All the ways to curl your hair without a curling iron

Although curly hair can give your appearance a playful twist, not everyone wants to heat-treat their hair or has access to a curling iron. Thankfully, there are lots of simple at-home techniques for creating gorgeous curls without using heat that are also kind to your hair.

With a few basic tools and techniques, you can achieve amazing results whether your goal is tight ringlets or soft waves. For those who want to add some curl to their hair without causing damage, these techniques—which range from braiding to using commonplace items like socks or headbands—are ideal.

We’ll look at a number of non-curling iron hairstyles in this post so you can choose the one that works best for your hair type and style preference.

Features of creating curls

Girls often wonder how to create curls at home without the numerous specialized styling tools available from manufacturers, such as brushes, hair dryers, and stylers.

This request is so well-liked for a few reasons:

• the most common one is that girls simply don’t have curling irons. If you curl your hair once every six months, then buying a curling iron is simply impractical. At such moments, improvised methods for creating curls come to the rescue;
• safety. All the methods described in the article allow you to make curls without harming the hair shafts, or at least with less harm than thermal tools. Exposure to high temperatures destroys the structure of the shaft, making it porous and dry;
• saving time. As a rule, all methods involve minimal effort and time costs, compared to styling with a curling iron, especially if the curls are long and thick;
• large selection of curl types. Thanks to the variety of methods, you can make voluminous curls, waves, small curls, large curls. Curls after a curling iron, hair dryer or iron are limited by the diameter of the working part or the available attachments.

There are drawbacks to these curl-creation techniques as well:

• the result is difficult to control. When styling with a hairdryer, curling iron or flat iron, you clearly control the degree of curl, whether the wave goes correctly from the roots. In the case of home methods, things are more complicated, and the result may not meet expectations;
• methods are not universal. Some are not suitable for short hair, some are difficult to implement on long strands.

Preparation for creating curls

1. Wash your hairwith your favorite shampoo, as usual. It is not recommended to do styling on dirty strands – it will quickly lose its original beauty and the curls will fall under the weight of sebum and accumulated dirt;
2. Optional step – applying the mask. She will feed the rods, make them softer and moisturized, which will affect the appearance of the curls. The mask is recommended to be done 1-2 times a week, depending on the type of hair. If you do not need a mask now, after shampoo, go to Balzam;
3. Apply balm or air conditioning. The product will close the scales of the hair rod, facilitate combing, moisturize and protect the strands;
4. Dry strands with a towel. It is better to use a microfiber towel – it removes only excess moisture, leaving the rods with filled and moisturized. The degree of drying depends on your intentions. If you plan to use the night method of creating curls, then it is recommended to dry the curls by 50-70%. Leaving them too wet, you run the risk of getting strands that are not dried in thick or too pronounced curls. For express methods that help curl your hair quickly, your hair should be 70-80% dry;
5. Apply a styling product. This can be a gel, foam, spray, cream with fixing or texturing functions. You need to choose a styling product based on your hair type – products with alcohol in the composition are not suitable for dry hair, products with oils and an oily base are not suitable for oily hair.

Two things to "NOT" when making curls:

1. Do not curl curls on too wet strands – the roots will be pulled too much;
2. Do not comb the curls otherwise you will get a "dandelion" effect. It is better to separate them with your fingers, carefully separating the strands.

The fundamental element of all non-curling iron methods involves forcing damp hair into a direction that it "remembers" for one to two days, with the help of styling products.

In actuality, curls are created without the use of fixing gels, mousses, or sprays; however, keep in mind that this will shorten the curls’ preservation time. Depending on the type of hair, heavy and hard hair will "fall" more quickly—perhaps even in a few hours. With porous hair shafts, the same outcome is expected. On typical curls with a medium density, the styling will last slightly longer.

Want to create stunning curls without breaking out the curling iron? Learn how to style your hair creatively and effectively using basic tools and techniques. This guide covers all the best methods for curling hair safely and effortlessly, giving you gorgeous waves or curls without the use of heated styling tools. From heat-free rollers to braiding and twisting, it has it all.

Curls for any hair length

The following techniques are referred to as universal because they can be used to create curls on hair of any length, medium, or long.

On a headband

A headband is an elastic band that was popularized five or six years ago to create a Greek-style hairstyle. These days, people are less interested in these hairstyles, but the elastic that is still there is actively used to create curls.

Although the technique works well for any length, curling very short hairstyles that extend past the earlobe will be challenging.

Detailed instructions:

1. After washing your hair and drying it lightly, fix the headband on combed loose curls. Please note that the back of the elastic band does not need to be tucked under the hair – the entire elastic band remains on the surface;
2. Start wrapping the strands around the elastic from the face, gradually moving to the occipital area. Repeat this step on the other side;
3. Fix the elastic band with hairpins so that it does not move.

Give the resultant structure a night to rest. Use your fingers to gently separate the curls in the morning; do not use a comb. The medium-diameter classic curls are produced by the elastic band.

From braids

Braiding tiny braids is a well-known technique for producing tiny, noticeable waves. We apply the universal method to both short and long hair.

