10 Techniques for Getting Big, Salon Worthy Curls

We love curly hair. Whether you’re bored of your strands, need a stand-out hairstyle for a big event, or just want to change up your look, curls are always the answer. Big, bouncy coils or easy-breezy beach waves —we love a strand with bend! But getting and keeping those perfect loose curls can be a challenge, especially if you’ve got normally straight hair. It’s a combination of finding the right tool, prepping your strands, and using the right techniques. We’re breaking it all down ahead with 10 tutorials to get your curl on.

These are the tutorials you need for the best big curls and curly hairstyles no matter what hair type you are blessed with.

For a full head of bouncy curls, you can't go wrong with hair rollers. Rollers work by wrapping the hair around the cylinder body of the curler and the hair taking the circular shape, adding curl. They come in tons of varieties, but no matter what type of hair roller you use, some universal rules apply. Section your hair into four quadrants: the front, the left, the right, and the back. Work with one section of hair at a time, and work in subsections that are roughly the same size. And keep in mind that the direction you wind them in will form the direction of the curl, so be thoughtful when rolling.

"Velcro rollers are the easiest way to achieve volume on dry hair! For the best volume, roll the top section away from your face and align your part in the middle of the roller. Remember, the smaller the roller, the more curl you will see. Most importantly, heat the rollers with your blow dryer and let them cool ALL the way down." —Alicia Miller, Davines National Master Trainer

This is a great way to get and set curly hair for a few days. Start with freshly washed hair followed by your favorite conditioner. Spritz your hair with a heat protectant and let it partially air dry, before drying the rest of the way with a blow dryer. Next, take a 2-inch section of hair and spray a brushable hairspray before using a 1 ½ inch barrel curling iron to curl the section. Curl away from your face and follow the same pattern all throughout your hair. You can also get similar results using a flat iron.

photo by Melissa Orons

If you’re wondering how to get beachy waves rather than big curls, braids are the way to go. Start by spritzing your damp hair with a heat protectant and braiding it in any braided hairstyle you like. It’s always important to protect your strands before heat-styling, but especially before blow-drying braids. This is because it takes longer to dry since braids make it harder for the heat to penetrate. Blow dry your braided hair fully, before undoing your braid(s). Rake through your hair and add texture with a salt spray if needed.

If you already have wavy or slightly curly hair, the scrunch technique is your best option for creating big curls and it’s as simple as air-drying your hair. Start by washing your strands with a curl shampoo and follow up with conditioner. Squeeze the excess water from your hair with a microfiber towel and rub a curling mousse through your strands. Use your hands to gently scrunch your hair from the ends to roots every 5 or so minutes as it dries.

This is an easy overnight method for faking curly hair. Cut the toe off of two socks. Roll the sleeves of the sock down towards the open toe, creating a donut shape. Rub a curl cream through clean, damp hair and pull it into a ponytail at the crown of your head. Place the ends of your hair through the sock donut hole and curl the ends over. Roll and tuck your hair down and around the sock. Repeat this with your second sock bun at the base of your head. Go to bed and sleep on your sock buns. In the morning, remove the socks, spritz with a curl refresher and use your fingers to comb through your curls. 

Another option for overnight big curls without using heat is to use an old t-shirt. Prep your strands with a hair serum and roll an old t-shirt into a donut shape. Part your hair down the middle and place the t-shirt at the crown of your head. Take a piece of hair from the front of your face and pull it over and under the donut making sure it's tight to the t-shirt. Add a new section of hair to the piece that’s pulled under the donut, making sure it's tight, and continue around your head, adding more hair as you go and using bobby pins to hold the t-shirt in place. In the morning, remove the bobby pins and shake your hair out to reveal bouncy curls.

Headband curls are another easy, no heat way to produce big, loose curls. Loop slightly damp hair all the way around an elastic headband placed horizontally on your head. Spritz all over with a medium hairspray to help your hair hold the curl pattern and leave it on for at least an hour. The longer you leave your hair wrapped around the headband, the tighter and more long lasting your curls will be. Then remove the headband and release your curls.

If you have naturally curly hair, twisting is great for maintaining the shape of your curls. Section your hair into 8- 12 sections, depending on how much you have. Working through each section individually, apply a curl cream. Pull your hair out straight, holding a tight, even pressure, and twirl your curls around the end of your finger to create an even, consistent twist. Seal the end by gently pinching it and add some more curl cream to the ends to hold it in place. Once your twists have dried completely; rotate your twists in the opposite direction, pulling them apart. Flip your curls upside down, give them a gentle shake and go!

The plop method is another option to enhance your curl pattern if you have naturally curly hair. Prep your damp hair with curl primer and comb it through with a wide tooth comb to detangle any knots. Flip your head over and gently lower your damp locks onto a cotton t-shirt and then twist the tee into a turban. Let your hair dry anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours (depending on your hair’s texture) , release your curls and use your fingers to rough it up at the roots for volume.

If you’re wondering how to fix frizz on naturally curly hair, finger coiling is an easy technique to do it. By wrapping each strand of hair around your fingers (similar to twisting) you'll create big frizz-free curls that last for days. Start with clean hair that’s been combed and prepped with a curl cream. Part and section out your hair and create a coil from the root by twirling your hair around your pointer finger until you reach the ends. Follow this technique until your whole head is completely coiled. Sit under a hooded dryer to let the coils set for about one hour. Use hair butter to unwrap your coils, preventing dryness and keeping your ends from tangling.

Getting and keeping big curls can be a challenge, especially if you have naturally straight hair. But these tutorials will help you find the right combo of tools and techniques to create the curls of your dreams. See our previous article How to Get Frizz-Free Curls for more tips and remember to use only high quality products. Davines hair care isn’t just good for your hair, it’s good for the planet. 

By Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor

photos by @goldandglowco