Hairstyle how-to: curls

click image to enlarge

Save Print E-mail

Romantic waves and lustrous, bouncy curls have always turned heads and been the dream of every girl with straight locks. The good news is, anyone can create them.

There was a time, about three decades ago, when I prayed that my straight locks would magically curl. I’d spend hours trying to create the effect. The rollers of the time worked well, but were hideously uncomfortable. I even tried ripping my sheets into rags to create ringlets the old-fashioned way. I failed abysmally. Eventually, I subjected my tresses to a perm. Looking back at photographs, I’m horrified at the frizzy, unnatural look that the perm, coupled with my lack of hairdressing skills, created. Thankfully, technology has come along in leaps and bounds and there are a number of techniques (as well as great products) that help create natural-looking, free-flowing, downright gorgeous curls with ease and zero discomfort.

After several seasons where straight locks have been de rigueur, it’s refreshing to see romantic curls and waves making a comeback. According to hair stylist David Keough, who created the curly locks on these pages, today’s curls are bigger, sexier and more unstructured than we’ve seen in the past. “Classic curls can be broken up to give you a sexy, tousled look,” he says. “This technique also provides a modern take on curls and is very flattering for women over 30.”

Curls soften and frame the face and give the illusion of volume to fine hair. But getting, and more importantly keeping, lustrous curls is an art in itself − especially if your hair isn’t naturally curly. Then again, natural curls can be dry, tangly and prone to frizz so they need special care, too.

Follow our guide to bouncy, natural-looking curls and you’ll be creating this season’s soft, feminine looks in next to no time.

1. David recommends starting with a good shampoo and conditioner. If you use one designed specifically for curly locks, all the better. 
2. Once out of the shower, apply some volumiser by running your fingers through your hair – this will add oomph to your locks. Then blow-dry your hair as normal.
3. When it comes to creating curls (or taming natural ones), use curling tongs or heated rollers. Remember that the size of the barrel will determine the size of your curls.
4. Take sections of your hair and wrap them around the curling tong or the roller. “I always suggest applying a little hairspray on the section of hair you will be tonging, as this acts as a setting lotion and will hold the hair in curl formation a little longer,” says David.
5. If using curling tongs, hold for a couple of seconds and move on to the next section until you’ve worked with your entire head of hair.
6. “You have to be very careful with curls because if they’re not natural they can fall out,” says David. “To enhance longevity, tip your head upside-down and loosen your curls by scrunching. To finish, use a product such as John Frieda’s Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme, which will help to lift your curls.”

Did you know? The women of ancient Egypt curled their hair by applying a concoction of soil and water and using curlers they had made from wood and bark.

Curly facts and figures

• Curly hair grows in an ‘S’ pattern which, unlike straight hair, prevents light from reflecting off its surface.
• Women with curly hair tend to be product junkies – on average they use about five products to create or enhance their curls.
• In the United States 53 per cent of women have curly hair. Of these women, 72 per cent only wear their hair curly half of the time.
• Women with straight hair have approximately 120,000 hairs on their head at any one time while women with curly hair have 100,000. Less hair follicles means there are less oil glands, so curly hair tends to be drier.

Source: Matrix, L’Oréal USA.

Photography: Gavin O’Neill. Styling: Magda Ching. Hair: David Keough. Make-up: Chris Coonrod.