If you want your crimps to look fresh and last longer, you need to start with the right base. First, wash your hair using a moderate, volumizing shampoo and conditioner. You want your hair to feel buoyant, not heavy or weighed down because this will affect how your hair crimps.
Now, you are ready to commit, but first, you’ll want to get your hair as dry as possible. Hair crimping irons get pretty hot, just like a hair straightening machine, and if your hair is damp, your locks can be damaged severely or even burned. If you have time, you can let your hair air-dry, or if you are in a rush, you can blow dry it. Just ensure your hair has thoroughly cooled before plunging into crimping – you don’t want to crimp hair fresh from drying – this goes against the purpose of using the crimper.
Next, before you turn on your crimping iron, spray heat protection evenly throughout your hair, from your roots to your ends. This simple step can help your hair stay safe from heat damage and split ends. Additionally, patching further ensures your style will stay smoother for longer.
How to Use a Crimping Iron in Steps
Once your hair has dried and been patched, you can start crimping. The trick is staying organised and working section by section to get a well-rounded, clean-looking style.
To start, divide your hair into 3 or 4 significant sections and clip them up, with the bottom section down. You will crimp from the bottom up to the top, which will help keep you organized and ensure you don’t forget to crimp some areas.
Now, pull your crimping iron and check your heat settings. If you are working with fine or damaged hair, I like to keep it on a lower setting, around 250-300°F. If your hair is considered “normal” or medium thickness, use a heat setting of 300-350°F. If your hair is thick or coarse, you can go up to 400°F, but I would only recommend going that high if necessary.
Pull a small section of hair out about 1-2 inches wide to start crimping. Put the crimper close to the roots but not so close to your scalp that it burns. Close the crimper plates and hold for around 5-10 seconds. Then, move the iron down the section, ensuring each new press overlaps enough with the last to eliminate gaps in the crimping pattern. Continue this until you reach the end of the piece of hair you started to crimp, and let it cool down while you grab another piece.
Continue this technique throughout your entire head of hair until crimping is completed. Take your time because the cleaner the crimp—steady hands and good sections equal clean crimps.
Styling Options with the Crimp
After your hair is crimped, you can choose not to change a thing or play around a bit! You have many options, but the best part is the instant volume and texture of crimped hair.
If you like bold, statement-making hair, you should crimp from roots to ends. For a more subtle look, crimp just the centre and ends, allowing the roots to remain natural. If you like to keep things interesting, you can crimp some random sections of hair, adding texture to the natural hair.
Another fun tip/trick is mixing crimping and other hairstyles. Pull your crimped hair into a high ponytail or a messy bun – it adds volume and an edgy style. Or, if you want to mix it up, you can braid the crimped hair, creating a neat layered texture.
To achieve a modern, effortless look, loosen and alternate crimped sections. To accomplish a bomb’ 80s-inspired look, crimp the entire head tight and even.
Keeping Your Crimped Hairstyle
After you put all that time and effort into crimping your hair, you want your crimped hair to last! The first thing you will want to do is mix with a flexible-hold hairspray. Avoid hairsprays that have held too strong and make the hair crunchy, as this will only flatten the crimped style and make the hair feel stiff.
If you experience frizz, apply a serum or anti-frizz cream to the top and ends of your hair. Don’t overdo it; too much product will weigh the hair down and ruin the texture.
To keep your crimps at bedtime, you can either loosely braid your hair or wrap it in a silk or satin scarf. Silk pillowcases can also reduce friction while you sleep, preventing your style from looking messy or flattened by morning.
Safety Tips and Best Practices
Crimping irons can get extremely hot, so be careful. Don’t use your iron on wet hair; don’t crank up the temperature to save time. Being patient will keep your hair healthy.
When using a crimper or iron, hold it away from your scalp and fingers to avoid burns. Never place the hot iron directly on your table or dresser. Always use a pad or surface that protects against heat, and remember to unplug it when you’re done using it.
When your crimper or irons are cool, wipe them down after every use. This will help reduce the build-up of leftover products that could otherwise transfer back onto your hair next time. Also, periodically check over the cord to ensure it is not frayed or damaged.
You shouldn’t use heat-styling tools every day. Use these tools two or three times a week and then enjoy your natural texture or pull your hair up without applying more heat on the other days.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your crimped sections appear uneven, you are probably using too thick sections or not keeping the iron in place long enough. Try smaller sections and hold the iron steady and constant with consistent pressure each time.
Conversely, if your crimps literally fall out within a short period of time, again, your starting preparation may not have been enough. Be sure hair is clean and completely dry and then lightly sprayed with a texturizing or styling product before crimping.
If your hair feels dry or appears damaged, it would be a good idea to let the heat tools rest for a few days. During this time, be sure to use a deep conditioner or hair mask once a week to keep your strands soft and strong. Also, check regularly to trim your ends, preventing split ends from travelling up your hair shaft.
Conclusion
Now that you are familiar with how to crimp your hair, your challenge may be to try a few different looks and styles based on your hair type and what you like best. If you prepare your hair properly, stay patient, and use the appropriate temperature settings, you will yield clean, fluffy (bouncy) crimps that last and represent a fun, bold side of your personality.