How to Make Naturally Straight Hair Curly

Follow these easy instructions to get beautiful, voluminous curls

Co-authored by Janet Miranda

Last Updated: August 21, 2024 Fact Checked

If you’d like to add bounce and volume to your naturally straight hair by curling it, you have several easy options, many of which don't involve using heat! A very popular and effective method is to use a curling iron. If your hair holds curls easily and you prefer not to damage it, you may find that some simple overnight styling techniques can give you beautiful curls for the next day. Finally, if you’re committed to having lasting curls every day and don’t want to style them every day, you have the option of getting a permanent.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Trying Heat-Free Styling Methods

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1
Sleep in braids for loose or tight waves. When your hair is damp, apply a small amount of styling serum to your fingers and work it through your hair. Divide your hair into however many sections you like and braid each section tightly. You can braid your hair in 2 or more French braids, cornrows, or individual 3-strand braids. Secure the bottoms of each braid with an elastic hairband and sleep on the braids.^{[1]
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- In the morning, undo your braids and comb your fingers through your hair. Apply volumizing hairspray to get the curls to stay.
- For tight waves, divide your hair into many sections and make 6 to 10 small, tight braids when you braid your hair at night.
- For loose waves, braid your hair into 1 or 2 braids to sleep in.
2
Make pin curls with mini spiral buns. When your hair is damp, take a strand however thick you like, and twist it from top to bottom. When the twist is all the way to your roots, wrap the twist in a circle against your scalp and pin it down with 2 bobby pins crossed over each other. Make these mini buns all over your head, and go to sleep with them in.^{[2]
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- Remove the buns in the morning and watch your curls unfold. Spray them with hairspray to make them last for the day.
- You can make the buns as big or small as you like; use more hair in each twist for bigger buns and looser curls, and less hair in each twist for small buns and tighter curls.
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3
Wear a sock-bun overnight for loose curls. When your hair is almost dry after your shower, apply styling serum to it and secure it in a high ponytail with an elastic hairband. Take a sock-bun and put all of your hair through it, then divide your hair in half. Wrap both sections tightly around the sock bun on either side, and secure the ends to your roots with a bobby pin.^{[3]
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- Release your hair from the sock-bun in the morning and spray it with hairspray to get your curls to hold.
- You can purchase sock-buns at beauty supply stores or online, or make your own by cutting the toe out of a sock and rolling the sock up into a thick circle.
- Keep in mind that a sock bun works best with long hair.
4
Roll your hair in soft curlers overnight for various sized curls. Purchase soft curling rollers at a beauty supply store. Choose small rollers if you’d like tighter curls, or large roller for loose waves. Wrap your damp hair in the rollers before bed and secure them in place with clips.^{[4]
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- Some rollers come with securing clips, which are often easier to use than bobby pins or other hairclips overnight. Others are bendable and you can simply bend them to keep them in place.
- Unroll your hair from the rollers in the morning and spray your hair with hairspray for curls that last all day.
Abby Smith, Style Blogger

Always make sure your hair is clean and dry before using a curling iron. Wet or damp hair can cause damage and prevent the curls from holding.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Curling Iron

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1
Buy a 1 in (2.5 cm) iron for short or medium length hair. If your hair is only a bit past your shoulders or shorter, you should use a thinner 1 in (2.5 cm) iron for your hair. A thicker one may not give you the amount of curls that you want.^{[5]
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- Shop for curling irons online or at beauty supply or department stores.
- A larger 1.25 in (3.2 cm) thick iron is best to use on hair that’s past shoulder-length. Using a thinner iron may not curl all of your strand each time you roll it up.
Your hair doesn’t need to be freshly washed to begin curling it, but it should free of tangles and dry. Use volumizing mousse or hairspray to coat most of your hair with a thin layer. Be sure to cover the ends of your hair covered with mousse or spray, since those areas are usually the first to lose curl.^{[6]
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3
Set the iron temperature according to your hair’s thickness. If you have a curling iron that allows you to change the temperature, you should set your iron at a lower temperature if you have fine hair. Putting too high of heat on fine hair can cause damage to it. For thick hair, set your iron at a higher temperature so the heat gets all of your hair with each time you roll it.^{[7]
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- If your hair is fine to medium thickness, or is color-treated, set your iron to 200 °F (93 °C) or below.
- For thick hair, you can set the temperature to 200–300 °F (93–149 °C).
Abby Smith, Style Blogger

