3 Ways to Add Volume to Curly Hair (and How to Fake Curls If You Don’t Have ‘Em)

It’s time to go big or go home. Curls and volume are two of this year’s biggest hair trends–and while some of us are blessed with gorgeous natural, voluminous curls, others need a little help. That’s where a diffuser, a hot tool like a curling wand, and a few expert stylist tips come in.

Boosting the body of your hair can be tricky, but achieving maximum volume without scorching your strands is doable! Ahead, see how to get curls if you don’t have them, and how to add volume to your hair if you do.

How to Get Curls With Volume:

1. Use a diffuser.

Many blow dryers come with a diffuser attachment, but you can also buy them separately to fit your dryer. Tips to remember:

• If you are going for smoother curls, you will want to move slowly and really take your time with the diffuser. Moving quickly does create some frizz and flyaways, which is great if you are going for beachy waves or a Carrie Bradshaw look, but not best for polished curls.
• Apply product to damp or towel-dried hair before using the diffuser, and include a heat protectant. Which products work best depends on the finish you want and your hair type and texture.
• Smooth the hair with hair smoothing lotion at the end if you want to lay down some of the flyaways.

2. Use directional drying.

When you dry the hair in the opposite direction that it will lay once styled, this helps with lift, so lift the hair and scrunch before applying the diffuser. Also, try flipping your hair side to side and even upside down as it dries to get lift.

3. Finish with a hot tool.

Select a wand of the appropriate size and curl small, random sections (curl all of it if your hair does not match the curl pattern you are going for). Tips to remember:

• For a curl that really looks natural, think of the length of the hair in thirds. Curl the first third in one direction, then switch, then switch again.  This gives more of a random curl, which mimics natural curls.
• If you want an even more dynamic look, select a few different sizes of irons that are similar but not exact to rotate between. You can even incorporate a crimping iron.

Watch the tutorial video:

 Show us your voluminous curls on Instagram @lulus using #lovelulus–and head to our Spring Fashion Shop to shop more of the season’s biggest trends!