Is there anything more satisfying than creating a head full of beautiful long, shiny curls on your client?!

But, what about the short haired clients? Just because they don’t have those extra inches, it doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of ways to experiment with curling their hair. You just need to make sure you have the right curling tools and styling products.

What is the best tool to curl short hair?

Naturally, when choosing the best tool to curl short hair, you want to make sure the barrel is the right size. Too big, and you won’t be able to wrap the hair around it. But, if you go straight for the smallest size, you’ll be limited to creating tight curls that might not suit your client’s style.

What about curling wand vs curling tong? If the hair has enough length to wrap around a wand, this is a good tool for more shaggy, undone curls. For very short hair, this may get tricky, so a tong with a casp is sometimes better.

Take a look at some of our bestselling curling tongs and read on to find out how to use them on short hair!

  • Babyliss PRO Ceramic Dial-a-Heat 24mm tong
  • Babyliss PRO Ceramic Dial-a-Tong in 32mm
  • Diva Digital Wand 13 – 25mm
  • Wahl Curling Tong 13mm
  • ghd Curve Classic Curl Tong
  • Babyliss PRO Triple Barrel Waver

Curling Short Bobs

We all love creating that sleek, smooth and shiny bob, but short hair can really come to life when you add in a few curls.

We love the gorgeous s-waves created on short hair in the video below! Using the ghd Curve Classic Curl Tong, you can create an edgier, grunge-inspired look for clients who don’t want a full on curl. For a short cut to this look, you could also try out the Babyliss PRO Triple Barrel Waver.

Even with short hair, don’t be afraid to try out larger curls. This bob below is given instant volume by creating some chunky waves through the ends.

For a beachy feel on short hair, use a small – medium size curling wand, such as the Diva Digital Wand 13 – 25mm. A hair wand keeps the ends from curling, creating a more undone look. Alternatively, use a hair straightener to curl the hair, alternating direction for a natural finish.

Curling Pixie Cut Hair

The idea of curling pixie cuts makes many people back away with the thought of burnt fingers!

But, curling pixie cuts is a great way to add some texture and volume to your client’s hair. You just need to make sure you have the right products and tools on hand.

Pixie cuts tend to have short tapered sides with most of the length at the top. If the hair is long enough to make a full turn around the barrel, you might be able to use a curling wand, but often a tong with a clamp allows you to grab the hair easier.

If the pixie cut is really short, you can find curling tongs with barrels as small as 13mm, such as the Wahl Curling Tong 13mm.

For pixie cuts with longer layers, you can create a looser, beachier wave with a larger barrel such as the Babyliss PRO Ceramic Dial-a-Heat 24mm tong.

When curling short hair, it’s good to create some texture to stop the hair slipping – a mousse or texture spray can give the hair some good hold. Pixie curls often look best when left a little messy, so don’t be afraid to scrunch them up, add definition or some edgier kinks and bends. Finish with a strong hold hairspray to keep the curls in place.

Curling Long Bobs

Once considered that awkward mid-point between long and short hair, the ‘lob’ is now a hair stylist’s staple!

While you can go for full on curls for a long bob, adding some subtle kinks and waves to the hair can give it some texture while keeping on trend. Again, use a larger barrel tong to create an s-bend for a soft wave just through the mid section.

Keep this look sleek and glossy by smoothing frizz with some hair oil, first – OLAPLEX No. 7 Bonding Oil which helps repair damage while providing heat protection up to 450°.

You can also use curls in short hair to bring out the tones in the colour. We think the picture below nails it, adding texture and depth with dimensional blonde tones paired with soft waves. Use a larger barrel curling tong, like the Babyliss PRO Ceramic Dial-a-Tong in 32mm for a loose curl you can brush out into a wave.

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