There are numerous ways to transform your hair from straight to curly, and your chosen method will depend on what style you’re hoping to achieve. Most curling methods require heat styling, so you need to lock in moisture with a hydrating shampoo and conditioner combo before curling your hair.
Alternatively, you can go for a no-heat method like overnight braids or a more permanent option such as a perm if you don’t want to style your hair daily. Join us as we introduce ways to curl your straight hair at home or with the help of a professional stylist.
How to make straight hair to curly hair: 4 methods
There are numerous products and tools available to you that can transform your straight hair into curls, and you can try the following four methods at home without visiting a hairstylist:
1. Choose the best shampoo and conditioner
As most curling methods involve heat styling, you need to protect, strengthen, and hydrate your hair with a high-quality shampoo and conditioner combination. You can buy products that have been specifically designed for curly or wavy hair, and make sure you buy products that don’t contain parabens or sulfates.
2. Use a hair dryer with a diffuser
The Laifen Swift Special is an ionic hair dryer with a diffuser attachment included. A diffuser is a great way to blow dry your hair evenly, and it’s perfect for achieving curls. Then, when drying your hair, use a wide-tooth comb to brush your curls. The Swift Special comprises adjustable heat settings, meaning you can dry your hair on low or medium heat to prevent it from drying out.
3. Style your hair with a curling iron
If you have stubbornly straight hair and haven’t had much joy with a diffuser, you will then need to use a curling iron. Make sure you apply a heat protectant before use to prevent your hair from drying out. Then, methodically curl your hair using a heat tool with the ideal barrel size to suit your curling preferences.
4. Add volume with sea salt spray
After curling your hair, apply a sea salt spray to your locks for an instant boost in volume, depth, and texture. Sea salt spray is also great for removing toxins from your hair, and will help your curls to flow and bounce naturally.
How to make straight hair curly without heat
Undoubtedly the easiest way to curl your hair is with heat, either via a blow dryer with a diffuser or a curling iron. When you use the Laifen Swift Special, you can blow dry your hair on low heat, reducing the risk of your hair drying out. Still, if you want a heat-free method, you can try a simple no-heat curling method.
There are lots of ways to try this, from pin curling to braiding. One of the easiest methods is overnight curls, which you can achieve by braiding your hair in a fishtail braid. Wrap your hair before bed, and in the morning, you will have loose curls that you can style in any way you choose.
Another option is to visit your stylist to request no-heat curling. Your stylist will use curlers to help your hair achieve shape and volume, though you will need to be patient and spend up to half a day in the chair!
How to make straight hair naturally curly forever
Unfortunately, you can’t change the fundamentals of your hair permanently, as your hair type is built into your DNA. So, if you have straight hair that you regularly curl, it will eventually revert to type when you stop using products or curls to achieve your desired style.
That being said, you can go for a perm, a semi-permanent way to achieve curls. A perm uses chemicals to modify the structure of your hair, which is great if you want curls without having to use a curling iron or hair dryer diffuser every day.
You will need to visit a stylist for a perm, and you must decide on the type of curls you would like before going for the treatment.
The verdict: How to make naturally curly hair straight the best way
How to make curly hair from straight is down to personal preference, as there are numerous methods to choose from. We recommend using an ionic hair dryer like the Laifen Swift Special with a diffuser attachment. You can then blow dry your hair on low or medium heat to achieve curls before adding some sea salt spray for texture and depth.
Then, if you want to accentuate your curls further, use a curling iron after applying a heat protectant, particularly on stubbornly straight ends. Learn the guides to take care of your curly hair.
An alternative is to go for a no-heat curling approach, which you can achieve with overnight braids or other styling methods like pin curling. Though results can be mixed, this approach is a viable option if you have dry or brittle hair and don’t want to apply heat to curl your locks.
