How can I curl my fine hair? - Ask Hair Romance

We always want what we don’t have. For hair, straighties want curls, and curlies want straight. I love my curls but love straightening them out too.

Hair Romance reader Emily asks –

I have had fine, thin, and straight as a board hair my entire life. Some of the hair styles you show do not work for my hair because there is so little of it. My hair has started getting to the point where I can curl it and it will stay for half a day, but it slowly goes back to being straight.

I have tried everything that might help keep some volume. I use volumizing shampoo and conditioner. I blow dry my hair upside down. I use hair spray ( a lot) when I curl my hair. I have tried many things. The only thing I have not done is extensions and I am not open to that idea at all.

If you could please give some tips and maybe even some hair styles that will suit thin haired people that would be great!

Well Emily, I’m planning some different styles for my upcoming 30 days of Twist & Pin hairstyle challenge that will work for all hair types so stay tuned...



Clive Allwright & Kelly Grant from Our Place Salon

As for curling straight hair, I turned to KMS International Artistic Director, Clive Allwright from Our Place Salon for some expert advice. Clive says -



If you are putting the curl in thermally and mechanically i.e straightening iron, curling irons, hot rollers etc, after you have washed your hair with a volume product like the KMS Add Volume Shampoo you need to use a heat styling product that has hold, as opposed to hairspray. Hairspray can get heavy and sticky and weigh the hair down. 

I recommend using KMS flat out Hot Pressed Spray applied to dry hair before each section is curled, then pin the curled section up to the head to cool. So many people let the section drop too early and hair does not set by heating up, It actually sets from the cool down process.

The cool-down process takes a minimum of 10 minutes per section. Once the hair has cooled down release the sections then loosen them and apply KMS California hairstay Medium Hold Hairspray to hold.

Also, when we are styling and shooting for people with thinner hair, we recommend using a smaller than usual curling iron as it will drop eventually and you are left with the correct curl around an hour later.

Thank you Clive!

How to get longer lasting curls in fine hair

• Use a volumising shampoo & conditioner
• Apply a heat styling product first, rather than heavy hairspray
• Use a smaller curling iron or roller
• After curling, pin each section to your head and allow curls to cool - at least 10 minutes
• Once cool, unpin and loosen your curls and use a medium weight hairspray

The trick is definitely how you set the curls and letting them cool in place. This is one of the reason’s I love Cloud Nine’s TheO as it has a heat indicator on each roller to tell you when they are ready to take out.

Even if you’re straightening your hair, a blast of cool air from your Parlux Cool Shot button will set your hair in place.

Do you have fine hair? How do you style it? Do you have any tips for curling fine hair?

 

How to wear a headscarf like Blake Lively – extra tip

When I added Blake Lively to my list of Hair Idols my friend loved the headscarf and asked how to do it. So I posted a how-to on this Gossip Girl hairstyle here.
 

Then Eliza asked a question in the comments about how I hide the pin at the back.

My best tip for pinning hair is to try and weave the pin through you hair, catching the section you want to pin and the hair underneath. If you try for too much hair it always falls out, but weaving the pin through smaller sections twice makes for a secure bobby pin. 

Looking at these photos now I’m not sure if they really explain how I put the pin in (as it’s hidden underneath) but think about weaving the pin through and I hope it works in your hair. 

I have a blogging challenge in mind that I hope will have you all Twisting & Pinning. Stay tuned…

Do you have any hair questions? Drop me a comment or email thehair@hairromance.com

How-to Easy Braid Hairstyle – Hair Romance Reader Question

Q:

I would absolutely love to know how to do this following hairstyle: it’s the third picture, on the right.
Could you possibly tell me how to do it? thank you!! :)

Here at Hair Romance we love a braid or two.

I haven’t seen this style before so I was happy to try and figure out how it was achieved.

It’s a backwards braid (or inside out braid) that’s only adding in sections from the top. It’s done by braiding the top half of your hair around each side to meet at the back to make this super cute half-up-half-down hairstyle. 

Don’t worry, I’ve broken it down even further with some how to step by step pics below.

What is a backwards (or inside out) braid?

Normally with French braids you have three sections that weave together over the top. Backwards is simply weaving together from underneath. You still add in sections just braid underneath and this leaves a plait on top.

Step 1 – Part your hair – I did mine on the side but this style is also cute with a centre part.

Step 2 – Take a section at the front and split into three.

Step 3 – Plait together in a French braid, bringing the sections in from underneath.

Step 4 – Braid in section from the top only, leaving the rest of your hair to hang down under the braid.

Step 5 – Finish the first side in a plait and secure with an elastic.

Step 6 – repeat steps 2-5 on the other side.

Step 7 – Tie the two sides together with an elastic. Hide the elastic by wrapping a section of hair around it and pinning it underneath with a bobby pin.

Step 8 – Loosen up the braid to give it a messier finish and you’re ready to go.

I think my braid is a little too neat compared to the original picture but both styles work. 

What do you think? Would you give this style a try? Do you have any hair questions you need answering? Drop us a comment below or shoot me an email at thehair@hairromance.com