This Is How a Celebrity Hairstylist Curls Synthetic Hair (2024)

• David Lopez is a beauty expert and celebrity stylist who has worked with clients including Hailey Bieber and Ashley Graham. Lopez is an Ulta Beauty Pro Team member offering expertise in non-gendered self-care.

Set Up

To have maximum control over your desired outcome, Lopez recommends using a wig form and stand as a secure foundation for your synthetic hair to sit on while you style. "Use a styrofoam wig block to pin the extensions to," he tells us. By using t-pins, you'll avoid having the extensions slip or move around while you're working. The tripod or wig stand you use will also help you find stability as you style.

"And make sure to use synthetic hair that is heat resistant," he reminds us. As I mentioned earlier, heat-resistant synthetic hair is newer to the hair scene and not all synthetic hair is heat resistant, so be sure to pay close attention when you're shopping for your hair. Before you get started, "I always like to spray a little dry shampoo on synthetic extensions," says Lopez. "This helps take away some of the shine and will help it appear slightly more realistic."

Curl in Sections

Once your hair is primed and secure, it's time to start curling. Before taking the iron straight to the hair, "make sure to turn your iron down below 320 degrees (or follow the manufacturer’s heat guide)," Lopez warns. Going above the recommended temperature could melt and ruin your synthetic hair. Every synthetic hair type is different, so be sure to take note before you get started.

"Using a 1.25" curling iron, curl each section starting near the 'roots' and feeding the hair in to get even heat distribution," says Lopez. When sectioning your synthetic hair, try to aim for roughly the same size section as your barrel, so in this case, a little larger than 1" (eyeball this—there's no need for perfection).

When feeding the hair into the iron per Lopez's directions, keep the clamp down and gently tap it out all the way down to your ends to avoid leaving a clamp crease in the hair. If you open up the clamp too much, you may let some of the hair slip through without getting grazed by the heat and, as Lopez notes, feeding the hair through the hot barrel is important to getting that even distribution. If this is a new way of curling to you, practice on yourself and try it out a few times first. You'll want your hair to match the extensions anyway, so take the time to find your comfort with this.

Pin Your Curls

When you've come to the end of your section and your synthetic hair is wrapped neatly around the iron, use that same gentle tapping of the clamp to slide the iron out from the curl without releasing the new shape you've just created in the hair. "After curling, allow each section to rest in your palm before pinning into place," suggests Lopez. "Do not allow the hair to unravel."

If your curl falls out a little bit, use your fingers, as Lopez shows us here, and gently wrap that hair up into a curl again. At this point, you'll want to grab one of your pin curl clips to secure the section to its "root" at the base of the extension strip. Do this with every section of hair you curl so that when you're finished, your entire strip will be pinned up like a roller set.

Let it Cool

Cooling the hair is crucial when it comes to changing the shape of your strands with heat. Similar to the cool shot on your blowdryer, allowing the hair to cool is going to give it some time to lock in the desired style you just created with the help of applied heat. Your hair will hold its style for much longer if you allow it the time to sit in its new shape. Give it at least 10 minutes of cooling before you let your synthetic hair down.

Comb Through Curls

"After the hair is completely cooled," says Lopez, "use a wide-tooth comb to gently comb out your hair." You may have to do this a few times depending on how soft of a finish you'd like to see in the hair. Combing through will help break loose those pre-sectioned separations in the hair, drag out the bounce and body along every strand, and generally loosen up the curls you made so you don't have any Shirley Temple-looking ringlets.

At this point, add the extensions to your pre-styled head of hair and finish it all off with the product of your choosing. You could use texture spray, shine spray, smoothing cream, or hairspray depending on the finish you desire. Lopez recommends finishing witha light hold hairspray for added definition.

The Final Product

Voila! Now we realize there are plenty of curling methods you can use on your heat-resistant synthetic hair (Hollywood Glam or Beachy Waves, anyone?), so consider this one an expert-guided jumping-off point. No matter how you decide to curl your synthetic strands, remember Lopez's key takeaways:

• Take note of the specific temperature recommended for the hair you buy.
• Use a wig form and t-pins for maximum control.
• Give the hair some time to cool and lock in its new shape.