Disco curls are a fun and voluminous hairstyle that brings a touch of 70s glamour to any look. This iconic style, characterized by bouncy, well-defined curls and maximum volume, has made a major comeback in recent years. Whether you’re heading to a retro-themed party or simply want to channel your inner disco diva for a night out, here’s your comprehensive guide to achieving this showstopping style.
What you’ll need:
- Heat protectant spray: Essential for protecting your hair from heat damage.
- Curl hold spray or volumizing mousse: To help the curls hold their shape and add volume.
- Curling wand with a 1-inch or ¾ inch barrel: The smaller the barrel, the tighter the curls.
- Smooth and finish serum or lightweight hairspray: To tame flyaways and add shine.
- Texture comb or wide-tooth comb: For gently separating the curls.
- Optional: Hair clips: To section your hair for easier styling.
- Optional: Volumizing shampoo and conditioner: To create a foundation of volume.
- Optional: Diffuser: If you have natural curls and want to enhance them.
- Optional: Large hair rollers: To set the top section for extra volume.
- Optional: Texturizing spray: For added volume and hold.
- Optional: Root lift spray: For additional volume at the crown.
- Optional: Teasing brush: For creating height at the roots.
- Optional: Shine spray: For that disco-ball shimmer effect.
Steps to create disco curls:
1. Prep your hair:
- Start with clean, dry hair. For best results, wash with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner.
- Apply a heat protectant spray evenly throughout your hair, focusing on mid-lengths to ends.
- For extra volume, apply a volumizing mousse or curl hold spray from roots to ends, distributing evenly with a wide-tooth comb.
- For maximum lift, apply a root-lifting spray at the crown and blow-dry upside down before styling.
2. Curl your hair:
- Section your hair: Divide your hair into manageable sections (about 1-2 inches wide) using hair clips. Start from the bottom layers and work your way up.
- Wrap the hair: Take one section of hair and wrap it tightly around the barrel of the curling wand, starting near the roots and working your way down. Hold for about 5-8 seconds. For more volume, use an alternating curl pattern (curling some sections forward and some backward).
- Curl direction tip: Curl sections away from your face around the hairline for a flattering frame.
- Release and cool: Gently release the curl and either let it fall naturally or catch it in your palm and hold it in a coil while it cools. This helps the curl set more effectively.
- Repeat: Continue curling all sections of your hair. For a more voluminous look, especially if you have longer hair, curl smaller sections (around 1 inch).
3. Set the curls:
- For extra volume and longer-lasting curls, pin each curl to your scalp immediately after curling while it’s still hot, using butterfly clips or bobby pins.
- For dramatic height at the crown, roll the top sections of your hair up and away from your face using large hair rollers while the curls cool.
- Let all curls cool completely (at least 15-20 minutes) before removing the pins or rollers. This step is crucial for long-lasting disco curls.
4. Finish and add volume:
- Break up the curls: Once all the curls are cool, flip your head upside down and gently shake out the curls, using your fingers to loosen them at the root. This creates that signature disco volume.
- Perfect the shape: Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to gently separate and loosen the curls. For authentic disco style, focus on creating height at the crown and fullness around the face.
- Tease for maximum volume: For dramatic disco height, use a teasing brush to backcomb the hair at the roots, concentrating on the crown area. Work in small sections, holding the hair straight up and brushing downward toward the scalp.
- Smooth and define: Apply a small amount of smooth and finish serum to your hands and lightly run your fingers through the ends of your curls to tame any flyaways and add shine. Avoid applying product near the roots to maintain volume.
- Set the style: Use a flexible-hold hairspray, holding the bottle 10-12 inches away from your hair and spraying in a sweeping motion for all-over hold without stiffness.
- Add the finishing touches: For that disco-era shine, lightly mist a shine spray throughout your curls for a glamorous, light-reflecting finish.
Tips for long-lasting disco curls:
- Prep with texture: If your hair is freshly washed, consider applying a texturizing spray before styling to give your hair more grip.
- Day-old hair works best: Slightly dirty hair often holds curl better than freshly washed hair.
- Use hot tools at the right temperature: Adjust your curling wand temperature based on your hair type (lower for fine hair, higher for thick or coarse hair).
- Don’t rush the cooling process: Letting your curls cool completely before manipulating them is key to long-lasting results.
- Nighttime preservation: To maintain your disco curls overnight, loosely gather them on top of your head in a “pineapple” style with a scrunchie, or sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce friction.
Tips for different hair types:
Straight hair:
- Focus on using volumizing products from the beginning and ensure you curl small sections tightly.
- Allow curls to cool completely before touching them.
- Consider using hot rollers after curling for extra setting power.
- A light spritz of hairspray on each section before curling can help the curl form better and last longer.
Fine hair:
- Use lightweight products that won’t weigh your hair down.
- Focus on creating volume at the roots with specific root-lifting products.
- Use a smaller barrel curling iron for tighter curls that will hold better in fine hair.
- Dry shampoo applied at the roots before styling can provide extra grip and volume.
Wavy/Curly hair:
- Enhance your natural texture by using a diffuser attachment on your hairdryer first.
- Define select sections with a curling wand for a more polished “disco” look.
- Use a curl cream and mousse combination for definition and hold.
- Focus on creating uniform curl patterns and extra volume at the crown.
Thick hair:
- Work in smaller sections to ensure all the hair is properly curled.
- You may need a higher heat setting, but don’t skip heat protectant!
- Use stronger-hold products to keep the voluminous curls in place all night.
- Consider extending your cooling time to ensure curls set properly.
Short hair:
- Use a smaller barrel curling iron (½ inch or ¾ inch) to create tight curls.
- Focus on creating volume at the crown and texture throughout.
- A strong-hold mousse applied before curling will help maintain the curly shape.
The historical context of disco curls:
The disco curl hairstyle emerged in the 1970s as part of the vibrant disco culture. Icons like Donna Summer, Diana Ross, and Farrah Fawcett popularized variations of this voluminous, glamorous look that perfectly complemented the energetic dance moves and dazzling lights of disco clubs. The style represented freedom, self-expression, and breaking away from the straight, natural looks of the previous decade.
Modern disco curl variations:
- Disco waves: A softer, more relaxed version with looser curls and waves.
- Half-up disco: Pull the top section back for a modern take that still gives you that disco volume.
- Disco ponytail: Create a high ponytail and curl the ends for a fun, disco-inspired updo.
- Textured disco bob: Short-haired individuals can still embrace the disco vibe with tightly curled bobs.
- Highlighted disco curls: Adding face-framing highlights can enhance the dimensional quality of disco curls.
Key elements of authentic disco curls:
- Volume: The bigger, the better! Focus on lifting the roots and creating full, bouncy curls throughout.
- Definition: While voluminous, the curls should still have a defined, ringlet-like shape rather than just being frizzy.
- Movement: The curls should be flexible and have a lot of bounce so they move when you dance.
- Shine: Disco curls should catch the light with a healthy sheen, mimicking the glitter balls of the disco era.
- Face-framing: Pay special attention to the curls around your face, as these frame your features and create the most impact.
With these detailed instructions and tips, you’ll be ready to hit the dance floor with fabulous, head-turning disco curls that would make Studio 54 proud! Remember, confidence is the final ingredient—wear your disco curls with pride and get ready to dance the night away!
