy curls, you need the curl to extend all the way to the roots. Otherwise, the style could collapse.
Let down half of the hair in your ponytail, and brush through it to prepare it for curling. Following the aforementioned instructions, wrap each 1” section of hair around the barrel starting from the center of the strand until all your hair has been curled. Finish up with the top layer once the middle section is completed.
Turn your blow dryer onto the ‘cool’ setting and blast your hair with the cool air. The temperature will return to normal in your hair, helping to keep it in place for longer. To finish it off, flip your head upside down and mist all of your hair with hairspray. Flip your head back over and adjust your hair to your liking. You’re finished!

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Hot Rollers

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Make sure all your rollers are in place in their case, and then plug it in to allow them to heat up. Some rollers have a light on the outside that show when they are fully heated; otherwise, wait 5-10 minutes for the rollers to heat before inserting them into your hair.
While you wait for the rollers to heat up, make sure your hair is ready to be curled. Just like with a curling iron, your hair must be totally dry to be used in hot rollers. Blow dry your hair to remove any moisture, and brush it out to remove any tangles. You can add mouse to your hair prior to drying it to give it added volume.
Starting with the hair located in the front of your head just above your forehead, section off a piece 2”-3” thick. Pull this section straight up to make sure you get the most volume possible. Then, wrap this section around the hair, leaving 1”-2” inches of the ends left out while you roll it up. When the hot roller gets to your scalp, tuck the end piece underneath to help hold it in place. Clamp or pin the roller cover over the top of the roll, and you’re ready to move onto the next section.^{[3]
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Working from the top down, section off your hair into 2”-3” sections and continue to roll them into the curlers using the aforementioned steps. If your hair is very thick, you may need to use smaller sections of hair. Clamp each roller into place until you have finished rolling up all of your hair into the curlers.
Hot rollers take a bit of time to work their magic on your hair, so sit back and relax for 20-30 minutes until the rollers are cool. This is a great time to finish getting ready for the day, or to accomplish other routine tasks while you wait.
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Remove the hot rollers. One by one working from the top down, remove the clamps and then the rolls from your hair. Refrain from unravelling the curls much, as they may lose their bounce and volume if you touch them too much. Continue until you have removed all of the hot rollers from your head.
- Do not start to remove your rollers until they have cooled completely.
Before touching the curls at all, mist them with some hairspray to help keep them in place. Then, using your fingers only (not a brush) comb through your hair to break up the curls and help them to look more natural. If necessary you can add a final touch of hairspray, and you’re finished!^{[4]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Sock Rolls

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To curl your hair with socks, you will need 3-4 clean tube socks, a brush, and a spray bottle filled with water.
Brush out any tangles in your hair, and section it out into 3-4 parts - equal to the number of tube socks you have. If you have three socks, put one large section of hair on the top of your head and two equal-sized sections on either side of your head. If you have 4 socks, put two sections on the top of your head and two on the lower sides. To keep the sections apart, you can use hair clips or ponytails.
Wrap your hair around the center of a tube sock, similar to the style you would wrap your hair around a hot roller. Leave the ends of your hair out of the roll until you’ve reached your scalp, and then tuck them underneath the roll you’ve created. Use the two loose ends of the tube sock to tie a knot, thus securing the sock roll.
Use the aforementioned process to roll the remaining sections of hair into individual tube socks. Tie them off as near to your scalp as you can, as this will prevent them from coming unrolled while you sleep.
Use your spray bottle filled with water to lightly mist your hair. This will help your hair to form the curls better, as it will dry in the spiral-shape around the sock rather than remaining limp. Don’t get your hair soaking wet, just damp to the touch.
6
Wait for your hair to set. This style is primarily intended to be done overnight. You can set up the sock rolls before you go to bed, and then sleep on them at night for big bouncy curls in the morning. If you don’t want to sleep on the socks, you will have to wait for your hair in this style for at least 5-6 hours to get the optimum curls.
- As you get ready to remove the socks, feel around for any residual moisture. If parts of your hair still feel damp, use a blow dryer on its lowest setting to finish off the drying process before you start removing the socks.
Working from the bottom up, untie each of the socks and unroll your hair. Don’t brush through them with your fingers or anything yet, work on simply detangling them from the socks.
Your hair should be in large, bouncy curls as a result of the socks. Mist them lightly with hairspray to help set them, and then brush through them with your fingers to break them apart a bit and to add some volume. When you’re finished playing with the style, you’re finished!

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Bantu Knots

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Bantu knots are many tiny buns that you space out over the entirety of your head. As a result, it is necessary to make sure that your hair is totally free of knots and completely smooth. Brush through your hair, and then mist it with a bit of water in a spray bottle so that it is slightly damp to the touch.
Depending on the thickness of your hair, the number of sections you use will vary. Brush your hair into sections 2”-3” wide, and separate each of them with a hair clip or ponytail. These should cover your whole head with not much of a pattern.
Take a single section of hair, and twirl it around several times to make it rope-like and more spiral shaped. Then, loop the twisted strand onto itself several times to create a small bun that sits on your scalp. Use 1-2 bobby pins to pin the ends of your hair to your scalp, thus securing the bun in place.
Work around your head twisting each separate strand of hair into a rope, and then spiraling this into a small bun to be pinned to the top of your head. The end result may look kind of silly, as you will have close to a dozen small buns spaced out over your head.
Being a no-heat style, bantu knots take a bit of time to form curls. Therefore, it is best to do this at night and then allow your hair to set while you sleep, so that you can wake up with the curls you want. Otherwise, plan on waiting 5-6 hours with your hair like this in order to get your curls.
Check to make sure each knot is completely dry. Then, work around your head from the bottom up, and take out each tiny bun. Unpin it and allow the spiral to unravel, but do not begin brushing through the curls yet as this will make it harder to take out the other knots. Continue this process until you have all the knots removed.^{[5]
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When your hair is down and loose, you can use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to brush through the curls a bit. The more you brush through them, the more volume they’ll gain. Finish the style with a bit of hairspray to hold it in place, and pin back some of your hair if desired.^{[6]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I ensure my hair looks healthy and shiny when I curl it?

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.

Christine George

Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Answer

Limit how often you wash your hair since washing your hair every day can dry it out. Avoid using heat styling tools regularly since heat can also damage your hair. Use hydrating shampoos, conditioners, and masks on a regular basis to keep your hair hydrated so it looks healthy when you curl it.

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Question

How do you get thick curls?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

When you are rolling the hair onto your styling tool, lift the sections up to create more volume at the roots. Larger styling tools will create bigger, softer curls.

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Question

How can I curl my hair overnight without curlers?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

You can set your hair in pin curls or on rags overnight. You could even wrap it into a series of buns.

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Tips

To avoid damaging your hair, use one of the no-heat styles like the sock rolls or bantu knots.

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If you live in a humid/tropical country, its good to stay in a cool, dry place when you have the rollers on and when removing them. Humidity can affect the "life expectancy" of curls.

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Warnings

This won't work on all hair types. Hair that is not able to hold shape well is unlikely to respond as easily as hair that has natural curl. For people with very straight hair that is either very thick or very fine, this method may not be as effective. It is a case of trial and error, to determine whether or not your hair type can sustain curling.

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Using heat styling tools too often can damage your hair.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}

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