How To Curl Short Hair, According To A Pro

After chopping my hair to my shoulders, I practically gave up on trying to curl it. The techniques that I used to practice on my long hair just weren’t giving me the results that I wanted and for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out where I was going wrong. As it turns out, short hair—shoulders and up—requires a different method to achieve those perfect bouncy and beachy curls. 

According to hair stylist Paola Cabiedes, the trick to salon-worthy curls is a combination of using the right tools and the right techniques. When it comes to short hair specifically, Cabiedes says that she uses a "less is more" approach to create curl definition without adding too much volume. For all the short-haired ladies dreaming of good hair days, here’s how to achieve your most gorgeous curls yet.

What You’ll Need

• Hair clip
• Hair spray (Cabiedes’ favorite is Kérastase Laque Couture)
• 1-inch curling iron 
• Small flat iron (optional)
• 1-inch curling wand (optional)
• Texturizing spray (Cabiedes recommends Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray)

How To Curl Short Hair With a Curling Iron

1. Use a clip to section off your hair and mist each layer with a base coat of hairspray. This will give your hair a foundation to hold the curls, says Cabiedes.
2. Section off your hair again. Start with the bottom third of your hair (unless you have layers cut into your hair, then see our FAQ!) and curl in 1-inch vertical sections away from the face.
3. Skip the middle and proceed to the top layer, curling in 1-inch vertical sections away from the face. Touch up and curl any exposed pieces of that untouched middle layer.
4. For a looser curl (which Cabiedes says is all the rage these days), pull down on the end of each newly curled strand to loosen it and stylishly straighten out the end a bit.
5. As you go, set your hair with the same hairspray before the curls cool completely.
6. Apply texture spray to the root for volume and an easy-going, slightly tousled finish. 

How To Curl Short Hair With a Flat Iron

1. Prep the hair by using a clip to section off your hair into layers.
2. Mist each hair layer with hairspray so the curls will hold.
3. Starting with the bottom layer of hair, clamp a small section of hair at the root in the flat iron, turn it one-half rotation, and slowly drag it toward the ends the same way you would curl ribbon. Release the curl.
4. Turn the next section in the opposite direction. 
5. Repeat with sections on bottom and top layers until hair is complete. Not every piece of hair needs to be curled. Curl any exposed pieces to fill in. Curl front pieces away from the face.
6. Set curls with hairspray as you go.
7. Tousle hair and spritz texture spray at the roots.

How To Curl Short Hair With a Curling Wand

1. Start by using a clip to section the hair into layers.
2. Mist each layer of hair with hairspray to hold the curls.
3. Divide the bottom layer of hair into sections. 
4. Hold the curling wand at the root end of a section, and twist to wrap the hair around the barrel with the other hand as you go. Hold the end piece of hair. It does not need to be curled and will add a soft, beachy look. 
5. Continue with other sections and top layer of hair, alternating direction of curls.
6. Curl front pieces away from the face. Curl any exposed hair from the middle layer.
7. Tousle hair with your fingers for loose curls.
8. Finish by applying texture spray to the roots.

How To Style Short, Curled Hair

Upon achieving your desired hair texture, choose a hair-do to best show off your expertly done curls. Here are some of our favorite ways to style short hair.