How to style to get nice waves or curls that last the day

[Hawthornflowers]

Advice needed please on curling my hair. I am a total beginner to styling my hair, but will be attending a wedding in a month or so and want to put some gentle waves/curls in my hair.
I have fine slightly wavy hair, quite a lot of it, and it's just below shoulder length.
What is the best hair tool to use? I've tried curling with straighteners before and could not get the knack. I am thinking a wide barrel curling tongs? Any suggestions?
And whats the best way to get waves/curls to last the whole day (if possible). I read using hair spray before styling, but won't that just fry the hair?
Thanks in advance.

Wrapping it around a dressing gown belt and sleeping in it over night works very well for my DD.

I've always found wands easier than tongs but personal preference really. Mine are babyliss and not expensive.

Use a curl hold spray beforehand (I have GHD). Make the curl tighter than you want to start off with and only when your hair is COMPLETELY cooled brush out to get it looser. Finish with good hair spray.

Maybe go to the hairdresser if you're not used to curling your hair? By the time you've faffed about buying curling tongs it might be easier and avoid any disaster on the day.

I've got a posh work do coming up and I've booked the hiar dressers to do my hair. I figured by the time I've bought the wand and products, it's cheaper to go to the hairdressers.

An airwrap. So worth the money. I curl my hair every Friday and they last for 4/5 days.

This. Wands are far easier than straighteners. For a more relaxed curl, I pull the curl down straight after curling, leave it to cool and then gently brush out

Mine only last if my hair is washed the day before. If I try doing it the same day they last about ten minutes

I have slightly longer hair, and curl the ends with a medium tong (probably about 16-18mm barrel). Too big and you get no curl, too small and you get a perm effect.

I could never get on with straighteners or wands. Tongs are easy.

I still plait mine overnight to get curls like I've been doing since 12 years old 😂 Only thing that works for my thick flat hair 😂

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. I'll look into curling wands and the right products.
Re going to a hair dresser, the wedding is away from my home town and I will be staying in a rural hotel so won't have easy access to hairdressers on the morning.

Don't do it on clean hair is my top tip!

My hair never used to hold a curl, but does now - I use my GHD straighteners for a looser curl, and have a wand for a tighter curl - I've got a very small width wand so can go super duper curly, or can hold for less time, or pull it out with my fingers to loosen the curl. I bought a secondhand GHD wand from ebay - loads on there as people try something, it doesn't work and they sell it on.

Use a setting spray like Silhouette Liquid Pump Spray first, and a curling wand.
Using this sort of product will not fry your hair.
I am a bridal hairstylist and I use the beautyworks 25mm tong as my tool of choice.
Curl in small seconds away from the face, leaving out the ends (approx 1") for an up to date, choppy look.
Point the wand down as you curl, never horizontal.
I would split the hair in two, one section over each shoulder.
Work from back to front, and set again with more product. You will not overload the hair as you'll be brushing it out.
Let the hair cool before you touch it.
Then either use your fingers or a wide toothed comb to break up the curls / waves.
Run a smoothing cream through to add definition and tame any frizz or flyaways.
Then a light spritz of a medium hold hairspray and the style should last a few days.
Hope that helps.

Wear gloves for the wand if you're a novice!

I use that thing you wrap your hair up in each night, beautiful curls that turn to nice waves by end of the day and no heat. Works amazingly well for me and I have every tong under the sun!

This one I use

https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/kitsch-satin-heatless-curling-set-sunset-tie-dye/13502049.html?affil=thgppc&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjajBhCqARIsAA37s0wHobmbrLh5R1HaYvmsplS3VBjO7uMkUxm4hT8qjLb9e8VL1JvmAVUaAptYEALww_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Any kind of wide barrel curling tongs and spray the curl after you take it out. Kind of hold it in your hand, spray with something like the Got2B yellow hair spray (lasts forever, isn't crunchy) and after a few seconds, let it drop.

It works a treat on my daughter's long fine hair. It's the only thing that has.

Another one for a wand. Does take a bit of practice not to burn yourself, but they often come with some finger gloves. Curl your hair and use hairspray. Leave the curls tight for a bit and to get more relaxed curls, bend over and let your hair fall over your head and gently comb through with your fingers. Give another blast of hairspray whilst still upside down and then flip your hair back and tease into place. For curls to stay the longest, I recommend washing your hair the day before. Curls stay better than in freshly washed hair.

Would this work on shoulder length hair do you think?

@Youmeandacupoftea
I would say any length hair beyond super short. I've honestly been amazed. This make it slightly more expensive I think there are cheaper ones so it would be easy to try it out, it's not like buying an expensive gadget. I do it on dry hair that I've sprayed with curl spray so it's slightly damp.

I use this heatless curler, much cheaper than the one linked above, im really shocked at how good it is and my ghds, now sit unused. For 6 quid give it a shot, it takes a couple of goes to get used to it, but once you do it’s fab, your hair is ready to go in the morning.

you need one that has wire running through the middle. You can then twist it towards your head when it’s in to tighten before going to sleep depending on what type of curls you want. Also slightly dampen your hair with a little spray before you put it in.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09ZL28V9N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If your hair already has a bit of a natural wave I'd be tempted to experiment with non-heat styling.
I'm not very good at hair stuff and whenever I curl mine using tongs or straighteners it doesn't hold. I do the dressing gown cord if it's just for overnight, but prefer to do a Gibson tuck. I use one of those hairbands that looks like a massive elastic. Sometimes I scrunch through a bit of curl creme and when it's all in place I spray a bit of hairspray on/give it a quick blast with the hairdryer.
It looks a bit tricky but if I can do it, honestly anyone can!

Agree with the heartless curler recommendations! I use a fabric belt that was once on an old dress and it works great. The curls definitely hold better than when heat styled.
Alternatively, I use my air wrap. If I want the curls to last longer, I pin them up while still hot, put a bit of hairspray on then do makeup/get dressed and unpin them when completely cooled and hairspray again. Pinning works well after using any type of curling iron to keep the curls set and tighter so they take longer to drop out

Thank you, that’s really helpful! I’ve got two teenage daughters with long hair so it definitely wouldn’t go to waste 😂 think I’ll get one and give it a go.
Thanks again and to PP for your recommendation too x

@NatM70 can I ask which styling cream you recommend please.

@JulietteField
Either Tigi Bedhead After Party or Schwarzkopf Osis Tamewild.