Last summer, I chopped my hair into a short curly bob and it was a c-h-a-n-g-e. And I have to admit, I still struggle with styling my short hair, which is why I called on Mara Roszak, co-owner of Mare Salon, founder and CEO of haircare brand RŌZ, and a L’Oréal Paris celebrity stylist who works on clients like Emma Stone and Olivia Wilde.
For years I had long hair that I smoothed into blowouts instead of rocking my natural wavy/curly texture. I couldn’t begin to imagine a bob, let alone my big, crazy curls. Then, as natural air-dried hair began to hit the runway and, eventually, the street a couple years ago, I started to change my point of view. The trick? Without the long-lasting blowouts I was used to, how could I keep the curls looking bouncy and defined for a few days? Roszak gave me these five essential steps for how to style a curly bob, and New York-based curl specialist Suleky Roman answered our follow up questions.
Meet The Experts
- Mara Roszak is a celebrity hairstylist who was committed to seeking a solution to her frizzy curls since the age of 12. She is the co-owner of Mare Salon, works with a-list clients like Emma Stone, Zoë Saldaña, and Halle Berry, and is the founder and CEO of RŌZ, a clean, nature-inspired, and easy-to-use haircare brand for all hair types.
- Suleky Roman is a New York City-based hair stylist specializing in curly hair cuts and color. She is a stylist at Curl Bar Beauty and seeks to create vibrant and dynamic cuts with textured hair.
David Fisher1. Wet Your Hair A Little
Rather than full-on washing your hair, wetting it down with a spray bottle (try a continuous mist spray bottle or Kérastase's Curl Manifesto Curl Refreshing) gets your hair a little damp so you can get a bit of a fresh start. Focus around the face and over the top; just the places people actually see.
2. Apply Creme & Twist
Layer on some curl cream, like Ouai Anti-Frizz Curl Styling Cream or Oribe Curl Control Silkening Creme, and start twisting the hair into sections. The size of the sections depends on the size of the curls or waves you’re going for. For my hair, it’s about one inch by one inch. The twisting almost acts like a curling iron and reminds the hair how to spin.
3. Dry On Low
You actually don’t need a diffuser here; turn the settings on your dryer to the highest heat and lowest speed, and dry each twisted section to lock in the spiral shape. The low speed means you’re less likely to get frizz. Roszak and Coveteur like Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer.
4. Use A Curling Iron From The Top Down
Find a curling iron that matches your curl size—for me that’s a three-quarter-inch barrel from Hot Tools. Curl sections in the top layers of hair first and then work down to lower layers. The goal isn’t to curl every single section, just a few “showcase” pieces. Each time you curl a section, flip it to the opposite side you plan to wear it while it cools—this trick helps add lift at the roots.
5. Finish With Hairspray
I always hated hairspray on my blowouts, but it’s really clutch for keeping curls locked in. Lift the hair as your spray so you get the mist everywhere. Of course, the classic L’Oréal Paris Elnett Hairspray is still the go-to.
More Tips For Styling & Maintaining A Curly Bob
SplashNews.com/Shutterstock What is the best way to preserve my curly bob overnight?
S.R.: "For preserving curls, avoid wetting hair again by protecting hair from shower head or spray bottle. Sleep on a silk pillowcase, use a silk scarf to maintain the shape flat on the sides, then fluff hair using a serum or oil."
Beyond re-wetting, what are 3 different techniques to refresh a curly bob on day 2 or day 3?
S.R.: "Top 3 ways to refresh your curls are by using a light weight serum/oil, a thin mist refresh spray or texture spray. Too much water after styling can cause more frizz."
How often should I get my curly bob trimmed to maintain the shape?
S.R.: "Depending on your curly bob length I always advise 4-6 weeks to maintain the shape. Styling is crucial with your bob as well."
What products should I use to add volume and combat shrinkage at the roots?
"Styling products depend on your curl texture. If your goal is volume you want to use a cream product, light leave in and foam. If you desire to stretch your root due to shrinkage it’s best to fully dry hair after styling, then use your blow dryer to stretch hair downward at the roots."
How can I minimize frizz?
"Proper day one styling with a smoothing brush helps present frizz. Use a denman, a bounce curl or any styling comb you like to smooth hair while wet and using your product. Set your curls by diffusing, air drying, or a hooded dryer."