Braided hair can be done in a variety of ways for curls:

• Afro-braids – many small braids all over the head, braided from the root;
• "dragons" – large braids, braided from the root;
• regular braids with a 2-3 cm gap from the roots.

When using one of the three methods, the outcomes vary in terms of curling. Afro braids will produce tiny, elastic afro curls that will add a lot of volume to the hairdo. Medium-pronounced waves can be created from dragons and straightforward braids.

1. Divide the damp hair along the parting and, if you are braiding more than 2 braids, divide each of them into several more parts. It is difficult to specify the exact amount – it all depends on the thickness of the hair;
2. Braid your hair, securing each one with a separate elastic band.

That’s it. You can now "unwind" the waves in your hair by carefully unbraiding it and separating it with your fingers after a few hours or before going to bed.

Remember that pulling on your hair too tightly at the roots will damage and weaken your hair follicles when braiding your hair. Pulling out strands after braiding can help to slightly unravel the braids and release some tension.

From strips of fabric

Curling fabric strips is one of the earliest methods of creating curls. You can create tiny, extremely elastic curls in your hair using a straightforward method that is no worse than using a curling iron.

How to carry it out:

1. Cut strips of cotton fabric 1.5-2 cm wide. and 7-10 cm long.;
2. Divide slightly damp strands along the parting into two parts to make it easier to move around the surface of the head;
3. Separate a small strand and apply it with the tip to the center of the fabric strip. The smaller the strand, the smaller and more elastic the curls will be;
4. Twist the strand on the fabric along the entire length to the roots and tie the two ends of the strip together;
5. Do the same with the remaining strands.

After three to four hours, or overnight if the curl is elastic from the roots, the outcome can be evaluated.

Paper can be used in place of rags; simply cut it into strips and use the same method to curl the strands. Paper does not lose its shape when it is "twisted," so the curls are slightly broken rather than as elastic.

On hairpins

Regular hairdressing pins can also be used to curl curls, but this method requires more patience and thin strand work than the others.

1. Separate a thin strand from the total head of hair, put it in a hairpin and wrap it around one end;
2. Then wrap the same strand along the trajectory of the number 8 through the second part of the hairpin. Continue until the strand ends;
3. Secure the tip with an invisible pin. You don"t have to curl the entire length, but leave 3-5 cm of the tip untouched – then you"ll get a stylish and unusual hairstyle.

You can use an invisible hairpin in place of a hairpin, as seen in the bottom right photo, but curling one is much harder because the hairpin presses and compresses your fingers all the time. You must spend the entire night or three to four hours walking around with hairpins on. You will consequently develop tiny curls.

Natural way

Girls who don’t know how to style their hair wavy or curly without the use of special tools can use this method to create curls. With this method, all you need are your hands and no makeshift tools. This technique is known as the curly washing method.

How to form curls:

1. Wash your hair with sulfate-free shampoo twice;
2. Apply silicone-free conditioner for 3-5 minutes and rinse with plenty of water;
3. Turn your head down and, mixing the conditioner with water – about 1/3 of the usual portion, distribute it over the curls, do not rinse;
4. Also standing upside down, squeeze the hair along the length, lifting it from the ends to the roots – this helps to form a curl;

1. Take a small amount of styling gel suitable for damp hair in your hand – for example, from CURL ROCK"n"Roll, and distribute it through your hair with the same squeezing movements;
2. Without squeezing the strands or pulling the moisture off them, wrap them in a cotton or microfiber towel and leave until completely dry.

The outcome is determined by the natural type:

• girls with naturally straight strands will have a slight wave;
• on wavy strands there will be an obvious, clearly defined wave;
• on hair prone to curls, elastic spirals will appear.

For medium and long hair

With invisible pins

Although it might seem like a strange method to make curls without a curling iron, this actually works well when all you have on hand are invisible pins.

You’ll require:

• Invisible pins – from 10 to 30 pieces depending on the length and thickness of the hair;
• Styling cream or gel – optional.

How to use your fingers to curl your hair without a curling iron:

• Wash your hair as usual and dry it with a towel;
• Wait until the strands are slightly damp, apply a detangling product;
• Gently comb your hair so that it is easy to separate the strands later;
• Starting from the face, separate a small strand of hair – about 1 cm and holding it at the roots, begin to curl it around your finger;
• When the entire length is curled, carefully remove the resulting shell and secure it with an invisible pin from the bottom up;
• Repeat this manipulation with the rest of your hair.

If you have at least three to five hours to spare or wish to create curls overnight, this method works well. Tie a scarf around your head before bed to improve your sleep quality and keep the shells from breaking.

With your fingers

These are the same curls from Tik Tok that gained a lot of popularity towards the end of 2021. The primary benefit of using this technique to create curls is that all you need are a few fingers. Though you can achieve the curls on your own without them, styling cream and hairspray won’t hurt either.

1. Comb clean, almost dry hair;
2. Separate a small strand and about 10 centimeters from the roots, create a loop out of it, folding the strand in half;
3. Put 1-2 fingers into the resulting loop, and start wrapping the free end around the hair above the loop;
4. Hold the strand for 1 minute and gently loosen it – you will get a light curl from the middle of the length.

