Tight & Wavy Curls for Shoulder-Length Hair

Create a tight or loosely curled style in your shoulder-length hair.

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It can get a bit confusing trying to figure out all of the different ways of curling your hair. There are so many things to consider -- tight curls, wavy curls, products to use to get curls, how to style your hair after curling -- how's a girl to cope? Well, fret no more. If it's a curled style you're after and you've got medium-length hair to work with, you have lots of fabulous curled styles from which to choose.

Curling

The curling process is the same, no matter what size curls you're trying for. The only difference is the size of curling iron you use. For tight, spiral curls, a 3/4- to 1-1/4-inch-wide curling iron works best, or 2 inches or more for large, loose curls. Curl around your hair in sections that are about the same width as your curling iron.

Day Styles

When you're heading out to work or have to run some errands during the day, you need a look that's wearable and that will hold up even with all that running around. Style your curled hair into a loose bun at the back of your head -- let some tendrils around your face fall loose -- or into a half-up style to show off the curls all around your head.

Evening Styles

If you're looking for a more sophisticated style, try an elegant twisted 'do. It works for a tightly coiled hairstyle and one that's loose and wavy. Leaving a couple of loose pieces out framing your face, pull up a section of hair on the right side of your head and secure it against your head with a couple of bobby pins. With the remaining hair -- on the left side and back of your head -- roll it backward and secure it against your head with additional pins to create a French twist-inspired style.

Funky Styles

Just because you have pretty curls in your hair doesn't mean you can't get a really chic, funky style going on. Put your hair into a high ponytail and tuck a piece of ribbon or beaded chain into the elastic. Form the ponytail hair into a bun shape against your head and pin it in place. Or try a double-bun style, with one on each side of your head. Keep the buns looser, not perfect and polished, so you don't end up looking like Princess Leia. Add in funky colored hair extensions or a glam hair accessory for a finishing touch that's just right.

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