How to curl short hair with a straightener

Step 1. Prep

Always start with clean, dry hair. Apply a heat protectant spray like ghd Bodyguard evenly from root to tip. This helps shield the hair from heat damage and keeps curls soft and shiny.

Step 2. Section

Divide your hair into manageable sections using clips. Start with the bottom layers and work your way up. Smaller sections create more defined curls, while larger sections give softer, looser waves.

Step 3. Curl

Take a 2 to 3 cm section of hair. Clamp your straightener at the root, holding it horizontally or slightly angled. Turn the straightener away from your face, rotating it 180 degrees as you slowly glide down the length of your hair. The slower you move, the more defined the curl - so adjust the speed for your desired result.

Step 4. Shape and cool

Let the curl fall into your palm and hold it for a few seconds to lock it in place. Slowly release the curl or pin it up as you work around the rest of your head.

Step 5. Finish

Run your fingers or a wide-tooth comb through your curls to break them up. Set your style with ghd Perfect Ending Final Fixing Spray for lasting hold and soft, touchable texture.

Short hair is often more difficult to style than people originally believe. Curls tend to fall faster, and straight hair can wave quickly when not using the correct techniques. To make sure you achieve the best results possible, follow our tried and true styling tips for short hair with a straightener: 

For short, fine hair

Start with a lightweight volumising mousse or root-lifting spray (Body Goals is perfect) to give your style staying power without adding weight. Blow-dry using the ghd Helios and a round brush, directing airflow upwards at the roots. This builds volume and helps hold your shape longer. Finish with a light mist of ghd Perfect Ending to lock everything in without flattening your look.

For short, thick hair

Thick hair can be heavy and prone to dropping, so the key here is texture. Work in a light sea salt or texturising spray, such as Curls Gone Wild, before styling to add grip and definition. Use the ghd Chronos to curl or wave your hair, depending on your style, then set with ghd Perfect Ending for flexible hold. Avoid heavy creams as they’ll only weigh things down and cause your style to fall.

For short, naturally curly hair

Keep your curls bouncy and defined by styling them from wet with a curl cream or leave-in conditioner. Diffuse your curls using the ghd Helios Diffuser Attachment, scrunching gently as you go. Once dry, avoid touching your hair too much to reduce frizz. A spritz of light-hold hairspray will help keep everything in place without compromising bounce. Curly Ever After is a curl-holding spray that doesn’t leave you with stiff, crunchy locks - and it also doubles as a heat protectant.

For short, frizzy hair

Frizz is often caused by dryness, so start with a smoothing serum like ghd Straight On or leave-in conditioner to help tame flyaways. Use the ghd Chronos to shape your look, sealing the cuticle and adding an extra boost of shine. For stubborn frizz, a final pass with the styler paired with a bit of ghd Dramatic Ending serum can smooth it out perfectly - and keep it that way while you conquer the rest of your day.

Even when using the right tools and techniques, you can still make some common mistakes when styling your short hair with a straightener. Check out these common mistakes people make when styling short hair and how to fix them quickly:

Weighing down your hair with too many products

When every hair product is marketed as the next big thing, it’s easy to layer too many together to maximise your benefits. However, it’s super important to remember not to weigh short hair down - otherwise, your curls will fall within hours. This is especially true for short curls, as putting too many products through them will both weigh them down and make them appear oily. 

To fix this, take a look at your current haircare routine and see if there’s anything you can remove. Use a lightweight heat protectant like ghd Bodyguard before styling, and a thin mist fixing spray like ghd Perfect Ending. These products are lightweight enough to protect your style without causing it to fall limp and flat, so you can show off your style all day long. 

Forgetting your heat protectant 

When you’re using straighteners, curling tools, or blow-dryers daily, which is often required for short hair, it’s easy to fall into the trap of ‘one time without heat protection won’t hurt’. However, as short hair is closer to your scalp, it’s already exposed to more heat - adding styling heat without a thermal barrier can lead to dryness, breakage and frizz very quickly. 

Always start with a reliable heat protectant like ghd Bodyguard before any styling. The lightweight formula won’t weigh your short lengths down, and it prevents heat damage while smoothing and conditioning your hair. Heat protectant is especially important for fringes, which often get touch-ups throughout the day. 

