Curl It Up

I had a request from a friend to do a tutorial post on how I curl my hair.  I was flattered that she liked my hair enough to ask for a tutorial post, so I obliged and took some pics to illustrate exactly how I do my 'do!'

PS, I feel that these pics are ultra cheezy, but how does one take pictures of themselves and smile, all while holding an intensely hot curling iron and heavy dslr camera?  I almost burned myself numerous times!!

First off, I'll start by telling you I have intensly thick, dry, bleached hair!  underneath all that blonde is a mane of very dark locks.  For the last few years, I've refrained from washing my hair every day and have now reduced my washing routine to about twice a week.  I use either PSSSSST dry shampoo or Suave on the days that I don't wash it.  These pics were taken the morning after I washed my hair, and let dry overnight.  

Depending on the look I want to achieve, I take a different approach.  Sometimes I wash my hair before bed, apply serum, towel dry and go to bed with a damp head, other times I dry it with the hair dryer and if I'm looking for a smoother curl, I'll flat iron before bed and then curl it in the morning.  The first technique gives the curliest look.  The steps below are after I slept on it wet:  

First I have my tools ready.  After washing, I always apply Biosilk serum.  I either use a 1 or a 1.5 inch barrel T3 curling iron and I use two separate hairsprays.  I use Loreal Elnett before I curl it to create the curls and Redken forceful 23 to keep it in place! 

I always curl or straighten in 3 sections.
I start by piling 2/3 of my hair on top of my head with a clip.
I always start with the pieces beside my face.
I spray the piece that I'm about to curl with Elnett. 
I run the curling iron through the hair--sort of like a flat iron first to smooth it out.
Then, on the second pass, I start by curling the first piece in the middle
AWAY from my face,  leaving the ends exposed.  

Here's where it gets a bit trickier.
Next I loosen the barrel a smidge and twist it so that I now am curling
more of the hair that was exposed at the bottom. 

I loosen again and curl the remaining piece of hair. 

....continuing around the remaining hair until I reach the back of my head,
then I start over again on the other side of my face.
Again, I always curl away from my face! 

I repeat the process with the other two layers
until I've finished.

Non-frizzy curls!!
This is the result with a 1 inch barrel iron.
The below pic is the result from using a 1.5 inch barrel and leaving the ends exposed. 

Using the 1.5 inch barrel and not curling the ends, gives it a more natural, wavier look. 


Hope this helps for those of you that have asked! 

Happy Monday. 
XO,