From loose beach waves to tight ringlets, curls are all over your Instagram feed right now. Celebrity hair stylist & FHI Heat Artistic Director Sean James gave us his favorite curly hairstyles that he is obsessed with right now, and tips on how to style curly hair at home to recreate these looks.
“I wanted to show you all the different lengths to play with, all of these cuts work well with any face shape.” Sean notes that part direction is also an important part of your entire style. “You might find your part direction is more flattering on one side or the other, or swapped to down the middle - that is just a styling change, not an actual cut change.” Here are his top five hairstyles for curly hair.
This highlighted or Balayaged Curly Lob is really the Hottest trend at the moment for curly hair. You can achieve this curl by using a .5” or .75” curling iron winding the hair in alternate directions back and forth all over the head.
If you have curly hair already, use a curl cream and a dryer with a diffuser. Scrunching the hair with a diffuser with your head upside down, flip back over drying the roots off first, the rest will follow. Leave 10% of moisture in to air dry in order to prevent from frizzing.
The dark hair curly graduated chin length bob is reflective of the ‘80’s Vidal Sassoon and "Tony and Guy" cuts, but is also right on trend for shorter hair. Notice a little shorter framing around the face, this is recreated on straight hair with a 1” curling iron (or a .75” inch for a tighter curl) wound in alternate directions. The haircut really dictates the shape with this beautiful style.
Our blonde look Is more of a relaxed wave that is currently one of the most Instagrammed styles so far in 2019. Think hashtags like #Icy #Icyblonde #blondemelt #Beachwaves. Most clients ask for the Balayage Blonde/Grey toned version of this. The style can be achieved using a large 1.5” barrel iron - hold the iron vertically to curl and release to let cool, a little holding spray and you are set.
This next look with naturally curly hair is everything. Owning it while wearing it big and beautiful, the tight ringlet spiral curls invoke a youthful confidence and a self awareness that’s infectious. For best results let air dry with a curl cream or diffuse gently with a curl cream.
We are swooning over this naturally diffused redhead and her beautiful Venice Waves. This beach girl/skater girl/angel look takes us back to 70's glamour in a simpler time and natural California look seen anywhere in California still today. This look can be recreated easily with a 1” barrel curling iron for that beachy look.
Celebrity Hairstylist/Makeup, Mens Groomer LOCAL 706 Union Makeup artist, and currently working with Chris Hardwick on "@Midnight" on Comedy Central, “Talking Dead” "Talking Bad " "Talking Saul “ "Fear of the walking deads" and “Talking Preacher" on AMC and with the cast and creators of the “Walking Dead” and “Breaking Bad”. Most recently he is working on, “THE WALL “ on NBC. Sean first came to America via Australia because of his talents as a wig maker. He has since become an educator in cutting and color for L'Oreal, Redken, and Phyto Universe; styled numerous fashion shows during fashion weeks in Los Angeles, Paris, and New York including: Balmain, Gucci, Vivienne Westwood, Dolce and Gabanna, Valentino, and Burberry; has worked on Oscar nominated films and is a two time local 706 award nominee. He is an expert panelist trusted in reviewing products and can be seen on Style Network’s “How Do I Look?”. Sean is also involved heavily in giving back and donating his time for worthy causes putting together hair and make up teams, Most recently for “Women in film Prop 8 " the play, and Rufus Wainwrights "Christmas 101” for sarcoma research. Sean's accomplishments and celebrity clientele reach far but don't detour him from sharing his passion for hair with his regular salon clientele. As he says, "Living the Dream!"
List of regular clients include Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Hardwick, Al Yankovich, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Phil Keoghan, Eugene Levy, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Teddy Thompson, Rufus Wainwright, Chris Stills, and many others.
Instagram: @SeanJamesHair
What Heat Temp Should I Set for My Hair Type?
When it comes to using heat styling tools, there's a fine line between sleek, shiny hair and the dreaded damage zone. Finding the right temperature is crucial for getting those luscious curls or silky strands without sacrificing the health of your hair. Luckily, FHI Heat has made it easy to style safely, offering a variety of stylers and curlers with adjustable heat settings designed for every hair type. But how do you know what temperature is perfect for your locks?