Always make sure your hair is clean and dry before using a curling iron. Wet or damp hair can cause damage and prevent the curls from holding.
4
Take a 1 in (2.5 cm) thick section of hair and wrap it around your hot iron. Grab a section of hair between your fingers and wrap the entire strand vertically around your iron once it’s finished heating.^{[8]
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- If you have an iron with a clip, you’ll probably want to wrap your hair from the bottom, making sure to clip the very end of your strand in the same direction as you are wrapping the strand up.
- If you have a wand iron, you can start either at the top or bottom of your hair. For looser waves, start toward the top wherever you want the waves to start and wrap your hair around the wand, leaving a bit of hair out at the ends.
- For tighter curls with a wand iron, start winding at the bottom and use the upper parts of your hair to cover the ends and keep them close to the iron.
5
Wrap and hold your hair in the iron horizontally for more volume. The way that you wrap and hold your hair on your iron effects the type of volume you get with each curl. For tighter curls with more volume, wrap your hair horizontally around the iron and hold it in a horizontal position.^{[9]
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- For looser curls with less volume, wrap each strand of hair in your iron vertically, and hold the iron in a vertical position.
6
Keep your hair wrapped in the iron for 8-10 seconds. People are often tempted to keep their hair wrapped in the iron for a longer time, thinking that it will get curlier. Unfortunately, this does not make your hair curlier, but it does damage it. 8-10 seconds is plenty of time to heat each curl around your iron.^{[10]
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- You can always go back and redo a curl if you find that it’s not holding well. Try applying more mousse or hairspray to that strand before re-curling it.
7
Pin each curl up gently to let it cool. To help keep each curl locked in, allow it to cool curled up and close to your head. Take a bobby pin (or a single prong clip or duckbill clip) and gently insert it into the curl close to your head to keep the curl up while it cools.^{[11]
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- You can leave your curls pinned up as you finish curling the rest of your hair with your iron to save time and keep those finished curls out of your way.
8
Release each cooled curl and spray it with strong or fortifying hair spray. When you’re finished curling your hair, release each pin from your curls and coat your hair with a layer of hair spray to get them to hold. High-strength or “fortifying” spray will help hold your curls in place longer.^{[12]
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- If you have very fine hair, be sure to get just a thin layer of spray on your curls. Your hair won’t need much spray to hold it, and too much spray can actually weigh fine curls down and make them come out.
- Try an anti-humidity hairspray if you live in a warm, humid climate to keep your curls in when you go outside.
You can gently tousle your hair with your fingers or with a hair pick to spread them out and style them, especially if they are staying too tightly in the shape of the iron for your liking. But unless you want to remove your curls or create volume, don’t brush or comb them. Brushing your curls may also create frizz.^{[13]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting a Permanent

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1
Don’t chemically treat your hair for 1 month prior to getting a perm. Hair that’s been colored, relaxed, or in any way chemically altered within a month of getting a perm carries extra risk of damage and of the perm not taking to your hair how it’s supposed to.^{[14]
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- Some stylists will not apply perms to hair that has been colored or chemically treated at all. Call ahead to find out the perm policies at your salon.
- Perms can sometimes cause your hair to look lighter in color. Talk to your stylist about whether or not this is a possibility on your hair type.
- Remember that perms last about 6 months, depending on your hair length and texture. They don’t really fade out, they have to start to grow out.
2
Tell your stylist what type of curls you want. Are you interested in subtle waves, bouncy waves, or classic pin-curls? Let your stylist know how you want your curls to look, and they will tell you your perm options for your hair type and those types of curls.^{[15]
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- Browse pictures in style magazines or online to get more ideas for the types of curls you’d like. It’s even better if you can bring a picture in to the salon with you. Your stylist will be able to tell you how your hair type will hold different types of perms.
3
Get a digital or “hot” perm for looser curls on thick hair. There are 2 main perm options: digital or “hot” perms and cold or alkaline-compound perms. Hot perms prepare your hair first with a relaxing treatment, then heated rods are applied and the temperature is monitored depending on your hair’s length and thickness.^{[16]
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- Digital perms only work on thick hair. They produce looser wave-like curls and not ringlets.
- The overall process of a digital perm takes about 3-4 hours and is more expensive than cold perms.
- Digital perms potentially cause less damage to your hair than cold perms, and you need less styling products to help keep the curls in place.
4
Ask for a “cold” perm to get tighter ringlets on any hair texture. If you don’t have thick hair, your only perm option is a cold perm. In this type of perm, your hair is soaked in an alkaline compound and then wound tightly around rollers to create ringlets. Cold perms can get curls closer to your roots and work on any hair type.^{[17]
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- While cold perms are less natural-looking at first, they do relax a bit eventually.
- You have to use curl-enhancing products more frequently on a cold perm, but the overall process is shorter and more affordable.
5
Wait 2-3 days before shampooing freshly permed hair. After your perm, your hair needs time to adjust to the chemicals and damage done to it during the perm. Your curls also need as much time as possible to set; washing them too soon can cause them to come out a bit.^{[18]
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- Use curl-enhancing shampoos, conditioners, and styling products on your permed hair. Use a conditioner containing protein to help your hair recover nutrients lost during the perm process.
6
Don’t rub your hair with a towel when it’s wet. To avoid having your hair get frizzy and tangled, gently pat it dry with a microfiber towel after your shower instead of rubbing it. Only dry it enough so that it’s not dripping, and allow it to finish air-drying.^{[19]
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- If you got a cold perm, apply curl-enhancing cream or solution to your hair while it’s still damp and allow it to air dry.
- Avoid heat drying or straightening your hair with a flat-iron when it’s permed. Too much heat can damage permed hair.
7
Avoid dyes and chlorine when you have a perm. Anything that’s high in chemicals, such as hair color or chlorine, can have a negative effect on your perm, causing it to look dry and damaged. Wait at least 1 month to color-treat permed hair.
- If you’re a swimmer, wear a swim cap to protect your perm from chlorine until the perm eventually grows and falls out.
8
Get your hair trimmed every 3 months to keep your curls bouncy. You may be tempted to not cut your hair to try to keep the perm in longer. However, to keep the curls that are there looking bouncy and healthy, you should trim your hair in 3 months.^{[20]
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- If your hair grows fast, the top will probably begin to straighten and the bottom curls will look looser over time. Most perms last about 6 months before they begin to fall out completely.

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Question

Can you use mousse for straight hair?

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

Mousse is great for volume and works well on straight hair. However, if you are trying to create sleekness it isn't the best choice.

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What products should I use to get curly hair?

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

If your hair is straight, try a styling mousse or setting spray, something light but with hold before styling. Always finish with a light mist of hair spray.

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Can your hair go from straight to curly?

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 create natural looking curls with a curling wand or rollers. If your hair is very straight, make sure to apply a styling product before setting and use hair spray to set the finished look.

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Try different techniques to see which method of curling your hair works best for you, and consult your stylist for more ideas.

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