How to Make Curls Last Longer: Expert Tips for Long-Lasting Party Hair
Curls drop for a reason. Here's how stylists get party curls to hold all night, from prep and heat protection to pinning, setting and the right hairspray.
You spend 40 minutes curling your hair before a party. By the time the starters arrive, it's hanging in loose waves. By the end of the night, it's straight.
Curls drop for a reason. Most of the time it comes down to how the hair was prepped and how long each curl was left to set, not your hair type. Both are in your hands. Here's how stylists get curls to hold from the first drink to the last dance.
1. Start the day before
Freshly washed hair is soft and slippery, which is great for a sleek blow-dry and terrible for curls. If you can, wash the day before. A little natural grip helps each curl hold its shape.
If you have to wash on the day, give your hair something to hold on to. Work Nine Yards Go Large - Volume Mousse through damp hair from roots to ends before you blow-dry. It adds body with a flexible hold, so curls have structure without feeling crispy.
Once your hair is dry, a light spray of Davines More Inside This Is An Invisible Dry Shampoo 100ml at the roots and through the mid-lengths adds texture. It's a trick plenty of stylists use on clean hair, and it doesn't leave a white cast.
2. Protect before you curl
Curling tongs sit far closer to your hair than a dryer, and you'll be going over the same sections more than once. milk_shake Lifestyling Thermo-Protector Spray 200ml is an ultra-fine mist made for exactly this, and it can go on dry hair just before you start without weighing your curls down.
Barrel size matters more than the brand. A 25mm barrel gives defined curls that drop into soft waves over the evening. Go bigger, and you'll get a looser look from the start, which leaves less room for the curl to relax.
Think about direction as well. Curl the front sections away from your face so they frame it rather than fall into it. Further back, alternate the direction from one section to the next. The curls won't merge into one big wave, and the finished look holds its shape for longer.
3. How to curl hair so it lasts
- Section properly. Work in sections no wider than about 2cm. Big sections heat unevenly, and the middle never sets.
- Mist each section. A light spray of O&M Flexible Queenie Flexible Hold Hairspray 300ml before you curl gives the hair memory without making it stiff. Let it dry for a second first. Never curl wet product.
- Hold, then release into your hand. Keep the tong in place for around eight to ten seconds, then slide the curl off and catch it in your palm.
- Pin it while it cools. This is the step most people skip. Coil each curl back up and pin it to your head with a clip. Hair sets as it cools, so a curl left to hang while warm will start dropping straight away.
- Leave them alone. Give the pinned curls at least 15 minutes. Do your make-up in the meantime.
4. Finish and keep them going
Once every curl has cooled, take out the clips and leave them in their ringlets for a minute. Then break them up gently with your fingers rather than a brush, which pulls them straight.
For a softer, lived-in finish, O&M Desert Dry Texture Spray 300ml separates the curls and adds body at the roots. Then lock everything in with Davines Strong Hold Hair Spray 400ml, sprayed from about 20cm away so it doesn't clump. If your hair is very fine, keep the texture spray to the roots, as too much through the lengths can leave them feeling dry.
Pop the dry shampoo in your bag. A quick blast at the roots halfway through the evening lifts curls that have started to sag, especially if the room is warm.
Party curl FAQs
Why do my curls drop so quickly?
The most common cause is curls being touched or brushed before they've cooled. Hair that's just been washed is the next culprit, and humidity rarely helps.
Should I use hairspray before or after curling?
Both, but differently. A light, flexible spray before gives each section hold, and a stronger one at the end keeps the shape in place.
Will my curls last until the next day?
They can. Before bed, twist your hair loosely into a high bun and sleep on a silk pillowcase. In the morning, a little dry shampoo will freshen them up.
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