Okay, so today I wanted to chat a bit about something I get asked about surprisingly often – how I get some quick curls or waves in my hair without a ton of fuss. I’ve tried a bunch of things over the years, and I’ve definitely landed on a few go-to methods that just work for me, especially when I’m short on time.
My Prep Steps – Always Start Here!
First things first, no matter what method I’m using, I always make sure my hair is completely dry. Trying to curl damp hair? Yeah, that’s just a recipe for disaster and damage, trust me. I learned that the hard way a long, long time ago. I also give it a good brush-through to get rid of any tangles. Sometimes, if I remember and I’m using heat, I’ll spritz on a bit of heat protectant spray. I just grab whatever I have on hand, nothing fancy.
Method 1: The Trusty Curling Wand
This is probably my most used method for actual defined curls. I’ve had a couple of different wands, but the technique is pretty much the same.
- I usually just roughly section my hair. I’m not super precise about it – top half up in a clip, bottom half down.
- Then I take a piece, maybe an inch wide, and wrap it around the wand, away from my face. I find this gives a more flattering look.
- I hold it for, I don’t know, maybe 8-10 seconds? You kind of get a feel for it depending on your hair and how hot the wand is.
- Then I gently unwrap it and let the curl cool in my hand for a few seconds before letting it drop. This seems to help it set better.
- I just repeat this all around my head. It sounds like a lot, but once you get a rhythm, it goes pretty quickly.
Sometimes, if I want looser waves, I’ll use a bigger barrel wand or just brush the curls out a bit more once they’re all cool.
Method 2: Straightener Waves – Surprisingly Easy!
Okay, this one took me a little practice, not gonna lie, but once I got the hang of it, it became a super quick way to get those beachy, undone waves. I just use my regular flat iron.
- Again, I start with a section of hair.
- I clamp the straightener near the root, then as I start to pull it down, I twist my wrist – either towards or away from my face, depending on the look I want. It’s like a half-turn or a full turn.
- Then I just glide the straightener down the rest of an hair shaft with that twist in it.
- The key is to keep moving; don’t hold it in one spot for too long.
This one gives a more relaxed, less “perfect” curl, which I actually really like for everyday. It’s definitely faster for me than using a traditional curling iron for my whole head if I’m just after some texture.
My “Too Lazy” Overnight Method: Braids!
Alright, so on days when I really can’t be bothered with heat tools, or I know I’ll be rushing in the morning, I go for simple braids. This is old school, but it works!
- I just wash my hair the night before and let it air dry until it’s about 80% dry – still a little damp, but not soaking.
- Then, I’ll do one or two simple braids. If I do one braid down the back, I get looser waves. Two braids, one on each side, give me a bit more wave and volume.
- I sleep on it, and in the morning, I just take the braids out, shake my hair a bit, and that’s it. Sometimes I’ll add a tiny bit of serum if it looks a bit frizzy.
Seriously, this is the easiest. The waves are not as defined as with heat, but it gives nice texture and body with zero effort in the morning.
So yeah, those are pretty much my main ways to get some curl or wave into my hair quickly. Nothing groundbreaking, but they are tried and true for me. I just find what works and stick with it. Hopefully, sharing my routine gives you some ideas if you’re looking for some easy ways to switch up your look!