Apply hairspray to your hair at the conclusion to achieve a light, natural style without using a flat iron or curling iron.

On a tourniquet

This technique is akin to using an elastic headband to create curls, but it requires the use of a tourniquet and isn’t appropriate for short hair. A scarf, kerchief, or any other piece of cloth can be used as a tourniquet.

1. Divide the hair along the parting into 2 parts and throw them forward;
2. Twist the fabric into a tourniquet and place it on damp hair so that the tourniquet passes through the crown and, framing the face, goes down to the ends of the hair shafts;
3. Secure the tourniquet on one side with a hair clip or a hairpin, and on the other side, start twisting the hair, starting from the very first strand near the face, gradually adding another small strand;
4. Continue twisting until the hair runs out. Secure the resulting tourniquet with a small elastic band and fix it with a hair clip at the back of the head;
5. Repeat the manipulations on the other side.

Using this method, curls can take anywhere from four hours to a whole night to create. The curls will become more noticeable the longer you wear the tourniquet.

On a roller

To achieve large curls, use a T-shirt or soft towel as a makeshift roller. You’ll need damp hair, damp hairpins, and any clean T-shirt to curl the curls.

1. Twist the T-shirt into a tight thick tourniquet and secure its ends with elastic bands;
2. Make a circle from the resulting bundle and place it on the crown of your head. Secure it with hairpins so that it does not move;
3. Starting from the face, separate the strands, lift them up and wrap them around the roller until the length of the strand ends. Fix with invisible hairpins or hairpins. Move along the perimeter of the roller, twisting all new strands;
4. Repeat on the other side.

After letting the curls form for the entire night, gently untie and use your fingers to separate them in the morning.

Bun

Stuffing curly hair into a bun is one of the simplest ways to achieve a romantic wave.

1. Dry your hair almost completely – they should be only slightly damp, otherwise they will not dry after gathering them in a bun;
2. Gather your hair in a high ponytail and, without securing it with an elastic band, twist it into a tourniquet;
3. Form a bun from the resulting bundle and secure it with an elastic band or hairpins.

You can untangle the bun after two to three hours. You’ll experience gentle, inconspicuous waves.

In small bundles

For people who don’t know how to create afro curls without a curling iron, this method works well. Little elastic bands and damp hair are all you’ll need to create tiny elastic curls.

1. Separate a small strand and twist it into a small bun;
2. Secure the bun with a small elastic band. It is also acceptable to use hairpins or invisible hairpins, but the bunches turn out small and it is not convenient to fix them with such accessories;
3. Repeat the manipulation until all the hair turns into small bunches.

Take apart the bunches of hair in the morning after leaving it in overnight, and you’ll have gorgeous afro curls. This method’s drawback is that it’s hard to use on thick hair; you’ll either have to suffer for a long time or make the bunches bigger, which will ruin the effect. This technique works well for girls whose hair is medium-thick and sparse.

It’s better for girls with thick curls to curl on cocktail straws. The idea is the same, but instead of wrapping the tube in tiny strands, an elastic band is used to secure it. The diameter of the tube determines the diameter of the upcoming curls.

On a scarf

It helps to create airy, light curls with this technique. For girls with long hair below the shoulders, this hairstyle is perfect.

• Divide the hair, slightly damp after washing, into 3 parts – one on the sides and one at the back;
• On each strand, as close to the roots as possible, tie a scarf or bandana so that its 2 ends reach the ends of the hair;
• Take the first part of the hair and divide it into 2;
• Twist each part with its end of the scarf, and at the end connect both ends and secure with an elastic band;
• Repeat the same steps on the remaining 2 sections of hair.

It’s best to avoid curling too-wet strands of hair as you’ll have to wait a long time to remove the scarves once your hair is completely dry. Once the structure has been untangled, use your fingers to separate the curls, mist with hairspray, and take pleasure in the volume and natural waves.

Method	Description
Heatless Rollers	Soft rollers that you can sleep in to create curls without heat.
Braid Method	Braid damp hair and let it dry to achieve natural waves.
Foam Rollers	Soft foam rollers that you wrap your hair around for curls.
Headband Technique	Wrap damp hair around a headband to create curls as it dries.
Twist Method	Twist sections of damp hair and pin them to your head to curl.
Socks Method	Use socks to roll up sections of damp hair for heatless curls.

Discovering various ways to curl your hair without using a curling iron allows you to be more creative and adaptable. For every hair type and style preference, there is a solution, ranging from basic techniques like twist-and-pins to the use of hair rollers and braids. With the different results that each method offers, you can achieve everything from tight curls to soft waves without having to worry about the heat damage that curling irons can occasionally cause.

These methods can help you achieve the perfect curls with the least amount of hassle, whether you’re getting ready for a special event or just want a new look. You can find the method that works best for your hair type and lifestyle by experimenting with different approaches. This will also add variety to your hair routine. So go ahead and give these heat-free techniques a try to maintain the health and beauty of your curls.

Never forget that practice and patience are the keys to amazing curls. You’ll get better at these methods over time and discover which ones work the best for you. Take pleasure in the procedure and enjoy doing your hair!

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