Curl’s Don’t Last? 5 Reasons Your Hair Won’t Stay Curled

Have you ever curled or styled your hair with any hot tool, and looked in the mirror shortly after only to be met by flat, unflattering locks? If your curls don’t last, you may be making one of these five mistakes. Read on to learn how you can create curls that last, maybe even for days!

Mistake #1: Using the Wrong Shampoo and Conditioner

Did you know that the shampoo and conditioner you use can greatly affect whether or not your hair will curl or style at all, let alone stay that way for very long?

One very common issue is using moisture shampoo because you want your hair to feel soft and smooth, rather than dry and frizzy.

So your hair needs moisture, right? Well, a moisture shampoo does draw moisture to the hair, however, it would be a mistake to use a moisture shampoo if you want to style your hair with a hot tool such as a curling iron.

You’ve probably made the connection that your curls don’t last if you walk outside into some thick humidity. Essentially, you are drawing moisture to your hair this same way when you use a moisturizing shampoo.

Now, if you happen to have naturally curly hair, and you’d like to wear your hair in it’s naturally curly form, moisture shampoo is a great option.

So the solution for this is to use a shampoo meant for holding a style. Think of shampoo as a styling tool. Conditioner, on the other hand is for treating, and you are welcome to use a moisture conditioner, as this is meant to lock in moisture.

Why? In short, there are bonds in you hair that are broken by water. So your hair will release the shape of the curl with moisture.

Mistake #2: Your Hair Wasn’t Completely dry

Don’t be hasty in drying your hair before you curl it, or you’ll get curls that don’t last!

If your hair still feels cool while you are blow drying with hot air, it’s not dry yet. If it’s sticking together, it’s not dry yet. You need to have thoroughly dried hair if you want your curls to really last!

Mistake #3: You’re Curling Too Much At Once

If you are taking sections that are too big, the heat will not distribute evenly, your curls won’t set evenly, and your curls won’t last.

As a general rule, the section of hair should be about the same size as the barrel of the curling iron. You’ll have to take into consideration thickness and how fine your hair is as well. So if your curls don’t last, try taking smaller sections!

Mistake #4: Using the Wrong Products

You should be using a heat protectant on your hair before you use any heat, including blow drying.

Don’t use anything too heavy though. You can use a light spray or serum. There are also products specifically meant to keep in curls that you use before you curl it.

DO NOT use hairspray before you curl. Hairspray is a setting product, meant to be used after you are done curling your hair to set it in place. Using a hot tool on hair with hairspray is a big no no, unless you are trying to give yourself a thermal haircut.

Do use a setting product, such as hairspray, after your curls are formed the way you would like them to stay.

Mistake #5: Not Setting Your Curls

Heat, like water, also breaks bonds in your hair that hold its shape. Your hair is not set in shape, until it has cooled. If you brush or move your hair around before it has cooled, you will be undoing your curls.

If your hair tends to be resistant or your curls don’t last, you can go as far as clipping the hair in place, holding the shape of the curl until it has completely cooled. Then, you can brush through it gently with your fingers.

You can use this to your advantage to get tighter or looser curls. If you hair takes a curl too easily and you would like to loosen it up, you can gently pull or brush through it with your finger to create the shape you want.

After your hair has set via cooling, you can then use your setting product, such as hairspray, to fortify the curls.

In summary here are 5 things you can do to make your hair last. 

1. Use a shampoo meant for holding a style.

2. Make sure your hair is completely dry before curling.

3. Curl appropriately sized sections of hair.

4. Use the appropriate styling products.

5. Let your curls set by cooling, then set with product such as hairspray.

I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment on what you’d like to know more about or any questions you have.