Just realized my tight pin curl habit was causing breakage

I always thought tighter curls lasted longer on fine hair. After a client showed me her split ends, I connected the dots. Now I use larger sections and lighter tension. The curls hold just as well without the damage. Sometimes the old way isn't the best way.

4 comments

4 Comments

xena_bailey181mo ago

But what if some hair types actually need that tight hold to prevent curls from falling flat? I've had clients with super fine hair where loose pins just don't cut it, and their style droops in an hour. Maybe the split ends were from rough brushing or heat, not the pin curls. The old school method exists because it gets results for tough cases, right? What makes you so sure looser tension works for everyone?

the_sam8d ago

My fine-haired cousin's pin curls survived a tornado, but her ends looked like shredded wheat.

quinn1951mo ago

Honestly xena_bailey18 makes a good point that some hair really fights any hold. But maybe the answer isn't just tighter versus looser pins overall. You could try keeping the root section pinched super tight for security, then wrapping the ends much looser. That way you get the strong base without strangling the fragile parts. It takes practice to get the two different tensions in one curl, but it splits the difference. The old school method works, but we can tweak the details to get the same hold with less harm.

grant4781mo ago

Wait, that's a fair point about fine hair needing more hold. But when you say "super fine hair where loose pins don't cut it," are you using any prestyling product before putting in the pin curls? Because I'm wondering if the real fix is a better base (like mousse or something) instead of just cranking the tension tighter.