#AskAsh: How Can I Make My Curls Last All Day?

Q. Ash, I love to curl my hair, but it always falls out. How can I make it last?

A. I’ll be honest with you, I mastered winged liner at 15 years old, take serious pride in my ability to apply a full face of makeup in 15 minutes and can swipe on a liquid lipstick without a mirror in sight. But long-lasting curls? Erm, that’s something I’m still working on. I’ve begged and pleaded with my strands to stay twisted and twirled, but I’ve recently learnt that the best way to control curls is to prep, prep and prep some more.

After many trials and tribulations, this is how I keep my curls intact for 12 hours, not 12 minutes…

The secret is a solid start. You’ll want to get things underway in the shower by going easy on the conditioner. Personally, I find if my hair is too healthy and shiny, it’ll become slippery and won’t hold any style at all - especially a curl. Also, you need to make sure you’re only ever curling your hair when your tresses are absolutely, positively, completely and totally dry (no, really - wait ten more minutes!).

Next you want to add grip! Foundation without primer doesn’t last nearly as long, and swiping on nail polish without a base coat means waving your mani goodbye - this applies to hair, too! I’ve heard amazing things about Bumble & Bumble’s Curl Pre-Style/Re-Style Primer, a non-sticky spritz that gives your curls insane volume and staying power. Plus, if you feel your curls are failing you throughout the day, a quick mist of this will hydrate and revive them in a flash.

And of course, you want to finish things off with a good, old-fashioned hairspray. I’ve learnt the hard way that less is definitely more. Opt for an ultrafine mist with a lightweight hold as it won’t weigh your curls down, it’ll simply keep them bouncy and beautiful. Percy & Reed, gets my vote. The best way to apply is to spritz your hairbrush and run it through your hair. Not only will it distribute the hairspray evenly (no weird crunchy spots!) but it’ll brush your curls into submission, too. Just make sure your ringlets have fully cooled before doing this!

And on day two (yes, I try to get two days out of my curls!) soak up any oil with a heavy hitting dry shampoo like Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo. Scientifically proven to soak up oil, sweat and odour, it’ll revive your locks in no-time. My top tip? Stick to your roots so you don’t weigh down your leftover curls.

There’s nothing quite like big, bouncy curls. But curls that last all day? Now that’s magic.

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