We know: The mere mention of a hair crimper might bring you back to the dark, dark ages of ’80s style. But there’s a renewed interest in that unmistakable wave. The good news is that today’s crimped ’do is updated to give it a softer touch with added texture and volume. We’ve seen it on everyone from Fergie to models walking the runway at Betsey Johnson’s spring 2013 show at New York Fashion Week.
While not everything from the era should come back (let’s keep the Flowbee and BeDazzler in their graves, k?), the modern crimped look fits right into the ’80s resurgence alongside cold-shoulder tops and neon everything. Here are easy options for honoring the retro look without duplicating it, whether you still have a your old-school crimper or threw yours out a long time ago.
Don’t have a crimper anymore? No worries! Our Beautylish community has you covered with these video tutorials that let you replicate crimper-inspired looks with a flat-iron, your hands, or good old-fashioned braids.
Method 1: Fire Up the Flat Iron
Yes, a flat iron has flat plates, but you can still get the ridged, crimped look with just a flick of the wrist. Literally. Charmaine M. shows us how to hold the hot tool appropriately (at alternating 90-degree angles, flipping back and forth) to go over sections of hair and get perfect, modern zig-zags. The tutorial officially begins at the 5:30 mark.
Method 2: Braid It Out
No need for heat! Amber M. gives tips on how to get the crimp with simply braiding your hair, letting it set overnight and brushing it out with a backcomb to add volume. So simple, kids can do it! And you likely did when you were five. Now you have a reason to bring it back in style.
Method 3: Twirl Your Curls
If you have naturally curly hair, you can still get crimped. Tammy F. shows us how to get the look with just your fingers, twirling your hair in small sections and then applying heat to set. As she says in the video, “it takes less time than it looks,” which makes this a simple wash and set style for those rushed mornings.
If you still do have a crimper, congratulations, you may have what some consider a valuable relic. Dust it off and give it a little time to heat up, it’s old. Once you’re ready to fire away, keep the rule of moderation in mind. You don’t have to crimp your whole head. In fact, don’t.
Partition off small sections of hair around your ears or select strands that naturally frame your face and crimp only those. Brush out for a more natural texture, creating a mermaid-look if you’re sick of baby braids. Also, you can play around with it. Try slicking back the crimped portions of hair behind your ears for a formal appearance or gather hair into a ponytail for a ’do that’s polished, but with some edge.
If you’re looking to invest in a new crimper, go for a small texturizing iron. It’s essentially a mini version that allows more control over smaller sections of hair. Maxine Salon creative director Amy Abramite calls this small tool her favorite secret weapon for adding texture, body and volume. “Because the crimping plates are so small, the hair's natural texture is slightly altered in appearance, but the amount of body is amplified,” she says. If you’re looking to upgrade to a new tool, another option is a three-barreled curling iron, which can give you natural, slightly crimped waves.