Styling on damp or unprepped hair

A few years ago, a trend circulated of people styling their bangs while wet. However, unless you’re using a wet-to-dry styler, like the ghd Duet Style, or a blow-dryer and round brush, you should never use heat on wet hair. It’s a sure-fire way to result in damaged, frizzy hair. Similarly, styling without prepping the hair makes it harder to achieve a polished look that lasts. 

The solution is to always prep your hair with a suitable protectant. Most of ghd’s hair products feature our heat protectant system, so you can get more from each product without having to double up and weigh your hair down. Always blow-dry your hair before using a hair straightener or to finalise your look.

Forgetting to set the shape

Many people skip the final step of setting their short style, assuming the shape will hold on its own. Without a finishing spray or texturiser, even short styles can fall flat, separate, or frizz up the moment you step outside.

To fix, simply apply a lightweight, flexible setting spray like Perfect Ending. This will hold your style in place without making your hair stiff or sticky, allowing its natural movement while keeping your short style in place. Never leave the house without a light mist! 

Whether you’re sitting in the styling chair and leaving your hair to the professionals or perfecting your look yourself, here is what our expert stylists want you to know when working with short hair: 

• Look for thinner tools: Most haircare tools on the market are designed for medium to long hair, so they might not be best for short hair. Thinner curling wands and flat irons help take care of your short hair without the frustration of thick heat plates. 

• Never skip the prep work: While it might be tempting to skip the heat protectant and prep steps, short hair needs a barrier against heat damage to protect it and keep it looking perfect. 

• Work in small sections: Some people think that, because short hair has less length to deal with, they don’t need to section it. However, without sectioning your hair, you may be left with an uneven look or missed pieces. 

• Don’t treat your fringe the same as your hair: Fringes are often subject to more heat and hand traffic, making them more fragile and prone to damage. Where possible, use less heat on your fringe to protect it and keep it looking its best. 

• Use the right temperature: Stick to 185°C for best results without compromising your hair’s health - ghd tools naturally regulate at this temperature.

Regina S, one of ghd's senior stylists, says: “Curling short hair with a straightener is perfect for people who don't have much time in the mornings, but it's a skill that takes some time to master! The right tools and preparation can make all the difference in your haircare journey, so don’t underestimate the importance of short hair-specific products and tools.”

Q: Is short hair easier to style than long hair?

A: Not necessarily - some people with short hair note that their hair was harder to style when it was longer, while others think long hair is more difficult to manage. It all depends on how you like to wear your hair and your technique. For example, if your hair is frizzy and naturally curly, you might find it easier to style it short. However, if your hair is fine, you might prefer longer styles because there’s more hair to work with. It’s a common misconception that short hair is easier to style, but this isn’t always the case. 

Q: How do I stop my curled short hair from falling flat? 

A: Short hair can fall flat throughout the day because there’s less length to add bounce to. To prevent your style from falling limp throughout the day, use lightweight products to wash and protect your hair. Our personal favourites are:

ghd Volume Forever - Volumising blow dry cream
ghd Body Goals - Total volume foam

When heat styling, focus on getting a good shape at the root to make your hair as voluminous as possible. Adding volume to the mid-lengths can make your hair expand outwards rather than upwards, giving you a flat top of the head. We love using a round brush and a blow dryer to add volume right from the get-go, then use a straightener or curling wand to add extra oomph. Lock everything in place with a Perfect Ending hairspray. 

Q: How can I stop my curls from separating during the day? 

A: Short curls love to separate, especially if your hair is fine or the weather’s humid. The main culprits of separating hair are excess oil at the roots, leftover product buildup, or not setting your curls properly when styling. You can avoid this by always blow-drying your hair immediately after washing while it's still damp, directing the hair from side to side using a paddle brush. This trains the hair to fall naturally without splitting. A spritz of a lightweight hairspray helps lock it in without making it stiff. If your curls get oily quickly, a small dusting of dry shampoo at the roots can refresh and revive the shape instantly.

Q: Do I need a specific straightener to curl my hair?

A: It's much easier to curl short hair with a straightener that has rounded, contoured edges, as this can create a seamless curl pattern down the lengths of your hair. Flat, square-edged plates won't glide as smoothly and can create unwanted creases and kinks. ghd offers plenty of straighteners with rounded edges, perfect for curling hair. For shorter hair, we recommend looking for a thinner straightener. The ghd Mini Slim Plate Hair Straightener has 15 mm plates, ideal for curling short hair instead of leaving it wavy.